Funk Brothers Music

Of all the Isley Brothers recordings "Masterpiece" is one of their best, and least appreciated, works ever created. Only penning one song, "May I?", they selected some of the finest works of music at that time such as the Phil Collins tune "If Leaving Me Is Easy". Other "timeless classics" include "Colder Are My Nights" and "Come To Me". Unfortunately after almost two decades as the famed "3+3", this would be the original trio's last recording as the eldest O'Kelly would pass away a year later from occlusive coronary artery disease.

This album is the greatest of all the works they have done. Ron Isley is a remarkable artist along with the others in the group. This album expresses the ultimate sound of love. When you listen to the songs you can feel the love. It is very sensuous and very intimate. A MASTERPIECE of all times. Their album entitled LOVE BALLADS only comes close to this master work. When I first heard this album several years ago I immediatley fell head first for it. It is ashame that this MASTERPIECE is no longer available on the market.

Recorded shortly before the untimely death of founding member O'Kelly Isley, "Masterpiece" is an album that attempts to present the rhythm & blues/funk group in a different light. It almost succeeds with this collection of mostly ballads. I feel that the group and their label at the time were trying for crossover success but didn't quite make it.

That withstanding, the album is noteworthy for the following tunes: "May I?" "My Best Was Good Enough," "If Leaving Me is Easy," "Colder Are My Nights," and a cover of the Charlie Rich hit "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World."

Although the production relies a little too heavily on the strings (Hey! It is called "Masterpiece!"), the "soul" of the group comes forth with the superb vocal work of lead Ronald Isley.

THIS ALBUM IS BY FAR THE BEST COLLECTION OF LOVE BALLADS THAT I HAVE EVER HEARD. IT TOUCHED MY SOUL WHEN I FIRST HEARD IT MANY YEARS AGO. RON ISLEY'S WORK IS REMARKABLE AND WILL BE HEARD FOR ANOTHER DECADE TO COME. THE TRACK "MY BEST WAS GOOD ENOUGH" IS WONDERFUL. THE WHOLE ALBUM IS AN EXPRESSION OF ULTIMATE LOVE.

The Neville Brothers seldom dissapoint. Not either on this CD. The voices of the brothers "smashes" together in perfect harmony on most of the tracks. I ask my self. Can you ask for more, when you wanna fill your`e soul with harmony and joy ? Track 1 Love spoken here with Aaron Neville on the lead vocal , set`s the standard how it shall sounds if you wanna touch a nerve. There is a sensual softness in his voice, which creeps into you very sloooowly.
This also has a touch of creative funk in the different instrumental departments which sounds good. Track 2 The Sound, has a "carriebean" feel all trough. This "ethnic" touch gives flair and colour to the soundpicture, which realy lives up to it`s title: The Sound. Track 3 Holy Spirit is, yees, a creative "mindblower" when it comes to "halleluja" , also for the not so religous people, i will think. The playfull organ, simple and right down to the point, set`s the standard for this amusing tune. This one shines. Track 4 Soul to Soul is a moore slow song, which delivers, but has`nt got the real "heart starter" to make it great. Track 5 Whatever You Do, we are back in "funky businees" again. The theme all trough is to much repetition, so it doesn`t take off, from the more or less springiness beginning. Track 6 Saved by the graze of your love. Aaaaaah. Aaron Neville is back in the "lead vocal chair", and set`s the standard and this one gives you the right freeze down your`e backbone. Track 7 Your`e gonna make your`e momma cry, is a let down. It`s Aaron on the vocal which mark a certain standard, but does`nt kick off.
Track 8 Fire on the mountain, is a moore jazzy tune. Booring in a way. It move`s slolwly. Too slowly. Track 9 Ain`t no sunshine is an standard song from the happy 70 ths, written by Bill Wither`s. Aaron's voice and a saxophone solo put`s a certain "Neville Trademark" on it which stands for quality.
Track 10 Orisha Dance is an instrumental which sounds ok, an tell you a story which gives you some assosiations too "arabian nights". Track 11Sacred Ground has some spiritual touch which shines over the melody. All in all. This is a soulfull earfiller from the Neville Brothers.

It may well be that I cannot have a favorite Neville Brothers CD, because everytime I get another I'm in love all over again. The opener, "Love Spoken Here" is one of the best chosen beginnings for any album I've heard and it so typifies what the Neville family stands for.

This CD has a really strong African feel, really lends itself to the harmonies this family can render.

I bought this CD years ago and still love it and never get tired of hearing it again and again. It's great.

This CD is filled with infectious grooves and explosive vocals by the Neville Bros. This is nothing new to anyone who is familiar with them. But this release finally seems to capture their energy and warmth that comes across so clearly in their live performances. I was surprised by this one, and I have the whole collection.

The Neville Brothers display true New Orleans grooves on one of their stronger albums. "Love Spoken Here" is a great opener to a soul-filled album. "Fire on the Mountain" is an excellent cover, which gives the original a run for its money. The sleeper gem, "Ain't No Sunshine" is a true testament to Art Neville's grinding organ and Aaron Neville's smooth voice. If you are a fan of the Neville Brothers, or simply of New Orleans second-line grooves, definitely purchase this album.

The Neville Brothers seldom dissapoint. Not either on this CD. The voices of the brothers "smashes" together in perfect harmony on most of the tracks. I ask my self. Can you ask for more, when you wanna fill your`e soul with harmony and joy ? Track 1 Love spoken here with Aaron Neville on the lead vocal , set`s the standard how it shall sounds if you wanna touch a nerve. There is a sensual softness in his voice, which creeps into you very sloooowly.
This also has a touch of creative funk in the different instrumental departments which sounds good. Track 2 The Sound, has a "carriebean" feel all trough. This "ethnic" touch gives flair and colour to the soundpicture, which realy lives up to it`s title: The Sound. Track 3 Holy Spirit is, yees, a creative "mindblower" when it comes to "halleluja" , also for the not so religous people, i will think. The playfull organ, simple and right down to the point, set`s the standard for this amusing tune. This one shines. Track 4 Soul to Soul is a moore slow song, which delivers, but has`nt got the real "heart starter" to make it great. Track 5 Whatever You Do, we are back in "funky businees" again. The theme all trough is to much repetition, so it doesn`t take off, from the more or less springiness beginning. Track 6 Saved by the graze of your love. Aaaaaah. Aaron Neville is back in the "lead vocal chair", and set`s the standard and this one gives you the right freeze down your`e backbone. Track 7 Your`e gonna make your`e momma cry, is a let down. It`s Aaron on the vocal which mark a certain standard, but does`nt kick off.
Track 8 Fire on the mountain, is a moore jazzy tune. Booring in a way. It move`s slolwly. Too slowly. Track 9 Ain`t no sunshine is an standard song from the happy 70 ths, written by Bill Wither`s. Aaron's voice and a saxophone solo put`s a certain "Neville Trademark" on it which stands for quality.
Track 10 Orisha Dance is an instrumental which sounds ok, an tell you a story which gives you some assosiations too "arabian nights". Track 11Sacred Ground has some spiritual touch which shines over the melody. All in all. This is a soulfull earfiller from the Neville Brothers.

It may well be that I cannot have a favorite Neville Brothers CD, because everytime I get another I'm in love all over again. The opener, "Love Spoken Here" is one of the best chosen beginnings for any album I've heard and it so typifies what the Neville family stands for.

This CD has a really strong African feel, really lends itself to the harmonies this family can render.

I bought this CD years ago and still love it and never get tired of hearing it again and again. It's great.

This CD is filled with infectious grooves and explosive vocals by the Neville Bros. This is nothing new to anyone who is familiar with them. But this release finally seems to capture their energy and warmth that comes across so clearly in their live performances. I was surprised by this one, and I have the whole collection.

The Neville Brothers display true New Orleans grooves on one of their stronger albums. "Love Spoken Here" is a great opener to a soul-filled album. "Fire on the Mountain" is an excellent cover, which gives the original a run for its money. The sleeper gem, "Ain't No Sunshine" is a true testament to Art Neville's grinding organ and Aaron Neville's smooth voice. If you are a fan of the Neville Brothers, or simply of New Orleans second-line grooves, definitely purchase this album.

This CD has all the songs you love. 2 discs for one low price. :)

If you love motown, this collection is a must have. It has all the favorites, with a great variety of artists.

... that you might be considering this CD. Well, grab it! It pulls in lots of hits, even from the very beginning, you can hear how Motown seems to have started in a basement, to the empire it became.

There's a great selection of tunes, but they sound the same as they did on the radio 40 years ago. I fiddled with my stereo's tuners to make sure they were set properly, but couldn't get a crisp, clean sound.

Over the years Motown Records has repackaged its legendary artists and hits to varying degrees of commercial and critical success. And as with many labels it seemed at times that the retrospectives became more important to the company coffers than developing new talent or promoting new releases by existing artists.

Without investing in the pricey boxed CD sets, this collection is perhaps the best of the Motown bunch, with 40 songs that captures the true essence of what made the label great; artists who believed in their music, songs that told real stories and hooks that are as infectious today as they were when initially issued all those years ago.

Barrett Strong's Money (That's What I Want), the Four Tops' I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch), Going To A Go Go by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles and the Supremes' You Can't Hurry Love are great examples of complex themes that are wonderfully told within a commercial - Top 40 -radio format.

The juxtaposing of I Heard It Through The Grapevine by Gladys Knight & the Pips and Marvin Gaye is an especially nice touch. And though artists like Bruce Springsteen and Frankie Goes To Hollywood have recorded War, nothing beats the powerful vocals of Edwin Starr.

This is not a smorgasbord sampler that's tossed together with little thought; the two CDs are a treasure chest of legendary artists and the songs that defined a generation.