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 part 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's song Live It Up is about a person in a relationship with someone who refuses to let loose and enjoy life. The singer of the song feels like they are always holding back and not allowed to have any fun because their partner never wants to let loose. The chorus of the song emphasizes that everyone should have fun, groove and love because life is too short. The singer feels like they have been holding back for too long and just wants to have some fun. They want to make their partner have a good time and live it up. The song suggests that living life to the fullest is important and should not be compromised for anyone.
The song's upbeat tempo and catchy rhythm make it a classic feel-good tune. Live It Up was released in 1974 and reached #4 on the R&B chart and #52 on the pop chart. Outside the United States, the song was also a hit in the United Kingdom, reaching #6 on the UK Singles Chart. The song features a saxophone solo that is reminiscent of the 70s funk music. It is also notable that The Isley Brothers were a family band and this song featured vocals from all three of the Isley Brothers. Live It Up has been covered by various artists, including Michael Jackson and The Jacksons.
Line by Line Meaning
You never want to comfort me
You never want to console me or make me feel better
Knowing what you really need
Despite knowing what can make you happy
You always say you've had enough
You constantly claim that you are not interested or satisfied
You never want to live it up
You never want to enjoy life to the fullest
But everybodys got to move and
Everyone has to keep moving and making progress
Everybodys got to groove
Everyone has to dance or have a good time
Everybody needs love sure enough
Everybody needs love without a doubt
Everybody ought to live it up
Everybody should enjoy life without reservation
Well what did I do that was wrong
I'm not sure what I did incorrectly
I just want to have some fun
I just want to enjoy myself
I've been holding back for so long
I have been restraining myself for an extended period of time
But now I wanna, got to, live it up
I am now eager and compelled to fully enjoy myself
I've wanna make it
I want to succeed
I know I'll have a bit of luck
I anticipate having some fortune or success
To make you have a real real real real good time
To ensure that you have a great time
Gonna make you live it up
I am going to make sure you fully enjoy yourself
'Cause everybodys got to move
Because nobody can remain stagnant or inactive
Everybodys got to groove
Everyone has to dance or have a good time
Everybody is making love sure enough
Everybody is engaging in lovemaking without fail
Everybody ought to live it up
Everybody should enjoy life without reservation
Well what did I do that was wrong
I'm still unsure about what I did incorrectly
Just want to have me big fun
I just want to have a lot of fun
I've been holding back for too long
I have restrained myself for an excessive duration
I got to, live it up
I have to fully enjoy myself
Lyrics © 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
Mack Edwards
I'm still playing this in 2020 , it never gets old , real music with real instruments being played and talented singers
Patricia Davis
Long live R&B🎶🕺🏾💃🏾🎼
Robin Cox
00
Jack Johnson
These guy's was the.most inspirational to the world
Because they were shonuf loved amen God bless yah
An family anfriends
Valenda Newell
ERNIE’S guitar riff is KILLING IT...his talent is PHENOMENAL....LUV IT ❤️
Karen Mansfield
The absolute best music EVER!! Their talent cannot be duplicated. I grew up in that era
Mbrode041795
One of the most-under-rated bands ever. Mixes are incredibly advanced. Hendrix cut his chops w these brilliant talents. Ernie Isley is among the greatest obscure guitar talents. They were Sly and Family without as many hits (another legendary and ground-breaking classic group). If you can stop moving to this tune, its time to just lay down. :-)
George Johnson
Their fans KNOW!
James Boyd
I disagree,they were just as big as the Commodores,Parliament/Funkadelic and Earth,Wind & Fire...3+3 were awesome
Darhyl Lacy
@James Boyd l could legitimately argue that although E,W&F most definitely deserved to the first black group to be honored recently, the Isley Brothers could make a very strong case as the first black group that should have been of part of the Kennedy honors. But l do understand and respect why the elements were chosen to be the first.