Harvest for the World (song) explained

Harvest for the World
Cover:Harvest for the World (song).jpg
Caption:European cover of the single
Type:single
Artist:The Isley Brothers
Album:Harvest for the World
Released:1976
Recorded:1975
Genre:Funk, soul
Length:3:51
Label:T-Neck
Producer:The Isley Brothers, Chris Jasper
Prev Title:Who Loves You Better (Part 1)
Prev Year:1976
Next Title:The Pride (Part 1)
Next Year:1977

"Harvest for the World" is a 1976 single released by American musical group The Isley Brothers on their T-Neck imprint. It was the title track from their 1976 album Harvest for the World.

Background and composition

One of their socially conscious singles (about world peace), the song was composed by Ernie Isley, who wrote most of the lyrics, together with Marvin Isley and Chris Jasper, with additional lyrics and musical arrangements added by the three original members O'Kelly, Rudolph and Ronald. The song was recorded on the same day as Fight the Power (Part 1 & 2) and was originally intended to go on The Heat Is On (album) as the lead single but Fight The Power ended up being the lead single by a group vote and was saved to go on the harvest for the world LP, and as on many Isley Brothers records, Ronald sang lead on the song while his older brothers O'Kelly and Rudolph usually backed him up.

Chart performance

The song became a top ten R&B hit, peaking at No. 9, and peaking at No. 63 on the Billboard Hot 100.[1] It was a bigger hit in the UK, reaching No. 10 on the UK Singles Chart.[2]

Cover versions

British/American supergroup the Power Station recorded a cover of it for their 1985 self-titled debut album.

The Christians released a 1988 hit cover of the song that reached No. 8 in the UK.[3]

Paul Carrack released a 2001 cover of the song in his album "Groovin'".

Vanessa Williams covered the song for her 2005 album Everlasting Love.

Personnel

electric guitar, acoustic guitars, drums, background vocals

bass guitar, background vocals

piano, keyboards, synthesizers, background vocals

Notes and References

  1. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Joel Whitburn . 2004 . Record Research . 278.
  2. Web site: The Official Charts Company: ISLEY BROTHERS. Official Charts. 29 April 2018.
  3. Web site: The Official Charts Company: CHRISTIANS . . 29 April 2018.