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)
I Turned You On
The Isley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now I can't turn you off
I turned you on
Now I can't turn you off
What a good, good feeling
A great sensation
You and me, baby
Sock it to me
Baby, I started it
But I can't stop it
I admit that I started it, baby
Girl but I can't stop it
What a good, good feeling
A great sensation
You and me, baby
A good combination
Sock it to me
Get it, George
Sock it to me
I turned you on
Sock it to me
I turned you on
But I can't turn you off
Baby, I said, I turned you on
But I can't turn you off
Come on, girl, light my fire
Set me a little bit higher
Round and round and up and down we go
Where we gonna stop, baby, nobody knows
Sock it to me
Whip it to me
Give it to me
Sock it to me
Sock it to me
The Isley Brothers' "I Turned You On" is a classic soul ballad that explores the theme of infatuation and obsession. The song's central narrative revolves around the singer's inability to get over a past lover that he turned on to the pleasures of loving and being loved. The opening lyrics, "Hold it, baby, I turned you on, now I can't turn you off," are repeated throughout the song, serving as a sort of chorus that emphasizes the singer's helplessness in the face of this love that he inadvertently sparked.
The singer seems to be caught in a cycle of passion that he can't break free from, as he acknowledges that he started the relationship but can't seem to put an end to it. The lyrics "Baby, I started it, but I can't stop it, girl, but I can't stop it" highlight the singer's sense of resignation and desperation, as he is aware that he has set himself on a path that he can't control.
Despite his struggles, the singer revels in the pleasure of being with this beloved, singing about the good feeling and great sensation that comes with their combination. The repeated refrain of "sock it to me" reflects the intensity of the singer's emotions, and his desire for this love to consume him completely.
Overall, "I Turned You On" is a powerful exploration of the all-consuming nature of love and infatuation. The Isley Brothers' soulful harmonies and groovy instrumentation make for a truly memorable listening experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Hold it, baby, I turned you on
I was able to arouse you and make you feel good previously.
Now I can't turn you off
Unfortunately, I am no longer able to make you feel less aroused, causing some trouble between us.
What a good, good feeling
What a pleasant and satisfying sensation we both shared.
A great sensation
It was a delightful, intense feeling we experienced together.
You and me, baby
It was a memorable experience we both enjoyed together.
A good combination
We were a lovely match that fit perfectly, enjoying each other's company.
Baby, I started it
It was my being that began our sexual exploration together.
But I can't stop it
Now that it started, it's impossible for me to cease our sexual encounters.
I admit that I started it, baby
I confess that I was the cause of our being together sexually.
Get it, George
George, please join us in the musical fun now.
But I can't turn you off
I admit I am powerless to control this urge we both have for each other.
Baby, I said, I turned you on
I explicitly told you how I was able to get you aroused in the first place.
Come on, girl, light my fire
Please ignite my sexual urges as I am yearning for them.
Set me a little bit higher
Take me to new heights by raising our shared sexual encounters to a new level.
Round and round and up and down we go
Our sexual relationship goes on a never-ending cycle of exploration and pleasure.
Where we gonna stop, baby, nobody knows
We don't know where our sexual relationship and exploration will take us either.
Whip it to me
Please acquaint me with your kinks and sexual interests.
Give it to me
Let's explore our sexual desires thoroughly and enjoy every moment of it.
Sock it to me
Let's hit each other with our best shots and experience pleasure to the fullest.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: O'KELLEY ISLEY, O'KELLY ISLEY, RONALD ISLEY, RUDOLPH ISLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
malik lowe
Simply one of best groups to ever record music. I'm so bless to be someone who grew up listening to such great music & artists. I loved being a child in the 70's I wouldn't trade those times for nothing on this earth. The 60's & 70's
malik lowe
Were the greatest era in music especially in Soul/R&B Music. The lsley Brothers are just one of the many artist that we (the children of the 60's & 70's) were so blessed to actually bear witnesses to daily in our homes. My heart bleeds for this crap they are passing off to our children as music.
Ricky Muse
What talented bunch of brothers!
Jonathan Williams
One of the funkiest tracks I ever heard in my life! That heavy bass line and the rythym, if you don’t move to that you’re dead👌🏾
Darnell Webb
I remember this dance floor hit from the summer of 1969 what a great song dance to this for many hours right on Isley Brothers
Daniel Burns
this song went to #23 on the pop charts in 1969!!!
Darnell Webb
The Isley Brothers I turn you on what a good good feeling a good sensation a great combination summer of 1969 memories
endless441
This was my jam a great sensation!!
Frederic Boxx
What the hell is wrong w/ the thumbs down crowd .. I feel for ya!
Alex Murray
All my life I try to get this record, I thought the name was "Shock to me, baby". Fifty years after I listen again. It was number one in the Radio in Costa Rica in 1969.