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)
Love Is What You Make It
The Isley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Love is what you make it
Love is what you make it
Love is what you make it
Give love a chance girl
You're still young
You still got time
You gotta treat love kind
Love is what you make it baby
It's what you make it
Love is what you make it baby
It's what you make it
Always trust each other
Be true to one another
It's a great, great pleasure
When you're doing things together
All though thick and thin
Stay together till the end
Take it for what it's worth
It's the greatest thing on earth
Love is what you make it
Love is what you make it
Love is what you make it
Love is what you make it
Love is what you make it
Love is what you make it
Love is what you make it
Love is what you make it
Love is what you make it
Love is what you make it
The Isley Brothers's song "Love Is What You Make It" is a simple but poignant statement about the nature of love. The repetitive chorus emphasizes the message that love is not something that simply happens to you, but rather it is something that you create through your actions and attitudes. The lyrics offer some advice to the listener, suggesting that love should be given a chance and handled gently, and that trust and honesty are essential to building a strong relationship. The song also highlights the joy and satisfaction that come from sharing experiences with someone you love, and that the commitment to love and support each other through good times and bad is the foundation for a lasting and meaningful relationship.
One interpretation of the song is that it is not simply a romantic love song, but rather a more universal reflection on the nature of love in all its forms. Whether it is between lovers, friends, siblings, or parent and child, love is something that requires effort, patience, and understanding. The lyrics suggest that love is not something that is always easy or perfect, but that the commitment to work through the challenges and stick together is what makes it worthwhile.
Line by Line Meaning
Love is what you make it
The quality of love you receive is based on the effort you put into it.
Love is what you make it
Love can be what you want it to be based on how you approach it.
Love is what you make it
The outcome of love is contingent upon what efforts you put towards it.
Love is what you make it
Love requires effort and intention from both partners to flourish.
Give love a chance girl
Don't be afraid to open yourself up to love and new experiences.
You're still young
You have time to find love and grow in your romantic relationships.
You still got time
You don't need to rush into anything, take your time in finding love.
Handle it with kid gloves girl
Be gentle and delicate with love, treat it with care.
You gotta treat love kind
Love requires patience, understanding and kindness to grow.
Always trust each other
Trust is the foundation of any successful relationship.
Be true to one another
Honesty and authenticity are also key components in a healthy partnership.
It's a great, great pleasure
The journey of love can be an immensely enjoyable experience.
When you're doing things together
Shared experiences and teamwork can help build a deeper bond between partners.
All though thick and thin
True love perseveres through the good and the bad times.
Stay together till the end
Relationships require a long-term commitment towards one another to succeed in the long run.
Take it for what it's worth
Appreciate the value and importance of love by putting effort into your relationship.
It's the greatest thing on earth
Love is one of the most significant and fulfilling experiences one can encounter in life.
Contributed by Nolan S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.