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.
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