The Isley Brothers

The long career of the Isley Brothers spans four decades and several labels, and embraces many style changes, from ragged R&B through Motown soul to deep funk, making them an extremely difficult group to anthologize. This three-disc set, however, covers all the bases, from the gospel-driven energy of early hits "Shout" and "Twist and Shout" (originally done by the Topnotes), through their Motown period (which yielded the stately Holland-Dozier-Holland hit "This Old Heart of Mine"), and on into their funk phase, which included the flame-throwing "Fight the Power" and Ernie Isley's blistering guitar leads on "That Lady." This is a wonderful collection that displays a remarkable cohesion, and it accomplishes it by not running the tracks in chronological order, which downplays the many style shifts, and reveals a multi-talented and versatile group with amazing staying power. ~ Steve Leggett, All Music Guide