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)
Live It Up Parts 1-2
The Isley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Knowing what you really need
You always say you've had enough
You never want to live it up
But everybodys got to move and
Everybodys got to groove
Everybody needs love sure enough
Well what did I do that was wrong
I just want to have some fun
I've been holding back for so long
But now I wanna, got to, live it up
I've wanna make it
I know I'll have a bit of luck
To make you have a real real real real good time
Gonna make you live it up
'Cause everybodys got to move
Everybodys got to groove
Everybody is making love sure enough
Everybody ought to live it up
Well what did I do that was wrong
Just want to have me big fun
I've been holding back for too long
I got to, live it up
The Isley Brothers' song Climbin' up the Ladder Parts 1 & 2 is about the desire to live life to the fullest, to enjoy oneself, and to not be held back by fear or doubt. The song addresses an individual who is hesitant to let loose and be carefree, despite knowing deep down that they need to do so. The singer urges this person to embrace life and have fun. The lyrics emphasize the idea that everyone deserves to experience love, joy, and excitement, and that it is important to take advantage of these opportunities as they come.
The line "Well what did I do that was wrong, I just want to have some fun," exemplifies the idea of not wanting to let fear drive one's decisions. The singer acknowledges that they may have been holding back for a while, but they are ready now to live it up and make the most of life. The use of the phrase "Climbin' up the Ladder" is a metaphor for the journey to success and enjoying the process, rather than just focusing on the destination.
In conclusion, The Isley Brothers' song Climbin' up the Ladder Parts 1 & 2 is a call to action to live life with purpose and not be held back by fear or hesitation. It encourages listeners to seize opportunities and enjoy the journey of life.
Line by Line Meaning
You never want to comfort me
You show no interest in comforting me emotionally
Knowing what you really need
You are aware of what you truly desire
You always say you've had enough
You consistently claim to have had your fill
You never want to live it up
You never want to truly enjoy life
But everybodys got to move and
But everyone must progress and
Everybodys got to groove
Everyone must have their own rhythm
Everybody needs love sure enough
Everyone requires love, without a doubt
Everybody ought to live it up
Everyone should experience life to its fullest
Well what did I do that was wrong
What mistake did I make
I just want to have some fun
I desire to enjoy myself
I've been holding back for so long
I have suppressed my desires for too long
But now I wanna, got to, live it up
But now, without a doubt, I have the urge to embrace life
I've wanna make it
I want to succeed
I know I'll have a bit of luck
I am confident that luck will be on my side
To make you have a real real real real good time
To ensure that you have an extremely enjoyable time
Gonna make you live it up
I will encourage you to make the most out of life
'Cause everybodys got to move
Because everyone must progress
Everybody is making love sure enough
Everyone is engaging in physical intimacy, without a doubt
Well what did I do that was wrong
What mistake did I make
Just want to have me big fun
I simply desire to have enormous amounts of fun
I've been holding back for too long
I have suppressed my desires for far too long
I got to, live it up
I must, without a doubt, embrace life to its fullest
Lyrics Ā© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHRISTOPHER JASPER, CHRISTOPHER H JASPER, ERNIE ISLEY, MARVIN ISLEY, O'KELLY ISLEY, RONALD ISLEY, RUDOLPH ISLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind