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)
Brother Brother
The Isley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know you've been laying back a long time
But keep laying a little longer brother
Oh, brother, brother, brother
I've been watching everything you do
And I've been wishing only good for you
All you've got to do is just want it to
Oh, brother, brother, brother
I know you've been laying back a long time
But I love you like no other
Oh, brother, brother, brother
You have always been so good to me
And though you didn't always talk to me
There wasn't much my loving eyes could not see
And I don't believe you need all your misery
Oh, brother, brother, brother
I know you've been laying back a long time
But keep hanging on brother
Oh, brother, brother, brother
The Isley Brothers’ song “Brother Brother” is a moving and heartfelt tribute to the bond between siblings. Throughout the song, the singer addresses his brother, acknowledging that he has been “laying back a long time” and encouraging him to “keep laying a little longer”. The singer then goes on to express his love for his brother and his desire for him to find happiness and success. He has “been watching everything” his brother does and “wishing only good” things for him. The crux of the song’s message is that if his brother just wants it badly enough, success will come to him, and the two brothers will continue to support each other through thick and thin.
The song speaks to the power of brotherly love and solidarity, as well as the importance of persistence and hard work in achieving one’s goals. It also touches on themes of family, loyalty, and the enduring bonds that tie siblings together. The simple, yet powerful melody and lyrics are a testament to the enduring popularity of The Isley Brothers and their unique sound.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, brother, brother, brother
The singer is addressing their brother with affection.
I know you've been laying back a long time
The singer recognizes that their brother has been inactive or uninvolved for a while.
But keep laying a little longer brother
The singer is encouraging their brother to continue resting or taking time for themselves.
I've been watching everything you do
The artist has been observing their brother's behavior and actions.
And I've been wishing only good for you
The artist desires positive outcomes for their brother.
All you've got to do is just want it to
The singer believes that their brother only needs to have the desire to improve their situation.
And it's gonna come to you
The singer is optimistic that good things will come to their brother if they want them enough.
But I love you like no other
The artist expresses deep affection and love for their brother.
You have always been so good to me
The artist recognizes their brother's past kindness toward them.
And though you didn't always talk to me
The artist acknowledges that their brother may not have always been communicative with them.
There wasn't much my loving eyes could not see
The singer implies that they have been able to see and understand their brother's struggles and emotions even if they weren't spoken about.
And I don't believe you need all your misery
The artist thinks that their brother doesn't need to continue being unhappy or experiencing struggle.
But keep hanging on brother
The singer advises their brother to continue persevering or enduring through their challenges.
Oh, brother, brother, brother
The song concludes by addressing the brother again with affection.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CAROLE KING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind