They Say My Music's Too Loud!

Birthday celebrations continue unabated this week. Today, respect and love to Ernie Isley, born on this day in 1952.

 

Why single out one of The Isley Brothers? Well, whilst the songwriting credits have generally been shared, Ernie's significant contribution to the lyrics - not least Fight The Power - is all over t'internet. And what cannot be argued is that Ernie is a master of the axe, knocking out some formidable riffs and solos over the years. Legend doesn't begin to describe him.

 

So, rather than fill this post with inadequate adjectives, here's half a dozen examples of Ernie in action, starting with a couple of rifftastic cover versions. Some of the videos include performances on TV (Soul Train) and later live performances. A few have annoying-but-necessary anti-copying or rough-edit labelling plastered across the screen, which may detract from the viewing experience but not the music.

 

The Isley Brothers' 1970s albums are stone cold classics but I've also included a couple of more recent efforts, an excellent "re√ision" of That Lady by The Reflex, which retains Ernie's awesome axe-wielding, and Brown Eyed Girl (not that one) recorded with daughter Alex and released as a single last year.

 

Never lost it, Ernie!

 

Ohio / Machine Gun: The Isley Brothers (1971)

Summer Breeze: The Isley Brothers (1973)

Live It Up: The Isley Brothers (1974) 

Fight The Power: The Isley Brothers (1975)

That Lady (The Reflex Re√ision): The Isley Brothers (2018)

Brown Eyed Girl: Alex Isley & Ernie Isley (2023)

 

As a bonus treat, here's The Isley Brothers' Tiny Desk (Home) Concert from 2020.