The Isley Brothers
The Isley Brothers are an iconic American soul and R&B group originating from Cincinnati, Ohio. They were established in 1954 as a vocal trio composed of the brothers O'Kelly Isley Jr., Ronald Isley, and Vernon Isley. Initially starting their music career as a gospel quartet in the mid-1950s, they performed in churches throughout Cincinnati, often accompanied by their mother on piano.
The group underwent various transformations in its lineup during the 1960s, most notably the addition of younger brother Rudolph Isley and the inclusion of other members over the years. Their music style evolved significantly from gospel to incorporate rock, funk, and soul elements, aligning them with the changing musical landscape of the times.
The Isley Brothers' early recordings, which began in the late 1950s, helped to lay a foundation for their future success. They achieved significant recognition with hits such as "Shout," "Twist and Shout," and later, "It's Your Thing," which showcased their ability to blend different genres while delivering compelling vocal performances.
Their influence has been profound, not just in the realms of R&B and soul but also in the rock genre, with subsequent artists citing them as inspirations.
Throughout their career, The Isley Brothers have navigated shifts in the music industry, adapting their sound and production methods while still maintaining their core identity. They have enjoyed continuous success from the 1960s through the 2000s, with numerous hits and a reputation for energetic performances.
In summary, The Isley Brothers are a seminal music group whose rich history reflects their talent, versatility, and enduring appeal in the music industry. Their journey from a gospel quartet to a pioneering force in soul and R&B illustrates their significant contributions to music culture over several decades.
Givin’ It Back
Written-By [Machine Gun] – Jimi Hendrix
Written-By [Ohio] – Neil Young 9:13
A2 Fire And Rain
Written-By – James Taylor 5:29
A3 Lay Lady Lay
Written-By – Bob Dylan 10:22
B1 Spill The Wine
Written-By – Dickerson, Miller, Brown, Scott, Oskar, Jordan, Allen 6:32
B2 Nothing To Do But Today
Written-By – Stephen Stills 3:42
B3 Cold Bologna
Written-By, Lead Guitar – Bill Withers 3:03
B4 Love The One You're With Congas – Buck Clarke
Written-By – Stephen Stills 3:40
Label: T-Neck – TNS 3008
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1971
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Seventies Soul, Funk
Givin' It Back is a highly regarded Isley Brothers album, praised for its innovative funk and psychedelic soul reinterpretations of popular rock and folk songs, successfully bridging rock and soul genres. Critics and fans highlight the passionate vocals, superb musicianship (featuring the younger Isley brothers including Ernie on guitar), and the creative arrangements that make the covers sound like original works.
The album is widely recognized for its bold concept: a Black R&B act covering popular songs by white rock and folk artists such as Stephen Stills, Neil Young, and Bob Dylan, turning the tables after white acts had successfully covered their earlier hits like "Shout" and "Twist and Shout".
Reviewers note the album's success in blending genres, describing it as a "mildly more psychedelic funk take on the folk/soul movement". The production is praised for capturing a warm, clear sound that enhances the soulful vocals while maintaining the original rock energy.
The Isley Brothers are lauded for their "impassioned, soulful and intelligent interpretive vocalizing". The album marked the first full appearance of the younger members (Ernie and Marvin Isley, and cousin Chris Jasper), whose contributions, especially Ernie's "soaring guitar," are seen as crucial to the album's dynamic sound and a precursor to the band's successful "3+3" era.
Impactful Song Choices: Specific tracks receive frequent praise for their powerful reimagining:
"Ohio" / "Machine Gun" medley: This combination of the Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young protest song and the Jimi Hendrix track is described as "mind blowingly powerful" and an "explosive, evocative" entry into Vietnam-era protest music.
"Lay Lady Lay": The Isleys' ten-minute, almost bossa nova, version of the Bob Dylan tune is considered "hypnotic" and an "absolute dream".
"Spill the Wine": Their version, which features the originally rapped elements sung, is seen as a successful and fully reinvented cover.
While most praise the re-interpretations, a few critics, such as Robert Christgau, found some tracks (like "Fire and Rain" and "Lay Lady Lay") more powerful in their "understated originals," though they still lauded the Isleys' energy on hits like "Spill the Wine".
User reviews on sites like Amazon and Discogs are overwhelmingly positive, with many giving the album a perfect 5.0 rating. Fans frequently describe it as a "brilliant album of covers," "utterly fantastic," and a "statement record" that remains relevant today. Users often mention the high quality of specific pressings (vinyl and CD) and the album's ability to blend different musical elements seamlessly.
I’ll Be Home For Christmas
2 I'll Be Home For Christmas (Kim Gannon, Walter Kent 3:04)
3 I'm In Love (Bobby Ross Avila, Carla Carter, Issiah J. Avila, James Q. Wright, James Harris III, Terry Lewis 4:10)
4 Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane 4:17)
5 Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (Haven Gillespie, J. Fred Coots 4:01)
6 Isley Christmas Medley
(Written-By [Joy To The World] – Isaac Watts; Written-By [The First Noel & Gloria In Excelsis Deo] – Traditional; Written-By [What Child Is This?] – William Chatterton Dix 5:51)
7 What Can I Buy You (James Q. Wright, James Harris III, Terry Lewis 4:26)
8 The Christmas Song Featuring, Guitar by Doc Powell (Mel Tormé, Robert Wells 4:27)
9 White Christmas (Irving Berlin 3:33)
10 Silent Night (Franz X. Gruber, Josef Mohr 4:12)
Label: Def Soul – B0009913-02
Format: CD, Album
Country: US
Released: 2007
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Soul, Holiday
I'll Be Home for Christmas is the Isley Brothers' 31st studio album and their first holiday release, blending classic R&B and soul with traditional Christmas music. Released on October 9, 2007, the album features lead vocals by Ronald Isley with production by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis.
The album is a mix of popular Christmas standards and two original songs, "I'm in Love" and "What Can I Buy You". It is characterized by lush production, smooth R&B arrangements, and Ronald Isley's distinctive, sultry vocals, which critics noted were well-suited for holiday classics. The overall feel is described as a soulful and professional take on seasonal sounds, providing a warm, at-home listening experience.
I'll Be Home for Christmas received largely positive reviews from music critics. It debuted and peaked at number 38 on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Reviewers highlighted the balance between secular and spiritual tracks and praised the quality of the arrangements and performances, especially Ronald Isley's vocal delivery.
Shout!
Written-By – Traditional
2:29
A2 St. Louis Blues
Written-By – Handy
2:55
A3 Yes Indeed
Written-By – Oliver
2:01
A4 How Deep Is The Ocean
Written-By – Berlin
1:50
A5 Ring-A-Ling-A-Ling
Written-By – Jackson
2:55
A6 Rock Around The Clock
Written-By – DeKnight, Freedman
2:10
B1 He's Got The Whole World In His Hands
Written-By – Love
2:02
B2 That Lucky Old Sun
Written-By – Smith, Gillespie
2:30
B3 Respectable
Written-By – O. Isley, R. Isley, R. Isley
2:10
B4 Without A Song
Written-By – Rose, Eliscu, Youmans
2:00
B5 Shout Part 1
Written-By – O. Isley, R. Isley, R. Isley
2:15
B6 Shout Part 2
Written-By – O. Isley, R. Isley, R. Isley
2:10
Label: RCA Victor – LPM 2156
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1959
Genre: Rock, Funk, Soul, Pop
Style: Rhythm & Blues, Soul, Rock & Roll
The Isley Brothers' 1959 debut album, Shout!, is widely regarded by critics as a high-energy transition point between gospel and rock 'n' roll, though it is often characterized more as a collection of singles than a cohesive long-player.
Reviewers frequently highlight the album's "exuberance" and "dedicated verve," noting that it captured a raw live sound rarely found in studio recordings of the late 1950s.
The record is praised for its "gospel-laced" approach to rock and R&B, blending the wailing vocal styles of artists like Ray Charles and Little Richard with traditional spiritual themes.
Ronald Isley’s lead vocals are consistently cited as a standout, described as strong, flexible, and powerful enough to anchor the group's frantic energy.
Track Highlights & Critique:-
"Shout (Parts 1 & 2)": The title track is the undisputed centerpiece. Critics describe it as a "bursting ball of rhythmic energy" and a "masterpiece of American musical history". Its call-and-response format, originally inspired by a performance of Jackie Wilson's "Lonely Teardrops," became a blueprint for future R&B and garage rock.
"Respectable": Often considered the album's other major achievement, this original track is lauded for its "breakneck tempo" and "hysterical lead vocal".
Cover Material: Some critics find the album’s reliance on standards like "Rock Around the Clock" or "Without A Song" to be underwhelming or "stiff," viewing them as attempts by the label to appeal to adult record-buyers of the era.
Innovative Reworks: Other covers are better received, such as the gospel-rock version of "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" and the "up-tempo jaunt" of "How Deep Is the Ocean".
While the album itself did not achieve massive commercial success upon its initial release, it solidified the Isley Brothers' reputation as a premier R&B act. It remains a historically significant debut, marking the start of a career that would later span soul, funk, and psychedelic rock.
The Heat Is On
A2 The Heat Is On (Parts 1 & 2) 5:37
A3 Hope You Feel Better Love (Parts 1 & 2) 6:06
B1 For The Love Of You (Parts 1 & 2) 5:38
B2 Sensuality (Parts 1 & 2) 6:52
B3 Make Me Say It Again Girl (Parts 1 & 2) 7:43
Written and Arranged by – C. Jasper, E. Isley, M. Isley, O. Isley, R. Isley, R. Isley
Label: Epic – EPC 69139
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: Europe
Released: 1975
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Seventies Soul, Funk, Disco
The Isley Brothers' The Heat Is On is a landmark funk-soul masterpiece lauded for its seamless blend of hard-hitting funk, rock-infused jams, and lush, romantic ballads, showcasing the band's incredible musicianship (especially Ernie Isley's guitar) and Ronald Isley's powerful vocals, creating a diverse yet cohesive album that became their first #1 hit and cemented their status as R&B legends. Critics praised its irresistible danceability, emotional depth, and overall flawless execution, calling it a perfect summer album and a high point in their prolific career.
The album masterfully shifts from aggressive funk-rock ("Fight the Power," "The Heat Is On") with searing guitar solos to smooth, soulful ballads ("For the Love of You," "Sensuality"). It features enduring hits like "For the Love of You (Parts 1 & 2)" and the powerful "Fight the Power (Parts 1 & 2)".
Praised by Rolling Stone for its dance appeal and by Robert Christgau as "well-nigh flawless," highlighting Ronald Isley's unique vocal delivery.
It's a testament to the Isleys' talent as a self-contained unit, writing, performing, producing, and arranging their own work, and a pivotal album that solidified their transition into the 70s funk/soul scene, proving their ability to evolve and dominate, making them one of the era's biggest black groups alongside Earth, Wind & Fire and Ohio Players.
Considered a must-have, easy to enjoy, and a definitive summer record. It remains a staple on classic R&B and pop radio, showcasing enduring musical excellence.