Isley Brothers Beautiful Ballads CD

The Isley Brothers: Ronald Isley, O'Kelly Isley, Rudolph Isley (vocals); Ernie Isley (guitar, drums, timbales, congas, percussion); Chris Jasper (piano, keyboards, congas, percussion); Marvin Isley (bass, percussion).
Additional personnel: Chester Woodard (guitar); Milton Westley (organ), George Moreland (drums, percussion); Karl Potter, Kevin Jones, Gary Jones (congas); Malcolm Cecil, Robert Margouleff (programming).
Producer: The Isley Brothers.
Compilation producer: Leo Sacks.
Recorded between 1971 and 1985. Includes liner notes by John Sinclair.
This is part of the Legacy Rhythm And Soul series.
Personnel: Ernie Isley (vocals, guitar, drums, congas, timbales, percussion); Chris Jasper (vocals, piano, keyboards, congas, percussion); Marvin Isley (vocals, percussion); O'Kelly Isley, Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley (vocals); Milton Westley (organ); Malcolm Cecil, Robert Margouleff (synthesizer, programming); George Moreland (drums, percussion); Karl Potter, Gary Jones, Kevin Jones (congas).
Liner Note Author: John Sinclair.
Recording information: Bearsville Sound Studios, Bearsville, NY (1973-1985); Conway Studios, LA, CA (1973-1985); E.A.R.S., East Orange, NJ (1973-1985); Record Pla (1973-1985); Record Plant, LA, CA (1973-1985).
Director: Adam Block.
Unknown Contributor Role: Adam Block.
Arrangers: Chris Jasper; Ernie Isley; George Patterson; Marvin Isley; The Isley Brothers.
Across the long span of their career, the Isley Brothers have shown themselves as adept at stirring romantic balladry as they are at generating funky grooves. FROM THE HEART proves the claim that the Isleys are masters of "baby-making music" by selecting 14 ballads and love songs from their catalog. Classic Isley slow jams like "Caravan of Love" and "Let's Fall in Love (Parts 1 & 2)" nest alongside soulful covers like Dylan's "Lay Lady Lay." The ideal soundtrack for a night of wine, candlelight, and silk sheets, FROM THE HEART is a sexy dose of classic soul.
Released in 1994 as Beautiful Ballads -- give Legacy some credit for conveniently mentioning the fact on the back of the disc, unlike similar compilation repackagings that have hit the market throughout the years -- From the Heart contains 70 minutes of the Isley Brothers' slow and romantic singles released between 1971 and 1983, adding Isley/Jasper/Isley's number one 1985 R&B hit, "Caravan of Love." Most of what is here is undeniably classic, but no ballad-centric Isleys disc is complete without "Between the Sheets" or "Sensuality" -- two omissions that would be justifiable deal breakers. The favoring of lesser material, like "You're the Key to My Heart" and their cover of Todd Rundgren's "Hello It's Me" (neither one of which charted), is pretty puzzling. ~ Andy Kellman
Beautiful Ballads, released in 1994, contains 70 minutes of the Isley Brothers' slow and romantic singles released between 1971 and 1983, adding Isley/Jasper/Isley's number one 1985 R&B hit "Caravan of Love." Most of what is here is undeniably classic, but no ballad-centric Isleys disc is complete without "Between the Sheets" or "Sensuality" -- two omissions that would be justifiable deal breakers. The inclusion of lesser material, like "You're the Key to My Heart" and their cover of Todd Rundgren's "Hello It's Me" (neither one of which charted), is pretty puzzling. The disc was repackaged and retitled in 2009, just in time for Valentine's Day, and made part of Legacy's From the Heart series. ~ Andy KellmanQ (8/95, p.143) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...there are a host of high quality, smoochily seductive grooves which are guaranteed to warm the cockles..."