album rating: ★★★★☆
Genre: Funk / soul / R&B / rock / quiet storm. The Heat Is On is the thirteenth studio album by The Isley Brothers, released on 7 June 1975 on T-Neck Records (the group's own label, distributed by Epic/Columbia/CBS). The album was entirely written, produced and arranged by the members of the group — a fact that reflects the Isleys' extraordinary achievement in maintaining full creative and commercial independence over decades, from their gospel and doo-wop beginnings in Cincinnati in the late 1950s through every subsequent phase of American popular music. The group's history had included landmark recordings of 'Shout' (1959), 'Twist and Shout' (1962, a version which the Beatles would make famous), 'This Old Heart of Mine' (1966, for Motown), and 'It's Your Thing' (1969, their first release on the relaunched T-Neck). The decisive creative expansion had come in 1973 with the album 3 + 3, which added guitarist Ernie Isley, bassist Marvin Isley and keyboardist/brother-in-law Chris Jasper to the original vocal trio of Ronald, Rudolph and O'Kelly Isley, transforming the group into a complete self-sufficient band. The Heat Is On is the third album in the '3 + 3' configuration and represents the pinnacle of that creative chemistry. Recording took place in 1975 at Kendun Recorders in Burbank, California; mixing at Westlake Audio in Los Angeles; mastering by Kent Duncan. Associate production, engineering and electronic music programming were handled by Malcolm Cecil and Robert Margouleff of Centaur Music Productions, the duo previously responsible for the synthesizer innovations on Stevie Wonder's landmark mid-1970s albums; they programmed the ARP synthesizer integral to the album's sound. The six tracks are divided between intense funk workouts and romantic soul ballads: 'Fight the Power (Part 1 & 2)', 'The Heat Is On (Parts 1 & 2)', 'Hope You Feel Better Love (Parts 1 & 2)', 'For the Love of You (Parts 1 & 2)', 'Sensuality (Parts 1 & 2)' and 'Make Me Say It Again Girl (Parts 1 & 2)'. According to writer Colin Larkin, the album's contrasting sides represent 'the pinnacle of both genres.'
Label: T-Neck Records / Epic Records (CBS), released 7 June 1975. Distributed by Columbia/Epic/CBS.
Producers: The Isley Brothers (Ronald, Rudolph, O'Kelly, Ernie, Marvin Isley and Chris Jasper). Associate producers / electronic music programming: Malcolm Cecil and Robert Margouleff (Centaur Music Productions).
Recording studios: Kendun Recorders, Burbank, California (recording and mastering). Mixed at Westlake Audio, Los Angeles, California.
Critical reception: The Heat Is On received generally favourable reviews. Rolling Stone's Bob Palmer praised the Isley Brothers' dance music sensibilities and described it as 'some of the best body music around.' Robert Christgau in the Village Voice called the music 'well-nigh flawless.' Mark Anthony Neal of PopMatters applauded Ronald Isley's balladry, stating that it 'distinguished them among other soul/R&B/funk bands of the era.' AllMusic's Alex Henderson wrote: 'Superb from start to finish, The Heat Is On is among the Isleys' most essential albums.' The album is cited as the point at which the 3+3 lineup 'had really perfected its attractive soul/rock sound.'
Commercial success: The Heat Is On became the Isley Brothers' first album to reach number 1 on the Billboard 200, spending five weeks at the top from 13 September 1975, and also topped the Billboard Black Albums chart. It sold 500,000 copies in its first month and spent 40 weeks on the Pop Albums chart. The album was certified gold in June 1975 and double platinum by the RIAA in 1999 for two million units shipped. 'Fight the Power (Part 1)' reached number 4 on the Hot 100 and held number 1 on the R&B chart for three weeks — the longest of any single of 1975 — and was named Top R&B single of 1975 by Billboard. 'For the Love of You' reached number 22 pop and number 1 R&B.
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