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)
That Lady Pts. 1 & 2
The Isley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Beautiful lady, lady, yeah (who's that lady?)
Lovely lady (who's that lady?)
Real fine lady (who's that lady?)
Hear me callin' out to you
'Cause that's all that I can do
Your eyes tell me to pursue
No, no, no, don't touch
Who's that lady? (Who's that lady?)
Sexy lady, oh (who's that lady?)
Beautiful lady (who's that lady?)
Real fine lady (who's that lady?)
I would dance upon a string
Any gifts she'd wanna bring
I would give her anything
If she would just do what I say
Come around my way, baby
Shine my way
Who's that lady? (Who's that lady?)
Beautiful lady, lady, lady (who's that lady?)
Lovely lady (who's that lady?)
Real, real fine lady (who's that lady?)
I would love to take her home
But her heart is made of stone
Gotta keep on keepin' on
If I don't, she'll do me wrong
She'll do me wrong, yeah
The Isley Brothers's song "That Lady Pts. 1 & 2" narrates the pursuit of a woman who the singer finds beautiful and wants to get closer to. The lyrics start with the repeated question of "Who's that lady?" which conveys the singer's fascination with the woman. He mentions that he can see the desire in her eyes, but she tells him not to touch her, implying that she is not interested in a physical relationship. Nevertheless, he is persistent, and he promises to do anything for her, expecting her to come to him eventually.
Furthermore, he admits that he wants to take her home, but her heart is made of stone, which means that she is unresponsive to his advances. He acknowledges that if he gives up, she will do him wrong, meaning that he would regret not trying to win her over. This song's lyrics are straightforward and showcase the energy and perseverance one has to have when pursuing something that seems difficult to attain.
Line by Line Meaning
Who's that lady? (Who's that lady?)
Asking about an unknown but attractive woman
Beautiful lady, lady, yeah (who's that lady?)
Admiring her beauty and still questioning her identity
Lovely lady (who's that lady?)
Expressing appreciation for her attractive qualities
Real fine lady (who's that lady?)
Recognizing her as an exceptionally attractive woman
Hear me callin' out to you
Trying to get her attention
'Cause that's all that I can do
Acknowledging a lack of power to compel her
Your eyes tell me to pursue
Seeing encouragement in her gaze
But you say, "Look, yeah, but don't touch, baby"
Receiving a warning not to cross a line with her
No, no, no, don't touch
Repeating the warning
I would dance upon a string
Being willing to do anything for her
Any gifts she'd wanna bring
Offering to accept whatever she has to offer
I would give her anything
Being ready to provide for her needs and desires
If she would just do what I say
Requiring obedience in exchange for what he can offer
Come around my way, baby
Inviting her to be with him
Shine my way
Asking her to add to his life in a positive way
I would love to take her home
Feeling desire to be with her
But her heart is made of stone
Recognizing that she is unresponsive to his advances
Gotta keep on keepin' on
Deciding to persist in trying to win her
If I don't, she'll do me wrong
Thinking that if he doesn't keep pursuing her, he'll miss out on something good
She'll do me wrong, yeah
Believing that not getting a chance with her would be a mistake
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: O'Kelly Isley, Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@christinetarquin3773
One day back in 1973, I was babysitting for a couple that allowed me to use their stereo. Once the kids were asleep, I turned to a station playing this tune. This wasn't my transistor radio. This was a stereo consule with all the sound settings that made this music come alive. To this day, I still think of that moment in my youth & how great the guitar made me feel and move. Yeah.
@elireese6227
Dang
@koqai
I LOVE MYSELF
@GinaBooker-lx3gz
Anybody still rocking with me in 2024?
@susanosman7046
Me!
@user-mi8ym2kb2h
Todo el ratoo temazooooooo
@budmartino4202
Right here ❤
@audrey3333333
Me. 😊
@lorrainetapia3200
Me
@jackspry9736
RIP the three members of The Isley Brothers
O'Kelly Isley Jr. (December 25, 1937 – March 31, 1986), aged 48
Rudolph Isley (April 1, 1939 – October 11, 2023), aged 84
Marvin Isley (August 18, 1953 – June 6, 2010), aged 56
You will be remembered as legends.