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)
Need A Little Taste Of Love
The Isley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hey Mister, payin' heavy dues
Havin' troubles, and it ain't so hard to find
When you're ridin' double, and you're running out of time
No need to feel, that you lack the spirit
Within the body, but it's in the soul
If you wanna be loved, then let somebody hear it
Need a little taste of love
Hey Mister, tell me how long has it been
Hey sister, so how could you pretend
Why keep the sorrow, where it don't belong
Well come tomorrow, oh help me sing the song
No need to feel, that you lack the spirit
Within the body, but it's in the soul
If you wanna be loved, then let somebody hear it
Might as well face the facts, no need to be holdin' back
Need a little taste of love
Need a little taste of love
The Isley Brothers' song Need A Little Taste Of Love speaks to individuals who are going through tough times and are in need of love. The song starts by addressing the pain that one might be feeling, with the lyrics "Hey Mister, walkin' with the blues, Hey Mister, payin' heavy dues, Havin' troubles, and it ain't so hard to find, When you're ridin' double, and you're running out of time". These lyrics suggest that sometimes, problems seem to pile up and become too much to handle.
However, the song goes on to urge individuals to not give up hope and to believe in themselves. The lyrics "No need to feel, that you lack the spirit, Within the body, but it's in the soul, If you wanna be loved, then let somebody hear it, Might as well face the facts, no need to be holdin' back, Need a little taste of love" encourage the listener to tap into their inner strength, share their feelings and not hold back from the love and support they need.
Overall, Need A Little Taste Of Love reminds us that it is okay to ask for help and to lean on others during difficult times. It emphasizes that with love and support, we can overcome any obstacle that comes our way.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey Mister, walkin' with the blues
Addressing a man who appears downtrodden and unhappy.
Hey Mister, payin' heavy dues
Acknowledging the struggles and hardships the man has faced and the consequences of those struggles.
Havin' troubles, and it ain't so hard to find
Recognizing that problems are a common occurrence and easily identifiable.
When you're ridin' double, and you're running out of time
When the odds are stacked against you and time is running out.
No need to feel, that you lack the spirit
Assuring that the ability to feel inspired and enthusiastic is still present within oneself.
Within the body, but it's in the soul
The essence of one's inner energy can be found within oneself.
If you wanna be loved, then let somebody hear it
To attract love and attention, one must communicate their desires and intentions.
Might as well face the facts, no need to be holdin' back
Accept the reality of the situation and move forward without hesitation.
Need a little taste of love
In need of an experience or feeling of love to uplift and motivate oneself.
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