Get Into Something
Studio album by
The Isley Brothers
ReleasedMarch 8, 1970
Recorded1969
StudioA&R Studios (New York City)
Genre
Length39:36
LabelT-Neck/Buddah Records
ProducerRonald Isley, Rudolph Isley
The Isley Brothers chronology
Live at Yankee Stadium
(1969) 		Get Into Something
(1970) 		Givin' It Back
(1971)
Singles from
Get Into Something
  1. "Keep on Doin'"
    Released: February 1970
  2. "Freedom"
    Released: December 1970
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Christgau's Record GuideB[2]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[3]
Pitchfork6.6/10[4]
Uncut[5]

Get Into Something is an album by the Isley Brothers, released on their T-Neck imprint in 1970.[3] Although the album itself did not chart, it includes six songs that appeared in the top 30 of the Billboard R&B chart between late 1969 and early 1971 (most of which dented the lower reaches of the Pop chart as well): the title track, "Bless Your Heart", the horn and drum-driven "Keep on Doin'" (which inspired the instrumental cover by The J.B.'s later that year under the title "The Grunt"), "Freedom", "Girls Will Be Girls" and "If He Can You Can".[6]

The album's title track includes a James Brown-styled "give the drummer some" breakdown that was highly influential on the New York b-boy dance scene (later known as break dancing).[citation needed] The drum break, along with the LP's scarcity, has made this the most valuable and highly sought after Isley Brothers album among vinyl record collectors. It was remastered and expanded for inclusion in the 2015 released 23-CD box set The RCA Victor & T-Neck Album Masters (1959-1983).[7]

Critical reception

Newsday, reviewing a reissue, called the album "a raw raveup with a punchy horn section," writing that "the Isleys venture into James Brown territory with the stripped-down funk of 'Keep On Doin' '."[8] Rolling Stone wrote that the album "balances fidgety, syncopated riffs (somebody should sample that title cut) with true-believer gospel harmonies."[9]

Track listing

All tracks are written by O'Kelly Isley, Ronald Isley and Rudolph Isley, except where noted

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Get Into Something"7:29
2."Freedom"3:38
3."Take Inventory"2:46
4."Keep on Doin'"4:02
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
5."Girls Will Be Girls" 2:50
6."I Need You So[a]" 4:24
7."If He Can You Can[b]"Johnny Brantly, O'Kelly Isley, Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley3:44
8."I Got to Find Me One[c]" 4:37
9."Beautiful" 3:05
10."Bless Your Heart" 3:03

Ronald Isley sings lead on all tracks except:

  1. ^ O'Kelly Isley, Jr.
  2. ^ Ronald and Rudolph share lead vocals during the verses.
  3. ^ Rudolph Isley

Personnel

The Isley Brothers
with

References

  1. ^ Kellman, Andy. The Isley Brothers - Get Into Something (1970) album review, credits & releases at AllMusic. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  2. ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: I". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved February 27, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  3. ^ a b Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 4. MUZE. p. 505.
  4. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (September 11, 2015). "The Isley Brothers - The RCA Victor and T-Neck Album Masters, 1959-1983 (2015) 23CD Box Set review". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 23, 2015.
  5. ^ Stubbs, David (October 1, 1997). "REISSUES: Freak beats". Uncut. No. 5. p. 92. ProQuest 1771210800.
  6. ^ "Get Into Something > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles" at AllMusic. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  7. ^ The Isley Brothers - The RCA Victor & T-Neck Album Masters, 1959-1983 (2015) 23CD Box Set review by Andy Kellman, credits & releases at AllMusic
  8. ^ Torres, Richard (14 Sep 1997). "Sony Makes a Reissue Out of Isley Brothers". Newsday. p. D31.
  9. ^ Coleman, Mark (Sep 18, 1997). "The Isley Brothers". Rolling Stone. No. 769. p. 106.
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