Together with a fourth brother, Vernon, the group performed gospel music until Vernon's death a few years after its formation. After moving to the New York City area in the late 1950s, the group had their first successes during these early years, first coming to prominence in 1959 with their fourth single, "Shout", written by the three brothers. Initially a modest charted single, the song eventually sold over a million copies. In the 1960s, the group recorded songs for a variety of labels, including the top 20 single "Twist and Shout" and the Motown single "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)", before recording and issuing the Grammy Award-winning hit "It's Your Thing" on their own label, T-Neck Records.
Influenced by gospel and doo-wop music, the group began experimenting with different musical styles incorporating elements of rock and funk as well as pop balladry. The inclusion of younger brothers Ernie Isley (lead guitar, drums) and Marvin Isley (bass guitar), and Rudolph's brother-in-law Chris Jasper (keyboards, synthesizers), in 1973 turned the original vocal trio into a complete band and reached the height of their success. For the next full decade, they recorded a string of top-selling albums from 3 + 3 to Between the Sheets, including the number one album The Heat Is On.
The six-member band splintered in 1983, with Ernie, Marvin, and Chris Jasper forming the short-lived spinoff group Isley-Jasper-Isley. The oldest member, O'Kelly, died in 1986 and Rudolph and Ronald released a pair of albums as a duo before Rudolph retired to a life in the Christian ministry in 1989. Ronald reconvened the group two years later in 1991 with Ernie and Marvin; five years later, in 1996, Marvin Isley left the group due to complications of diabetes. The remaining duo of Ronald and Ernie achieved mainstream success with the albums Mission to Please (1996), Eternal (2001) and Body Kiss (2003). Eternal spawned the top twenty hit "Contagious". As of 2019, the Isley Brothers continue to perform under the lineup of Ronald and Ernie.
The Isley Brothers have sold over 18 million units in the United States alone. They have had several hit songs including four Top 10 singles on the United States Billboard chart. With their first major hit charting in 1959 ("Shout"), and their last one in 2001 ("Contagious"), they are among the few groups ever to have hit the Billboard Hot 100 with new music in five different decades. Sixteen of their albums charted in the Top 40 and thirteen of those albums have been certified gold, platinum or multi-platinum by the RIAA. The brothers have been honored by several musical institutions, including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which inducted them in 1992. Five years later, they were added to Hollywood's Rockwalk, and in 2003 they were inducted to the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. They received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Isley_Brothers
Studio albums
Shout! (1959)
Twist & Shout (1962)
Twisting and Shouting (1963)
This Old Heart of Mine (1966)
Soul on the Rocks (1967)
It's Our Thing (1969)
The Brothers: Isley (1969)
Get into Something (1970)
Givin' It Back (1971)
Brother, Brother, Brother (1972)
3 + 3 (1973)
Live It Up (1974)
The Heat Is On (1975)
Harvest for the World (1976)
Go for Your Guns (1977)
Showdown (1978)
Winner Takes All (1979)
Go All the Way (1980)
Grand Slam (1981)
Inside You (1981)
The Real Deal (1982)
Between the Sheets (1983)
Masterpiece (1985)
Smooth Sailin' (1987)
Spend the Night (1989)
Tracks of Life (1992)
Mission to Please (1996)
Eternal (2001)
Body Kiss (2003)
Baby Makin' Music (2006)
Power of Peace (2017)
At Your Best
The Isley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I feel what I feel
Sometimes it's hard to tell you so
You may not be in the mood to learn what you think you know
There are times when I find
You want to keep yourself from me
But at your best you are love
You're a positive motivating force within my life
Should you ever feel the need to wonder why
Let me know, let me know
When you feel what you feel
Oh, how hard for me to understand
So many things have taken place before this love affair began
But when you feel, oh, like I feel
Confusion can give way to doubt
For there are times when I fall short of what I say
What I say I'm all about, all about
But at your best you are love
You're a positive motivating force within my life
Should you ever feel the need to wonder why
Let me know, let me know
Tell me what it is (Tell me what it is)
Make believe, no need to make believe
Look beyond your own (Look beyond your own)
Try and find a place for me
'Cause
But at your best you are love
You're a positive motivating force within my life
And if you ever feel the need to wonder why
Let me know, let me know
See, at your best baby
, you embody love in its purest form. Sometimes, it's difficult for the singer to articulate their emotions to their partner, and they may be resistant to hearing what they think they already know. The singer acknowledges that the partner may also feel the need to keep their guard up, to keep a distance between them, even when they're in love.
However, the singer sees that their partner's best qualities are those that express love and positivity, and that their partner's love is a motivating force in their life. The singer asks their partner to communicate with them openly when confused or doubtful about their relationship, so they can work through these feelings together.
As the song continues, the singer acknowledges that their love is not without its flaws. There are times when they don't quite live up to what they say or profess to be. Despite these challenges, the singer still sees their partner as the embodiment of love and encourages them to look beyond their own doubts and find a place for the singer in their heart.
Overall, the message of the song is one of unconditional love and support for a partner, even when things may not be perfect. It highlights the importance of communication and recognizing the positive qualities in each other to make a relationship work.
Line by Line Meaning
Let me know, let me know
Please communicate with me and share what you're feeling.
When I feel what I feel
When I experience intense emotions,
Sometimes it's hard to tell you so
It can be difficult to express those emotions to you.
You may not be in the mood to learn what you think you know
There are times when you may not be receptive to hearing what I have to say.
There are times when I find
Sometimes I realize
You want to keep yourself from me
You're feeling distant or closed off.
When I don't have the strength, I'm just a mirror of what I see
When I'm feeling down or weak, my mood mirrors yours.
But at your best you are love
But when you're feeling good and positive, you exude love and positivity.
You're a positive motivating force within my life
Your presence in my life inspires and uplifts me.
Should you ever feel the need to wonder why
If you ever feel confused or uncertain about things between us,
Let me know, let me know
Please communicate with me and share what you're feeling.
When you feel what you feel
When you experience intense emotions
Oh, how hard for me to understand
It can be difficult for me to fully comprehend what you're going through.
So many things have taken place before this love affair began
Our history and the events that led up to our relationship can influence how we feel now.
But when you feel, oh, like I feel
But when we both have strong emotions at the same time,
Confusion can give way to doubt
We may start to feel uncertain or confused.
For there are times when I fall short of what I say
I'm not always able to live up to my own expectations or promises.
What I say I'm all about, all about
What I claim to value or prioritize.
Tell me what it is (Tell me what it is)
Please explain to me what's going on.
Make believe, no need to make believe
Let's be honest and authentic with each other.
Look beyond your own (Look beyond your own)
Consider the perspectives and feelings of others, not just your own.
Try and find a place for me
Please make an effort to include me in your life and plans.
'Cause
Because...
But at your best you are love
But when you're feeling good and positive, you exude love and positivity.
You're a positive motivating force within my life
Your presence in my life inspires and uplifts me.
And if you ever feel the need to wonder why
If you ever feel confused or uncertain about things between us,
Let me know, let me know
Please communicate with me and share what you're feeling.
See, at your best baby
You're truly amazing when you're feeling good and positive.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Christopher Jasper, Ernie Isley, Marvin Isley, O'kelly Isley, Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Eddie Villalobos
(At Your Best) You Are Love
The Isley Brothers
[Intro]
Love, let me know, let me know
Love, let me know, let me know, let me know
[Verse 1]
When I feel what I feel
Sometimes it's hard for me to tell you so
You may not be in the mood
To learn what you think you know
There are times when I find
You wanna keep yourself from me
When I don't have the strength
I'm just a mirror of what I see
[Chorus]
But at your best you are love
You're a positive motivating force within my life
Should you ever feel the need to wonder why
Let me know, let me know
Love, let me know, let me know
[Verse 2]
When you feel what you feel
Oh, how hard for me to understand
So many things have taken place
Before this love affair began
But if you feel, oh, like I feel
Confusion can give way to doubt
For there are times when I fall short of what I say
What I say I'm all about, all about
Chorus]
But at your best you are love
You're a positive motivating force within my life
Should you ever feel the need to wonder why
Let me know, let me know
No, no, no, no
[Bridge]
Tell me what it is (Tell me what it is)
There's no need to make believe
(Make believe, no need to make believe)
Look beyond your world, try to find a place for me
(Try and find, find a place for me)
[Chorus]
'Cause at your best you are love
You're a positive motivating force within my life
And if you ever feel the need to wonder why
Let me know, let me know
[Outro]
Let me know, let me know
Let me know, oh
Love
Oh, baby
Stay at your best, baby, yeah
Please do it for my sake, sweet lady
Kenneth Craddock
"you're a positive motivating force within my life." Awesome, powerful words to speak to any women. Powerful Song.
LuLu Springs
Yes !!!
Marquis Williams
In my opinion, the 70's were the best era for the Isley Brothers because they were putting out hit songs after hit songs.
Pyro_the_Mourninstar3000
I'm torn between the 80s and the 70s o can't choose!!
Saydah Maiga
Yesssssssss
Andrea Cheney
Don’t forget the Ohio Players too.
L3Nstrum3ntalz
@Andre Jamison Or Teddy Pendergrass, Barry White & Isaac Hayes
StylistecS
70s was the best era for r&b period and I’m also a so called millennial but born in 83.
G S
All I can say is Aaliyah did this song justice like no one else could. Rest in peace
MemoGrafix
AbSOULutely. I can't picture no one else besides her & Ronald doing this song.