"The Brothers: Isley" by THE ISLEY BROTHERS (1997 'Legacy Rhythm & Soul Series' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Got To Get Myself Together..."

You take one look at the three monks dressed in lurid pink on the cover on this long forgotten T-Neck Records LP from late 1969 - and you know you're in the presence of some serious dig-the-flowers-in-the-garden hippy-hoppity transcendental psychobabble (with a Funky Soul twist).

But then I think - what's wrong with that. And given the sonic evidence presented on this fantastic-sounding June 1997 CD of "The Brothers: Isley" - I'm down with the boys regardless of their garish garb. As a post Brexit Theresa May would say – bring it on baby. Here are the details...

UK released June 1997 - "The Brothers: Isley" by THE ISLEY BROTHERS on Epic/T-Neck/Legacy 487515 2 (Barcode 5099748751522) is a straightforward CD Remaster and is part of Sony’s 'Legacy's Rhythm & Soul Series'. It plays out as follows (30:41 minutes):

1. I Turned You On

2. Vacuum Cleaner

3. I Got To Get Myself Together

4. Was It Good To You?

5. The Blacker The Berrie (aka 'Black Berries')

6. My Little Girl [Side 2]

7. Get Down Off Of The Train

8. Holding On

9. Feels Like The World

Tracks 1 to 9 are their album "The Brothers: Isley" (their 2nd LP on T-Neck) - released November 1969 in the USA on T-Neck Records TNS 3002 and June 1970 in the UK on Stateside SLS 10300. Produced by Ronald, O'Kelly and Rudolph Isley - it peaked at No. 20 on the USA R&B LP charts (didn’t chart in the UK).

Produced for reissue by Leo Sacks – the 8-page inlay pictures label repro’s of American T-Neck 45s – track by track credits – new liner notes from noted Soul writer DAVID RITZ called 'The Pleasure Of Picking Berries' and the usual reissue credits. The CD itself reflects the T-Neck label of old and the album's rear sleeve is repro'd beneath the see-through CD tray. But the big news is a fantastic CD Remaster by TOM RUFF at Sony Studios from original tapes – every track kicking like a mule and full of energy - if not a little hissy in places (bit only on some tracks).

Prepping the public's appetite - T-Neck pushed three 7" singles in 1969 - all of them months prior to the LP's eventual release in November. First up came the Side 1 opener "I Turned You On" b/w "I Know Who You Been Socking It To" in May 1969 on T-Neck TN 902. The flipside was the opening track on the preceding album "It's Our Thang" which peaked at No. 2 on the USA R&B LP charts in May of that year - 1969.  "I Turned You On" was an obvious choice as a lead-off single - a fabulous funky groove where Ronnie moans that he's 'turned her on' but 'he can't turn her off' - especially when she socks it to him (you gotta feel for the man). The remaster is incredibly muscular - a tiny bit of hiss for sure but nothing that detracts from those amazing brass jabs that accompany the groove right through to its slow fade end.

For the LP's second 7" single issued August 1969 on T-Neck TN 906 - the label took the near six-minute James Brown workout that is "The Blacker The Berrie" and re-christened it "Black Berries - Part 1" and "Part 2". The two-parter peaked at No. 43 on the US R&B charts during an uncharacteristically-short four-week reign. Single number three was "Was It Good For You?" - another neck-jerking groover that's busy with guitars and brass. With "I Got To Get Myself Together" as its flipside - it peaked at a modest No. 33 on the USA R&B charts (T-Neck TN 908). With the same track combo - this was the only UK released 45 from the album - February 1970 on Stateside SS 2162 - but it did no business and was quickly deleted.

Other worthy inclusions include the "My Little Girl" is 'dynamite' Side 2 opener and the mid-tempo "Get Down Off Of The Train" - Ernie's guitar playing prominent throughout. "Holding On" could have been another 'fast' 45 - a very Blood, Sweat & Tears brass arrangement propelling it along its Funky little path (fantastic Ronnie Lead Vocal while the boys chant 'you got me holding on'). The short late 60ts album ends on my fave - "Feels Like The World". It's a slow ballad with great guitars and vocal arrangements - Chris Jasper plinking away on the piano anchoring the Soulful proceedings. I love this song - a slinky IB groove that manages to be both Funky and Soulful at the same time. "Feels Like The World" sounds like a lost classic you want to rave about as soon as possible. I'd admit that in the opening minute the transfer is hissier than I would like - but the Lead Vocal from Ronnie (he let’s rip at the end) and the musicianship quickly make mincemeat of that minor quibble...

"The Brothers: Isley" is not a balls-to-the-wall masterpiece like say - "Givin' It Back" - the covers album from 1971. But it is The Isley Brothers on T-Neck during that hallowed period - and that's all the info I need.

Don the pink ponchos lads and get down with 'The Brothers: Isley'...

"Givin' It Back" by THE ISLEY BROTHERS (1997 Epic/Legacy ‘Rhythm & Soul’ CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

and 

"...If You Can't Be With The One You Love...Love The One You're With..."

Originally released on LP in September 1971 in the USA on T-Neck TNS 2008 as an album entirely made up of cover versions - "Givin' It Back" by THE ISLEY BROTHERS is one of those Soul Nuggets that seems to have slipped through way too many nets. Because I'd argue that it's an absolute friggin' masterpiece - and one you need to own. Here are my Soulful interpretations...

1. Ohio/Machine Gun [Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young/Jimi Hendrix covers - segued as one track - 9:13 minutes]

2. Fire And Rain [James Taylor cover - 5:29 minutes]

3. Lay Lady Lay [Bob Dylan cover - 10:22 minutes]

4. Spill The Wine [War cover] – Side 2

5. Nothin' To Do But Today [Stephen Stills cover]

6. Cold Bologna [Bill Withers cover - also features BW on Guitar]

7. Love The One You're With [Stephen Stills cover]

Tracks 1 to 7 are the studio LP "Givin' It Back" – released September 1971 in the USA on T-Neck Records TNS-3008 (no UK release). It peaked at No. 13 on the US R&B charts.

The 1st reissue of it onto CD came as part of Epic's "Legacy Rhythm & Soul Series" in June 1997 on Epic/Legacy 487513 2 (Barcode 5099748751324) - a straightforward remaster with no bonus tracks and a 12-page booklet (41:56 minutes). The liner notes are by CLAYTON RILEY (did booklets for Legacy reissues on Gamble & Huff and Phyllis Hyman) and the mastering is by TOM RUFF at Sony. The sound quality is wonderful - power and clarity that leaps out of the speakers at you without being trebled up the nines for the sake of it. It's a superb remaster and adds hugely to your enjoyment of the music.

Containing only 7 tracks - all of which were cover versions of contemporary Rock & Soul acts of the day - it was a good idea to begin with because whenever the Isley Brothers got their chops around other people's tunes - they always seemed to bring more to them - even outdo them at times. The album opens with a stunning double-whammy - the running together of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's "Ohio" with Jimi Hendrix's "Machine Gun". Combining a truly impassioned vocal from Ronnie Isley with Ernest Isley's Prince-like lead guitar - "Ohio" (written by Neil Young) chronicles the shooting dead of 4 students at Kent University in April 1970 who were protesting peacefully against the Vietnam War. It's impossible not to be moved by it. At one point Ronnie screams, "...Tell Me Why!" against the mantra of "...Four Dead In Ohio..." sung in the background. It's a nine-minute Soul powerhouse that brings customers to the counter in Reckless every single time we play it - amazing stuff.

Next up is James Taylor's "Fire And Rain" completely reworked into a different Soul groove with a clever echoed-vocal on the lead. The pace is funky-slow to start with - then at about 2 minutes - the acoustic guitars kick in (similar to the opening of "Harvest For The World") and it brings the song to life. It still retains the languid and melancholic vibe of the original, but now extends it into a five and half minute Soul workout. It's lovely stuff and a brilliant reinterpretation. Side 1 of the original LP then ends with a cover of Dylan's "Lay Lady Lay" which at 10:21 minutes length and none-too-different arrangements - sounds nice - but probably overstays its welcome a bit.

Side 2 opens with a cover of War's "Spill The Wine" which was lifted as 7" single on T-Neck 932 (its B-side was "Take Inventory" from the 1970 album "Get Into Something"). It sticks close to that great War sound, but it's also superb in its slinky delivery. It's followed with the first of two Stephen Stills covers from his debut "Stephen Stills" album (1970) - "Nothing To Do But Today" and the superlative "Love The One You're With". The first is funked-up as only the Isleys can (great track) - while their take on the sublime "Love The One You're With" arguably outshines the original (lyrics above). The curio in the seven is a Bill Withers original called "Cold Bologna" which also features the great man himself on Lead Guitar. As far as I'm aware it's not on any of Bill's studio albums (there's a version on the classic 2LP set "Live At Carnegie Hall") and is therefore an exclusive here.

Since its initial release, this original CD has become something of a pricey rarity. However, it's available cheaply in the 2008 5CD "Original Classic Albums" mini box set along with other gems like "Brother, Brother, Brother" from 1972 and "3 + 3" from 1973. The mini box set gives you 5 card repro sleeves (the other 2 albums are "The Brothers: Isley" and "Get Into Something" - both from 1970) with the liner notes downloadable from Sony's website. See separate review.

To sum up - "Givin' It Back" is a criminally forgotten release - a ridiculously good album that cries out for rediscovery. Get it whatever way you can and enjoy...