The Heat Is On (album)

Recording sessions for the album took place in 1975 at Kendun Recorders in Burbank, California. It was mixed at Westlake Audio in Los Angeles, California and mastered by engineer Kent Duncan. The album was entirely written and produced by the Isley Brothers. The group utilized many acoustic and electric instruments during its recording, including guitar, piano, and the ARP synthesizer, which was programmed by engineers Malcolm Cecil and Robert Margouleff. The Heat Is On is the third album recorded by the Isley Brothers with keyboardist Chris Jasper, bassist Marvin Isley, and guitarist Ernie Isley. == Composition ==

The Heat Is On is a soul/rock album of danceable funk songs contrasting with romantic quiet storm ballads. The rock stylings are mostly provided by the Jimi Hendrix–influenced guitar of Ernie Isley. This musical formula for the album serves as a development of the group's transitional sound last featured on their landmark tenth album, 3 + 3 (1973). One critic cited the former song as the Isley Brothers' "most overtly political tune to date". According to writer Colin Larkin, the album's contrasting sides, with one comprising uptempo funk and the other comprising a suite of smooth soul, represent "the pinnacle of both genres". Side one's closer, "Hope You Feel Better Love (Part 1 & 2)", contrasts both of the styles, as it contains melodic verses and a forceful chorus and is blessed with another Ernie solo that underlines the sheer genius of his guitar work to a driving, mid-tempo groove. == Critical reception ==

The Heat Is On was received positively by critics. Rolling Stones Bob Palmer wrote favorably of the Isley Brothers' dance music sensibilities and cited The Heat Is On as "some of the best body music around". Mark Anthony Neal of PopMatters applauded Ronald Isley's interpretive skills and balladry, stating "Whereas the up-tempo workouts helped the Isley's reach new audiences, it was their balladry, courtesy of lead vocalist Ronald, that distinguished them among other soul/R&B/funk bands of the era." Village Voice reviewer Robert Christgau described the music as a "well-nigh flawless" example of the Isley's style, although he found Ronald's vocal persona as "unctuous" as before. In 2001, the album was reissued on compact disc by Epic Records with a live bonus cut of "Fight the Power". == Commercial performance ==

The album was released June 7, 1975, on the Epic imprint-label T-Neck Records in the United States. ==Track listing==

Adapted from liner notes == Legacy ==

The album cut "Make Me Say It Again Girl (Part 1 & 2)" was remade into a duet with R&B recording artist Beyoncé in 2022, peaking at number nine on the US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, twenty on the US Hot R&B Songs chart, and number one on the US Adult R&B Songs chart, remaining on the chart for 37 weeks. It reached the top of the charts in seven weeks, remained in top position for five weeks, and became their first top 10 airplay hit in over 20 years. The single "Fight the Power (Part 1 & 2)" and its lyric "We gotta fight the powers that be" was interpolated into Public Enemy's 1989 rap song "Fight the Power." == Personnel ==

Musicians • Ernie Isley – six-string & 12-string acoustic guitars (4, 6), electric guitar (1–3), drums (1–6), congas, percussion (4, 6),maracas, timbales, background vocals • Marvin Isley – bass guitar (1–6), background vocals • O'Kelly Isley Jr. – background vocals, lead vocals (5) • Ronald Isley – lead vocals, background vocals • Rudolph Isley – background vocals • Chris Jasper – clavinet (1–2), Moog synthesizer (6), ARP synthesizer, electric piano (1–6), tambourine (4), congas, keyboards (6), percussion (4, 6), acoustic piano, background vocals Production • Malcolm Cecil – associate producer, engineering, electronic music programming • Kent Duncan – mastering • The Isley Brothers – producers, musical arrangements • Robert Margouleff – associate producer, engineering, electronic music programming == Charts ==

Album Singles == Release history ==

Adapted from the liner notes. == References ==