It's hard to believe that
Ronnie Isley collaborated with
Dr. Dre and the departed
Tupac Shakur on some of the late 20th century's most hardcore hip-hop music.
Isley, of the renowned group
the Isley Brothers, has his roots firmly placed in '70s R&B and soul music.
D'Angelo,
Maxwell, and
R. Kelly, among other bedroom-music artists, all owe a bit of thanks to
the Isley Brothers, the original slow-jam crooners. The trio's sexiest and most sensual moments have been captured on
Love Songs, an ongoing series of CD collections of the same name on Columbia Legacy and Epic Legacy Records. (Other
Love Songs sets for 2001 include recordings from
Frank Sinatra,
Patti LaBelle,
Aretha Franklin, and
Duke Ellington.) And as far as thematic compilations go, this one is a winner. The 13 selected tracks on
Love Songs don't skip a beat, and the sexy boudoir fare remains consistent throughout the album's 70-plus minutes. There is a certain sensitivity inherent to
Isley's falsetto voice that sets him apart from other singers in this category of music. It's a vulnerability and tenderness that
Barry White, and others of the like, do not have. Such
Isley Brothers greats as "For the Love of You," "Voyage to Atlantis," "Sensuality," and "Between the Sheets" are included on
Love Songs. The CD is a treasured example of the original bedroom music, and arguably more potent than its contemporary counterparts. No amount of pheromones, love potions, or "spells" can come close to the romantic rendezvous that is
the Isley Brothers'
Love Songs. Play this album at your own risk -- and expect to call in "sick" to the office the next day. ~ Liana Jonas