By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, May 14, 2003 - 07:56 pm:

Kudos & congrats to the Isley Brothers! Their latest album (ahem! I mean CD) "Body Kiss" debuted at Number One this week on Billboard's Hot Album Charts.

Fifty years of great music making...and still going strong. Congrats again to Ronald & Ernie Isley.

Check out the article on Billboard's website:
http://www.billboard.com/bb/daily/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1887312

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, May 14, 2003 - 07:58 pm:

If I may add their album topped Billboard's Pop Album Chart!
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By MEL&THEN SOME9 (217.14.178.69) on Wednesday, May 14, 2003 - 09:07 pm:

Kev,
heres a few rare cuts from The Great
Isley Brothers(which I am sure you'll know).

Angels Cried-Teenage(no.1004).
Dont be Jealous-Cindy(no.3009).
I Hear a Symphony-V.I.P(NO.25020).

I love all there early material up to the late 60's and have around 8 albums and various singles by them.
Great group!!!
mel.

By John Lester (213.123.118.31) on Thursday, May 15, 2003 - 01:51 am:

Mel

I know of no person who has even seen a copy of VIP 25020!

And come to think of it, VIP 25021 (Bird in The Hand) either.

By MEL&THEN SOME9 (212.159.53.96) on Thursday, May 15, 2003 - 07:41 am:

John,
that was from a list of rare Motown.
Like I said a lot of the stuff is either from a list or a good proportion from actual acetates.
I havent or didnt have a clue regards the rarity of the above.
Thats why I put them on.
You guys and Gals into Motown etc are educating me all the time.
I know a few collectors,very few that have like yourself and others collected Motown etc all there life.
And I have been fortunate enough to have seen the various acetates and been able to record them.
As Rare Soul is my field,
Motown as you know John,
has always been a part of the scene throughout.
So,and I am fully aware that one and all of you collectors know when I or anyone else relates to an item as above,
that it is obviously only from reference.
Many thasnks to all you Motown Die-Hards.
mel.

By stephanie (66.54.1.38) on Thursday, May 15, 2003 - 09:16 am:

I know the old timers can do it!!! Go on Isleys with your bad self and make us proud..
Stephanie

By Tony Russi (68.210.2.246) on Thursday, May 15, 2003 - 11:50 am:

Are both O'Kelly & Rudolph deceased?I know one of them is but I can't remember which.I love Ronalds' voice, always have.I love the TV commercial that features the original recording of "I Turned You On"....I can't even tell you who or what the commercial is about because I'm always focused on the song.That song, along with " Pop ThaT Thang" & "Blackberries" are my fave Isley records(45's) and I can't find a CD that has those 3 on it.

By stephanie (66.54.1.38) on Thursday, May 15, 2003 - 12:41 pm:

I think that the Isley Brothers are probably one of the most successful acts of the century..I cant think of any other soul group who has been on the charts as long as they have maybe with the exception of the Temps but the Isleys have been phenomenal!!!!!! These guys out to be given a shrine..I know James Brown has been on the charts for a long time but when it comes to consistency and the number of decades I dont think the Isleys are beat by anyone under the title of soul group!!
Stephanie

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Thursday, May 15, 2003 - 12:46 pm:

Tony:
O'Kelly Isley passed in 1986.

Rudolph Isley is now the Reverend Rudolph Isley. He & his wife Elaine have their own parish in New Jersey.

Sony Music reissued the Isleys' T-Neck/Buddah recordings (1969-72) on CD in 1997. The following are now available:

The Brothers Isley (featuring "I Turned You On")
Get Into Something (featuring "Blackberries")
Giving It Back (fea."Love The One You With")
Brother Brother Brother (fea. "Pop That Thang")

The only anthology that would have all three songs is the Isleys' boxed set "It's Your Thing: The Isley Brothers Story" that Sony/Legacy issued in 1999.

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Thursday, May 15, 2003 - 12:47 pm:

Stephanie:
You said it all...
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Wonder B (80.11.231.156) on Thursday, May 15, 2003 - 08:00 pm:

NO group or artist can beat the Isleys....
Who else has had top ten hits in 6 (as in SIX! LOL)decades....????50's, 60's, 70's, 80's 90's, 2000's... just amazing...Considering this I was shocked when a couple of years ago Ronald was on the verge of bankrupcy... that lawsuit he won against M.Bolton sure helped him get back on his feet...

By stephanie (66.54.1.38) on Thursday, May 15, 2003 - 09:20 pm:

Hey I have a question the T-Neck label was so successful and I thought (I may be wrong) that the Isleys owned it how did they go bankrupt?
Stephanie

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Friday, May 16, 2003 - 12:47 pm:

Stephanie:
The Isleys own the name T-Neck but not the recordings. Sony Music owns the T-Neck masters from 1969 to 1983 (including the recordings that were distributed by Buddah Records like "It's Your Thing").

The Isleys do own their publishing company (Triple Three Music).

Ronald Isley filed bankruptcy because he owed five million dollars in back taxes.

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By TonyRussi (68.210.2.246) on Friday, May 16, 2003 - 02:49 pm:

We are all paying too much of our earned income in taxes!!

By Heikki (62.71.79.239) on Saturday, May 17, 2003 - 04:25 am:

Hi!
Congratulations Ronald for the number one album!

I remember the same thing happened with their previous album, too. The first week it jumped high on the charts (I don't remember anymore, was it straight to # 1 or what), stayed there a couple of weeks, but then came down quickly.

Could somebody, who's more aware of these sales in the U.S. market explain, why is that. Is it because the Isleys have a wide and loyal fan-base, but once all these devoted fans have purchased the record the moment it's released, its popularity, however, isn't enough to carry it over to masses? Does radio play any role in this?
It'll be interesting to see, how long this new one's going to stay on top - and how long in the charts altogether.
Best regards
Heikki

By Heikki (62.71.79.239) on Saturday, May 24, 2003 - 02:09 am:

Hi!
To prove my point, this second week Body Kiss went down to # 10.
Heikki

By Frankm (81.152.61.33) on Saturday, May 24, 2003 - 06:27 am:

Ronald Isley filed bankruptcy because he owed five million dollars in back taxes.

Kevin Goins - KevGo

Did he not have quite a gambling habit? and please don't make this a thread.

FrankM

By Wonder B (81.48.238.12) on Saturday, May 24, 2003 - 06:38 am:

I don't kn ow about the habit but his win in the lawsuit against Michael Bolton sure helped him raise that bankruptcy problem...

Wonder B

By R&B (138.238.41.215) on Saturday, May 24, 2003 - 10:43 am:

THESE GUYS ARE LIKE THE ENERGIZER BUNNY[OOPS,DID I SAY BUNNY]ANYHOW,THEY JUST KEEP GOING AN GOING AN GOING AN..OH WELL YOU GET THE POINT!

By Greg C. (207.103.134.218) on Saturday, May 24, 2003 - 08:54 pm:

I's really a milestone for the Isleys. It is amazing that a group from the late 50's is still putiing out hit music in 2003! I only wish Ron Isley would drop that corny Mr. Bigg persona. He doesn't need it.

By 1Wicked (24.126.64.120) on Sunday, May 25, 2003 - 03:19 am:

Right on Greg ! I've always enjoyed the Isley's music....but I can't inderstand a guy 3 years away from Social Security singing about "thuggin'" and "going upside somebody's dome". Get real !! I wish Chris Jasper would come back into the fold...but because of his religious beliefs has said he would "never write another "Between The Sheets"...and those beliefs would be in contradiction to the whole Mr. Biggs persona and most of the music that The Isleys perform. It would be nice to hear something like "Caravan of Love" (Isley-Jasper-Isley) from Ron & Ernie in the future though....