Masterpiece (Isley Brothers album)

Last updated
Masterpiece
Isley Brothers album Masterpiece.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 29, 1985
Recorded1984−1985
Venue Devonshire Sound Studios
(North Hollywood, Los Angeles)
Length47:49
Label Warner Bros.
Producer The Isley Brothers
The Isley Brothers chronology
Greatest Hits, Vol. 1
(1984)
Masterpiece
(1985)
Smooth Sailin'
(1987)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]

Masterpiece is the 23rd album released by the Isley Brothers on Warner Bros. Records on April 29, 1985. For the first time since 1973, the Isley Brothers were a trio composed of the original members O'Kelly, Rudolph and Ronald Isley. It was the last album with O'Kelly Isley; he died a year after the album's release from a heart attack. The fall of 1985 also saw the elder Isleys release Masterpiece. [2] The album is dedicated to their late brother Vernon Isley and their parents Sally & O'Kelly Isley Sr. The album liner notes were written by Elaine Isley.

Contents

Track listing

Side One
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."May I?"Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley, O'Kelly Isley, Elaine Jasper Isley5:07
2."My Best Was Good Enough" Skip Scarborough 4:20
3."If Leaving Me Is Easy" Phil Collins 6:30
4."You Never Know When You're Gonna Fall in Love" Rex Salas, Monty Seward4:19
5."Stay Gold" Stevie Wonder, Carmine Coppola 4:11
Side Two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."Colder Are My Nights" David Williams, Pat Leonard 6:00
7."Come to Me" Robert Brookins, Tony Haynes 4:53
8."Release Your Love" David Ritz, Kelly McNulty5:32
9."The Most Beautiful Girl" Billy Sherrill, Rory Bourke, Norris Wilson 6:57

Personnel

The Isley Brothers
with
Technical personnel & arrangements

Chart performance

The album charted at #140 in the US Billboard 200 while only charting at #19 on the R&B album chart. "Colder Are My Nights" peaked at #12 on the R&B charts, while "May I?" charted at #42 in 1986.

Charts

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References

  1. Elias, Jason. "The Isley Brothers - Masterpiece (1985) album review, credits & releases". AllMusic . Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  2. A Touch of Classic Soul 2: The Late 1970s Marc Taylor - 2001 - Page 173 They got off to a good start with "Colder Are My Nights" reaching number 12 on the R&B charts. The brothers followed with "May I?", a pleading love song that was mildly successful in the spring of 1986. However, any joy from the album was negated when Kelly Isley died of a heart attack on March 31, 1986 at age 48.
  3. "The Isley Brothers Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  4. "The Isley Brothers Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  5. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1986". Billboard. Retrieved July 13, 2021.