The Isley Brothers, 1975, Epic Records:

the sound: Upon glancing at the cover of The Isley Brothers’ 1975 record “The Heat Is On,” you may shed a nostalgic tear and wonder, “Why don’t people dress like that anymore?” The Isley gang gazes at you through a smoky haze, sporting afros and sideburns, gold chains and rhinestone-studded vests, like a band of disco cowboys. Only such a motley assemblage could produce this music, a perfect balance of funk and soul designed for dancing and baby-making. It opens with the sizzling protest anthem “Fight the Power,” a popular radio hit in the ’70s. “Time is truly wastin’ / There’s no guarantee / Smile’s in the makin’ / You gotta fight the powers that be,” they sing. The title track follows, featuring ultra-funky work from Chris Jasper on electric piano, clavinet and Arp synthesizer, plus powerful bass from Marvin Isley and a fiery electric guitar solo from Ernie Isley. Meanwhile, the vocal trio of Ronald, Rudolph and Kelly Isley emit sharp grunts and high-pitched howls—equal parts James Brown and Sly Stone. “Hope You Feel Better Love” showcases an up-tempo guitar riff and falsetto vocals punctuated by another explosive solo from Ernie. After all that funk intensity, you need to tone it down a notch and catch your breath, which is why the Isleys fill the LP’s second side with slow, sultry ballads. First comes the soulful hit single “For the Love of You,” followed by the even slower and sultrier “Sensuality,” and the closer, “Make Me Say It Again Girl.”

the background: By 1975, The Isley Brothers had long since achieved near legendary status in the genres of doo-wop and Motown. Their first smash hit was “Shout,” released all the way back in 1959. They hit pay dirt in 1962 with a famous cover of “Twist & Shout,” and rocked the charts again in 1969 with “It’s Your Thing.” But “The Heat Is On” helped reestablish the band in a new musical era, putting them at the forefront of the 1970s soul and funk movements. The record peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Pop Album chart and stayed on the list for 40 weeks, producing a couple of successful singles, and has since been certified double platinum. “The Heat Is On” marked the beginning of a prolific period for The Isley Brothers, who would release a new record in each of the next five years. Their popularity began to fade in the 1980s, but the group remained intact into the 2000s. The Isleys entered the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.

the significance: The Isley Brothers were influential in a number of genres, particularly R&B, soul and funk, and in implementing elements of rock into all three. The family band also helped launch the career of a young Jimi Hendrix, then nicknamed Jimmy James, who joined the group in 1964 and played backup guitar on several recordings (inversely, Hendrix’s style clearly rubbed off on Ernie Isley, as evidenced throughout “The Heat Is On”). Over the years, Isley tunes have been covered by everyone from The Yardbirds to The Beatles to Rod Stewart. But no single recording was more important than “The Heat Is On,” which set a new standard for the potential of funk and soul. Hints of disco—still in its infancy in 1975—can also be heard on the album. But the genuine skill of the Isley instrumentalists, as well as the socially-conscious lyrics, elevates this recording high above standard dance fare. It’s bona-fide funk for the forces of good. Dig it.