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)
How Sweet It Is
The Isley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How sweet it is to be loved by you
I needed the shelter of someone's arms and there you were
I needed someone to understand my ups and downs and there you were
With sweet love and devotion
Deeply touching my emotions
I want to stop and thank you baby
I want to stop and thank you baby
How sweet it is to be loved by you
I close my eyes at night
And wonder what would I be without you in my life
Everything was just a bore
All the things I did seems I'd done'em before
But you brighten up for me all of my days
With a love so sweet in so many ways
I want to stop and thank you baby
I want to stop and thank you baby
How sweet it is to be loved by you
How sweet it is to be loved by you
You were better to me than I've been to myself
For me, there's you and nobody else
I want to stop and thank you baby
I want to stop and thank you baby
How sweet it is to be loved by you
How sweet it is to be loved by you
How sweet it is to be loved by you
The Isley Brothers' hit song "How Sweet It Is" is a testament to the power of love and gratitude for the people who help us through tough times. The verses tell a story of someone who was looking for companionship and someone to understand them, and they found that in the person they are singing to. The chorus repeats the phrase "how sweet it is to be loved by you," driving home the point that being loved and supported can make all the difference.
The first verse speaks to the need for someone to lean on, someone who will be there through the ups and downs of life. The second verse acknowledges that life can feel mundane and repetitive, but having someone to share it with can brighten things up. The bridge emphasizes the gratitude the singer has for their partner, highlighting the fact that they were better to them than they were to themselves. The repeated chorus is a joyful celebration of the love they share, and a recognition of how lucky they are to have it.
Line by Line Meaning
How sweet it is to be loved by you
It is a wonderful feeling to be loved by you
How sweet it is to be loved by you
It is a delightful experience to be loved by you
I needed the shelter of someone's arms and there you were
I needed someone to hold me and comfort me, and you were there for me
I needed someone to understand my ups and downs and there you were
I needed someone to empathize with my highs and lows, and you were there for me
With sweet love and devotion
Your love and commitment are pure and tender
Deeply touching my emotions
Your love profoundly affects my feelings and thoughts
I want to stop and thank you baby
I desire to pause and express my gratitude to you, my dear
I want to stop and thank you baby
I wish to halt and convey my appreciation to you, my love
How sweet it is to be loved by you
It is a pleasant sensation to be adored by you
I close my eyes at night
I shut my eyes during the night
And wonder what would I be without you in my life
And contemplate how my life would be without you
Everything was just a bore
Everything was tedious and unexciting
All the things I did seems I'd done'em before
All my actions appeared repetitive and unoriginal
But you brighten up for me all of my days
However, you bring light and joy to all my days
With a love so sweet in so many ways
Your affection is pure and delightful in numerous ways
You were better to me than I've been to myself
You treated me better than I have treated myself
For me, there's you and nobody else
For me, there is only you, and no one else
I want to stop and thank you baby
I want to pause and express my gratitude to you, my sweetheart
I want to stop and thank you baby
I wish to halt and convey my appreciation to you, my darling
How sweet it is to be loved by you
It is a wonderful feeling to be loved by you
How sweet it is to be loved by you
It is a delightful experience to be loved by you
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Brian Holland, Edward Jr. Holland, Lamont Dozier
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind