James Taylor and The Isley Brothers both did a version of 'Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight'. Which version do you prefer better?

I am not making this a race thing, I want to state that right now.

It would sound cool if Prince covered it, because he could add his own magical touch.

I like both. I love James' version , but I also like the Isley's soul version. That album 3+3 is really amazing. I bought a used cassette a long time ago and I was really suprised how good the whole thing was. Now I have lots of Isley stuff on cd. I'm also a big JT fan, but don't listen to his stuff as much anymore. Gorilla and JT are great albums.

i actually think that i'd take isaac hayes over both of them...

devilman said:

Isleys always made a point of covering a white pop/rock hit and making it a major hit.

• "Ohio/Machine Gun" originally by Neil Young and Jimi Hendrix,; "Lay Lady Lay" originally by Bob Dylan, "Nothing To Do But Today" and "Love The One You're With" orignally by Stephen Stills, "Fire and Rain" originally by James Taylor, "Spill the Wine" orignally by Eric Burdon and War, "Cold Bolonga" by Bill Withers all on Givin' It Back 1971
  
• "Put A Litle Love In Your Heart" orignally by Jackie De Shannon, "Brother, Brother", "Sweet Season" (in a medley) and"It's Too Late" originally by Carole King on [Brother, Brother, Brother[/b] 1972 also on 1973's Isleys Live
  
• "Listen To The Music" by Doobie Brothers, "Summer Breeze" orignally by Seals & Croft on 3+3 1973
  
• "Brown Eyed Girl" oroignally by Van Morrison and "Hello (It's Me)" originally by Todd Rundgren on Live It Up! 1974
  
• ALso live versions of "Love the One You're With" Stephen Stills, "Lay Lady Lay" Bob Dylan, "Ohio/Machine Gun" Neil Young and Jimi Hendrix can be found on Isleys Live
  
• "If You Leave Me Now" originally by Chicago ETERNAL 2001
  

Isleys were one of the main R&b bands that got me listening to white rock acts. I'd go search for the orignal for comparisons like the one you just made. Yeah I'd make goofball statements just like yours, but they were insignificant. All those songs were pretty good and Isleys made those songwriters a heap of money (most were pretty big hits in their day for both artists).

Funny to hear fams begging Prince to do covers after the crap with AK/"HCUDCMA" and his own sad-ass cover of "Betcha By Golly Wow".

The Isley's put a darn good spin on "Summer Breeze" and "Love The One You're With." The latter I like better than the original, the former I like just as much as the original, I don't think it's better or worse, just different.

But I never could get into their version of Rundgren's "Hello, It's Me"...Todd still owns the definitive version, if you ask me.

I wish Ernie Isley's solo album was still in print. I heard so many raves about it, but never heard it before.

Supernova said:

Good Points. Ernie's Solo Album that came out back in 1990 was tight.He had some Cool Solos on it.I like His Instrumental Version of "I Heard it through the grapevine" it was nice.I got to listen to Ernie's Album back in 90-91&enjoyed it.saw Him Perform on Arsenio as well with it.The Brother is Baddd Baddd!!

PFunkjazz said:

Pound,Pound on that Post.in 96 on there Mission to please Album they covered Simply Red's "Holding back the years".Wham on there Make it Big Album covered there "If you were there.of course the Best Cover Version they ever got was When Michael Bolten did "Love is a Wonderful thing" had to pay them a Hefty amount of Loot for jacking.I remember the Soft Rock Cover of Ronald Isley&Rod Stewart doing "This Ole Heart of Mine" back in 1990.

I dig Both Versions.I Dig the Isley Brothers alot&they should be given more due IMHO for what they have done for Music Overall.from the Beatles to Biggie Covering them in a 30 Year time Period Speaks Volumes to Me about there Musical Importance&Depth IMHO.James Taylor I Like alot as a Composer&Musician.I read Hsi Book recently very interesting Cat.as for Him&His Covers? this one was cool as was "How Sweet it is to Be loved By You" though I gotta say that Tyrone Davis has my Favorite Version of that song IMHO.but whatever you do avoid James Taylor's Version of Bobby Womack's "A Woman's Gotta Have It"? Yikes!!! as for Prince&Covers? No Thank You.maybe here&there in Concert as a Surprise type thing but overall they don't move me to much.