In effect,
The Ultimate Isley Brothers
is the definitive single-disc compilation of
the Isleys
'
T-Neck
years -- when they reinvented themselves for the '70s as a jam-happy funk-rock outfit. Still, there are a few extras -- the
Isley/Jasper/Isley
hit
"Caravan of Love,"
which fits this material pretty well, and the old-school
Isley
classics
"Shout, Pts. 1-2"
and
"Twist and Shout,"
which don't. Yes, it's nice to have this all on one disc, but the latter two hits are just sort of tossed into the middle of the track listing (and if you're going to license those, why leave off the group's other absolutely necessary early single, the
Motown
"This Old Heart of Mine"
?). That flaw aside, though, the focus of the collection is really on the group's terrific funk phase; it's clear by the end of the disc that
were equally capable of delivering smoking funk workouts, socially conscious anthems, and slick, romantic ballads. It's the best introduction to the group that's currently available, and its consistently high-quality material demonstrates why they've been able to sustain a career for so long. ~ Steve Huey