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)
Smooth Sailin
The Isley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Anything that you want from me is my delight tonight
There'll be nothin' but smooth sailin' tonight
Anything that you want from me is my delight tonight
Every single heartache will be kissed and loved away
And at my desires height, the body will obey
Lay your hands on me, girl, touch my burnin' sand
You can count on me, yeah
I'll set you free and easy
Any fantasy, yeah, will be acted out completely
Nothin' but smooth sailin' tonight
(Ah, baby)
Anything that you want from me is my delight tonight
(You know, you know)
There'll be nothin' but smooth sailin' tonight
(Oh)
Anything that you want from me is my delight tonight
(I know, I know)
Lay down here beside me and we'll cruise the caravan
Let your fingers guide me to the pleasures you demand
Let my lips caress the deepest portals of your soul
Feel the fire I possess, I got to let you know, girl
You can count on me, girl
I'll set you free and easy
Every, any fantasy will be acted out completely
Nothin' but smooth sailin'
(Oh)
Anything that you want from me is my delight tonight
There'll be nothin'
But smooth sailin' tonight
Anything that you want from me
Is my delight tonight
Let's go sailin', sailin' girl
Don't you wanna go sailin'
Count on me
Oh, I'll set you free and easy
Any fantasy will be acted out completely
Nothin' but smooth sailin' tonight
Anything that you want from me is my delight tonight
There'll be nothin' but smooth sailin' tonight
Anything that you want from me is my delight tonight
Nothin' but smooth sailin' tonight
Anything that you want from me is my delight tonight
The Isley Brothers' song "Smooth Sailin' Tonight" is a sensual and sultry tune. The lyrics speak of a smooth, easygoing night where anything the singer's partner desires, he is happy to provide. The chorus repeats the phrase "Nothin' but smooth sailin' tonight," letting the listener know that this is a night where everything will be just fine. The song is full of promises, with lines like "Every single heartache will be kissed and loved away" and "Any fantasy, yeah, will be acted out completely."
The song is a love letter to the singer's partner, filled with promises of physical pleasure and emotional healing. The lyrics suggest that the two will explore each other's bodies and emotions, with the singer offering to "Let your waters calm me, your wish is my command" and "Lay down here beside me and we'll cruise the caravan." The singer is committed to making the night perfect for his partner, leaving them feeling free and easy.
The overall effect of the lyrics is to create a mood of sensuality and romance. The imagery used is designed to evoke the physical and emotional experiences of being with someone you love. The song is a perfect example of the Isley Brothers' ability to create a musical space that is both tender and passionate.
Line by Line Meaning
Nothin' but smooth sailin' tonight
Tonight will be entirely stress-free
Anything that you want from me is my delight tonight
I'm ready and willing to fulfill your every desire tonight
There'll be nothin' but smooth sailin' tonight
I assure you, everything will go smoothly tonight
Every single heartache will be kissed and loved away
I'll comfort you and make all your pain go away
And at my desires height, the body will obey
I'll satisfy you completely, body and soul
Lay your hands on me, girl, touch my burnin' sand
I want you to touch me intimately
Let your waters calm me, your wish is my command
Your satisfaction is my top priority
You can count on me, yeah
You can trust me completely
I'll set you free and easy
I want you to feel comfortable with me
Any fantasy, yeah, will be acted out completely
I'm ready to fulfill any fantasy you have
Lay down here beside me and we'll cruise the caravan
Let's relax and enjoy each other's company
Let your fingers guide me to the pleasures you demand
I want you to take control and lead me
Let my lips caress the deepest portals of your soul
I want to explore your innermost desires
Feel the fire I possess, I got to let you know, girl
I have an intense desire for you
Let's go sailin', sailin' girl
Let's enjoy this experience together
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANGELA WINBUSH, ANGELA LISA WINBUSH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@smokeyfan
Angela Winbush is such an underrated (singer)-songwriter-producer. She singlehandedly kept the Isley Brothers from musical irrelevance in the late 80s (bridging the gap between their early 80s and mid 90s successes). Spend The Night (Ce Soir) and Smooth Sailin' are timeless classics that hold up against the very best of the Isley Brothers discographies. She does not get her deserved flowers unfortunately.
@shine7113
All facts! 💯%
@AmistadUCC
Absolutely! Angela' Winbush is the superstar!!!!
@cedrichorton4075
Well. Here's 🤍🤍🤍🤍ur flowers MS.WINBUSH. THANK YOU. MA'AM
@smokeyfan
@Cedric Horton I am not Miss Winbush but I do hope she sees this thread and the outpouring of love ❤🙏🏾!
@cedrichorton4075
@smokeyfan RIGHT ON. APPRECIATE THAT. I HOPE SO AS WELL
@AngieBLee
His voice gives me chills. It soothes your soul. It will be a classic forever 💛💯
@mackedwards892
Great album , the isleys don't make bad music they make great classic music that will last forever
@ajjembafelix
This group is something else. They know how to reach into your soul and soothe every ache away while giving you something to hold onto.
@pariscain2555
A song where you can just chill and ride to all night on a nice summer night, I love the Isley Brothers!!!