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Isley Brothers — 407

ALBUM: Superstar Series Volume 6

MVC Rating: 3.5/$$

Most of us  of  my generation (age 59) have heard, intentionally or accidentally, the Isley Brothers.

Their hits are many, having put out radio friendly soul for decades.

I like the genre: the Stylistics, O’Jays and the Delfonics are a few groups I have enjoyed and have some mostly on CD.

This is a Motown Superstar Series it says on the cover, Volume 6.

Really? Volume 6? I don’t even have a Volume 6 number of songs on the Beatles. Given that this has 10 songs on it, does that mean there are — at least — 60 greatest hits?

Even if it is Volume 6, they left some good ones for this record. There’s: “This Old Heart of Mine,” “I Hear a Symphony,” and “Take Me In your Arms (Rock Me Little Baby).

A fun fact: A young Jimi Hendrix  became a member and toured with the Isley Brothers in 1964-65. He recorded a few singles with the group including ‘Testify,’ — not on this album.

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Donnie Iris –408

ALBUMS: ‘Back on the Street”

MVC Rating: 3.5/$$

Donnie Iris was a serial one-hit wonder.

He was involved in several high profile songs but with different groups. 

He started playing in a local band in his hometown of New Castle, Pennsylvania.

He joined the Jaggerz in 1970 and wrote  their huge hit, ‘The Rapper.’

He then became a member of Wild Cherry just after they had a huge hit with the song “Play that Funky Music White Boy.’

After that stint ended, he went solo and scored with song that seems to just come out of nowhere in 1980: the anthemic  ‘Ah Leah.’Great song with the volume cranked.