Funk Brothers Music

This is some of their earlier work. The CD is just okay to me. The only stand out in my opinion is the Ballad "I need you so" My mom used to play this one day and night. It was the B side to freedom which is a hip hop classic.

The Isley Brothers Never Lost their Edge.You Can Hear that on this Set.The Vocals are as Strong as ALways.The Music CAPTURES Many Styles.They Are One OF Musics Greatest Chapters ever.The Title cut is very strong.Of Course this would Lead into their Great 70's Run&Early 80's Run.

Some of the tracks on this album are simply as good as it gets. I can never believe how more people don't know about this album - it is so raw and visceral. Ronnie is awesome and the music is as funky and especially as rockin as the Isley's ever got. I have a dozen or so Isley albums and this album, though perhaps just the tiniest bit uneven because there as so many styles so well represented here, is probably the one I cannot do without (although 'Beautiful Ballads' is a must have too). I'll break it down:
Get into Something - 7 minute uptempo, and then down, and then back up again, funky rocker, smokin
Freedom - what a great song - great lyrics, total groove
Take an Inventory - the most chauvinistic song I've ever heard - ya gotta love it - awesome again
Keep on Doin - this song shows the impeccable taste and style of the Bros. What this song really is is just a cover of James Brown's, via his backing band the J.B.s, "the Grunt", as funky and tough an instrumental song as there ever was. The Bros. came up with some killer lyrics and Ronnie just belts it.
These 4 songs alone make the album a must have. They are so killer when heard in row.
To be honest, 5 is a fine song, Ronnie is almost unnervingly coy, and 6 is good too, slow and sweet - O'Kelly, who always seems a touch sad (and who is really often indiscernible from Ronnie) sings as usual exceptionally well here - but they get back to kicking butt with song 7. Song 8 is another weepy but beautiful unrequited/longing for love song sung by O'Kelly.
Song 7 - If He Can You Can - a super hard driver where Ernie's wah work is just astounding. A great, great song with as usual, phonomenal singing (assumed with Ronnie and O'Kelly). There's a "fire in the kitchen" alright. Ronnie's wailing is so urgent I can only think of their song "Testify" with Jimi Hendrix back in the day (mid 1960's) where Ronnie sounds so vital and alive. If you've never heard "Testify" track it down - phonomenal track where the lyrics led this listener to believe that Jimi has introduced the Bros. to acid (Ronnie sings, "You wouldn't understand - cuz yer plastic, man!"). Sidenote: "Testify" was memorably covered by Stevie Ray Vaughan on "In Step" (or "Texas Flood?") in an absolutely stunning guitar instrumental - hey, it's a funky, funky song that was way ahead of its time.
Beautiful - just what it sez; some of that Hendrixesque, melodic guitar by Ernie with beautiful singing.
Bless Your Heart - This song is so crazy/goofy: here the Bros. rip themselves off. They took the exact music of "It's Your Thing," note for note, and just changed the lyrics to "Bless Your Soul". It's a good song, kind of - though you've heard it before - but it's worth listening to just because it's so funny and ballsy that the Bros. "covered" themselves.

I love this album. Ernie and Marvin (bass) really step to the fore on this one and this album is really, really smoking at times and only in a couple instances does it slow its breakneck pace, very effectively though. I am always surprised when "Isley fans" I meet don't know this album. Released in 1970 it is so timely both in music and lyric. Ernie and Marvin are obviously huge Jimi Hendrix/Billy Cox fans (who isn't) and the singing is, well, it's Ronnie Isley and the Bros. No joke - this is a great, great album.

While it falls short of the exemplary standards set by the 3+3 era's first six albums, "Go All the Way" more than matches up with their other albums. The lead single "Don't Say Goodnight (It's Time for Love)" is a steamy let's-go-the-bedroom ballad, one of the best the brothers Isley recorded, IMO. The midtempo "Here We Go Again" is one of my favorite songs from the 3+3 era, with Ronald Isley's calm voice melding well with the song's polished production.

The rest of the album has the familiar silky-guitar-laden funk, but with a smoother, more danceable arrangement. Ronald Isley's vocals are more restrained and Ernie Isley has only one guitar solo, on the mellow "Say You Will." "Say You Will" and the dance-oriented "Pass It On" are the other highlights on an album that was a good rebound from the (IMO) disappointing "Winner Takes All."

"Here We Go Again"!I have this on tape but not on disc...it's a shame(The Spinners?!)that with all the great songs on this album,it's still not avaliable on CD!"Here We Go Again"! was one of the Isley guyz biggest hits(and one of my favorite songs of all time....and this song is Not on Any other recording but "Go All the Way"!Not even all the 20 odd greatest hits cd's listed right here on Amazon(go ahead---look'em up)!If ANYONE(and I mean ANYONE!) at Amazon or in the Isley's or the record company reads this-- hear this.....PLEASE release ether "Go All the Way" or "Here We Go Again" on cd or at least on I-Tunes or other music sites!!PLEASE!!!

I absolutley have to agree with the previous reviewer.....I too have this musical masterpiece on cassette tape and it is worn to the bone. It breaks my heart that it is unavailable on any other audio format (CD, MP3, etc.)

I am advocating that it will be re-released in the very near future for my and other people's listening pleasure. The Isley's are my favorite group and nothing would make me happier than to hear "Here We Go Again" over and over again.....as many times as I want.

As a casual Neville Brothers fan this is a great place to begin. The production of this cd is very gradual, because you are begining with primitive 1950's-60's soul and funk and gradually hearing more modern and funkier Nevilles sounds, In addition Aarons vocals are entirely different from all others.

This 2 disc cd is however a vital education into the evolution of not just Neville Brothers, but the history their particular genre of music. So kick back and enjoy

If you enjoy the Neville Brothers, this is positively the best collection set to own.

As I write this, it's the evening of Fat Tuesday. A scaled-down Mardi Gras celebration in a city ravished by hurricanes attempts to add a sense of what passes for normalcy these days in the Crescent City. There are a number of acts closely identified with New Orleans: Huey "Piano" Smith, Professor Longhair, Fats Domino, Dr. John. But one of the pillars of New Orleans R&B are the Neville Brothers. And this 2-disc compilation covers five decades of their history from the Art Neville-led Hawketts' 1954 hit "Mardi Gras Mambo" through 2004's "Walkin' in the Shadow of Life" (from the album of the same name).

Across 32 tracks, this collection hits all the right notes. There's Aaron's first hit from 1960 "Over You," as well as his signature song, "Tell It Like It Is." As the Meters, Art had an instrumental hit with "Cissy Strut" in 1969 and "Look-Ka Py Py" in 1970. As The Wild Tchoupitoulas, they record "Brother John in 1976. It wasn't until 1977 that they recorded as The Neville Brothers, including "Brother John" and "Washable Ink" from their eponymous debut. Perhaps their best album was FIYO ON THE BAYOU. Four tracks are included from this landmark recording: "Sitting in Limbo," "Mona Lisa (Dedicated to Bette Middler)," "Fire on the Bayou" and "Hey Pocky Way." [This album impressed the Rolling Stones enough to have The Neville Brothers as the opening act for several shows during their 1982 US tour.]

The collection finishes with highlights from YELLOW (1989), BROTHER'S KEEPER (1990), FAMILY GROOVE (1992) and LIVE ON PLANET EARTH (1994), including a sizzling live version of "Voodoo." All told, this is two hours of the best of The Neville Brothers, who represent the heart and soul of New Orleans. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

YOu have to be a fan, and if you are you probably already have this one.

THIS IS A VERY GOOD OVERVIEW OF THE BROTHERS JOHNSON'S WORK. THE MINOR FLAWS ARE THAT "TOMMORROW" & THUNDER THUMBS & LIGHTING LICKS" WERE NOT ON THIS DISC. CHECK OUT ANY QUINCY JONES RECORD BETWEEN 1974 & 1989 TO SEE WHAT FINE SESSION MUSICIANS THEY (BROTHERS JOHNSON) WERE!

Where would hip-hop be today without the funky rhythms of the 1970's? One of the premier "messengers" of that particular sound was the Brothers Johnson.

This duo produced, with a little help from the man lovingly referred to as "Q", some of the most memorable jams of the day. "Ain't We Funkin' Now", "Strawberry Letter #23", "Stomp", "Runnin' for Your Lovin'", "Get the Funk Out Ma Race" and "I'll be Good to You" are just six of the smokers found on this compilation.

A choice cut is the lesser-known instrumental "Tokyo". This little ditty shows the boys versatility, revealing that they can "quiet storm" with the best of 'em.

This album contains all of the Brothers Johnson's biggest known singles. In addition to all the familiar hits, there are some lesser known songs that are nearly as good, making this compilation, the definitive retrospective.
If you are into the classic soul sound, this album is definitely worth it.
It is worth mentioning that the brothers are back playing together, and they are expected to release a new album very soon

My favorite music is Disco and Latin. The groups that stoke me the most are Kool & the Gang, Chic, EWF, French Kiss, Tito Puente, El Chicano and Malo. If much of this is the type of music you are into, by all means, read on.
As was done by another reviewer, I purchased this album exclusively for 'Stomp' and 'Strawberry Letter'. Imagine my surprise after listening to 'Light Up The Night', and 'The Real Thing', which are even better. Close behind are 'Ride-O-Rocket','Get The Funk Out Ma Face' and 'You Keep Me Comin' Back'. IMHO, the absolute best cut on this album is the first one...'Ain't We Funkin' Now'. Talk about feeling the music.
15 songs. None of them bad. Nine of them are super.

This album has all their top songs and is by far the most cost effective. Other albums by the BJ, while good, have hit-N-miss coverage. There is a lot of replication between albums, but none of them as comprehensive as GREATEST HITS.

Enjoy!