Funk Brothers Music

This is the pinnacle of the Neville Brother's New Orleans style. Own this and "The Wild Tchoupitoulas" and you've got their best-all you'll ever need. I am appalled to see this in the cut-out bins...and so few reviews. I got my most recent CD copy at a Pilot Travel Center for $5.

The Aaron Neville syrup aside, the other tunes on this disc are great. Fiyo On The Bayou is worth the price of admission alone. Hey Pocky Way is a great groove as well. This is the Neviiles album for me as it takes me back to the shows ion the late 80s and early 90s when all these songs were concert staples. Turn it up loud- even your neighbors will like it.

Only one song on this CD is good -- and it's very good! Iko is a favorite to anyone with a dance feever!

there are only 8 songs, mildy mediocre ones at best, the total run time is around 25 minutes...on that basis alone it is not worth the 6 bucks.

I bought this album years ago, I believe at the beginning of the '90's when it had been touted as one of the best albums of the previous decade. To look now and see it selling for $6 with only two amazon reviews is a little disconcerting. I can't imagine that the New Orleans R&B/Funk sound has ever been captured more perfectly in a studio environment. Four of these songs (Hey Pocky Way, Sweet Honey Dripper, Fire on the Bayou and Brother John/Iko Iko) are among the most rollicking and intense performances I've ever heard on record. Run Joe is an infectious midtempo rocker and the cover of Jimmy Cliff's ballad Sitting in Limbo is beautiful.

But wait, aren't there 8 tracks on the album? Unfortunately, yes. Aaron's two syrupy ballad covers are atrocious. Regardless of whether you like the songs in and of themselves (I don't), there can be no doubt that they destroy the momentum and pacing of what could have been a perfect album. In the CD era, I couldn't lunge for my remote fast enough to forward through those tracks. But in the iPod era, no problem: slice 'em, dice 'em and leave them on the cutting room floor. For this price, who cares if you're left w/ less than 30 minutes of music? Edited down, this can't be beat.

Buy it and do other potential buyers a service by not letting this go out of print.

NOBODY OUT TODAY CAN BEAT THE ISLEY BROTHERS STYLE!! ARTISTS TODAY DON'T HAVE THE SAME FIRE LIKE THE OLD CATS. KEEP DOING YOUR THING.

This is one of the best of the 3+3 period.Classic Isley brothers album(oops i mean cd)with six or seven songs and all these are good.I have all of these albums and i am getting some of the 3+3 period on cd.

This Isley's album is a pure funky classic gem. Every song on this cd is just about slammin'. I still love "Voyage to Atlantis". It's one timeless classic. This is a must have in your Isley's collection. Heck, it's a must have in a r&b collection period.

I was a junior in high school when this came out and popular music was becoming increasingly segregated terrain. Post Elvis rock and roll was about White men (save Heart, Joni Mitchell & a lead singers like Stevie Nicks, Chistie Hynde & Blondie) and their guitars. So the appropriation of race music into the "classic" rock and roll we recognize today meant the Isleys, Athur Lee & Love, Mother's Finest, Funkadelic & even Earth Wind & Fire...all rock bands with soul, must become "Black music" or R & B forever ghettoized and inaccessible to most teens (radio play was everything back then). THIS ALBUM is one of the greatest of the 1970s, possibly top 25, the equal to anything put out by Led Zep, Pink Floyd, Fleetwood Mac, and as easy to connect with as a Steve Miller album. Read the comments below and then buy it, it is perfect and you will see why we owe a great debt to the Isleys for their contribution to American rock & roll. If not for the informal "White Men Only" rule, you might have heard them along side the Eagles on your favorite AOR format back in the day, but thank goodness you can still buy this classic here to enjoy today!

footsteps in the dark is the most beautiful song ever. the guitar is pure joy and the bass playing is deep and funky ... these guys were the very best at the game

There's just nobody else like them. Distinct sound, real true musical ground breakers who have stood the test of time and are still going strong! Thoroughly enjoying listening to this project. These cuts bring back good memories of a time that has since passed, but the "high" of just having a good time remains with each song you listen to from this project.

Received it during the timeframe indicated with no damage done to it during transport. Enjoyed purchasing with Amazon for it is truly hassle free. Will continue to do business with Amazon in the future.

Thanks

Of the many stellar albums the Isley Brothers put out during their 3+3 era (1973 to 1984), Harvest For The World, in my opinion, is a slightly deeper album. Sure, it packs just as much soul power & passion as the I.B. albums that came before or after it, but on this one, I think the Isleys were reaching for something more - and achieved it.

The album opens with the "Harvest For The World Prelude" - a slower, more expressive version of the album's theme with Ron Isley vocalizing pleas for healing, to "Gather every man & woman...Give thanks for your children." This is soul from the soul.

Both the title track & "People Of Today" speak out about the social fustrations of the early 70's - Watergate, Poverty, Racism, Nixon, Unemployment - many of the same issues we face today, but above all, they express the need for healing - the "Harvest".

"Who Loves You Better" is a fuzz-guitar/clavinet funkfest with Chris Jasper doing some Stevie Wonder-ish clavinet work and Ernie Isley churning out one of his trademark extended a-la-Hendrix guitar solos.

Next, you get 2(of the many)classic Isley slow jams - "(At Your Best) You Are Love" & "Let Me Down Easy". "At Your Best..." remains a staple of quiet storm radio and was beautifully covered by Aaliyah(R.I.P.).

The album closes with the funk/rock of "So You Wanna Stay Down" & "You Still Feel the Need".

With "Harvest For The World", you get the Pride & Passion the Isley Brothers are famous for...and a little bit more.

This is more of a Fight the Power pt. 2 album. The Isley's basically touched up on the greedy politicians and just wealthy people in general who have it all and not enough being spreaded around for everyone else to prosper in the world. The title pretty much speaks for itself. Ronald and his brothers were on point on this one. Another great Isley's classic.

Harvest for the World is another ISLEY classic ,this soul-funk group was on a serious run during this period ,they touched on the pulse of Black America ,infusing funk ,ballads and the MESSAGE of love and peace,this album and the LIVE IT UP album are favorites of mine, great slow jams ,strong grooves, if you are a collector of classic soul this is essential ...a TIMELESS classic.

It was everything I knew it would be! I have the album, but I needed to replace it with the CD.

An album(cd)for all time! in 1976 when this album came out it was the fourth album in the second faze of the isleys long running place in music history.harvest is and will always be the album that put their footprint on r&b music enjoy!

we really liked it, even though it isn't out ye

I've been a Isley Brothers Fan for a real Long time&Never get tired of there Jams.matter of fact for the most part aside from some other artists that I listen to the Isley Brothers&R.Kelly Stay in My Music Changer non-stop.the Isley Brothers are so Versatile&have so much Musical depth that you can't label them.amazing run they have had&the Soul just pours from them non-stop.top notch Writing&Production along with Instrumentation.

The long version of "Stomp", the shake-yo-booty title track, Louis Johnson showing off why he's recognized as one of the best bassists of all time...perhaps the Brothers' finest moment in their considerable recording career. "Treasure" is a way underrated love song, "Wiggle" sounds like its title. All around, a really fun time from a sophisticated funk group at the top of their game.

A great disc from the Brothers Johnson. My favorites: Stomp, Treasure and Light up the Night! Oh, yes!! Five stars!!

The cd is great Ive been looking for the cd for about 4yrs I love it thanks so much jeff

If you enjoy Michael Jackson's "Off The Wall" and "Thriller", the work of Rod Temperton and Heatwave, GQ, The Sylvers and a number of other Soul/Pop/Disco acts from the mid 70's to early 80's who produced tight, brief albums with 8 or 9 cuts and no filler, covering a wide range of moods, textures and grooves all within the confines of about 30-40 minutes, then this 4th LP by George and Louis Johnson is exactly what you want. Often (and unjustly) chided for the super smooth, polished production of Maestro Quincy Jones the Brothers had a terrific run of singles and LP's in the late 70's and early 80's with this 1980 release being thier last big hit; rightly so with stellar tracks like the title cut, "Stomp!" and "U Make Me Wanna Wiggle" leading things off. There is also a beautiful jazz influence on the ballads heard here with the gorgeous instrumental "Smilin' On Ya'" virtually inventing what is now known as "smooth jazz". Another flawless effort from one of the greatest production/performance teams in music history.

If you've listened to all of Q's productions, not to mention Rod Temperton's compositions and the brothers' other works, you won't be surprised to find that this album is just as perfect. Possibly the best of all their works, this album features smooth, jazzy funk---music you can't stop dancing to.

STOMP - Killer, killer song...makes you want to stomp all night

LIGHT UP THE NIGHT - Smooth, funky song with awesome horns and lovely background vocals

YOU MAKE ME WANNA WIGGLE - Catchy and funky little number

TREASURE - Smooth slow jam, powered by the genius of Rod Temperton and Richard Heath's lead vocals

THIS HAD TO BE - Killer funk epic, with awesome synthesizers...backgrounds and co-writing provided by Michael Jackson

ALL ABOUT THE HEAVEN - Another slow jam with the smooth vocals of George allowing you to drift up into the clouds

SMILIN' ON YA - Nice instrumental with the great Jerry Hey on trumpet; co-written by Mr. Greg Phillinganes, a frequent collaborator with the Jacksons, Lionel Richie, and others

CLOSER TO THE ONE THAT YOU LOVE - Nice and simple song with great guitars powering this mid-tempo groove

CELEBRATIONS - The great Paulinho DaCosta does his thing on this groovy instrumental

This CD is definitely worth the purchase for all BJ fans, Q fans, and fans of general great funk from the good ole days...

This titled Isley's album is probably their most underrated recording ever. These tunes were hot and funky. "Lover's Eve" is definitely their most underrated ballad. This is an Isley's collector item. Please do go and cop it if you do not have it.

For plain hot SWEATY funk The Isley's are second to NONE on
the title track of this album!Same goes for "Midnight Sky" and
the bluesy "Need A Little Taste Of Love".Ronnie Isley is a brilliant singer and I'll never tire of the 3+3 addition of this
band!A forgotton treasure to be sure and don't kid yourself-I had it THE MOMENT it came out!

I've Been a Fan of these Cats for so long&always Will."Brown Eyed girl" is tight as is the title cut.the classic 3+3 sound is a winning formula that never fails to get excitement from me.strong arrangements&Musicianship along with the Incredible vocals of Ronald Isley. must have.

the Isley Bros. and this was the first album I bought by them, first on cassette, then the album (after wearing out the cassette) and I'm just beside myself now that it has been re-issued on CD. It is one of my favorites...during the '70's, nobody brought the FUNK AND ROCK harder then the Isley's ("Live It Up," "Midnight Sky," "Need A Little Taste of Love")...and nobody brought the love and sensitivity either. Their version of "Hello It's Me" is a classic. The other mid-tempo/slow jams on the CD are just as hypnotic: "Lover's Eve," "Ain't I Been Good to You" and my
absolute favorite, "Brown-eyed Girl." This was a worthy follow-up to the classic "3+3" and a continuation of what the Isley's were to bring to the '70's...hard driving funk, with a little rock influence and beautiful love songs that provide lasting memories for you and the one you love. ANOTHER CLASSIC!

LIVE IT UP was the followup to the Isley's breakthrough album 3+3. This time around, original songs bring the funk more to the forefront, while cover tunes are kept to a bare minimum. The title track and "Midnight Sky" were popular during the early years of disco, while the sole cover song, Todd Rundgren's "Hello It's Me" is still a staple on the Quiet Storm radio format. The bluesy "Ain't I Been Good To You" and the early-Doobie Brothers influenced "Need A Little Taste Of Love" tastefully highlight Ernie's wailing guitar solos, while "Brown Eyed Girl" and "Lover's Eve" display growth in their ability to write effective love ballads. Isley historians tend to overlook this album since it was released between two career-defining albums (1973's "3+3" and 1975's "The Heat Is On"). However, LIVE IT UP is still an important chapter in the musical evolution of the Isleys.

I wanted a cd that I could chill out to, that was it! My husband and I enjoy this cd at home and in the car. Open the moon roof and groove.

Nobody does love songs like the Isley Brothers. I am sure that their music has played a major role in the population explosion between 1975 and the present. Seriously, this cd is synonymous with romance, and if that is your aim, then this is the cd to buy. You will not be disappointed. Much love.

This is the CD I would have made for myself for if I had all their music, but I don't. I got this for $7.97. The Isley Brother's have so many great ballads and this has captured some of their best. Worth every penny!!

Once I put this CD on, I realized I had something. My girl loves it. Great mood music and a great selection. Not a true Isley fan, but I like the music. I recommend this CD for anyone looking for some love songs to play during those special moments.

Growing up, I was able to listen to Harvest for the World hit by the Isley Brothers. Great music then but I never knew the Isley Brothers also had mellow love songs. Awesome collection of love songs. Best cuts for me are For the Love of You, I Once All Your Love (and I Can't let go) which reminds me of Phil Perry, Summer Breeze and At Your Best You Are Loved.
A must for those who want a collection of Isley Brothers Love Songs!!!

The album is good. "Strawberry Letter 23" however, blows everything else away! For once, I'm rating a entire disc on one song! Five stars...

P.S., I didn't know that the song "Strawberry Letter 23" was a cover. The song was originally done by someone named "Shuggie Otis?" I've gotta find the original and check that out for myself!

8 tracks, 32 minutes and no filler in sight. This funk/soul/pop gem was released at the height of the disco era but doesn't sound dated, trite or embarrassing as so many LP's from that period do. Quincy Jones' pristine production along with top-notch studio players ensure consistent quality and some of the deepest, funkiest grooves on record. The incomparable Louis Johnson never ceases to amaze the listener with his brilliant bass playing (the dominant instrument here) and the Shuggie Otis classic, "Strawberry Letter 23" is remade here in a sublime, jazzy fashion with a fine vocal by George Johnson and a classic guitar break by Lee Ritenour. This is the second in a string of essential LP's The Brothers released in the 70's and is a testament to thier lasting popularity and influence. Essential.

"It was the era of the FUNK (Part II) with the smooth assistance of 'The God Father of Record Production,' Mr. Quincy Jones... I will never forget my one chance meeting with "Q" back in the '90's, in an elevator at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center based in Los Angeles, California the largest nonprofit hospital in the western United States. I believe he was visiting his ill mother at the time or maybe it was for personal reason...if my memory services me well... "AnyWay," for me it was a moment frozen in time and he was very cool and so was I too (careful not to freak him out...), so I took the one and only opportunity after our friendly encounter and greeting and asked him so what really is the key to music? He kindly replied, as he held the elevator doors for a second before exiting... "Melody my friend, Melody is KING!""

--A. David Burleigh (aka: "Big Dave") an 'AmeriCanadian' Record Producre/ Artist/ Singer-Songwritre.

One of the more underrated releases of the 1970s - Brothers Johnson, and this disc in particular - have aged very, very well, which is more than you can say about 95% of their contemporaries. At the time, I know everyone noticed how great of a funk/r&b album it was - I had the album as a kid, and the magnificent cover of Shuggie Otis' "Strawberry Letter 23" was one of THE car radio hits of '77.

But I don't know if everyone noticed how THOUGHTFUL this stuff is, and the subtle sonic diversity underneath the grooves: fluid shifts from jazzy to danceable to folk/pastoral on the last tune, and through this broad musical range, the sense of rhythm and melody never fails. To pull this off and not come across as trendy, or pretentious is quite an accomplishment. These guys talent is never in question, but their musical and imaginative sense of adventure, combined with a genuine charm and sense of really enjoying what they were doing is what makes this disc sound fresh going on 30 years after it's original release.

It should be noted how specific the lyrical imagery is as well - at the time this disc was being made, times were getting a little weird, and the rather precise romanticism that emerges in the words here was - I think - another calculated move (and a good one): what might have seemed a little hippy-dippy in 1970 was a statement of calm, quiet defiance seven years later, at a time when cynicism or nihilism would have been the easier or more expected path to take - witness punk and disco - two contemporary musical movements that both produced some very interesting stuff, but also often got very soulless. All around - in words, music, groove and ambition, RIGHT ON TIME is a definite, late classic of the kind of West Coast r&b pioneered by Shuggie, Sly and Graham Central Station.

I don't know if Brothers Johnson's other releases quite hit the heights of this one, but with this release, they still accomplished far more than most.

-David Alston

This cd still holds up I'm happy to say. I give 5 stars to Strawberry Letter 23 and the whole cd is strong. Compares to Earth Wind and Fire. Quincy Jones produced this album and it shows. It's like jumping into a timemachine back to the late 70's, early 80's. If you like smooth, funky R&B then you should check this out. Unfortunately, they didn't do a lot more. They have one other release of new material and then a greatest hits package. Too bad. These guys seemed to have a lot of potential. Great fun. Buy and enjoy.