Date: Tuesday, May 11, 2010, 2:44 am
By: Tonya Pendleton,
BlackAmericaWeb.com There are few voices in music as distinct as Ronald Isley’s. As the frontman for the legendary Isley Brothers, the 68-year-old has had one of the longest running careers in R&B history. The group’s hit records have spanned six consecutive decades – the only music act to ever do so – and some of the most iconic music in the R&B spectrum.
That stellar career was interrupted when Isley was convicted of tax evasion charges, eventually serving over a year in jail. Now out and ready to return to action, Isley will join Tom Joyner and the crew on the Fantastic Voyage 2010.
To welcome him back home, we took a trip down Memory Lane through the Isleys catalogue to honor some of the quintessential music he’s made. Here are some of Ron Isley and the Isley Brothers’ best cuts.
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“HELLO, IT’S ME” (1974) – This song about a married man lamenting the time he can’t spend with his love was originally written and recording by rocker Todd Rundgren. While it became Rundgren’s most famous song, it’s also one of Ronald Isley and the Isley Brothers’ great classic recordings of the 70’s, appearing on their 1974 album, “Live It Up.” Rundgren’s version did become a AM radio hit, but Ronald Isley’s plaintive vocals turn the sadness of the song up a notch to truly become one of his most memorable vocal performances.
“BETWEEN THE SHEETS” (1983) – If you were born in 1984, chances are very good you were conceived to this song. This may be the ultimate lovemaking record, and out of a repertoire of sensual songs, this one was not just a sure seduction tool; it’s also one of the Isley Brothers’ most successful. Not only did it help the Isley’s album of the same name go platinum, and hit number-three on the R&B charts; the song has been sampled over 30 times and is one of the most recognizable beats in hip-hop. The hits “Big Poppa” by Notorious B.I.G., “Funkdafied” by DaBrat, “Luxurious” by Gwen Stefani, “The Most Beautifullest Thing In The World” by Keith Murray and “Ignorant Sh—t” by Jay-Z all use this sample.
“FOR THE LOVE OF YOU (PT. 1 and 2)” (1975) – Ronald Isley is at his best on this song, which avows eternal devotion to a beloved. It just shows how versatile Isley is. He’s as alluring on a unabashedly romantic love song as he is on an overtly sexual one, like the group’s monster hit “Between the Sheets.” This song was covered by Whitney Houston on her second studio album, “Whitney.” Legend has it that this song was recorded in two takes and that the first was accidentally erased. Could you tell that Ronald Isley was upset that the first take didn’t work out? Doesn’t sound like it to us.
“HARVEST FOR THE WORLD” (1976) – While the Isley Brothers are legitimately known for their love songs, they’ve had several hits with socially conscious messages, including “Fight the Power,” and “It’s Your Thing.” But “Harvest for the World” is one of their strongest messages and most powerful songs. The song is about world peace and unity, something that is as compelling in this day and time as it was when it was originally recorded. Their album of the same name, released in 1976, was one of the Isley Brothers’ fastest-selling records ever.
“SENSUALITY PT. 1 and 2” (1975) and “GROOVE WITH YOU” (1978) – The Isleys made so many great songs that it’s almost impossible to make a list of all their definitive ones. Even their album cuts were superior. Take “Sensuality Pt. 1 and 2″ off their 1975 album, “The Heat Is On.” It’s one of the most romantic records ever created. As you pay homage to Ronald Isley’s superlative vocals, you have to also give credit to the entire group of brothers for their songwriting. The brothers must have had a lot of lovemaking on their minds to craft such memorably romantic songs. “Groove With You” is a similarly sexy cut from the masters of the slow groove, from their 1978 “Showdown” album. Choosing between these two cuts is like choosing between Cristal or Dom Perignon – they’re both delicious.
“FOOTSTEPS IN THE DARK” (1977) – One more classic cut from the genius of Ronald Isley seems redundant, but in truth, there are very few records he sang on that weren’t classic. To give things perspective, the “Essential Isley Brothers” collection has 34 songs on it. “Footsteps in the Dark,” from 1977’s “Go For Your Guns,” is another such record. Once again concerned with intimate relationships, this cut deals with the pain of infidelity and found new life in 1993 as the basis for the Ice Cube hit, “It Was A Good Day.”
“DOWN LOW (NOBOBY HAS TO KNOW)” (1996) – Before all the controversy that may have derailed R. Kelly’s brilliant career, he collaborated with Ronald Isley on this instant classic. The song and video introduced Isley as “Mr. Biggs,” the name the hip-hop community would come to know him by. This record helped Kelly’s career ascension and gave the Isleys their first hit since the 80s. More importantly, it brought Ronald Isley into the hold of the hip-hop community. The video further established Isley as a pop culture icon as the Biggs character, who objected violently to Kelly’s affair with his woman, played by Garcelle Beauvais. The song is featured on the “R. Kelly” CD. The video is inspired by the little-known Kevin Costner movie “Revenge,” which plays out a similar scenario.
“CONTAGIOUS” (2001) – R. Kelly and Mr. Biggs, – ahem, Ronald Isley – had a fruitful collaboration. The two worked on several songs, including “Showdown” on Kelly’s 2003 “Chocolate Factory” CD. But “Contagious” would be another huge hit for the duo, and once again, the down-low was involved. This time, Biggs’ love for his “contagious” woman would blind him to the fact that she was seeing someone else. I mean, how can a man make the one word “contagious” contain such layers of sadness, anger, pain, lust and hope all at once? Well, in Isley’s capable hands, it can mean all those things. The song was written and produced by Kelly, with guest vocals by Chante Moore. It helped the Isley Brothers’ “Eternal” CD go multiplatinum – and probably inspired Kelly’s “Trapped In the Closet” series.
