The album title refers to the three existing Isley brothers – Ronald (lead vocals), Rudolph, and O’Kelly Jr. (both on backing vocals) joining up with two more Isleys – Ernie on guitar and Marvin on bass along with an Isley brother-in-law, Chris Jasper, on a variety of keyboards. All of the others provide background vocals as well, to give a very rich and smooth sound.
This is soul again, as you’d probably expect, similar to, but also different from, Stevie Wonder’s album last time (it was, in fact, recorded at the same time with the Isleys popping next door to talk to Wonder). Much as “rock” covers a very broad church, so too does "soul". Jasper does do some Wonder-esque funky clavinet work sometimes (and his piano drives the final track The Highways Of My Life), but equal duty is carried out by Ernie on guitar, often providing some distorted slide to back up Ronald’s vocals, sometimes breaking out into a funky break. It’s the singing, however, that is the focus of all of the tracks.
Best known, perhaps, is That Lady, which does become a bit of a jam in its latter half. Listening to the lyrics, it’s got some dated sentiments. Not so much the fine line that it walks between compliment and objectification (“Who’s that lady? Sexy lady!”), more when the song states that the lady in question would be fine if only she does what she’s told. Excuse me?
Different times, folks.
The other well-known tracks are generally covers, soul versions of songs by another set of brothers, the Doobies (Listen To The Music) or Seals and Crofts’ Summer Breeze. Elsewhere the Isleys cover James Taylor (Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight) and country folk singer Jonathon Edwards with Sunshine (Go Away Today). These are all great covers. There's not any particular part I can pick out of any song, like an amazing solo part or unusual arrangement. What there is, instead, is a slick ease of all of the six Isleys (genetic or uxorial) working together as a well-oiled music machine.
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