Archive for the ‘o’kelly isley’ Category

THE GREATEST SOUL SINGER OF ALL TIME….RONALD ISLEY

Posted: September 3, 2012 in 3+3, chris jasper, cincinnati, Dinah Washington, go for your guns, its your thing, o'kelly isley, ohio, ronald isley, rudolph isley, the isley brothers, this old heart of mine, tneck records
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In this Series of Posts, I will writing about the Artist’s who are in My “Greatest Ever Soul Singer of All-Time” Poll. 

The Poll is over to the Right of the Blog, it has been Running for a Few Month’s now, so if You haven’t already Voted, Please do so!

In these Post’s, I will write a few Facts, Figures, Stats and Interesting Stuff on the Artist in Question, I will also include a Playlist of their 20 Greatest Songs.

I will Write a Post on each Artist in Order of “Top to Bottom” of the Poll!

ARTIST NUMBER 9…………..RONALD ISLEY

Ronald Isley was Born on May 21st 1941 in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, he was the 3rd of 6 Brothers Born to Sallye and O’Kelly Isley Sr.

By the Age of 3 Ronald Isley was Singing in his Local Church, with his Older Brothers, and by the Age of 7 he was Singing on Stage with Dinah Washington.


In 1957, Ronald (at 16 Years Old) and his 2 Elder Brothers (Kelly and Rudy)  Formed “The Isley Brothers” and Moved to New York to Sing Doo-Wop for Local Record Labels, they Released a few Singles, without any Chart Success.

Then in the Summer of ’59 The Isley Brothers Wrote and Released their First Hit Record, it was Named “Shout” it was around this Period that All The Isley Family Moved to New Jersey.

During the 1960’s The Isleys Recorded several Cover Versions of other Artists Songs, around 1964 the Record Label “T-Neck” was First formed by The Isley Brothers.


By the late 60’s the Isleys were on the Tamla Motown Record Label, they had some Notable Success, with “This Old Heart Of Mine” this Track Reached Number 11 on the US Top 100 and Number 6 in the US R&B Chart, it also Charted in the UK at Number 3.


In 1969, The Isleys Released the Single “Its Your Thing” and this Turned out to be their Big Breakthrough on the US Pop Chart, it Reached Number 2, and Number 1 on the US R&B Chart, it also Charted in Uk at Number 30.

During the Early 1970’s The Isley’s had further Chart Success, and then in 1973 Epic Records started to Distribute the Isley Record’s through their Own Record Label “T-Neck Records” 

They had Formed the “T-Neck” to have more Control of their Music and Produce Themselves.


With the Move (of Record Dists)  they also Changed their Style and Added 3 Younger Members to the Band (2 More Brothers and a Cousin, Chris Jasper), they Released their Next Album, which Turned out to be One of their Best Ever “3+3”  

This Album Started a Run of either Gold or Platinum Status Albums for Nearly the Next 10 Years.


During His Career, Ronald Isley has Suffered some Highs and Lows,  He has had Heart and Kidney Problems, He was Imprisoned for Tax Evasion in 2006 and released in 2010, He has been Married Twice, First to Angela Winbush in 1993 and Divorced in 2002, and then to a Backing Singer Kandy Johnson in 2005, but this caused a Storm as He was 35 years Older then her!

Ronald Isley is a Singer, Songwriter, Composer and Producer and he Play’s the Piano and Keyboards.

THE ISLEY BROTHERS DISCOGRAPHY

 Studio Albums……………..31
Live Albums………………..3
Compilations……………….15
  Singles………………………..111 

My Favorite Isley Brothers Albums and the Best Tracks on the Album’s are as Follows:

THE ISLEY BROTHERS GREATEST SONGS

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

Posted: March 25, 2012 in chris jasper, ernie isley, Harvest for the World, isley brothers, let me down easy, marvin isley, o'kelly isley, people of today, ronald isley, rudolph isley, t-neck, who loves you better, you still feel the need
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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

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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

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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 ISLEY BROTHERS 3+3…. Part 7

Posted: October 10, 2010 in angela winbush, isley brothers, kool moe dee, o'kelly isley, ronald isley, rudolph isley, smooth sailin', spend the night
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By 1987,  The Isley Brothers were now a Duo, Comprising of  Ronald and Rudolph Isley,  following the Death of  O’Kelly Isley the Previous Year!

The two younger Brothers and a Cousin had formed Isley Jasper Isley, 3 years previous! 

The Album Release on Warners was called “Smooth Sailin’ and it was Co-Produced by Ronald and his new collaborator/Friend Angela Winbush, one Half of the Rene and Angela  Duo. These had made their last Album Together about 2 Years Previous, called “Street Called Desire” but a couple of Singles were released in 1986.

Ronald Isley went on to Manage Angela Winbush and Helped Her in  the same Year to Release her own Album Called “Sharp”, Depending where you read, I have also Read that She Managed him, so perhaps it was a Mutual Thing, whatever it was, by 1993 they were Married, He was 13 Years Her Senior!  
The Album reached Numbers 64 and 5 in US Pop and US R&B Charts!

It also contained 3 Single Releases, (R&B Chart Placings in Brackets)
Come My Way (71)
I Wish (74)

The Album Featured some Great Musicians including:
Percussion…Paulinho Da Costa
Keyboards.. Angela Winbush
Guitar.. Tony Maiden

1989 saw the Release of “Spend The Night” also on Warners Record Label.

This was the Last Album to Feature Rudolph and Ronald Together Officially, Rudolph only Worked on 2 of the Tracks, and was not even on the Album Cover, it was Basically Recognised by the Music Business as a Solo Ronald Isley Album!

By this Time Angela Winbush was Ronalds Girlfriend and She Played a Big Part in this Album, she Wrote Arranged and Composed all of the Tracks on the Album, although it was Produced by Both of Them!

The Album also Featured “Kool Moe Dee” Rapping on the Track “Come Together”

Charts Positions were as follows: US Pop Number 89 and US R&B Number 4.

It also contained 3 High US R&B Chart Placings for the following Singles:

THE ISLEY BROTHERS 3+3 Part 6

Posted: August 29, 2010 in between the sheets, chris jasper, colder are my nights, ernie isley, isley brothers, isley jasper isley, marvin isley, masterpiece, o'kelly isley, ronald isley, rudolph isley
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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!