It’s Friday! It’s the end of the week and the start of the weekend. We have been highlighting the musical works of The Isley Brothers.
**** I know how much everyone loved the midriff… it’s baaaaaaacccckkkk!!!****
In 1983, they revamped their sound, adding more synthesizers and drum programming. The result, Between the Sheets, returned the group to R&B; success especially with its title track, written by Ernie and Marvin, which peaked at number-three on the R&B; chart. After failing to come to terms with musical direction, feeling fatigued from monetary problems, and straining from the changing times in the music industry, the group splintered when younger brothers Ernie and Marvin and brother-in-law Chris Jasper left to form their own group, the modestly successful Isley-Jasper-Isley. The elder brothers carried on as a trio until after the release of 1985’s Masterpiece. Shortly after its release, O’Kelly Isley, Jr. fell ill and succumbed to a heart attack brought on by a bout with cancer on March 31, 1986. He was just 48 years old. The death of Kelly Isley stunned the family. By the late 1980s, the group had hired Angela Winbush to be an honorary Isley Brothers member and she produced the group’s Smooth Sailin’ and Spend the Night. Before the latter album’s release, in 1989, Rudolph Isley announced his retirement from show business to become an evangelical minister leaving Ronald to carry on as a solo artist, finding success in a pop duet with Rod Stewart covering the Isleys’ hit, “This Old Heart of Mine”.
Between the Sheets – 1983
https://www.youtube.com/v/glhdcJ7K3XM?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0
Reformation of the Isley Brothers and renewing success: 1991-2003
In 1991, Pullman Bonds made a deal with the Isley Brothers founders Rudolph and Ronald Isley and the estate of O’Kelly Isley, Jr. to give the group unearned royalties from their extensive catalog. That same year, the surviving two brothers sued Michael Bolton accusing the singer of copyright infringement for singing their 1964 song, “Love is a Wonderful Thing”, which they wrote, without their permission. While Bolton insisted he didn’t steal from the group, a judge awarded damages to Rudolph and Ronald after noting that while their songs, with the same titles, were different, elements of the songs were similar to each other. Bolton tried overturning the ruling on appeal in 2001 but was again defeated in court and was forced to share writing credits of his hit with the brothers. This success revamped interest in the Isley Brothers and while Rudolph insisted on staying retired, Ronald, Ernie Isley and Marvin Isley reformed the group. The group’s billing was also slightly changed to The Isley Brothers featuring Ronald Isley to reflect Ronald’s desire to be seen as the group’s dominant leader. Later that year, they released the album, Tracks of Life.
https://www.youtube.com/v/Kd2sOqbIcaM?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0
