The Isley Brothers

Ronald, Rudolph, and O'Kelly Isley came roaring out of Cincinnati with "Shout Parts 1 & 2"; this 1959 rock & roll hit climaxes with a gospel-powered explosion that still gives goose bumps. The Isley Brothers jumped from label to label in the '60s, recording a handful of soul nuggets and a lot of filler (see Shout: The RCA Sessions for ample evidence). Lead singer Ronald -- a raw, rangy tenor -- and his harmonizing brothers connected only twice during their Tamla residency, but "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)" and "I Guess I'll Always Love You" number among the great lost Motown songs, and are available on 20th Century Masters. Shake It Up Baby: Shout, Twist, and Shout summarizes this period fairly well, leaving in some ragged edges along with galvanizing soul workouts like "Twist & Shout," "Respectable," and "Nobody but Me."

In retrospect, the turning point for the Isley Brothers was a young sideman they employed in the mid-'60s: Jimi Hendrix. Although he's barely noticeable on the tracks he recorded with the Isleys, Hendrix and his probing psychedelic spirit inspired younger brother Ernie Isley. When guitarist Ernie and bass-plucking Marvin joined the clan in the late '60s, the Isley Brothers constructed a bold, funky new sound to match -- a grandly appointed soul castle built on solid rock.

"It's Your Thing" established the Isleys' T-Neck label by crossing over to the pop charts. This horny blast of Stax/Volt-style swagger doesn't hint at the new direction, but subsequent R&B hits like "Lay Away," "Work to Do," and "Pop That Thang" (all from 1972) introduce fresh rhythms and stinging lead-guitar lines to the elder Isleys' rough-hewn harmony attack. And talk about cover versions! At least Stephen Stills' "Love the One You're With" and Dylan's "Lay Lady Lay" are in the Isleys' thematic ballpark; resuscitating Seals and Crofts' "Summer Breeze" qualifies as a miracle. 3+3 and the sweet summer single "That Lady" (a funkadelicized rereading of an earlier track) brought the Isley Brothers mainstream success in 1973. Here the group settles into a comfortable -- if increasingly predictable -- game plan, splitting its albums between extended party-jam throwdowns and surprisingly tight, satisfying sex ballads. It's Your Thing: The Story of the Isley Brothers is the most comprehensive overview of the Isleys' career, emphasizing the cream of the '70s crop. Disc two of the three-disc set mines the deep funk vein of "That Lady," peaking with the politicized throb of "Fight the Power." The third reflects the lusty glow of the group's later years, after beginning with the plaintive "Harvest for the World." Alongside Funkadelic and Earth, Wind & Fire, the Isley Brothers led a crucial musical movement that we've only recently begun to appreciate. Steeped in R&B tradition, the T-Neck years also recall today's metal-funk cutting edge at times, but never when the Isley Brothers are singing. Both Mission to Please and Eternal demonstrate the Isleys' continuing relevance as well as their influence on today's neosoul crop, and both feature Ronald Isley's hip-hop Mack-(grand)daddy alter ego, Mr. Biggs, concocted with R. Kelly. – Mark Coleman/Gaylord Fields

From 2004's The New Rolling Stone Album Guide