Masterpiece (Isley Brothers album) explained

Masterpiece
Type:	Album
Artist:	The Isley Brothers
Cover:	Isley Brothers album Masterpiece.jpg
Released:	April 29, 1985
Recorded:	1984−1985
Venue:	Devonshire Sound Studios (North Hollywood, Los Angeles)
Length:	47:49
Label:	Warner Bros.
Producer:	The Isley Brothers
Prev Title:	Greatest Hits, Vol. 1
Prev Year:	1984
Next Title:	Smooth Sailin'
Next Year:	1987

Masterpiece is the 23rd album released by The Isley Brothers on Warner Bros. Records on April 29, 1985. For the first time since 1973, the Isley Brothers were a trio composed of the original members O'Kelly, Rudolph and Ronald Isley. It was the last album with O'Kelly Isley; he died a year after the album's release from a heart attack. The fall of 1985 also saw the elder Isleys release Masterpiece.^[1] The album is dedicated to their late brother Vernon Isley and their parents Sally & O'Kelly Isley Sr. The album liner notes were written by Elaine Isley.

Personnel

The Isley Brothers

• Ronald Isley – lead vocals; harmony vocals on "If Leaving Me Is Easy"
• O'Kelly Isley, Jr. – harmony and background vocals; lead vocals on "If Leaving Me Is Easy"
• Rudolph Isley – harmony and background vocals

with

• Paul Jackson Jr., Dann Huff, David T. Walker – guitar
• Robbie Buchanan – keyboards
• Randy Kerber – acoustic piano
• Ernie Watts, Gary Herbig – saxophone
• Neil Stubenhaus, Freddie Washington – bass guitar
• John Robinson, Ed Greene – drums
• Paulinho da Costa – percussion
• Bill Green, Gary Herbig – flute
• Plas Johnson – tenor saxophone
• Chuck Findley, Gary Grant, Bill Green – trumpet
• George Bohanon, Slyde Hyde – trombone
• Jerry Hey – horn

Technical personnel & arrangements

• Produced by The Isley Brothers (Ronald, Rudolph and O'Kelly Isley)
• Arranger, conductor: Gene Page
• Concertmaster: Harry Bluestone
• Engineer: Michael Mancini
• Additional engineers: Bill Spungin, Russell Schmidt
• Assistant engineers: Dean Burt, Joe Travers
• Mixed by The Isley Brothers
• Mastered by Brian Gardner
• Art direction by Jeri McManus
• Photography by George Holz
• Design by Mary Ann Dibs

Chart performance

The album charted at #140 in the US Billboard 200 while only charting at #19 on the R&B album chart. "Colder Are My Nights" peaked at #12 on the R&B charts, while "May I?" charted at #42 in 1986.

Charts

Year-end charts

External links

• The Isley Brothers - Masterpiece (1985) album releases & credits at Discogs
• The Isley Brothers - Masterpiece (1985) album credits & user reviews

Notes and References

1. A Touch of Classic Soul 2: The Late 1970s Marc Taylor - 2001 - Page 173 They got off to a good start with "Colder Are My Nights" reaching number 12 on the R&B charts. The brothers followed with "May I?", a pleading love song that was mildly successful in the spring of 1986. However, any joy from the album was negated when Kelly Isley died of a heart attack on March 31, 1986 at age 48.
2. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1986. Billboard. July 13, 2021.