FUNKY-SOUL-VINYLS CLASSIC SOUL AND FUNK ALBUMS OF THE 60's 70's and 80's # 19

In this Series of Posts, I will writing about a Particular Classic Soul/Funk Album from the 60's 70's and 80's

The LP's that stand out in my Mind, as The Best Albums ever Released. All of them, I have purchased on Vinyl many Years ago and now have them on CD or Download today.

You may have Differing view's (as we all do) on these Choices, but these are my Favorites!

#19.......THE ISLEY BROTHERS.......HARVEST FOR THE WORLD


In May of 1976, The Isley Brothers  Released their 14th Studio Album on Their Own T-Neck Record Label, it was Called "Harvest For The World"

I can Quite clearly Remember Walking to the Record Shop (Airfield Tapes & Records 2) in our Town, to Buy this Album.


What a Great Album this is, No Sub-Standard Track's, Great Ballads and Typical Isley Brothers Uptempo Track's!


It was Recorded at The Record Plant Recording Studios in Los Angeles, All the Track's were Written, Arranged, Composed and Produced by The Isley Brothers (including Chris Jasper).


The Album Sold 1/2 Million Copies within 3 Weeks of its Release, and eventually went Platinum! 

Track Listing:

1. "Harvest for the World (Prelude)" - 2:10
2. "Harvest for the World" - 3:53
3. "People of Today" - 4:40
4. "Who Loves You Better" - 5:32
5. "(At Your Best) You Are Love" - 5:24
6. "Let Me Down Easy" - 6:31
7. "So You Wanna Stay Down" - 3:52
8. "You Still Feel the Need" - 4:52

The Album Reached Number 9 in the US Billboard Pop Chart, and Number 1 on the US Soul Album Chart, it also Peaked at Number 50 in the UK Pop Album Chart.


3 Singles were Released from the Album, Positions as follows:


                                       US Pop   US R&B   US Dance
Harvest for the World           63           9             -
Who Loves You Better         47           3             2
People of Today                     -            -              3

What a Great Voice "Ronald Isley" has, He would be in My Top 5 Soul Singer's!


My Favorite Tracks on the Album and in Order of Preference:


Track's  5, 3  and Track 2.

Personnel

• Ronald Isley: lead and background vocals
• O'Kelly Isley, Jr.: background vocals (lead vocals on "Let Me Down Easy")
• Rudolph Isley: background vocals (lead vocals on "You Still Feel the Need")
• Ernie Isley: guitars, drums, percussion, congas, timbales, maracas
• Marvin Isley: bass, cowbell, woodblock, percussion
• Chris Jasper: piano, keyboards, ARP synthesizer, clavinet, tambourine, percussion

Here's a Great In-Depth Blog Post concerning the "Harvest For the World" Album, its written by DereksMusic Blog! 

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THE RACER & STONE COLD LOVER!

This must have been somewhere around Autumn time in 1982, I was still working in the Great Yarmouth Branch of the Co-op Butchery, and doing the odd day's relief Work at the Caister Shop.


Then one day the shop Manager of the Caister Shop, "Derrick" asked me if I would like to do some Work in his Shop on a Permanent basis (as he thought I was a Good Reliable Worker), if he could get it Sorted with Head -Office, I said "Yes" straightaway, as I said in previous Post, I did not like my usual Shop Manager in Great Yarmouth!


So after a couple of weeks I started permanently working at the Caister branch, on a Monday, Wednesday & Friday, I had 2 Days off a Week & I did 2 days in the Yarmouth Branch.

I was still Cycling to work, so about 8/9 miles per day, 3 times per week, I must have been quite Fit!


But by this time around September/October time, it used to Rain a bit, so I had to wear Water-proof Trousers and Jacket, most days, Christ I used to Sweat, I thought I had done a days Work before I even got to work!  


I remember my Bike at that time, it was a Racer with 10 gears, it was painted Metallic Blue with Yellow Trim and Handle-bars, I had that Bike for several years, and later when I moved jobs , I still Cycled to work in Great Yarmouth, I must have clocked up Thousand's of Miles on that Racer!


I Loved that Bike, nearly as much as The Wife!

Music around this time, one Great Album I remember Buying was "The Real Deal" by The Isley Brothers, it was on the "Epic" Record label and Produced by Ronald and Rudolph Isley.


It had a Great Couple of Tracks, (both Featuring  Great Guitar Playing by Ernie)   "All In My Lovers Eye"  but my Favorite was "Stone Cold Lover" this was a Rockier Track, I still play that Track quite often now!


Incidentally the Album got to number 9 in the US R&B Chart.

DOWNLOAD "THE REAL DEAL" ALBUM

THE ISLEY BROTHERS 3+3.... Part 9 (and final)

In 2001, The Isley Brothers Released their 28th Studio Album "Eternal" it was 5 Years since the Last Album and the First Isley Album in over 10 Years as a Duo with Ernie joining Main-stay Ronald, Marvin had left the  Previous  Year with Diabettes (later Marvin was to lose Both of his Legs through this Illness and later Die).

The 14 Track Album was on "Dreamworks Records" (which was Part Owned by Steven Spielberg), and aimed at a Younger Audience, with "R Kelly" Writing and Producing, in fact R Kelly wrote the song "Contagious" for this Album, which turned out to be The Isleys Biggest Selling Single in nearly 20 Years!

Other Producers on the Album were Ronald Isley, Jill Scott, Jam and Lewis, Raphael Saadiq and Angela Wimbush (she had a much smaller part on the Album and by the following year, her and Ronald Isley were Divorced)

The Platinum Selling Album reached the following Chart Positions in US Pop Number 3 and US R&B Number 1.

Single Wise, there was 2 Releases "Contagious" and "Secert Lover" Contagious got to Number 3 in US R&B Charts!

A Couple of other Points concerning this Album,  A Great Cover Version of the "Chicago" Hit "If You Leave Me Now" and the Backing Singers "JS" (The Johnson Sisters) about 4 Years later "Ronald Isley" would Marry one of the Sisters!

By Early 2002, Ronald had Divorced Angela Wimbush after nearly 10 Years of Marriage! so she would not Feature on the forth-coming 12 Track Album "Body Kiss" in 2003.

The Isleys were still a Duo, but Nearly all Writing, Arranging and Production was Handed over to "R Kelly"and the Result was, The Isleys had their Biggest Album for Nearly 30 Years, it was Number One in US Pop and R&B Charts!

The Album was again on "Dreamworks" but as it turned out this would be the Last Album with them, and it Attained Gold Status!

Surprisingly the 2 Single Releases (What Would You Do and Busted), only got minor Chart Placings!

2 Tracks Featured other Notable Artists including "Busted" which Featured "JS" and "I Like" which Featured "Snoop Dogg"

During 2004, Ronald Isley was on Tour in the UK,When he Suffered a Mild Stroke, which led to the Tour being Cancelled!

In September 2005, Ronald Isley Shocked most People by Marrying one of His Backing Singers, Kandy Johnson, she was  half of the Duo "JS"  She was 28 Years of Age and Ronald by now was 63!

By 2006, The Last Isley Brothers Album to Date, was Released (unless you count His Solo Album which was Released in November of this Year), It was Entitled "Baby Makin' Music" on on the Def Soul Record Label.

After the Success of the "R Kelly" influenced Previous Album, many People were Surprised to see his only involvement on this Album, was a Duet on the Track "Blast Off"

The 11 Track Album, had Multi Producers and Charted High in US Pop (5) and US R&B Charts (1).

It contained 1 Single Release "Just Came Here To Chill" which only faired modestly in Charts.

Much of the Album was Dedicated by Ronald Isley to his new Wife!

As for other Albums Released by The Isley Brothers During the 2000's, there were Several Compilations and in 2007 there was a Christmas Release "I'll Be Home For Christmas"

As you are Probably aware Ronald Isley was Charged and Convicted of Tax Evasion about 3 Years ago, this Charge related to the Period from 1976 to 1996, He was Sentenced to Prison for 37 Months to which he served and was Finally Released on April 13th this Year.

Since His Release has he been Busy Recording His First Solo Album, which has now been Released, its called "MR I"

He was also Honoured at The Soul Train Awards 

Download some ISLEY BROTHERS
"ETERNAL"
"BODY KISS"
"BABY MAKIN' MUSIC"

Photo edit by my Grandaughter--Jessica

THE ISLEY BROTHERS 3+3.... Part 8

2 Years had passed since the Last Album Release "Spend The Night" in 1989, The First Isley Brothers Release of the 90's in 1991, was entitled "Tracks Of Life" it Featured Ronald with Younger Brothers Ernie and Marvin, this was First Album in nearly a Decade to  include the Younger Isley's.

It also turned out to be the Last Studio Album on Warner Brothers Records and the Last Studio Album for about 5 Years, the Album included 14 Tracks (a big change from previous Releases which normally had no more than 7/8 Tracks) it was also again Produced by Ron Isley along with Girlfriend "Angela Wimbush"

It reached Number 140 in US Pop Chart and Number 19 in US R&B Chart.

It contained 2 Single Releases with US R&B Positions in brackets:

"Whatever Turns You On" (46)

"Sensitive Lover" (24)

For the next few years, Ron Isley/ Isley Brothers were very Quiet Musical Wise, in 1993 2 things happened though, firstly Warners Released a "Isleys Live Album" which included 11 Hits and a 4/5 Song Medley, this was Produced by R.I and Angela Wimbush, and the Second thing to happen in '93 was, Ron Isley Married Angela Wimbush!

1996 marked a Comeback for The Isley Brothers Featuring Ronald Isley, after no Studio Albums for 5 years, (but plenty of work Guesting on others Artists Albums) the Album "Mission to Please" was Released, it contained All Ballads (10) and  was the the one and only Album to be Released on Island Records!

It was a return to Commercial Success, with the Album attaining "Platinum" Status, their first Album in 13 years to Achieve this, it also Reached 31 in US Pop Chart and Number 2 in US R&B Chart. 

In the previous few years Ron Isley had featured on a few Tracks with R Kelly etc  this had brought The Isleys to the attention of a Younger Audience, so when this Album was made a lot of Younger Musicians amd Singers were Featured, Babyface, Keith Sweat, R Kelly etc , alongside Marvin and Ermie Isley, and of course "New Wife" Angela Wimbush!

Another thing Ron Isley had introduced in several R Kelly Single Releases was a Video Villain by the name of "Mr Biggs" this had started in the Single "Down Low" and this Character has continued for the rest of his Ron Isley's  recording career!

The Album contained several Great Ballads, including US Pop and US R&B Positions in brackets):

"Lets Lay Together" a collaboration with R Kelly (93 and 24) 

"Tears" written by "BabyFace" (55 and 12)

"Floating on Your Love" a Duet Angela Wimbush (47 and 14)

Download the Albums:

"Tracks of Life"

"Live"

"Mission To Please"

"Selection of Isley Brothers Music"

THE ISLEY BROTHERS 3+3 Part 6

Between 1983 & 1985 The Isley's  released 2 Studio Albums & one  Greatest Hits (Volume 1) Album, this Greatest Album went Double Platinum, the Last Album on the Epic/T-Neck Record Label!

In 1983 "Between The Sheets" was Released, the last Studio Album on Epic/T-Neck. This also went Platinum!

It reached Number 19 & 1  in the US Pop & R&B Charts.

Isley Cousin Chris Jasper was inspired to co-write (with Ernie) "Between The Sheets" after hearing the "Marvin Gaye" Song  Sexual Healing!

When Brothers Ronald Ernie & Cousin Chris were recording "Between The Sheets" & "Choosey Lover" Older Brothers O'Kelly & Rudolph were not Present & did not like the Finished Tracks either and this lead to Bad Feeling's towards the Younger Brothers.

There were 3 Single Releases from the Album, the two above Tracks  "I Need Your Body" "Between the Sheets " Reached Number 3 in US R&B Charts  & "Choosey Lover" Reached Number 6, while "I Need you Body" Failed to Chart!

This Album would be the Last Album with all 6 Members of "The Isleys" being  involved, by the following Year 1984, Tensions between the Older & Younger Isleys got so Bad that the Younger Members left to form Isley Jasper Isley!

1985 saw the release of the Album "Masterpiece" The Isleys were  for the first time since 1973 back as a Trio, although as it turned out, this would be the last time ever the 3 Older Isleys would record together, as in March of the following Year (1986) , O'Kelly Died of an Heart Attack!

This Album was The Isleys First for Warner Brothers after a Switch from Epic, it also had a Big difference from Previous Releases, it only Contained one Track written by The Isleys, out of Nine!

Four of the Songs were also Cover Versions from other Recording  Artistes including::

If Leaving Me Is Easy................Phil Collins
Most Beautiful Girl.....................Charlie Rich
Stay Gold....................................Stevie Wonder
My Best Was Good Enough.......Patti Labelle  

The Album did not Fair to well in Charts either, Number 140  & 19 in US Pop & R&B Charts!

The Two Single releases were, "May I" which reached number 42 in US R&B Chart & the Best Track on Album "Colder Are My Nights" which reached Number 12 in US R&B Chart.

DOWNLOAD SOME GREAT ISLEY BROTHERS MUSIC!         

Music Playlist at MixPod.com