An RCE Exclusive By Byron Lee
REWORKING ROCK: The brothers first turned heads by performing rock songs in their own special way.
They are responsible for the existence of many of you reading this article. They have taken from and influenced many genres. They are the embodiment of longevity, weathering stylistic changes and personal setbacks to remain a force on the music scene.
For this edition of the RCE, we will profile the Isley Brothers.
The story begins with the siblings being born in Cincinnati, Ohio to a father who was a singer in his own right and a mother who accompanied an early incarnation of the act (brothers Vernon, O'Kelly, Rudolph and Ronald) on the piano. A pal was case over the group after the death of Vernon, due to a cycling accident. At the urging of their parents, the act would continue as a trio, putting an emphasis on Ron's tenor as the lead vocal instrument of the group.
Inspiration for their first chart hit would come during the performance of another song. At a Washington DC concert, there was rapturous response in the middle of Jackie Wilson's "Lonely Teardrops" to the line "You know you make me wanna shout." RCA executive Howard Bloom was in the audience, and he advised the group to structure a song around that line and the prom/wedding reception staple was born. "I was only seven years old when 'Shout' came out," Ernie Isley told Geoffrey Himes of the Washington Post, "but I remember it always got the audience up and dancing-and it still does. Everybody has an emotional connection to that song, because it contains everything rock 'n' roll is about-the energy, the freedom, the abandon." The song did well, but, In a phenomenon that was to foreshadow the turnabout that would happen later on in their career, the Isleys would have several singles made more popular by white acts. Joey Dee And The Starlighters would record a version of "Shout" that would reach the top 10 on the pop charts in 1962.
On the success of "Shout," the family moved from Cincinnati to Teaneck, New Jersey and signed to Atlantic Records in 1960, having a failed stint Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller (best known for their work with the Coasters). They then moved to Wand Records, where they scored their second hit, a cover of the Top Notes "Twist and Shout" released in July 1962. (It was covered to greater success by the Beatles, a year later. ) They would eventually grow frustrated by Wand's attempts to essentially re-write "Twist and Shout," and set up their own label, T-Neck, named after their adopted hometown, in 1964 Their first release, "Testify," failed, however, and they were forced to resign with Atlantic. They were dropped in 1965.
Later that year, The Isley Brothers signed to Motown subsidiary Tamla and were paired with famed songwriting team Holland Dozier Holland. They hit paydirt with "This Old Heart of Mine," in 1966, but became bored with what they felt was Motown's cookie cutter approach to song writing (One can almost do the Four Tops' iconic choreography to the song) and left the label in 1968. After spending time in the United Kingdom to bask in the fame their music had cultivated there, they returned to the US to reform T-Neck.
The proverbial ship would come in with the group's next single. Anchored by a wah-wah guitar riff from younger brother Ernie, "It's Your Thing" ushered in a gritty new sound for the group and earned them a Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal by a Duo or Group in 1969. Motown head Barry Gordy maintained that "It's Your Thing" was recorded during the group's time at the label. The group claimed otherwise, with matter eventually being resolved out of court.
The brothers would create a further stir with the release of 1971's "Givin' It Back" and 1972's Brother, Brother Brother, two albums that found them covering rock tunes. The former contained renditions of James Taylor's "Fire and Rain," Bob Dylan's "Lay Lady Lay," Neil Young's łOhio,˛ Jimi Hendrix's "Machine Gun" and Stephen Stills' "Love The One You're With," while the latter featured "It's Too Late," "Brother Brother," and "Keep On Walkin" (all by Carole King), as well as Jackie DeShannon's "Put a Little Love In Your Heart" ("Brother, Brother, Brother" would also be boosted by the funk/rock original "Work To Do.")
Ernie would become a full-fledged member of the group, along with brother Marvin (bass) and brother-in-law Chris Jasper (keyboard) for the group's next effort, 1973's aptly titled "3+3." Focusing on Ernie's guitar playing would be an important decision for the group. People credit Ernie's riffs for exposing the act to a new audience. His solos on "That Lady," "Voyage to Atlantis," and "Summer Breeze," paired with Ron's falsetto, would make virgin ears perk up. (The younger Isley was partially inspired by Jimmy James, a man who had two brief stints in the group's backup band and who would rocket to stardom under his birth name, Jimi Hendrix.)
The string of albums the group would release during the 70's are thought by many to be the act's best work. 1973's "3+3" featured "That Lady" Seals and Crofts' "Summer Breeze," James Taylor "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" and the Doobie Brothers' "Listen To The Music" (The live album "The Isleys Live," released that same year, is thought to be required listening.) 1974's "Live It Up" featured the title track "Brown Eyed Girl," "Midnight Sky" and an endearing cover of Todd Rundgren's "Hello It's Me." 1975's "The Heat Is On" had the rallying cry "Fight the Power," the breezy "For The Love of You," "Hope You Feel Better Love" and the heartfelt "Make Me Say It Again, Girl." 1976's "Harvest For The World" featured the socially-conscious title track, "People of Today," "You Wanna Stay Down," "Let Me Down Easy" and the tender ballad "At Your Best." 1977's "Go For Your Guns," thought by many to be their best album, contained "The Pride," "Livin' in the Life," and the ballads "Footsteps In The Dark" and "Voyage to Atlantis." 1978's "Showdown" had "Groove With You" "Ain't Givin' Up No Love," "Take Me to the Next Phase," "Rockin' With Fire," and "Love Fever" on its playlist.
This string of classic, platinum albums holds a special place in many people's hearts to this day, with many fans simply referring to it as the "3+3" era. "We turned a lot of heads around in those days," Ernie Isley told Himes. "We started our own record label when Black acts didn't do that; we recorded songs by Stephen Stills, Bob Dylan, and Carole King when Black artists didn't do that; we played our own instruments when Black groups didn't do that. When you bought an Isley Brothers album, the people on the cover made all the sounds on the record inside."
Their popularity began to wane in the early 80's, due in part to fan dissatisfaction with the incorporation of sounds for the emerging disco genre. While "Winner Takes All" was another platinum seller, "Grand Slam," "Inside You" and "The Real Deal" found the group experiencing a significant dip in sales. 1983's "Between The Sheets," which boasted both the classic title track, the durable ballad "Choosey Lover" and the feisty "Ballad For the Fallen Soldier" would find them bouncing back to gold status, it would be their last album with the 3+3 lineup. Due to differences regarding the group's artistic direction, Ernie, Chris and Marvin left the fold to form Isley Jasper Isley and had a major hit in 1985 with the poignant call for unity "Caravan of Love'." Meanwhile the original three soldiered on under the name The Isley Brothers featuring Ronald Isley. Shortly after the release of 1985's critically-acclaimed "Masterpiece" album, the group would be hit by tragedy as O'Kelly suffered a fatal heart attack. "Smooth Sailin'" (which included the O'Kelly tribute "Send a Message") put Ron's vocals more in the forefront, with "Spend the Night" being, for all intents and purposes, a Ronald Isley solo album. (It should be noted that many of the Isleys' work of this time benefited greatly from the contributions of Ron's then-life partner Angela Winbush.)
Ronald, Ernie and Marvin would reunite (Rudolph left to become a minister, and Chris departed to perform gospel music.) to record 1991's "Tracks of Life" The brothers would also successfully sue singer Michael Bolton over Bolton's "Love Is a Wonderful Thing." (The Isleys claimed that the song ripped off their song of the same name.)
The trio would make a powerful acquaintance in 1996 when R& B superstar R. Kelly asked them to join him on the single "Down Low." The song was a big hit and the video for it, which cast Ron as "Mr. Biggs" (the man with whose companion Kelly's character was being adulterous) cast a long shadow, thereby introducing the group to a new generation. The group would collaborate with R. Kelly on their next album, "Mission To Please," with the album art designating Ronald by his new alter ego.( During this time, Marvin would retire after losing both of his legs to complications from diabetes.) The video for "Contagious," a sequel of sorts to "Down Low" featured an amusing, sung dialogue sequence, would further rejuvenate the group--and boost sales of the Isleys' 2001 effort "Eternal,"--when it was put in heavy rotation. "Eternal" and "Contagious" would make the Isley Brothers one of the few groups to have an original single and album chart in each of five consecutive decades. 2003's "Body Kiss" and 2006's "Baby Makin' Music" would be two more solid latter-day releases.
With the Isleys' immense canon, it should be no surprise that they are one of the most sampled and covered groups in North American music. Most notably, Ice Cube used the guitar run from "Footsteps in the Dark" to make "It Was a Good Day," which is second only to Dr. Dre's "Nuthin But a G Thang" as the definitive gangta rap song of the 90's. Notorious B.I.G.'s smooth smash "Big Poppa" sampled "Between The Sheets." Also utilizing this song were Conscious Daughters ("We Rollin' Deepa") Da Brat ("Funkdafied") & Keith Murray ("The Most Beautifullest Thing in the World"). "For The Love of You" was used in Slick Rick's "Sittin' in My Car," "Thug Life's "Bury Me a G", Master P's "Tryin To Do Somethin'" and Masta Ace's "INC Ride." The late Aaliyah covered "At Your Best," and Vanessa Williams recorded "Work To Do." Jay-Z used "Ballad for the Fallen Shoulder" for "A Week Ago." B.O.N.E. Thugs -n-Harmony used "Choosey Lover" for "Buddah Lova" and "Make Me Say It Again, Girl" for their monster hit remix for "Crossroads." Public Enemy updated the sentiment of "Fight the Power" for their song of the same name. Salt-n-Pepa did the same with "It's Your Thing," making it "Shake Your Thing." Tupac used "Don't Say Goodnight" for "My Block." Queen Latifah sampled "Hello, It's Me" for "Black Hand Side" and the 1978 frat boy classic Animal House would revive interest in "Shout."
The specifics make it undeniable, but it's never been unclear. For five decades, the Isley Brothers have left no question as to whether providing a soundtrack for our community--for rabble rousing, partying, unitying or babymakin'--is their thing.
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