The Isley Brothers – The Heat Is On

Hmmm... when I put this on (I've had it for frigg'n FOREVER) I thought maybe this was a later repress because it sounded a bit muffled in the highs, maybe a tape copy? But, for a 1st pressing Kendun mastering I'm rather surprised it doesn't sound better. Serviceable...

This tape has the most amazing bass response and to me, is the best way to hear this album, on 8 track. Look for a copy if you have a working 8 track deck

Everything you expect from Speakers Corner - brilliant pressing and stunning mastering ... helps when the music is this good as well

Album Revolution #6:

"The Heat" was "On", and this album straight up SMOKED on every Turntable that played it!!!

By this time "The Isley Brothers" perfected that blend of "Soul", "Funk" and "Rock"....

And boy did it Rock!!! Between "The Isley's" and "Parliament Funkadelic", they changed the way an "R&B" record was supposed to sound....

This Record was particularly smart because the first side had 3 Pure Smokers, especially the "Title Track" and call to action and Ultimate Crown Jewel, "Fight The Power (Part 1 & 2)".....POWER and GRIT at the same time!!!! The message was so powerful, that the group felt like they had to describe the situation as a bunch of "B.S."!!!!!!

The BUMPIN' "Title Track" (2nd Crown Jewel), has an infectious "Wah-Whah" type Keyboard driven Melody (courtesy of "Chris Jasper"), with "Marvin" TEARING up the Bass (and probably breaking strings), and "Ernie" doing his usual Guitar SHREDDING...

The 3rd Crown Jewel, "Hope You Feel Better Love (Part 1 & 2)", is a two fold t...It starts out with a Sweet Melody, than breaks down into an "Inferno Funk" jam (both surrounded by "Ronald's" unmistakable Vocals)....

Then there is Side 2 to help you cool down with 3 just as Powerful Ballads.....

The Classic of all "Classic Isley Slow Jams", "For The Love Of You (Part 1 & 2)", is the Ultimate Ultimate Ultimate Ultimate Crown Jewel...Again, "Chris Jasper" knows what to get out of "Ronald" when he lays down this Keyboard heavy track, with one of the smoothest grooves the group every had!!!! It is easily their most highly requested "Slow Jam" in their catalog!!!! Ever!!!! No contest!!!!!

"Sensuality (Part 1 & 2)", though.....Ok, let me just take a second...Ok, I'm ready...Man!!!!!! This one right here, is the perfect example on how "Chris Jasper's" creativity is the real reason for the "3+3" sound!!!! The track is purely surrounded by his tried and true "Arp Synthesizers"...And once again, giving "Ronald" room to take his Vocals to places he didn't think he would go...Once again, Priceless (and an Ultimate, Ultimate Ultimate Crown Jewel) !!!!

Then there is the last Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate Crown Jewel, "Make Me Say It Again Girl (Part 1 & 2)", keeping the Romantic Bug going, and is the perfect album closer....

I said earlier that I thought that "3+3" was their best album, but now writing this, I am not so sure....This album is equivalent to everything that "The Isley Brothers" were striving for Musically and Creativity...

To sum it up, they brought the "Heat" with this one!!!!!!!

This is a really good sounding all-analog reissue. I prefer this to the original - super quiet and dynamic.

Has anyone heard this edition or been able to compare to the Speakers Corner Reissue?

For Isley-philes and music enthuatists like myself, it's difficult to point to a Rosetta Stone of the Isley Brothers' extensive canon. Worst of all, it's sacrilegious to pick a single favorite. One day, it's Live it Up, Harvest for the World, and Winner Takes All. Other times, it's Showdown, Givin' It Back, and Go All the Way. On a good day, you may catch me fist-pumping while blasting Go For Your Guns, 3 + 3, or Get Into Something. Too many historic events, reinventions, sea changes, and albums to name in their honor. But, this acclaimed 1975 classic, The Heat is On, may very well mark the culmination of their watershed 3+3 period, as it distills everything that made the family unit a well-oiled soul, funk, and rock band way into the early 80s, before their formula began to slip. Those gutsy funk-rock stompers? Check. The timeless socio-conscious anthem that has been sampled and alluded to in popular culture and several popular music staples, especially hip-hop? Check. And who can forget those sterling, silky smooth, Ronald Isley-led ballads that can strip paint off walls and melt ice instantly? There's a whole side of them and it's virtually flawless, too. I can't think of a better way to devote 35+ minutes of your day than to slip this disc in your rotation and get a whiff of the Isleys' indomitable heat. Also, it's important to note that this was the first of several full-length albums where the band shook off their distinctive knack of reinterpreting cover material and flexed their songwriting muscles. That says a lot, given that the core were 25 years deep in the game by the time this album was released. The synth masterminds of TONTO's Expanding Head Band, Malcolm Cecil and Robert Margouleff, took their engineering to new heights with this one (Stevie, excepted.) Required listening for the ages.

Having an original for some time I never felt like I would need a reissue. But recently I've been impressed with Speakers Corner and went for this one out of curiosity. So here I am.

The original was recorded pretty hot and has always sounded fantastic. This reissue does an excellent job at preserving all the things that made the original mastering great. The music essentially "sounds" the same; there's no loss in the performance but there's also no "like hearing it with new ears" revelation. But the Speakers Corner reissue takes it up a notch when it comes to the cut and pressing. The SC is cut louder; Side B especially you can see the effects as the groove take up a lot more space when you compare side-by-side. The instruments feel a little more upfront and present. But the big difference here is the pressing by Pallas. Absolutely no surface noise and pristinely quiet in all the right spots (it's especially groovy on Side B, which thrives in those still spaces of those slow jams). The rest of the package (especially the gatefold jacket) are all welcome upgrades to the original. Again superior work at keeping the feel of the original record and adding today's quality standards on to it.

I won't be getting rid of my NM/NM original anytime soon, but will probably end up playing this one more often. If you're looking to upgrade, replace a worn copy or you've never owned this record before I would highly recommend this version as it'll be your last.

Anybody have any info as to how good this sounds?

Anyone compared this to an original?

Would love to know ...