The Isley Brothers Albums (31)
'I'll Be Home for Christmas'
Release Date 10/9/2007
Tracks 10
Label Def Soul Classics
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
The Isley Brothers' I'll Be Home for Christmas, like Patti LaBelle's Miss Patti's Christmas, was released on Def Soul Classics and produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The two albums are both ten songs in length, feature many of the same musicians, and are based mostly on interpretations -- so they go hand-in-hand, whether the intention was there or not. Sleigh bells excepted, "I'm in Love" could be mistaken for an Isley Brothers song on a normal studio album, and it sounds like it wants to break into "Harvest for the World." The other original, "What Can I Buy You," won't be threatening to replace regularly played Christmas classics anytime soon, but it doesn't seem to out of place next to the likes of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "Winter Wonderland." There's a good balance between secular and spiritual material, so the disc should appeal to just about any Isley Brothers fan who doesn't want to hear the same tired holiday music year in, year out. ~ Andy Kellman, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Ronald and Ernie Isley might be a little too old to make babies -- to be perfectly clear, father them -- but it's evident they're not too old to make baby-making music. Impressively enough, Baby Makin' Music is their third strong album of the 2000s. A lot of younger artists in their prime can't claim such a thing. R. Kelly, who wrote and produced most of 2003's Body Kiss, is present on only one song here, but the Isleys don't miss a step when it comes to staying up with the times, tapping the likes of the rising Tim and Bob -- who contributed in a minor capacity to Body Kiss -- along with Jermaine Dupri, Troy Taylor, and Bryan-Michael Cox. Electric fireworks from Ernie's guitar are more recurrent than they were on Body Kiss, but they're often buried so deep in the mix and treated in a way that makes them sound like they were made by a computer program that generates facsimiles of his style. Otherwise, there are no problems. This is a remarkably tight album filled with songs that deliver on the promise of its title, and the songs that aren't immediately memorable at least make for fitting mood music. To no surprise whatsoever, Ronald is equally seductive whether he's making amends, bragging about his exploits, or just being sweet. Hearing him sing over Gladys Knight & the Pips' 30-year-old version of Curtis Mayfield's "The Makings of You," as he does over the opening "You're My Star," is kind of bizarre if you think about it, but it's only another way of demonstrating the Isleys' enduring vitality -- across 50-plus years now. The Isley Brothers name has been responsible for hours upon hours of quality music, so this album is destined to be lost in the shuffle of their '60s and '70s material. Groups young enough to be their grandchildren would be more than proud to call it their own. ~ Andy Kellman, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Body Kiss is one of those Isley Brothers recordings. Feeling more like a return to the T Neck years than anything else, Body Kiss is an album of the prime seductive variety harking back in terms of tempo, song structure, production, and pace to releases like The Heat Is On and Harvest for the World. Produced and almost completely written by R. Kelly, Body Kiss features Ron and Ernie Isley taking the soft soul approach to decidedly urban love songs. Kelly understands the dynamics inherent in the Brothers' approach and has constructed a set of songs that plays to those strengths. While Ron's voice has lost none of its deep emotional expressionism, Ernie's guitar playing is more restrained here, though no less imaginative. There's less Hendrix and more Isley. On the title track, his dovetailing lead lines tie off the ends of Ron's sung lines and open up on to the next one. On "Superstar," his lilting tone is affected just enough to add to the rich textural palette of the vocal and basslines. "What Would You Do?" features his Stratocaster painting the vocal just enough. If seduction is the M.O. for these tunes, they flower not only in steamy eroticism, but also in honest and deeply moving romanticism. Isley makes even the most suggestive love song seem like a paean to commitment and endurance. Kelly's particular ability to write for the strength of conviction in the grain of his voice also turns back the clock on urban soul tropes but simultaneously brings the Isleys' signature sound into the 21st century. The shimmering, laid-back funk in "Prize Possession," with its tapered flute fills, is the kind of song Aaron Hall would have given his right arm to record. And in Ron Isley's silky tenor, every word is believable, no matter how macho. Body Kiss is a better Isleys record than listeners had any right to expect and it is a signature collaboration between the band and Kelly; given that this is a first outing for the team, one hopes that the creative field that exists between will be further explored. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Within seconds of listening to "Move Your Body," the opener to Eternal, the latest by the Isley Brothers, audiences will easily agree -- the forefathers of boudoir faire still have it. Forty years in the business have not chiseled away at the talented brothers: Ronald Isley's falsetto is unwavering and remains inimitable in 2001, when the R&B market is saturated. Ernie Isley soars on guitar -- "Ernie's Jam" showcases the brother playing soulful and tasty solos, à la Jimi Hendrix -- adding further sexiness to this already sensual disc. Cheaters are blatantly busted on the slithering "Contagious," where the rogue-lover is caught in the act. The words coming from the jilted are so vivid and painful. Ronald specifically describes walking toward the bedroom, hearing his lover crying out someone else's name. Ouch. While it's all about sex and pleasing a lover on the arousing "Just Like This," the disc is not just skin on skin. The album poignantly explores commitment on such romantic slow jams as "You're All I Need," "Settle Down," and the title track. An impressive roster of collaborators -- writers, performers, and producers -- grace Eternal and they span old-school and modern R&B players such as R. Kelly, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, and Jill Scott. There is nothing groundbreaking on this recording, however, the longtime R&B legends prove they're still very much worth their salt and can keep up very well with the Joneses. Indeed, the Isley Brothers are eternal. ~ Liana Jonas, All Music Guide
'Mission to Please'
Release Date 1/1/1996
Tracks 20
Label T-Neck/Island
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
On their second album of the '90s, the Isley Brothers capitalize on the smooth love ballads epitomized by crooners like Babyface, Keith Sweat, and R. Kelly. Since all three of those artists were influenced by the Isleys' classic '70s records, they were willing to come on board to produce and co-write Mission to Please. The new blood reinvigorates the Isleys, and the album is one of their strongest efforts of the latter part of their career. Mission to Please is devoted to the group's sensual side -- it's all ballads, no funk. And that's not a bad thing at all. Ronald still has a smoldering, seductive voice and Ernie is such a gifted, sympathetic guitarist that he can pull magic out of pedestrian material. Thankfully, he doesn't need to prove the truth in that statement on Mission to Please. The majority of the songs on the album are first-rate '90s contemporary R&B, and those that aren't quite as strong make for pleasing filler. As a result, Mission to Please is a testament to the talents of not only the Isley Brothers, but also their far-reaching influence -- they are fortunate to have given inspiration to such gifted songwriters and musicians as the aforementioned Babyface, R. Kelly, and Keith Sweat. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
On this album, The Isleys tried to mine the "Twist & Shout" groove for all it was worth. Produced by Bert Berns, over half the material was written or co-written by "Russell"; the same Russell who co-wrote "Twist And Shout," it was a pseudonym for Berns himself. Not that this was always necessarily a bad thing; "Twist And Shout" was a stone classic, and many of the other tunes do their best to emulate its groove with Latin rhythms and The Isleys' frayed, gospelish vocals. Some of the tracks, though, do little more than rework the basic riff, and even the ones that aren't blatant rewrites don't measure up to the hit. The ballad "Time After Time" is a nice change of pace, and the brothers are never less than energetic and entertaining, but this is really not that strong as a whole. The CD reissue on Sundazed includes three bonus tracks: the previously unreleased (and unremarkable) "Crazy Love" and the cool singles "Twistin' With Linda" and "Nobody But Me," which are easily available on Rhino's Story compilation. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
After spending the late '80s as a duo consisting of Ronald and Rudy Isley, the Isley Brothers become a trio again with Rudy's departure and the return of siblings Ernie and Marvin. Though not on a par with such classic '70s albums as Go for Your Guns, The Heat Is On and Showdown, Tracks of Life is a solid and respectable collection that benefits greatly from Angela Winbush's contributions to the songwriting. Ron sounds genuinely inspired on everything from the driving synth-funk of "Get My Licks In" and "No Axe to Grind" to sexy ballads and slow jams like "Bedroom Eyes," "Sensitive Lover" and "Lost in Your Love." With its subtle references to bondage, "Whatever Turns You On" is tastefully kinky. To be sure, the CD has its flaws -- Ron and Winbush's producing could have been less high-tech, and it's disappointing that a guitarist as magnificent as Ernie has so little room. But on the whole, the album makes it clear that in the '90s, the Isleys could still captivate. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
"Shout" is like a tent revival gone haywire, with the merest scraps of a song -- a groove and a few phrases -- igniting a soul explosion the likes of which had never been heard on record. The song was only a minor hit, but has been granted immortality for its exuberance and influence. The album of the same name, the Isley Brothers' full-length debut in 1959, shows what a gulf existed between the Isleys and their old-school producers. The menu of standards and white rock & roll songs like "Rock Around the Clock" may have worked well for someone like Brook Benton, but the Isley Brothers sound tense on these songs, like they want to break loose. Collectables' skimpy 1990 Shout! CD is a straight reissue of the album, but BMG's Shout: The RCA Sessions contains the album and several cuts from singles, making it the preferred package. ~ Greg Adams, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
This was the first album The Isley Brothers made after O'Kelly suffered a heart attack and died in 1986. It's both poignant and painful, because Ronnie demonstrates the vocal presence and soulful character that always made his ballads so vital. Angela Winbush, who later became Ronnie Isley's wife, served as background vocalist, co-composer, and producer. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide
