The Isley Brothers - Tiny Desk (Home) Concert 18 Aug 2021

Hot off the press, today the legendary Isley Brothers performed four of their classics in a Tiny Desk concert from their home studio in St Louis.

The mini concert features probably two of my favourite (post Motown) songs from them "Footsteps In The Dark" and "For The Love Of You" as well as opening with "Between The Sheets" and closing with their biggest hit "That Lady", the 1973 version obviously, but they first recorded it on United Artists in 1964 as "Who's That Lady" with Jimi Hendrix apparently playing guitar!

Ronald Isley (now 80) and Ernie Isley (69) are the only two remaining members of the six brothers, all other brothers except Rudolph (who left to join the ministry in 1989) are now deceased. Ronald was only 14 when he and his elder brothers O'Kelly and Rudolph formed the group in 1954. Ernie was only two and joined the group in 1966 aged 14.

Many know the Isley's from their Motown period which only lasted three years between 1966-69. They only released eight singles (and only four charted!) and two albums on the Tamla imprint in that period but the quality of their Motown recordings are still appreciated today, especially in Northern soul circles. (I think "This Old Heart Of Mine (Is Weak For You)" is still one of the greatest Motown songs ever recorded and was a template for the 'classic/traditional' Northern Soul sound). They left Motown to re-establish their own label T- Neck and adopted more of a funk sound.