Ronald Isley / Isley Brothers - The Motown Period

Another giant in the world of soul music, Ronald Isley, celebrated his 82nd birthday yesterday.

The Isley Brothers were formed in 1954 by O'Kelly, Rudolph, Vernon and Ronald. Vernon was tragically killed aged 13 when knocked off his bike by a car. The group disbanded and later reformed as a trio in 1957 with Ron taking over lead vocal duties. They recorded several singles for various labels before they achieved their first hit record with "Shout" in 1959 for RCA and again in 1962 with a reissue followed by two more hits the same year, one being their biggest to that date with a cover of "Twist And Shout" (#2 R&B/ #17 Hot 100). Another eleven singles for various labels Wand, Atlantic, United Artists, Veep and their own T-Neck between 1962-66 didn't result it any more hits.

In 1965 they signed to Motown's Tamla imprint for who they had a R&B Top 10 hit with their very first record "This Old Heart Of Mine (Is Weak For You)" in 1966, now regarded as a Motown classic. They released two albums and a compilation whilst at Motown but only eight singles and none could emulate the success of their first, By 1968 they left Motown to resurrect their own label T-Neck and had a #1 R&B / #2 Hot 100 hit with their first single "It's Your Thing" in 1969 which was a complete departure from the music they made at Motown, being more hard edged funk.

They continued into the 70s which would prove to be their most successful decade commercially with around 16 R&B Top 10 hits such as "Love The One You're With", "That Lady" (which was an updated version of the song "Who's That Lady" recorded for United Artists in 1964), "Summer Breeze", "Live It Up", "Fight The Power", "For The Love Of You", "Harvest For The World" etc.

The hits began to slow down in the 80s although they did achieve a further six Top 10 R&B hits.

Like we did with Stevie Wonder last week, whose music spans seven decades, Ron Isley's spans one more (from the 50s) so we will pick through his 60s material with The Isley Brothers at Motown which is well know to the Northern Soul faithful, but possibly not many outside that world.

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The Isley Brothers [2022] - Make Me Say It Again, Girl [R.I Top Ten] (Full Album)

As alluded to yesterday the first The Isley Brothers album for five years "Make Me Say It Again, Girl" is out today and is their 33rd studio album. It consists of fourteen tracks with an extended 7:45 version of the title track released as their last single featuring Beyonce opening the album.

There are several guest appearances from  Snoop Dogg on their 2021 single "Friends And Family", Trey Songz and Rick Ross, as mentioned yesterday, but no sign of Alicia Keys or Drake as was leaked but EWF and El DeBarge feature on probably the standout new track "There'll Never Be" which is the Switch R&B Top 10 song from 1978. It was written by Bobby DeBarge who at that time was a member of the group who were previously called First Class before becoming Barry White's backing group White Heat who were quickly dropped and changed their name to Hot-Ice before Switch.

With fourteen tracks and it being 'frantic Friday', I've not had an opportunity to listen to the album properly in full and apart from "There'll Never Be" and perhaps "The Plug" (which has a rap section) nothing immediately jumped out so I'll leave it to you to select your favourite tracks. Apart from the stepper "Friends And Family" they are all downtempo ballads with a few including rap.

Ronald Isley (now 81) and Ernie Isley (70) are the only two remaining members of the group of six brothers as all other brothers except Rudolph (who left to join the ministry in 1989) are now deceased. Ronald was only 13 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.

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Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	R.I Top Ten / Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	30/09/2022
Price:	£7.99

Copyright © 2009-2022 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

The Isley Brothers [2022] - Make Me Say It Again, Girl [R.I Top Ten] (Full Album) OUT TOMORROW

It has been announced that The Isley Brothers will be releasing a new album tomorrow, their first since their "Power of Peace" joint project with Carlos Santana in 2017. You have to go back to 2006 for their previous album of original material, "Baby Makin' Music".

The album's title is that of their latest single, a re-recording of their 1975 "The Heat Is On" album track with Beyonce, "Make Me Say It Again, Girl" (12 Aug 2022). The album will, obviously, include that song along with their 2021 single featuring Snoop Dogg "Friends And Family" (5 Apr 2021).

By all accounts the album will feature guest appearances from Alicia Keys, Drake, Trey Songz and Rick Ross. 

Ronald Isley (now 81) and Ernie Isley (70) are the only two remaining members of the group of six brothers as all other brothers except Rudolph (who left to join the ministry in 1989) are now deceased. Ronald was only 13 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.

Thanks to Gary Van Den Bussche for the heads up.

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Details

Rating:	N/A
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	New Soul
Format:	Album
Media:	Digital
Label:	R.I Top Ten / Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	30/09/2022
Price:	£TBC

Copyright © 2009-2022 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

Ronald Isley & The Isley Brothers Feat. Beyonce [2022] - Make Me Say It Again, Girl [RI Top Ten]

Beyonce's new album "Renaissance" was released two weeks ago today and within a week was topping the UK pop chart! She now teams up with Ronald Isley and The Isley Brothers on a remake of their 1975 song "Make Me Say It Again, Girl" released today (12 Aug 2022). I believe I'm correct in saying that it was only ever an album track from "The Heat Is On".

Details

Rating:	8.4
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Classic Soul / 70s / Slow Jam
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	RI Top Ten
Cat No:	None
Date:	12/08/2022
Key/BPM:	11A/69
Price:	£1

Copyright © 2009-2022 SoulStrutter All Rights Reserved

The Reflex [2022] - RKIT / WTLDY [Revision Records #REVREC009]

A couple of The Reflex mixes that have been around a few years have just received a release on 12" vinyl (8 Apr 2022). 

The first is Herbie Hancock's "Rockit" ("RKIT") from 1983 coupled with The Isley Brothers' 1973 version of "That Lady" which they originally recorded in 1964 as "Who's That Lady" on United Artists. 

If being pedantic, it should really be titled "TDLY" and not "WTLDY" to avoid confusion as the 70s version is considerably different to the 60s version (included below if you don't know it).

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Details

Rating:	8
Explicit:	N
Genre/Style:	Classic Soul / Remixes
Format:	Single
Media:	12"
Label:	Self Released
Cat No:	None
Date:	08/04/2022
Key/BPM:	N/A
Price:	£12

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.

The Isley Brothers Feat. Ronald Isley & Snoop Dogg [2021] - Friends And Family [R. I. Top Ten LLC]

Still going strong in 2021 with a nice little stepper featuring Snoop Dogg with a 'rhythmic' rap, released 5 Apr 2021.

The Isley Brothers were formed in 1954, surely there can't be a longer running group in history? Of the six brothers, three are still alive but only Ronald & Ernie are still performing. Ronald Isley will be 80 this year and brother Ernie will be 70. Vernon died at 13 in a road accident, O'Kelly died in 1986, Rudy retired in 1989, Marvin retired due to ill health in 1997 and died in 2010. 

Thay have posted dates for their 60th Anniversary tour with six dates in the UK in Jun/Jul 2021. Let's hope that they can go ahead!

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Details

Rating:	8.4
Genre/Style:	Neo Soul Stepper
Format:	Single
Media:	Digital
Label:	R. I. Top Ten LLC
Cat No:	None
Year:	2021
Key:	1A
BPM:	101
Value:	£1