The Isley Brothers - It's Our Thing/Go All the Way

2008 digitally remastered two-fer containing a pair of albums from the Soul icons on one CD. It's Our Thing was the Isley Brothers' first hit album after leaving Motown Records in 1969 and features the hit single 'It's Your Thing', which was produced and written by the Isleys themselves. Go All The Way was their album from 1980 and was their last Top 10 album for two decades. BGO. Album Description

"Go All the Way" and "Grand Slam" should have been paired together

A very unusual pairing, to say the least. With all due respect to "It's Our Thing," I'm going to review "Go All the Way" since I became a fan of The Isley Brothers in the 3+3 era.

While it falls short of the exemplary standards set by the 3+3 era's first six albums, "Go All the Way" more than matches up with their other albums. The lead single "Don't Say Goodnight (It's Time for Love)" is a steamy let's-go-the-bedroom ballad, one of the best the brothers Isley recorded, IMO. The midtempo "Here We Go Again" is one of my favorite songs from the 3+3 era, with Ronald Isley's calm voice melding well with the song's polished production.

The rest of the album has the familiar silky-guitar-laden funk, but with a smoother, more danceable arrangement. Ronald Isley's vocals are more restrained and Ernie Isley has only one guitar solo, on the mellow "Say You Will." "Say You Will" and the dance-oriented "Pass It On" are the other highlights on an album that was a good rebound from the (IMO) disappointing "Winner Takes All." August 9, 2008

Highly Anticipated/Poorly Executed

The quintessential Isley Brothers album It's Our Thing is finally on CD. Unfortunately, it's paired with an extremely weak disco album from 1980 and is recorded from an LP source. Although it has been cleaned up, clicks and pops are still audible. This is hardly better than my own LP to file dub. In very small print, the liner notes state that the original master recording is missing. I guess they'll be no deluxe edition of this short but excellent LP.

[DW] July 16, 2008

Go All The Way

Finally the Go All The Way CD. This had a couple of hit on it.
You finally get Here we go again!
Isley Fans have to happy. I just don't like the ideal of pairing it with the "It's Our Thing" CD, and the price.
With that I have to give it 4 out of 5. July 9, 2008

Simply The Best.....

This is the best news I've heard all day. I remember asking Amazon to keep me informed when this album became available and sure enough they delivered.

This is one of my favorite musical groups of all time and my favorite album from 1980. It just goes to show that wishes really do come true.

Hang in there Ron Isley, I still love you and the brothers and I look forward to you doing more good music. July 8, 2008

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