Isley Brothers
 

The Isley Brothers.

Formed in the early to mid 50's the Isley Brothers have been producing superb soul music for half a century.
From their first hit 'Shout' to the present day with; Down Low (Nobody Has to Know) - R. Kelly featuring the Isley Brothers.

Tracks like their cover of The Topnotes - 'Twist And Shout' (later to be covered by the Beatles).
This Old Heart Of Mine (Is Weak For You)
Behind A Painted Smile
That Lady
Harvest For The World.

The Isley Brothers are great--if you like slow, love making r&b you'll like their Beautiful Ballads compilation cd-I think that it's a staple even for those who aren't into that type of music. Right on

I'm not really into a lot of slow R&B so i dont know a lot of their songs, but of the ones ive heard my favorites probably "Busted"

SaucyFlow999, here are the track listings for their 'Beautiful Ballads' comp.

Some recognisable songs in there, including a version of Dylans - Lay Lady Lay and Van Morrisons - Brown Eyed Girl.

Brown Eyed Girl
Hello It's Me
Let's Fall In Love
You're The Key To My Heart
You're Beside Me
I Once Had Your Love (And I Can't Let Go)
Caravan Of Love
All In My Lover's Eyes
Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight
Make Me Say It Again Girl
Voyage To Atlantis
Choosey Lover
Lay Lady Lay
Don't Say Goodnight (It's Time For Love)

I like the Isley Brothers- but I prefer Bod Dylans version of Lay lady lay.

Yeah, i've heard Brown Eyed Girl and Lay Lady Lay...I like them ..also heard Let's Fall in Love which i think is pretty good to. I'll havta listen to some of the rest, maybe find a couple more. thanx for the songs.

The Isley Brothers are from Cincinnati, Ohio. Their brand of R&B with rock, soul and funk elements helped to define as a template for the Funk Rock genre.

In 1964, the group hired a young guitarist who had been in several rhythm and blues groups as a backing guitarist. His name was Jimi Hendrix but was then going by his nickname at the time, Jimmy James.

^Go for your Guns is a tremendous record. Definitely their hardest rocking, and is very reminiscent of Band of Gypsys. The Isley Bros are quite the guilty pleasure for me. Their soulful, "I wanna turn you on, baby", when they're not "fighting the power", lyrics are in such contrast to what I normally listen to that I find them very refreshing. Very talented singers and musicians that could often come up with killer melodies. Their 70s 3+3 era is where it's at.

I agree almauro, Go For Your Guns is defiantly one of their best albums. I also always liked their single Climbing Up The Ladder.;)

Thanks for the cool bit of info. I had no idea Hendrix played with the Isleys.

I love that hard funk! As much as I love the Isleys, I think Ernie was under utilized. When he was let loose, he was Eddie Hazel good...

That is cool info and sum thin I didn't know

Did he teach earnie or was it other way around

The Isley Brothers - For The Love Of You - YouTube

And this song is sampled for Masta Ace - INC Ride & 2pac - Bury Me A G

'Testify', showcased their young lead guitarist, Jimi Hendrix in 1964. Testify is often credited as being one of the first funk songs. (Recorded the same year, James Brown released "Outta Sight", which is often referred to as one of the first funk records also).
Testify is one of two singles to feature Jimi Hendrix on guitar, the other being "Move Over and Let Me Dance".

My favorite was Twist & Shout

Isley Brothers: Hope you feel better love pts 1&2 - YouTube

I feel like I am in heaven everytime Ron Isley sings. Summer Breeze, Whose That Lady, and For The Love Of You are great songs to cruise to in your car on a hot summer day.

As a Jimi Hendrix fan, Go For Your Guns including Climbing Up the Ladder (Part 1 and 2) got me into the Isley Brothers. Ernie Isley is a multi-instrumentalist, but started on the drums. Apparently Jimi Hendrix lived in the Isley home for two years, when Ernie was about 11 or 12-years-old.

Are the Isley Brothers still together does anyone know?

I like them. I think they have done a lot for the style of music that they play.

Ronnie and Ernie were making records with R. Kelly as recently as 2011. That's where they gained a rep for being the slow-jam make-out masters and some of those sides they did during that period are really good, though they are kinda stingy with Ernie's guitar. Not sure about what they are doing now, if anything.

I grew up with the Isley's during the T-Neck years in the 1970's. In addition to the excellent 'Go For Your Guns', I would also recommend '3+3' and 'The Heat is On'. The Isley's had a really nice rock edge to their music that distinguished them from a lot of the other soul funk bands of the time. Great stuff and really holds up today.

Don't forget "Sensuality" from the album "The Heat Is On"

yep.

The Isley Brothers Tour Dates 2014

The "Essential" Isley brothers
 

Twist And Shout
That Lady (Parts 1 & 2)
What It Comes Down To
Brown Eyed Girl
For The Love Of You (Parts 1 & 2)
Groove With You
Brother, Brother
Work To Do
Harvest For The World
Summer Breeze
Make Me Say It Again Girl (Parts 1 & 2)
Live It Up (Parts 1 & 2)
Fight The Power (Parts 1 & 2)
Freedom
Keep On Doin'
This Old Heart Of Mine (Is Weak For You)
Move Over And Let Me Dance
Shout (Parts 1 & 2)
Disc: 2
It's Your Thing
I Turned You On
Lay Away
Love The One You're With
Pop That Thang
Spill The Wine
Take Me To The Next Phase (Parts 1 & 2)
I Wanna Be With You (Parts 1 & 2)
The Pride (Parts 1 & 2)
Footsteps In The Dark (Parts 1 & 2)
Voyage To Atlantis
Don't Say Goodnight (It's Time For Love)(Parts 1 & 2)
Between The Sheets
Caravan Of Love
Mission To Please You
Down Low (Nobody Has To Know) - R. Kelly


So I downloaded this compilation and it seems to have just about all if the hits, but I'm wondering if I'm missing any. I also downloaded Go for your Guns, based on a suggestion on here and found out that the "essential" album didn't have hits like Climbing up the ladder and Livin Life. So what other essential tracks am I missing?

"Hope You Feel Better Love"


"Showdown"

Thanks dwill, I especially like "Hope You Feel Better Love". Ernie rips like a beast.

'Who's that lady' 'Summer breeze' and 'For the love of you' are my favorite Isley tunes.

They would be the oldest band in the world had they not broken up several times and the older brothers still lived. Technically they're still together but it's only Ronald and youngest brother, Ernie. But they don't tour. They last released an album in 2017 with Carlos Santana.