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)
Twistin' With Linda
The Isley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And around and around and around
And around and around and around
Don't you know that
I know a girl that twists so fine
(Twistin' with Linda)
You know she can't sit still
(Twistin' with Linda)
Yeah, she got big blue eyes and long black hair
(Twistin' with Linda)
I wanna tell you guys
She ain't no square
(Twistin' with Linda)
Oh don't you know she likes to twist
Ow!
She like to shout
Ow!
She like to twist
Ow!
She like to shout
You know she like to twist
Ow!
She like to shout
(Twistin' with Linda)
(Twistin' with Linda)
(Twistin' with Linda)
And around and around and around
And around and around and around
And around and around and around
Come on baby, let's do the twist now
Ahh, go like this now
Is everybody ready
Here we go, oohhhwooah
(Twistin' with Linda)
Oh yeah
(Twistin' with Linda)
Come on now you won't believe now
(Twistin' with Linda)
Oh yeah everybody twist now
(Twistin' with Linda)
And around and around and around
And around and around and around
And around and around and around
Awww don't ya know mama, you're lookin' good
Hey hey hey!
Celebrating
(Twistin' with Linda)
Oohhh, I keep on celebrating
(Twistin' with Linda)
Hey hey, hey hey
(Hey hey, hey hey)
Hey hey, hey hey hey
(Hey hey, hey hey hey)
[Fade]
The Isley Brothers' song "Twistin' With Linda" tells the story of a girl named Linda who loves to twist (dance the popular dance of the time). The repeated chorus of "Twistin' with Linda" is a testament to Linda's love of dancing and the joy she brings to those around her. The lyrics describe Linda as having big blue eyes and long black hair, and being a great dancer who likes to shout while she twists. The song ends with the Isley Brothers encouraging everyone to join in and do the twist with Linda.
The repetitive nature of the song's lyrics emphasizes the joyful, carefree atmosphere of the twist dance craze. The song is an upbeat celebration of music and dancing, inviting the listener to join in the party. The twist was a popular dance move at the time the song was written, and "Twistin' with Linda" captures that spirit perfectly.
Line by Line Meaning
And around and around and around
The singer emphasizes the repetitive nature of the dance.
And around and around and around
The singer emphasizes the repetitive nature of the dance.
And around and around and around
The singer emphasizes the repetitive nature of the dance.
Don't you know that
The singer is drawing attention to the upcoming story.
I know a girl that twists so fine
The singer is introducing Linda as a skilled dancer.
(Twistin' with Linda)
The singer is repeating the title, further highlighting Linda's dancing.
You know she can't sit still
The singer is describing Linda's perpetually active nature.
She twitches all the time
The singer is describing Linda's constant movement.
(Twistin' with Linda)
The singer repeats the title, continuing to emphasize Linda's dancing.
Yeah, she got big blue eyes and long black hair
The singer is describing Linda's physical appearance.
(Twistin' with Linda)
The singer repeats the title, continuing to emphasize Linda's dancing.
I wanna tell you guys
The singer is addressing the audience personally.
She ain't no square
The singer is assuring the audience that Linda is a cool, trendy person.
(Twistin' with Linda)
The singer repeats the title, continuing to emphasize Linda's dancing.
Oh don't you know she likes to twist
The singer notes Linda's preference for a specific dance move.
Ow!
The singer interjects with a burst of excitement.
She like to shout
The singer notes Linda's tendency to make noise while dancing.
Ow!
The singer interjects with a burst of excitement.
She like to twist
The singer notes Linda's preference for a specific dance move.
Ow!
The singer interjects with a burst of excitement.
She like to shout
The singer notes Linda's tendency to make noise while dancing.
You know she like to twist
The singer repeats Linda's dance preference.
Ow!
The singer interjects with a burst of excitement.
She like to shout
The singer notes Linda's tendency to make noise while dancing.
(Twistin' with Linda)
The singer repeats the title, further emphasizing Linda's dancing.
(Twistin' with Linda)
The singer repeats the title, continuing to emphasize Linda's dancing.
(Twistin' with Linda)
The singer repeats the title, continuing to emphasize Linda's dancing.
And around and around and around
The singer emphasizes the repetitive nature of the dance.
And around and around and around
The singer emphasizes the repetitive nature of the dance.
And around and around and around
The singer emphasizes the repetitive nature of the dance.
Come on baby, let's do the twist now
The singer invites a partner to dance the twist.
Ahh, go like this now
The singer gives instructions on how to dance the twist.
Is everybody ready
The singer checks if everyone is prepared to dance.
Here we go, oohhhwooah
The singer signals the start of the dance.
(Twistin' with Linda)
The singer repeats the title, continuing to emphasize Linda's dancing.
Oh yeah
The singer interjects with excitement.
(Twistin' with Linda)
The singer repeats the title, continuing to emphasize Linda's dancing.
Come on now you won't believe now
The singer is assuring the audience of the quality of Linda's dancing.
(Twistin' with Linda)
The singer repeats the title, continuing to emphasize Linda's dancing.
Oh yeah everybody twist now
The singer urges everyone to continue dancing the twist.
(Twistin' with Linda)
The singer repeats the title, continuing to emphasize Linda's dancing.
And around and around and around
The singer emphasizes the repetitive nature of the dance.
And around and around and around
The singer emphasizes the repetitive nature of the dance.
And around and around and around
The singer emphasizes the repetitive nature of the dance.
Awww don't ya know mama, you're lookin' good
The singer compliments a female dancer.
Hey hey hey!
The singer interjects with excitement.
Celebrating
The singer notes the festive atmosphere.
(Twistin' with Linda)
The singer repeats the title, continuing to emphasize Linda's dancing.
Oohhh, I keep on celebrating
The singer continues to enjoy the dancing.
(Twistin' with Linda)
The singer repeats the title, continuing to emphasize Linda's dancing.
Hey hey, hey hey
The singer interjects with excitement.
(Hey hey, hey hey)
The singer interjects with excitement.
Hey hey, hey hey hey
The singer interjects with excitement.
(Hey hey, hey hey hey)
The singer interjects with excitement.
Contributed by Nicholas O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@tonyrussi7777
the first 45 I bought by the Isley Brothers in 1962.
@rockindaddy6535
Awesome...
@rslitman
I know this song by Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels. I didn't know it originated with the Isley Brothers.
@MrSirMrSirMr
Apparently written about the 21-year-old daughter of music industry lawyer Lee Eastman.
@reneleclerc6119
Is this the same Linda Dickey Lee sang about?
@MrJoeybabe25
Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels recorded "Shakin' With Linda" in 1966.
I guess Twisting was not hip (pun?).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJz0_Yl82dA
@MrSirMrSirMr
It's apparently the daughter of the record label lawyer Lee Eastman - who would go on to have an awful lot of songs written about her
@caribman10
@@MrSirMrSirMr Makes you want to see dat, don't it?