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)
Prize Possession
The Isley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is what you
Are to me
Yeah
No dictionary
Can find
The words to say
How much
Hallelujah
It's bout time I found someone Whose gonna love me
For me
Hey Miss Beloved
Since you come into my life
And unlocked the door
To my heart
I've been free
Many have called
But the chosen are few
Yeah
Said there's so few
That's why I'm so happy
Woman
To be lying next to you
Yeah
Prize possession
You're my
Movie star
My near or far
My everything
You are my
Prize possession
You are my cozy nights
My fireplace
My sweet melodies
You put the light at the end of my
Tunnel
Yes you did
And you did not let me die
When it looks like life was gettin' away
From me
Ohhh
You loved
And clothed
And you fed me woman
I remember
Momma
You're my best friend
I love you
And woman you've got to know your
My prize possession
Said you are my
Movie star
My near or far
My Christmas carol
Prize possession
You are my
Cozy nights
My fireplace
My sweet melodies
Lady April
Let your rain fall down
It's much cozier when it's wet
We can cuddle up together
Oh
Aw
c'mon suga
We can weather any storm
A family that prays together
Will stay together
Prize Possession
The song "Prize Possession" by The Isley Brothers Feat. Ronald Isley AKA Mr. Biggs is a beautiful ode to a loved one. The lyrics express the deep affection the singer has for his partner or spouse. The first verse describes the person as a sanctuary, an unfindable word from a dictionary that can explain how much love he has for her. He feels lucky to have found someone who will love him for who he is. Since this person came into his life, he feels free and liberated. The chorus repeats the phrase "Prize Possession," reflecting the value and worth the person holds in the singer's life. The singer sings that his beloved is his everything, including near or far, his movie star, cozy nights, and sweet melodies.
The second verse goes on to describe the chosenness of this relationship; many have come trying to pursue his affections, but only a few have been chosen. The woman who lies beside him is his prize possession. He calls her his Christmas carol, near or far, his cozy nights, sweet melodies, and fireplace. In the bridge section, the singer reminisces about the hardships he faced; this person loved, clothed, and fed him, pointing to the catalyst of the relationship. Finally, the third verse addresses the partner as Lady April and speaks of facing any storm with her, emphasizing the benefits of an unwavering partnership.
Line by Line Meaning
Sanctuary
You provide me with a safe and comforting haven.
Is what you
Your presence in my life is the embodiment of sanctuary.
Are to me
You mean everything to me.
No dictionary
No written words can accurately express.
Can find
Has the ability to express.
The words to say
The depth of my love for you.
How much
The extent of my love for you is immeasurable.
I love you
You are the most important person in my life and I have strong feelings for you.
Hallelujah
An expression of joy or gratitude.
It's bout time I found someone Whose gonna love me
I am grateful to have found someone who loves and accepts me for who I am.
For me
Without judgment or reservation.
Hey Miss Beloved
An affectionate nickname for my beloved partner.
Since you come into my life
Since you became a part of my world.
And unlocked the door
And allowed me to open up to you.
To my heart
To my feelings and emotions.
I've been free
I feel liberated and unencumbered since meeting you.
Many have called
Many people have shown interest in me.
But the chosen are few
But I have chosen you to be my partner.
Said there's so few
I believe that there are very few people like you in this world.
That's why I'm so happy
That's why I feel so fortunate and content in our relationship.
Woman
An affectionate term for my romantic partner.
To be lying next to you
To share a bed and intimate moments with you.
Prize possession
You are the most valuable and cherished person in my life.
You're my
You are the embodiment of.
Movie star
Like a celebrity, you are the star of my life.
My near or far
Whether close or distant physically, you hold great importance in my life.
My everything
You are everything to me; my reason for living.
You are my
You embody.
Cozy nights
Our comfortable and intimate nights spent together.
My fireplace
My source of warmth and comfort, like a cozy fireplace.
My sweet melodies
Your loving words and actions bring pleasure and joy to my life.
You put the light at the end of my
You provided hope for me during a difficult time.
Tunnel
A symbolic representation of a difficult or challenging period in my life.
Yes you did
You were my guiding light and helped me through that difficult time.
And you did not let me die
You helped me survive that challenging time in my life.
When it looks like life was gettin' away
During a time when it seemed that life was getting harder for me to manage.
From me
Out of my control and beyond my reach.
Ohhh
An expression of intense emotion.
You loved
You showed me affection and care.
And clothed
And provided for my basic needs.
And you fed me woman
And gave me sustenance to survive.
I remember
I recall and cherish.
Momma
An affectionate term for a motherly figure in my life.
You're my best friend
You are my closest confidante and most trusted companion.
I love you
I care for you deeply and express my affection towards you.
And woman you've got to know your
You need to understand your value and worth to me.
Said you are my
You hold great importance in my life and are the epitome of.
Christmas carol
Like the beautiful songs of Christmas, you bring joy and comfort to my life.
Lady April
An affectionate term for my beloved partner.
Let your rain fall down
Allow your tears and emotions to flow and be expressed.
It's much cozier when it's wet
Our relationship grows stronger during difficult times and when we show vulnerability.
We can cuddle up together
We can show physical affection and comfort each other.
Oh
An expression of surprise or excitement.
Aw
An expression of compassion and empathy.
c'mon suga
An affectionate nickname for my beloved partner.
We can weather any storm
Together, we can overcome any obstacle or challenge that comes our way.
A family that prays together
Families who share beliefs and values and express them through prayer.
Will stay together
Are more likely to stay united and support each other through all of life's ups and downs.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ROBERT S. KELLY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind