ppl what do u think of this group?
climbing up the ladder and fight the power r greatest hard funk rock songs,ernie isa great guitar player.
anybody know why jasper and marvin rnt in the band?

they cool,but the last album with all the jam and lewis production was kinda weak

One of the most underated groups of all time. Wasn't that some slap in the face when VH1 was compiling their "Best" 100 songs of all time and not one Isley Brother song was on it...oh wait, they gave the Beatle's credit for "Twist and Shout". I know Ronald was pissed about that. Anyone interested in hearing their stuff, there is a great 3-disc box set called It's Your Thing: The Story of The Isley Brothers. It is a must have for any fan of R&B, Rock, oh hell it is a must have for anyone that has an ounce of soul in them.

tricky said:

The Isley Brothers will be in Rochester NY the weekend of July 20 at the Rochester Music Festival along with War, Al Green, Musiq, Jaheim, Tweet, & others!!!

One of my favorite bands of all time. especially the albums 3+3 and the heat is on. the recent shit is kinda wack although last weekend I spun the acapella of "contagious" over one of Biggie's old beats and the shit was DOPE!!!

alx

I saw The Isley Brothers in concert a few years back,with Earth Wind and Fire and The O'Jays.It was a killer show! I've been an Isleys fan since 1972,when I heard "That Lady".I have many favorite songs by them,here are a few...


***"That Lady"(1972)---killer guitar solo!!

***"If You Were There"(1972)---Wham! featuring George Michael did a cool cover version of this song on their 1984 'Make It Big' album.

***"Hello It's Me"(1973?)---remake of the 1972 Todd Rundgren hit

***"Summer Breeze"(1974)---their remake of the 1972 Seals and Crofts hit is excellent

***"For The Love of You"(1975)

***"Harvest For The World"(1976)---love this song!!

***"Who Loves You Better"(1976)--- killer rock/funk track

***"Take Me To The Next Phase"(1977)---

***"Footsteps In The Dark"(1977)---haunting R&B ballad

***"It's a Disco Night"(1979)---despite its' title,this is not your average "Disco" song.It's funky as hell!

***"Hurry Up and Wait"(1981)---this has got to be their most underrated single.It's a catchy slice of early 80s Isleys funk.


I don't really get into their current albums,with all that R.Kelly/Mr.Biggs/Contagious nonsense.But in their heyday,the Isley Brothers kicked ass!!!
[This message was edited Tue May 28 3:42:21 PDT 2002 by DavidEye]

smokeverbs said:

Oh, you are SO right about these 2 albums, but even the next couple of albums were fantastic in their own right!! Is there no better sequence than on The Heat Is On with For The Love Of You, Sensuality, and then Make Me Say It Again Girl?!?! Guaranteed sex! LOL!!!

alexnvrmnd said:

Can't forget Hope You Feel Better Love, track #3 on The Heat Is On cd.

DavidEye said:

Hahaha Down Low and Contagious are dope. I mean we all recognise their peak era but still...

"Mr Biggs let me explain before you start to point your cane..."

The Isley Brothers are 1 of my favorite groups, too, & like most have said here, their 70s work & early 80s work is their best.


My favorite Isley jams:

The Pride, I Wanna Be With You, Take Me To The Next Phase, Fight The Power, Pass It On, Hurry Up & Wait, & the UNDERRATED
Who Said?

Of their slow jams:
What It Comes Down To, Voyage To Atlantis, For The Love Of You, Footsteps In The Dark, Don't Say Goodnight, Between The Sheets


I think what's been so unique about this group- at least during their peak in the 70s- is the contrast of Ronald's voice, which is so EFFORTLESSLY smooth & the tight, hard-driving funk.


It's too bad that they got "lost" in the mid-80s & for several years after. O'Kelly died in '86, Rudolph (the biggest & burliest Isley) found God & as we all know, Isley Jasper Isley had their (brief) time in the sun, then Chris Jasper too, he turned towards religion & religious music. Ronald still made hits, but a lot of it was, in my opinion, overproduced, too trendy, & I would say that his wife Angela Winbush had something to do with that.


Then, with Ronald's association with R.Kelly, that's strange. I can see Ronald being flattered by Kelly's (understandable) admiration, but I question Ronald letting himself be produced by Kelly; maybe it was a calculated move by Ronald to stay connected to today's younger audience through Kelly. Sometimes Ronald even sings like Kelly, which really is weird to me; Kelly has said that he "models" his singing after Ronald, but I don't hear that..


I bought the most recent album "Eternal" but mainly for the songs "Move Your Body," "You Didn't See Me," "Ernie's Jam" & "Think."
The rest of Eternal is fair, at best; way too many ballads (a result of the Jam/Lewis influence?) it's kind of like they just mailed this 1 in, there are so many clichés & whatnot. Ronald seems to really relish his "Mr. Biggs" alias..
okay, whatever..
I'd like to see the 5 remaining Isley Brothers get together & do 1 more kickass tour..
but
like my longtime dream to see the original TIME line-up get together & do it 1 more time...

I'm not holding my breath.


Still, the Isleys' place in music history, & their influence, is well established

Oh and let's not forget the "Harvest for the world" album ... "Voyage to atlantis" is gorgeous!!

ALx

To me "Go For Your Guns" was their best album. Ernie is a fantastic player and he put out a solo album some years ago that sounded pretty good. I mean I like most of their hits, but GFYG was the "awwwe"

LQ

I need to read this group more often!

Can't say enough about the Isley Brothers.

THEY ARE JUST AWESOME!

I've always liked this group. I haven't seen them in concert yet. Attending one of their concerts is definitely on My Things To Do list! I really love the song "Voyage to Atlantis", the guitar playing on this cut is breathtaking...