3 & 3: Isley Brothers. CBS 474154.

Reviewed by Rod McCoon.

Growing up in the record biz: back in 1958 the Isleys were a bunch of bush niggers that RCA didn't have a clue how to record. Finally they handed them over to two Italian producers who'd had some previous success with novelty acts. Give these wildmen some stuff like "The Saints Go Marching In" and see what happens. The resulting LP (recently reissued) was truly wierd. It was a bit like watching Red Riding Hood walking the wolf. The Isleys simply gobbled cornball arrangements right up and turned the whole thing into a revival meeting. That contract produced one classic called "Shout". No, John Stier, Lulu did not do the original version.

Three years later the Isleys turned up on Wand records. One more classic "Twist and Shout". Its fascinating to hear how George Harrison copied the Isleys horn break note for note in the Beatles version. Fascinating also to hear how the Beatles need three breaths to get the high note that O'Keefe Isley gets in one amazing whoop.

Three years later they signed with Motown. Endless hassles and another classic single "This Old Heart of Mine".

Three years later the Isleys started their own company, T-Neck. They became businessmen. So far, two big hits "Love the one you're with" and "That Lady", the Crack that leads off the current LP. I'm sure I liked the old r & b Isleys better, but then I don't care too much for this soft Philadelphia soul music. Yes, it is clever, yes it is musically more complex and the Isleys, themselves probably like it well enough. But it's sad to hear talent like this doing stuff like the Doobies and Seals and Croft; that's abit like having Asbkenazy put out a record of Piano Party Pops. It's not just that the days of early Motown and early Atlantic are finished, but that these guys have ended up doing to themselves what those two Italians tried to do sixteen years ago.