Harvest for the World (Exp) [Original recording remastered]

The Isley Brothers | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 21, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00005NKKR
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #247,471 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

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Harvestnot just another Isleys masterpiece, September 13, 2001

By 

David S. Minjares (Montebello, CA. USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Harvest for the World (Exp) (Audio CD)

It's remarkable how harrowingly ironic things have suddenly become.

First, watching HBO's "Band Of Brothers" and putting yourself in the spectrum of training, hair-trigger timing and eventual battle. And now with Tuesday's bombings of the Pentagon, the World Trade Towers and the shaking of a society that we have taken so much for granted.

Funny, but when I first purchased the long-overdue CD reissue of "Harvest For The World" (and "The Heat Is On") by the Isley Brothers, I bought it purely for the fact that this was a long lost scripture of soul-groove finally making a comeback. It was only for that reason...

Who knew what comfort this album would bring me during the last 48 or so hours. This is not only the Isleys' masterpiece, but the title track is possibly one of the most powerful statements of human tolerance whose time has finally arrived. Back in 1976, not too many people wanted to hear a song like this, but for the ones who did listen, they knew damn well what Ronald testified and what others wanted to masquerade with indifferent disco and hard rock. Hey, the 60's were over, right?

Well, with the new millennium bringing us some unusual challenges up till now, I think the title track is more than appropriate, it's relevant. This is not a flowery, "teach the world" to sing kind of song, but look in the mirror of a world that has not been spared by war or the terrors of evil. And with all divisions associated in times likes this, i.e. political, religious, etc., we're all human in the end. That's the plain and simple truth.

The rest of the album is a stone masterpiece as well, with the hard funk-folk groovers like "People Of Today" & "Who Loves You Better" (Ernie Isley...WOW!) and their finest balladry moment to date on "Let Me Down Easy". Even the bonus track "live" version of "Summer Breeze" is magnificent.

The Isley Brothers have always been a class act. It's only now that their music is being regarded as timeless pieces of rock and roll and more than 70's period soul. The Isleys don't demand your respect, they only ask you listen. And once you have, you'll never have regretted that move forward.

Peace.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fertile Crop, November 1, 2001

By 

Thomas Magnum (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Harvest for the World (Exp) (Audio CD)

After scoring their first number one album, The Heat Is On, The Isley Brothers' followed that classic up less than a year later with 1976's amazing Harvest For The World. The band has always had something to say and never have they said more than on the amazing title track. A call for understanding and unity, the song has more relevance today than it did twenty-five years ago. The album is worth it for that song alone, but the rest of the album stands up as well with "People Of Today", "Let Me Down Easy" and "At Your Best (You Are Love)" standing out. The album peaked at number nine on the charts.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Isleys Were On A Harvest Of Platinum & Gold During This Time!, November 16, 2005

By 

HE WHO FUNKS BEHIND THE ROWS!! (Seattle & San Diego) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Harvest for the World (Exp) (Audio CD)

From 1973's "3+3" to 1983's "Between The Sheets",
with the exception of 1981's weak offering "Inside You",
the Brothers Isley were riding a creative & self-contained
wave that produced some of the funkiest jams of the 70's
and some of the most sensual and beautiful slow jams
ever in the history of R&B!

Not to mention their pre-3+3 output which ran all
the way back to 1959's classic "Shout",
1962's "Twist & Shout", 1966's "This Old Heart Of Mine"
(from their Motown period) and 1969's funk classic
"It's Your Thang"...the Isley's are indeed a dynasty
the likes of E, W & F and P-Funk!
There influence is incalculable and will be felt for infinity!
But this particular offering...
1976's "Harvest For The World" produced the
Isley's most clear cut socio-political message to date!
But aside from the stellar title track, the stand-outs
of this album are the ballads "At Your Best (You Are Love)" ,
which was covered by the late Alliyah on her debut CD,
and "Let Me Down Easy", which definitely was the reason
for a swell in the birthrates of black america in 1977!

The fast jams of this album were sufficient and
likable at the time this album was out...
"People Of Today", "Who Loves You Better" and
"So You Wanna Stay Down" still get much love
from life-long Isley fans!
But truly the gem of the album is the title track
and that slammin' intro to it that puts it
in a league with Marvin's "What's Going On",
Stevie's "Visions" and E, W & F's
"That's The Way Of The World"!!
If you buy any of their '73 to '83 output, you can't go wrong!
But just skip over "Inside You"...yiiish!
Even the Isley's could have one stinker in their over 45 yr stellar career which is still going strong!