THE ISLEY BROTHERS
The Heat Is On
Harvest for the World
(Epic/Legacy)
The Isley Brothers have been R&B's most dependable hit machine for nearly fifty years. They've charted singles in every decade, from the 50s to the 90s, and may yet do so again in the 2000s. They've been responsible for classic hits and definitive soul records under nine presidents, but they were never as on fire, creatively and commercially, as they were in the 70s. Brothers O'Kelly, Rudolph and Ronald Isley (possessor of one the greatest voices in R&B) invited their younger siblings Marvin (bass) and Ernie (guitar and drums), along with keyboardist/brother-in-law Chris Jasper, to join not only as musicians but as writers and co-producers. Though they'd been backing the others since 1969, given fuller rein the university-trained younger Isleys brought the funk with them in a big way, not to mention synth-textures, politicized lyrics and Ernie's firebreathing six-string stylings (influenced by, but not derivative of, one-time house guest Jimi Hendrix). They scored immediately with 1973's 3 + 3, which featured the stone classic single "That Lady," setting a pattern by featuring Ronald's soulful moaning over Ernie's molten liquid leads. After that initial success they burned through several records in quick succession on their own T-Neck label. Following up the box set It's Your Thing: The Story of the Isley Brothers, Epic/Legacy now remasters and reissues two of the Isleys' Me Decade best.

The group's first number one album, 1975's The Heat Is On starts off with an immediate bang with "Fight the Power," one of the band's biggest hits and stankiest grooves. Over a headlong rush toward funk nirvana, Ronald lashes out at The Man, concluding "And when I rolled with the punches/I got knocked to the ground/By all this bullshit goin' down," despite the insistent rhythm's attempt to raise his spirits. "Hope You Feel Better Love" and the title track continue the groove assault, with Ernie contributing particularly fiery solos that make the case for him being the great lost guitar hero of the 70s. The final tracks, "Make Me Say It Again Girl," "Sensuality" and the hit "For the Love of You" perfect Ronald's love-me-all-over-slow stance; their excessive length makes them perfect for boudoir antics, if not as good for casual listening. The reissue caps off with a frantic live cut of "Fight the Power."

Following up a number one album is always difficult, but the Isleys proved equal to the challenge on 1976's Harvest for the World. The title track's brooding lyrics wonder "When will there be a harvest for the world?" but the light, EWF-like melody gives the track a positive spin. The frowning words/funky music trend continues on the clavinet-driven "People of Today," with Ronald singing "Livin' in a fantasy/Are you seein' all there is to see?" over burbling rhythms. The brothers go back to heartbeats and bed sheets on the groovin' "Who Loves You Better," on which Ronald practically duets with Ernie's psychedelic guitar figures. The ballads take over for a couple of tracks, and are fairly indistinguishable from each other, but Harvest ends with two of the band's best but least heralded tracks: the curious lite funk of "So You Wanna Stay Down," in which Ronald chastises his baby because "You refuse to be happy" and reminds her to "Just keep on dreamin'," and the greasier groove of "You Still Feel the Need," which seems to be a criticism of divorce. This version of the record ends with a live take on the Isleys' strangely beautiful version of Seals & Crofts' wimp rock signpost "Summer Breeze."

Harvest for the World doesn't have a towering classic like The Heat Is On's "Fight the Power," but it may be the more consistently rewarding record. Both are highly recommended for funk and soul fans. Considering that the Isley Brothers cranked out a number of consistently fine LPs during the decade, hopefully this will be the tip of the iceberg. When do we get remasters of 3 + 3, Live It Up and Go For Your Guns? Michael Toland

For fans of: Earth, Wind & Fire, the Ohio Players, the Commodores