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)
Who Loves You Better
The Isley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause you've stayed by my side
I'm the one who keeps you happy
And you keep me satisfied
Just be my lady
That'll be enough for me
And it won't matter, baby
Who loves you better
Better than I do, I do
Who knows you better
Better than I do, than I do
Everyday that passes by
Every night I spend with you
Puzzled by the things you try
Saddened by the things you do
He can say sweet things to you
And promise you security
I find strength in loving you
Don't fight my love, give in to me
Who loves you better
Better than I do, I do
Who knows you better
Better than I do, than I do
You know you can't live your life
Doin' what the others do
Always takin' their advice
May not be the best for you
So just be my lady
And that'll be enough for me
And it won't matter, baby
What your friends think, they see
Who loves you better
Better than I do, I do
Who knows you better
Better than I do, than I do
The lyrics of The Isley Brothers' "Who Loves You Better" speak about the strength of true love and the need to remain loyal to one another despite any outside pressures. The singer acknowledges that some people may criticize his partner for being "too easy" because she has stayed by his side, despite the ups and downs of their relationship. He recognizes that he is the source of her happiness and that she fulfills him, too.
He then urges his partner to ignore the opinions of others and simply focus on their love for each other. He wants her to recognize that he understands her more than anyone else ever could, and that she should stay true to their connection rather than seeking outside validation or advice. The line "Don't fight my love, give in to me" speaks to this particular point, insisting that their love is worth accepting, even if it challenges what others may expect or want for them.
Ultimately, the song is a heartfelt tribute to the power of true love and the strength that can be found in loving and committing to a partner despite any outside obstacles.
Line by Line Meaning
Some say you're too easy
Some people might judge you for staying by my side
'Cause you've stayed by my side
But the fact that you've stuck with me through thick and thin is a true testament to your loyalty
I'm the one who keeps you happy
I always try to do things that make you feel happy and loved
And you keep me satisfied
In return, your presence in my life brings me immense joy and fulfilment
Just be my lady
I don't need you to be anything other than yourself, just be my partner in life
That'll be enough for me
Your love and companionship is more than enough for me to feel content
And it won't matter, baby
I don't care about what other people think or say, as long as we have each other
What your friends think they see
Your friends may have their own perceptions of our relationship, but they don't truly know what we have
Everyday that passes by
Each day that we spend together is a precious gift
Every night I spend with you
Every moment that I get to share with you is a moment I treasure
Puzzled by the things you try
Sometimes I don't understand why you do certain things, but I trust in your judgement
Saddened by the things you do
Occasionally, your actions may cause me pain, but I still choose to love and support you
He can say sweet things to you
Other people may try to woo you with empty flattery and promises
And promise you security
They may offer you a sense of safety and stability, but I believe that our love is the only true security
I find strength in loving you
My love for you is what empowers me to face life's challenges with courage and determination
Don't fight my love, give in to me
I am committed to loving you unconditionally, and all I ask is that you accept my love in return
You know you can't live your life
You understand that you shouldn't base your decisions solely on the opinions of others
Doin' what the others do
Following what everyone else does may not necessarily be the best course of action for you
Always takin' their advice
Relying too much on the advice of others may cause you to lose sight of your own values and instincts
May not be the best for you
What works for others may not necessarily be what's best for you and your situation
So just be my lady
I don't need you to be anyone else, just be yourself and be with me
And that'll be enough for me
All I really need is your love and companionship to be happy
Who loves you better
I love you more than anyone else ever could
Better than I do, I do
My love for you is deep and unwavering
Who knows you better
I understand you and your needs better than anyone else
Better than I do, than I do
Our connection runs deep, and I know you better than I know anyone else
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ERNIE ISLEY, MARVIN ISLEY, O'KELLY ISLEY, RONALD ISLEY, RUDOLPH ISLEY, CHRISTOPHER H JASPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@whm5609
No other r&b group ever mixed their music with amazingly raw rock guitar than the Isleys. Truly classic and brilliant!
@leonardgarcia5320
Early Slave had Drac on lead guitar
@mzsimba
Yes❤❤❤ @@leonardgarcia5320
@cle-chi
slave - volcano eruption
@michaelcheatham4542
The Isley's owe everything to God the Father, and Jesus, along with Chris Jasper, and Ernie Isley for the sound that carried them for more the forty-years in the music business for which they are now Icons of music!
@rocjones6543
Chris Jasper doesn't get the credit he deserves.
@timothylawson3262
@@rocjones6543 that's a fact.
@1blessedbrotha
This is definitive "soul", r&b, black folks music!!!!!!
@SIGMAMAN69
Few groups could mix rock and funk like the Isley Brothers! Ernie Isley is, without a doubt, one of the most underrated guitarists of all time!
@usamud
My all time favorite Isley song. Ernie is out of control!!!!