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From the Vault...
04/13/2008
#1094 |
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info
Isley Brothers
"The Isley Brothers Story-Volume 2: The T-Neck Years (1969-85)"
© Rhino Records
Year of Release: 1991
Rating:
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track listing
Disc One:
It's Your Thing
I Turned You On
Love The One You're With
Spill The Wine
Lay-Away
Pop That Thang
Work To Do
That Lady
If You Were There
What It Comes Down To
Summer Breeze
Live It Up
Pts. 1 & 2
Midnight Sky
Pts. 1 & 2
Fight The Power
Pts. 1 & 2
For The Love Of You
Pts. 1 & 2
Disc Two:
Harvest For The World
Who Loves You Better
The Pride
Pts. 1 & 2
Footsteps In The Dark
Pts. 1 & 2
Livin' In The Life
Take Me To The Next Phase
Pts. 1 & 2
Groove With You
I Wanna Be With You
Pts. 1 & 2
Don't Say Goodnight
(It's Time For Love)
Pts. 1 & 2
Inside You
Between The Sheets
Choosey Lover
Caravan Of Love
(Isley Jasper Isley)
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Isley Brothers
"The Isley Brothers Story-Volume 2: The T-Neck Years (1969-85)"
The legacy of The Isley Brothers continues, as their
Volume 1 set
was reviewed on our website, back in March, 2000. Their Volume 2: The
T-Neck Years (1969-85) 2-disc set captures their music at their most
popular, as they were one of the best R&B/Soul acts to emerge in music, and
creating music that is still being enjoyed decades later.
The first disc captures the Isleys' music from 1969-1975. "It's Your
Thing" and "That Lady" are the most remembered for me, and "That
Lady" was also recorded on the Isleys' Volume 1 set. Both versions
are different, as the previous version was recorded during the 1950s, with the
common doo-wop '50s style, where the '70s version is purely much better, a
soulful classic.
"I Turned You On" has a James Brown/Joe Tex feel. Stephen Stills
originally recorded "Love The One You're With"; the Isleys' version
has a more funk style. Eric Burdon & War originally recorded "Spill The
Wine"; the difference is Burdon talked the main lyrics, the Isleys sang it.
"Lay-Away" is another funkified tune; "Pop That Thang"
compares to the likes of "It's Your Thing," but much slower-paced.
"Work To Do" is one of those songs most remembered when the main chorus
is heard. "If You Were There" was best remembered for me, by Wham!
from their Make It Big release. Nice and soulful has "When It Comes
Down To". "Summer Breeze" is the Seals & Crofts hit; the Isleys'
version is much different than original, hardly recognized until the melody is
heard.
There are my two-parter songs on this compilation (ie: long versions).
"Live It Up Pts. 1 & 2" has the Disco sound, as this type of music was
just starting to merge in 1974. "Midnight Sky" goes back to the soulful
Isleys, as heard on "Who's That Lady." "Fight The Power Pts. 1 &
2" returns back to Disco. "For The Love Of You Pts. 1 & 2" is a
nice, slow, soulful ballad.
The second disc captures the Isleys' music from 1976-1985. "Harvest For
The World" has a nice, upbeat and soulful sound, likewise "Who Loves You
Better." Disco returns on "The Pride." As I first listen to
"Footsteps In The Dark," I recognize the melody from a more recent rap
artist, as this song must have been sampled, or used. (Looking it up, it was
used by rapper Ice Cube -- "It Was A Good Day.") Overall, the Isleys'
provide a great slow, soulful jam sound on this one.
Disco funk/soul has "Livin' In The Life" and more Disco on "Take
Me To The Next Phase." "Groove With You" is a nice, slow, soulful
ballad. Disco (and more comparing to the Commodores "Vrick House" Disco
sound has the groove going on "I Wanna Be With You." More beautiful,
soulfulness for the ballad is heard on "Don't Say Goodnight (It's Time For
Love) Pts. 1 & 2." The sexy "Inside You" is funky Disco, and the
last 3 songs are soulful, grooving and sexy as well: "Between The
Sheets," "Choosey Lover," and "Caravan Of Love."
The Isley Brothers Story Volume 2: The T-Neck Years (1969-85) is a
great collection of the Isleys' music. It's amazing how both Volumes change
with the times in music. Both volumes are a great introduction to their music.
I don't remember a lot of their major hits, other than "Who's That Lady"
and "It's Your Thing," but the rest of their songs are very entertaining
to listen to. The Isleys still continue to record. They've had two #1 albums
(surprisingly, they never had a #1 hit record on the Billboard Pop chart.
Their #1 albums were The Heat Is On (1975), and most recently, Body
Kiss (2003). Volume 2 has alot of heat: Great soulful, funky, tunes
to keep the grooves going.
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