The Ultimate Isley Brothers

The first of which is For the Love of You, pts. 1 & 2 (#23, I believe). This song is more than just a bedroom slow jam, it's a ballad of emotional fragility and dependance with some amazing harmonies. I have always loved this song. Secondly, we have That Lady pts. 1-2 (#44) - and be thankful it's pts. 1 & 2, since not only do you get pt. 1 (which would probably make the list in its own right) but also the DNA-altering, Hendrixian guitar solo which is pt. 2. Finally is Harvest for the World (#90), a call for brotherhood in a truly insane world. It also sounds very unlike the Isleys, in fact closer to Neil Young. Proves the group had more variety than one would think...
Besides those, you also get It's Your Thing, Spill the Wine, Caravan of Love, Shout, The Pride and Fight the Power. But every song is good. What's not to like?

Really bad recording. Mastering sucked. Barely able to listen to it. Pass this one up.

I recently purchased this CD. I was born in 1975 and fell in love with the smooth sounds of these cats at an early age and due to the tiresome sampling by rap stars may new generations continually be embraced by the beautiful soundmaking of these cats. THis CD even showcases the early Isleys which still show these cats could jam. But it was these music in the 70s and 8-s that solidafied these sounds for me. Ernie Isley is one of the most underrated guitarist ever. Check out his jamming riffs that soar on "Summer Breeze" and "Voyage to Atlantis" and "Who's that Lady". These riffs combined with Ron Isley's silky smooth voice is one of America's best treasured combination. In my opinion, Earth, Wind and Fire is great, but for me it is the instrumentation and visionary lyrics that elevate the Isleys. Songs such as For the love of you, grove with you, the pride,and harvest for the world are not just for lovers but were filled with visions. Even when the Isley remake a song "Summer Breeze" or diddle with Taylor's "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight"(not included here), "Hello It's Me" reinterprets the song to another level. This CD is an awesome compilation of song of the groups good hits. Even though it omits "Footsteps in the Dark", still it is certainly a good compilation nonetheless. However,these are my top 10 in order for the greastest hits of the Isleys:
1. Living for the Love of You (Simply breathtaking!)
2. All In My Lovers Eyes (Is this not a slow jam next to Sensuality)
3. Harvest for the World (So politically savvy)
4. Between the Sheets (Simply for its contribution to help other songs be that my better_
5. Footsteps in the Dark- (A great song of infidelity but told so musically chic..
6. Voyage to Atlantis - Do you not want to take the voyage,especially with ERnie Isley's sexy guitar playing?
7. Make Me Say it Again Girl - The sexual refrains and moaning by Ron Isley is infectious!
8. Who's That Lady -- Need I say more
9. Fight the Power--- Another wonderfully politically charged jam
10.Don't Say Goodnight -- Who could not make love after this song?

I cannot imagine a world existing without these musicians.

Honorable Mention: Choosey Lover, Let's Fall in love, Hello It's ME..and soooo many others... Thank you Isleys Brothers

THE ULTIMATE ISLEY BROTHERS: Few single discs can offer such a credible, or even worthy summation of the Isley Brothers' multi-faceted, incalculably influential career, which is still going strong more than four decades after their first hit, the gospel rock frathouse anthem SHOUT. Nearly every phase pops up: their raw, early RNB successes (TWIST AND SHOUT)...soul/pop smashes (IT'S YOUR THING, WORK TO DO)...smooth interpretations of others' work (LOVE THE ONE YOU'RE WITH, SUMMER BREEZE)...funk-infested chart-stranglers...(THAT LADY, showcasing second generation Isley Brother Ernie's Hendrixian guitar bravado)...and slick, silky ballad work (BETWEEN THE SHEETS). Only their brief stay at Motown is omitted, where THIS OLD HEART OF MINE hit paydirt. Ronald Isley has one of the most intimate voices of anyone in the biz and songwriting chops to spare (just ask Michael Bolton). THE ULTIMATE ISLEY BROTHERS deserves a treasured spot in any serious minded pop, funk, or RNB fanatics' CD rack. RATING: FIVE SHOUTS

I have to agree with many of the previous reviewers...there is no possible way of doing a REAL "Ultimate Collection" of these Founding Fathers of RockFusionR&Bfunkafication, without making it an extensive (and expensive) boxed set. And even then, Motown, who has a legacy of being notoriously stingy with its catalog, still wouldn't kick in the essential cuts that would truly make it a complete overview of the Brothers' stellar career.

Still, if you have never heard of them, or you've heard the name but don't think you're familiar with their music, your education should definitely start here. The core of their hit-making songwriting and performing skills are all in these songs.

For the rest of us rabid IB fans or completists, we still have a long wait ahead of us, folks. Besides "Footsteps In The Dark, Parts 1 & 2" and "Voyage To Atlantis," you will also discover that such footstompers as "Take Me To The Next Phase, Parts 1 & 2", "Go All The Way", "Livin' In The Life" and its inevitable and explosive conclusion, "Go For Your Guns" are all M.I.A.

However, for a good start, this will do.