The Isleys, circa 1962
Annie Van Auken | Planet Earth | 07/15/2008
(3 out of 5 stars)
"There were originally four Isley brothers: Ronald, Rudolph, O'Kelly, and Vernon, who was killed in 1955 in a bicycling accident. Tenor Ronald became the group leader from then on. The Isleys initial 1957 doo wop recordings were failures. During a concert two years later, they added the phrase "you make me wanna shout" to their cover of "Lonely Teardrops" which got a good audience response. An RCA exec who was at the show signed the boys, asking them to do a song based on that single line. They came up with the call-and-response "Shout," which never broke the Top 40, but has been covered many times and is now considered a classic.
The Isleys' take of the Topnotes "Twist and Shout" climbed the pop charts after the Beatles covered it. Their "Nobody But Me" was successful for The Human Beinz, and even Lulu did well with her version of "Shout." Throughout a long career, the brothers' popularity in the US never equalled their European success, despite several decently charting singles.
The 19 early 1960s tracks on COLLECTABLES' THE BEST OF THE ISLEY BROTHERS are a reflection of their time, and feature such once-popular dances as the Twist, Watusi and Snake. These early sides really can't be called their "best" work-- "Shout" isn't here, nor is their biggest hit, the funky "It's Your Thing" from 1969. "Who's That Lady," from 1973 is also missing.
ISLEY TRIVIA--
They were originally a gospel quartet.
Jimi Hendrix cut his first sides with the Isleys in 1964, as a backup guitarist named Jimmy James.
During their Motown period, the songwriting team of Holland-Dozier-Holland wrote the Top 20 single "This Old Heart of Mine" for the Isleys.
The three performing brothers became five with the addition of younger siblings Ernie and Marvin, in 1969.
In 2006, Ronald Isley was sentenced to 3 years in federal prison for tax evasion. He was also ordered to pay the IRS $3.1 million.
For another sampling of the Sceptor/Wand/Musicor catalog, check out COLLECTABLES' 25 track THE BEST OF TOMMY HUNT compilation."
Track Listings (19) - Disc #1