Get ready for a release that will make you want to shout!
Today marks the 74th birthday of Ronald Isley, one-third of the original founding trio of The Isley Brothers. Since bursting onto the scene with 1959's Shout! on the RCA Victor label, Ronald, Rudolph and O'Kelly Isley - plus Ernie and Marvin Isley and Chris Jasper - the R&B legends have notched four Top 10 Pop singles, sixteen Top 40 albums, thirteen Gold, Platinum or Multi-Platinum albums, and inductions into the Rock and Roll and Vocal Group Halls of Fame. Now, the group is receiving its most lavish collection yet: a definitive 23-CD box set with expanded editions of every one of The Isley Brothers' albums released on the RCA Victor and T-Neck labels between 1959 and 1983.
The RCA Victor and T-Neck Album Masters (1959-1983), due on August 21 from Legacy Recordings, traces the family band's evolution from their earliest days singing doo-wop, gospel, standards and R&B straight through their reign as undisputed kings of soul, funk and even disco. The box set features newly remastered editions of 21 albums, all but two of which have been expanded with rare mixes and tracks making their CD/digital debuts. In total, the set boasts 84 rare and previously unreleased bonus tracks including the world premiere of 1980's "great lost Isley Brothers album," Wild in Woodstock: The Isley Brothers Live at Bearsville Sound Studio 1980.
The box includes:
- Shout! (RCA Victor, 1959)
- It's Our Thing (T-Neck, 1969) with bonus material by Dave "Baby" Cortez, Judy White and The Sweet Cherries
- The Brothers: Isley (T-Neck, 1969) with bonus material by Dave "Baby" Cortez and Judy White
- The Isley Brothers Live At Yankee Stadium (T-Neck, 1969) - featuring The Edwin Hawkins Singers, Johnny Maestro and the Brooklyn Bridge, The Five Stairsteps and Cubie, Judy White and The Sweet Cherries
- Get Into Something (T-Neck, 1970)
- In The Beginning - The Isley Brothers & Jimi Hendrix (T-Neck, recorded 1964-1965; remixed/released 1971) - also features Teacho Wiltshire's Orchestra and Dionne Warwick
- Givin' It Back (T-Neck, 1971)
- Brother, Brother, Brother (T-Neck, 1972)
- The Isleys Live (T-Neck, 1973)
- 3+3 (T-Neck, 1973)
- Live It Up (T-Neck, 1974)
- The Heat Is On (T-Neck, 1975)
- Harvest For The World (T-Neck, 1976)
- Go For Your Guns (T-Neck, 1977)
- Showdown (T-Neck, 1978)
- Winner Takes All (T-Neck, 1979, 2 CDs)
- Go All The Way (T-Neck, 1980)
- Wild In Woodstock: The Isley Brothers Live At Bearsville Studios 1980 (previously unreleased)
- Grand Slam (T-Neck, 1981)
- Inside You (T-Neck, 1981)
- The Real Deal (T-Neck, 1982)
- Between The Sheets (T-Neck, 1983)
The rare LP Live at Yankee Stadium, with numerous special guests, and The Isleys Live are the only two albums in the set not to include bonus material. The Isley Brothers' greatest moments are included here, from their earliest hit "Shout!" through "It's Your Thing" and "That Lady," and their dramatic reinventions of pop staples such as Carole King's "It's Too Late," Todd Rundgren's "Hello, It's Me," Seals and Crofts' "Summer Breeze," and more by Bob Dylan, Stephen Stills, Neil Young, Jackie DeShannon, The Doobie Brothers, and James Taylor. (The group's 1960s Wand, United Artists and Motown albums are of course not represented here, nor are the Isleys' post-1983 albums for Warner Bros., DreamWorks, Island and Def Soul.) Rare singles by Dave "Baby" Cortez of "The Happy Organ" fame are featured among the bonus material on two early T-Neck albums, and Dionne Warwick adds background vocals to one track from In the Beginning, which collected the Isleys' early sides with none other than Jimi Hendrix.
The RCA Victor and T-Neck Album Masters (1959-1983) looks to pay stunning tribute to one of the most enduring groups in soul music history. You can review the complete track listing with discography and pre-order this impressive set below! It arrives from Legacy on August 21!
The Isley Brothers, The RCA Victor and T-Neck Album Masters (1959-1983) (Legacy, 2015) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
CD 1: Shout! (RCA Victor 2156, 1959)
- When The Saints Go Marching In 2:32
- Louis Blues 3:00
- Yes, Indeed! 2:02
- How Deep Is The Ocean 1:54
- Ring-A-Ling-A-Ling (Let The Wedding Bells Ring) 2:57
- Rock Around The Clock 2:14
- He's Got The Whole World In His Hands 1:57
- That Lucky Old Sun (Just Rolls Around Heaven All Day) 2:44
- Respectable 2:08
- Without A Song 1:58
- Shout (Part 1 and 2) 4:28
- Turn To Me (mono) 2:43 (from RCA Victor single 7537)
- Not One Minute More 2:21
- I'm Gonna Knock on Your Door (mono) 1:54 (B-side of RCA Victor 7537)
- Shout! (Part 1) (mono) 2:16 (from RCA Victor single 7588)
- Shout! (Part 2) (mono) 2:18 (B-side of RCA Victor single 7588, with extended fade)
- Respectable (mono) 2:07 (from RCA Victor single 7657)
- Gypsy Love Song (Slumber On, My Little Gypsy Sweet) 2:36 (from RCA Victor single 7746)
- Open Up Your Heart (B-side of RCA Victor 7746)
- Tell Me Who 2:42 (RCA Victor single 7787)
- Say You Love Me Too (Rehearsal) 0:54
- Say You Love Me Too 2:05 (B-side of RCA Victor 7787)
CD 2: It's Our Thing (T-Neck 3001, 1969)
- I Know Who You Been Socking It To 2:44
- Somebody Been Messin' 2:39
- Save Me 3:31
- I Must Be Losing My Touch 2:02
- Feel Like The World 3:28
- It's Your Thing 2:49
- Give The Women What They Want 2:19
- Love Is What You Make It 2:40
- Don't Give It Away 2:46
- He's Got Your Love 1:59
- I Know Who You Been Socking It To - Dave "Baby" Cortez 2:41 (T-Neck single 907/The Isley Brothers Way, T-Neck 3005, 1969)
- Somebody Been Messin' - Dave "Baby" Cortez 2:16 (from The Isley Brothers Way)
- From The Beginning - The Sweet Cherries 2:11 (T-Neck single 910)
- He's Got Your Love - Judy White 1:57 (previously unreleased)
- It's Your Thing (mono) 2:56 (from T-Neck single 901, with alternate fade)
- Somebody Been Messin' - Judy White (mono) 2:23 (from T-Neck single 905)
- Love Is What You Make It (mono) - The Sweet Cherries 2:54 (from T-Neck single 904)
- Don't Give It Away (mono) 2:54 (B-side of T-Neck single 901, alternate mix)
- Somebody Been Messin' (Instrumental) (mono) - The Isley Brothers Band 2:20 (B-side of T-Neck 905)
CD 3: The Brothers: Isley (T-Neck 3002, 1969)
- I Turned You On 2:37
- Vacuum Cleaner 2:55
- I Got To Get Myself Together 3:37
- Was It Good To You 2:42
- The Blacker The Berrie (a/k/a Black Berries) (Parts 1 & 2) 5:53
- My Little Girl 3:40
- Get Down Off of the Train 3:11
- Holdin' On 2:35
- Feel Like The World 3:24
- Black Berries (Part 1) (mono) 3:05 (T-Neck single 906, 1969)
- Black Berries (Part 2) (mono) 2:49 (B-side of T-Neck single 906, 1969)
- I Turned You On - Dave "Baby" Cortez 2:45 (T-Neck single 907-B, 1969)
- Vacuum Cleaner - Judy White 3:10
- I've Got To Get Myself Together - Rudolph Isley and Judy White 3:55
CD 4: The Isley Brothers Live at Yankee Stadium (T-Neck 3004, 1969)
- Introduction 1:54
- I Know Who You Been Socking It To 3:02
- I Turned You On 4:49
- It's Your Thing 3:55
- Shout 7:46
- Jesus, Lover Of My Soul 4:35
- Joy, Joy 8:01
- Oh Happy Day 8:55
- People Get Ready 2:01
- Talkin' About My Baby 0:55
- It's All Right 0:35
- Keep On Pushing 0:52
- You Must Believe Me 0:56
- I'm So Proud 1:55
- Amen 2:10
- Don't Change Your Love 5:25
- Somebody Been Messin' 3:17
- Love Is What You Make It 5:04
Recorded on June 21, 1969, at Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York. Tracks 2-5 performed by The Isley Brothers, Tracks 6-8 by The Edwin Hawkins Singers, Tracks 9-15 by The Brooklyn Bridge, Track 16 by The Five Stairsteps and Cubie, Track 17 by Judy White and Track 18 by Sweet Cherries.
CD 5: Get Into Something (T-Neck 3006, 1970)
- Get Into Something 7:30
- Freedom 3:38
- Take Inventory 2:46
- Keep On Doin' (mono) 4:02
- Girls Will Be Girls, Boys Will Be Boys 2:50
- I Need You So 4:25
- If He Can, You Can 3:45
- I Got To Find Me One 4:38
- Beautiful 3:06
- Bless Your Heart (mono) 3:04
- Baby You Got It (mono) 3:02
- Get Into Something (Part 1) (mono) 3:52
- Get Into Something (Part 2) (mono) 3:39
- Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out (Part 1) (mono) - The Brothers Three (a.k.a. The Isley Brothers) 2:59 (T-Neck single 903)
- Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out (Part 2) (mono) - The Brothers Three 3:00 (B-side of T-Neck 903)
CD 6: In the Beginning - The Isley Brothers and Jimi Hendrix (T-Neck 3007, 1971)
- Move Over And Let Me Dance (Part 1)* 2:41
- Have You Ever Been Disappointed (Part 1 & 2) * 6:19
- Testify (Part 1 & 2) (mono) 4:13
- Move Over And Let Me Dance (Part 2) * 2:43
- Wild Little Tiger 2:24
- The Last Girl ** 2:51
- Simon Says (mono) 2:27
- Looking For A Love 3:15
- Testify (Part 1) (mono single) 2:52 (from T-Neck single 501)
- Testify (Part 2) (mono single) 3:09 (B-side of T-Neck 501)
Ronald, Rudolph and O'Kelly: vocals. Jimi Hendrix: guitar (except Wild Little Tiger and Simon Says).
Arranged and conducted by Teacho Wiltshire
Tracks recorded in 1964 and 1965
Remixed and released on LP in 1971
*Featuring Teacho Wiltshire's Orchestra.
**Background vocals by Dionne Warwick.
CD 7: Givin' It Back (T-Neck 3008, 1971)
- Ohio/Machine Gun 9:16
- Fire And Rain 5:32
- Lay Lady Lay 10:23
- Spill The Wine 6:35
- Nothing To Do But Today 3:42
- Cold Bologna 3:03
- Love The One You're With 3:37
- Warpath (single version) (mono) 2:32 (from T-Neck single 929)
- Spill the Wine (single version) (mono) 2:43 (from T-Neck single 932)
- Love the One You're With (single version) (mono) 3:30 (from T-Neck single 930)
- Lay Lady Lay (single version) (mono) 3:57 (from T-Neck single 933)
CD 8: Brother, Brother, Brother (T-Neck 3009, 1972)
- Brother, Brother 3:16
- Put A Little Love In Your Heart 3:01
- Sweet Seasons 2:59
- Keep On Walkin' 2:14
- Work To Do 3:12
- Pop That Thang 2:52
- Lay-Away 3:23
- It's Too Late 10:31
- Love Put Me on the Corner 6:32
- It's Too Late (single) 3:27 (T-Neck single 937)
CD 9: The Isleys Live (T-Neck 3010, 1973)
- Work To Do 4:36
- It's Too Late 13:04
- It's Your Thing 3:16
- Pop That Thang 3:35
- Love the One You're With 5:45
- Lay Lady Lay 7:36
- Lay-Away 3:24
- Ohio/Machine Gun 13:31
CD 10: 3+3 (Featuring: That Lady) (T-Neck 32453, 1973)
- That Lady (Part 1 & 2) 5:34
- Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight 4:03
- If You Were There 3:23
- You Walk Your Way 3:06
- Listen to the Music 4:05
- What It Comes Down To 3:53
- Sunshine (Go Away Today) 4:22
- Summer Breeze (Part 1 & 2) 6:12
- The Highways of My Life 4:17
- That Lady (Part 1) (Single) 3:09 (from T-Neck single 2251)
- Summer Breeze (Part 1) (Single) 3:05 (from T-Neck single 2253)
- The Highways of My Life (Single) 3:17 (from Epic U.K. single S EPC 1980)
- Sunshine (Go Away Today) (SQ-Quad Mix) 4:32
- Summer Breeze (SQ-Quad Mix) 6:17
- That Lady - A conversation with O'Kelly Isley and Bruce Harris of Epic Records from a promotional sampler for 3+3 - Interview Part 1 6:34
- Listen To The Music - Interview Part 2 5:12
- Summer Breeze - Interview Part 3 2:26
- The Highways of My Life and What It Comes Down To - Interview Part 4 3:26
CD 11: Live It Up (T-Neck 33070, 1974)
- Live It Up (Part 1 & 2) 6:15
- Brown Eyed Girl 4:08
- Need a Little Taste of Love 3:08
- Lover's Eve 4:41
- Midnight Sky (Part 1 & 2) 6:56
- Hello It's Me 5:33
- Ain't I Been Good To You (Part 1 & 2) 8:31
- Live It Up (Part 1) (single) 3:07 (from T-Neck 2254)
- Midnight Sky (Part 1) (single) 3:40 (from T-Neck 2255)
- Ain't I Been Good To You (Part 1) (single) 2:41
CD 12: The Heat is On (T-Neck 33536, 1975)
- Fight The Power (Part 1 & 2) 5:20
- The Heat Is On (Part 1 & 2) 5:36
- Hope You Feel Better Love (Part 1 & 2) 6:03
- For The Love Of You (Part 1 & 2) 5:40
- Sensuality (Part 1 & 2) 6:52
- Make Me Say It Again Girl (Parts 1 & 2) 7:39
- Fight The Power (Part 1) (Clean radio edit) 3:21
CD 13: Harvest for the World (T-Neck 33809, 1976)
- Harvest for the World (Prelude) 2:12
- Harvest for the World 3:53
- People of Today 4:40
- Who Loves You Better 5:32
- (At Your Best) You Are Love 5:24
- Let Me Down Easy 6:30
- So You Wanna Stay Down 3:52
- You Still Feel The Need 4:52
- Who Loves You Better (Part 1) (mono) 3:29 (from T-Neck promo single 2260)
- Harvest for the World (Part 1) (Single Version) 3:30 (from T-Neck single 2261)
- Harvest for the World (Instrumental) 3:40 (B-side of T-Neck 2261)
CD 14: Go for Your Guns (T-Neck 34432, 1977)
- The Pride (Part 1 & 2) 5:33
- Footsteps in the Dark (Part 1 & 2) 5:06
- Tell Me When You Need It Again (Part 1 & 2) 5:04
- Climbin' Up the Ladder (Part 1 & 2) 6:38
- Voyage to Atlantis 4:32
- Livin' In The Life 4:12
- Go For Your Guns 2:14
- The Pride (Disco Mix) 5:29
- Voyage To Atlantis (mono single) 3:54 (T-Neck single 2270)
- Livin' In The Life/Go For Your Guns (Disco Version) 6:28
CD 15: Showdown (T-Neck 34930, 1978)
- Showdown (Part 1 & 2) 5:25
- Groove With You (Part 1 & 2) 4:52
- Ain't Givin' Up No Love 4:43
- Rockin' With Fire (Part 1 & 2) 5:57
- Take Me To The Next Phase (Part 1 & 2) 5:11
- Coolin' Me Out (Part 1 & 2) 6:04
- Fun And Games 4:41
- Love Fever (Part 1 & 2) 5:00
- Showdown (Part 1) (single) (from T-Neck single 2278) 4:25
- Groove With You (Part 1) (single) (from T-Neck single 2277) 4:05
- Take Me To The Next Phase (Part 1) (single) (from T-Neck single 2272) 4:16
- Take Me To The Next Phase (Alternate Version) 5:23
- Showdown (Rehearsal) - Guide vocal by Chris Jasper; drums by Everett Collins 6:03
CD 16 & 17: Winner Takes All (T-Neck 36077, 1979)
Disc One
- I Wanna Be With You (Parts 1 & 2) 6:22
- Liquid Love (Parts 1 & 2) 5:17
- Winner Takes All 4:15
- Life in the City (Parts 1 & 2) 7:54
- It's A Disco Night (Rock Don't Stop) (Parts 1 & 2) 5:16
- (Can't You See) What You Do To Me? 4:11
Disc Two
- Let's Fall In Love (Parts 1 & 2) 4:42
- How Lucky I Am (Parts 1 & 2) 5:43
- You're The Key to My Heart 3:23
- You're Beside Me (Parts 1 & 2) 5:38
- Let Me In Your Life (Parts 1 & 2) 5:10
- Love Comes and Goes (Parts 1 & 2) 5:10
- Go For What You Know 3:25
- Mind Over Matter (Parts 1 & 2) 6:07
- I Wanna Be With You (Parts 1 & 2) (Extended Version) 7:27
- It's A Disco Night (Rock Don't Stop) (Parts 1 & 2) (Disco Remix) 8:50
- Rudy's Tune (How Lucky I Am) - Rudolph Isley (vocal) 5:45
CD 18: Go All the Way (T-Neck 36305, 1980)
- Go All The Way (Parts 1 & 2) 5:03
- Say You Will (Parts 1 & 2) 5:27
- Pass It On (Parts 1 & 2) 5:39
- Here We Go Again (Parts 1 & 2) 7:36
- Don't Say Goodnight (It's Time For Love) (Parts 1 & 2) 5:45
- The Belly Dancer (Parts 1 & 2) 6:13
- Here We Go Again (Part 1) (Single Version) 4:14 (T-Neck single 2291)
- Don't Say Goodnight (It's Time For Love) (Instrumental)
- Go All The Way (Rehearsal) (previously unreleased)
- Pass It On (Rehearsal) (previously unreleased)
CD 19: Wild in Woodstock: The Isley Brothers Live at Bearsville Sound Studio 1980
- That Lady* (3:38)
- Say You Will* (5:38)
- Here We Go Again* (6:27)
- Don't Say Goodnight (It's Time For Love) (10:56)
- Medley: Hello It's Me/Footsteps In The Dark* (1:05)
- For The Love Of You* (5:01)
- Fight The Power* (3:30)
- Groove With You (4:19)
- Summer Breeze* (10:28)
- Voyage To Atlantis (6:36)
- It's A Disco Night (Rock Don't Stop)* (6:15)
- Livin' In The Life/Go For Your Guns*(5:23)
(*) previously unreleased
CD 20: Grand Slam (T-Neck/Epic 37080, 1981)
- Tonight Is the Night (If I Had You) 4:57
- I Once Had Your Love (And I Can't Let Go) 4:41
- Hurry Up and Wait 3:54
- Young Girls 5:01
- Party Night 4:08
- Don't Let Up 5:07
- Who Said? 4:19
- World Series * - Chris Jasper 6:57
- I Once Had Your Love (And I Can't Let Go) (Instrumental) 4:41 (from T-Neck single 02179)
- Hurry Up And Wait (Instrumental) 4:06 (B-side of T-Neck 02033)
- Party Night (Instrumental)* 4:10
- Who Said? (Rhythm Mix)* 4:20
(*) previously unreleased
CD 21: Inside You (T-Neck 37533, 1981)
- Inside You (Parts 1 & 2) 9:06
- Baby Hold On 4:25
- Don't Hold Back Your Love (Parts 1 & 2) 6:24
- First Love 4:40
- Love Merry-Go-Round 5:07
- Welcome Into My Heart 5:03
- Love Zone 4:25
- Inside You (Part 1) (Single Version) 4:25 (T-Neck single 02531)
- Inside You (Part 2) (Single Version) 4:51 (B-side of T-Neck single 02531)
- First Love (Instrumental) 3:04
- Playin' for the Funk (Love Zone Outtake) (previously unreleased) 1:25
CD 22: The Real Deal (T-Neck 38047, 1982)
- The Real Deal (Part I and 2) 7:04
- Are You With Me? 4:49
- Stone Cold Lover 5:13
- It's Alright with Me 5:32
- All In My Lover's Eyes 5:15
- I'll Do It All For You 4:19
- Under the Influence 5:43
- The Real Deal (Instrumental) 7:09 (B-side of T-Neck single 02985)
- It's Alright With Me (Instrumental) 4:16 (B-side of T-Neck single 03281)
CD 23: Between the Sheets (T-Neck 38674, 1983)
- Choosey Lover 4:42
- Touch Me 5:11
- I Need Your Body 4:40
- Between The Sheets 5:40
- Let's Make Love Tonight 4:49
- Ballad for The Fallen Soldier 5:19
- Slow Down Children 4:21
- Way Out Love 4:12
- Gettin' Over 3:45
- Rock You Good 3:34
- Choosey Lover (Instrumental) 4:47 (B-side of T-Neck single 03994)
- Touch Me (Instrumental) 5:07 (previously unreleased)
- I Need Your Body (Instrumental) 4:41 (T-Neck single 04148)
- Between The Sheets (Instrumental) 4:57 (B-side of T-Neck single 03797)
- Let's Make Love Tonight (Instrumental) 4:48 (B-side of T-Neck single 04320)
Rob Maurer says
Holy schnikeys, am I in for this!!! Newly remastered and copious bonuses, including the complete Bearsville session? YES, please!
Patrick says
What will this eventually cost? I WANT IT!
Doug says
The Amazon Canada pre-order price is $102. In the US it's $180. Which makes no sense and I'm sure the price will change but as a Canadian I'm pretty happy to be locked in at $5/CD.
Kurt says
Glad to see they're including some mono from the Shout era.
Victor Dang says
Also glad to see that they're including some of the mono single mixes on It's Your Thing, with the non-cut-off drum intro on "Don't Give It Away".
Wonder if they've found better sources for (or simply remixed) the last 2 tracks for this album, though? The Iconoclassic reissue stated that they had to resort to needledrops for these last two since the tracks on the master were apparently too damaged to use.
Alex Stassi says
This is a no brainer.. 23 albums for less than £40 on amazon.. makes it around £1.70 a cd!!! Pre-ordered already!!! Amazing
Sam says
Thanks for the tips guys. I just picked this up from the Canadian Amazon site for approximately $80 US including shipping.
Mr. B. says
Wow!!!! That's awesome!!!
Gotta get it!!!
Lorival M Carvalho says
Helow how can i Download the song of The Isley Brothers, The RCA Victor and T-Neck Album Masters (1959)?!!!