Go for Your Guns

The Isley Brothers, Isley Brothers Featuring Ronald Isley A.k.a.mr.biggs | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00000258G
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #201,022 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Japanese only paper sleeve pressing, features 2010 remastering. Sony. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Climbing Up The Ladder, June 11, 2000

By 

David W. Coleman "Sportside Books" (Buckeye, AZ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Go for Your Guns (Audio CD)

This history-making family, even with all the success it's had, the critical acclaim, and the adoration of its loyal fans, is still probably the most under-rated act of the "rock era." It sounds like a pretty bold statement, but think about it. How influential were songs like "Shout," "Twist And Shout," "This Old Heart Of Mine," and "It's Your Thing"? And that was before phase II of the Isleys story began. Now add to the list "That Lady," "Fight The Power," and "For The Love Of You." This was a living legend of a group at the time "Go For Your Guns" was released in 1977. Yes, 1975's "The Heat is On" topped the pop chart, but for my money, "Go For Your Guns" is the ultimate Isleys experience. While there were still plenty of hit singles and fine albums to come, I think the team got a bit mired in the formula in subsequent releases, especially in the apparent need to make every song a part 1 and part 2. This album featured a #1 R&B hit ("The Pride"), two indispensible concert items ("Footsteps In The Dark" and "Voyage To Atlantis"), and a rockin', raucous two-part single. "Livin' In The Life" is hard to find on CD. It made #4 R&B. The b-side, "Go For Your Guns," is an instrumental of "Livin' In The Life," with lead guitarist Ernie Isley given free rein. Two tracks remain: "Tell Me When You Need It Again" features the group in a stripped-down funk groove. "Climbing Up The Ladder" is a pretty clear manifesto for the group at that time. The brothers were undeniably popular, selling millions of albums each time out. But the ladder of respect is a fickle one. For as much as the Isleys have done for rock and roll (and plain rock) music, you never hear them played on so-called "Classic Rock" stations. Not even on acid-hot rock performances like "Climbing Up The Ladder" or "Hope You Feel Better Love." Or on across-the-board hits like "That Lady" and "Fight The Power." The Isley Brothers have been too good, in terms of expanding the parameters of music for ALL musicians. They don't deserve to have such a lack of respect for their music.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So far ahead of it's time, February 6, 2005

By 

G. E. Williams "Nunah" (California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Go for Your Guns (Audio CD)

This album is a great example of the great music made in the 70's that never made it to the radio. The Isley brothers have always been makers of great music. They have always been colorblind in making their music, it wasn't disco, it wasn't even funk in the way that many people think of the genre'. This album like the rest of the work they did in the late seventies was a rocked up funk, suitable for clubs, parties and dances, that is if you could find a club, dance, or party that didn't play the tripe that was on the radio at the time. I love this album! Livin in the Life was my mantra during those years and I remind myself of it from time to time rattling the windows of my car. Too bad that this innovative work didn't have the influence that it should have at the time, music today would have been enormously better off.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "GO FOR THIS CLASSIC MIX OF....", September 22, 2000

By 

L. Kelsey "lkelsey" (Riverside, CA. United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Go for Your Guns (Audio CD)

driving funk and "beautiful ballards." "Go For Your Guns" could be looked upon as a signature Isley Bros. album. Standard, reliable funk from one of the best R&B bands of the decade, if not all time. The Isley's made some great albums during the '70's and this is one of them. What sets this album apart is the beautiful ballards contained in this collection: "Footsteps in the Dark" and "Voyage to Atlantis," one of the best slow jams ever. Ronnie Isley's vocals are yearning and sexy on these two classic slow jams. It is these two tunes, and the slow jams on other Isley Bros. albums of the '70's, that would set the Isley Bros. apart from their contemporaries. "The Pride," "Tell Me When You Need It Again," "Climbin' Up the Ladder" and "Livin'In the Life" are examples of party music at its best; driving funk that makes you move. But what tunes do you usually remember from this album when you talk about puttin' this one on the player? One of the best.