ISLEY BROTHERS/SOUL ON THE ROCKS TML 11066 (-67) UK MONO

Isley Brothers started in the fifties singing gospel and do-wop, in the sixties becoming one of the most successful American Soul groups with a bunch international hit singles and seven #1 on the US R&B list. It was the second of two albums they made for Tamla 1966-67. The first "This Old Heart Of Mine" (TM/TS 269) did OK - #15 on US R&B list and #23 in UK - while this didn't chart at all. At the time for recording the combo was already unhappy with the way they were treated by the label and would leave shortly after. I don't know if that affected the outcome, but it's not one of their best. In fact I don't hear the true Isley Brothers here. They sing of course, but the rest is standard Motown. Backed by "Funk Brothers" and produced by label staff it's same procedure uptempo melodic with common arrangements. They even seem to imitate the vocal style of some of the labels established artists. Someone suffering from a minor hearing disorder could easily believe he was listening to Supremes or Four Tops instead. I'm not saying it's bad, just that it's not really them. Premiere US on Tamla (T/TS 275). 1:st UK with label as shown here and laminated flip/back cover. (TÖMÖ*)