This Old Heart Of Mine/Soul On The Rocks [Remastered] - Isley Brothers (The)

Advantages: good lyrics
Disadvantages: silly album title

..." and "What Can I Buy You For Christmas" are both joyous songs dedicated to your special someone. "I'm In Love With You" starts with a fast jingle of Christmas bells, but then the tempo quickly changes as the bells accompany wonderful piano notes and slows down to allow Ron Isley to really get down to business -- "Looking for some pleasure, I stumbled up on treasure / A superstar baby with the heart of an angel." If you think Christmas should be about more than just material things then you and the Isleys share something in common, as displayed on "What Can I Buy You For Christmas" (don't let the title fool you, it is the complete opposite of what it sounds like). Some tracks on the album are not only very well written, but you can bet that they are executed perfectly by these veteran soul brothers. So, whether you just want to sit at home next... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: These are two of their greatest studio albums
Disadvantages: None!

...mostly songs by other Motown artists such as The Four Tops, The Temptations, The Isley Brothers, The Elgins and Martha Reeves And The Vandellas. Diana Ross puts in a fine, easy-going performance on their cover version of The Isley Brothers, This Old Heart Of Mine (Is weak For You) though it does admitedly lack the punch of the original. There are a total of three cover versions of The Four Tops classic hits. Ross' sweet, sensual voice may have not have that bite and edge of Levi Stubbs rocketing vocal style but she remarkably manages to make any song she sing completely her own. Though quite lightweight their take on The Four Tops classic 1965 chart-topper I Can't Help Myself is contagious from its fantastically arranged orchestrations and comes complete with a super fine performance from Ross. This could have easily been a hit... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Every Track's a Classic!
Disadvantages: None as such!

...such as a version of I Can't Give Back The Love I Feel For You by Rita Wright (later covered by Diana Ross on her Surrender album) and some offerings from the over-looked Brenda Holloway. Amongst other familiar classics are the fantastic and the at-the-time controversial nature of Edwin Starr's rip-roaring War, the beautiful This Old Heart Of Mine Is Weak For You by the highly underated The Isley Brothers, the sensational ShotGun by Junior Walker And The All Stars who bought a unique touch of Jazz to their mainstream sound of Soul/R&B/Pop, Needle In A haystack by The Velvettes, ABC by The Jackson 5 (featuring a young, nasal sounding Michael Jackson),Stoned Love by Thr Supremes (possibly their best post-Ross recording featuring Jean Terrell as lead vocalist) and the unforgetable classic, Nowhere To Run by Martha Reeves And The Vandellas. The lists could... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful