Customer Reviews

Baby Makin' Music (Feat. Ronald Isley AKA Mr. Biggs)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I'll be the first to admit that I was a late bloomer to old school r&b music. The only reason why I even started listening to any other kind of music other than rap and current r&b is when Ice Cube made "It Was A Good Day". I said to myself, this song is tight, but it has an old school flavor to it. I looked at the liner notes in Ice Cube's "Predator" CD and it said, Contains samples from The Isley Brothers' "Footsteps In The Dark". I had about 20 dollars in quarters saved in my closet. I wrapped 2 rolls of $10 and I scrounged up some more change and I remember getting a ride from one of my boys to go to Best Buy to purchase "The Isley Brothers Story Volume 2: The T Neck Years (1969-85)". This was a 2 disc collection with the Isley Brothers' greatest hits on them. From that collection I learned about "Summer Breeze", "That Lady", "For The Love Of You", "Harvest For The World", "Don't Say Goodnight" and others. I can honestly say that if it weren't for this 2 disc collection I probably would have never became a fan of old school r&b. The next Isley Brothers CD I purchased was "Beautiful Ballads". Once I heard "Make Me Say It Again" and "Voyage To Atlantis", I knew I would be an Isley Brothers' fan for life.

If you take a look at the latest CDs that The Isley Brothers have released, which for me would be "Mission To Please", "Eternal" and "Body Kiss", The Isley Brothers are at their best when they stay as close to their classic sound as possible. That would be "Let's Lay Together", "Mission To Please", "Settle Down", "Eternal", "Move Your Body", "Prize Possession", and "Take A Ride". When Ron Isley takes on his alter ego Mr. Biggs that's where the problems start like on R Kelly's "Showdown" from "Chocolate Factory", "I Like" from the "Body Kiss" CD and "Lucky Charm" from "Body Kiss". On "I Like", Ron tries too hard to fit in with R Kelly and Snoop Dogg on what ends up being a filler track.

With "Baby Makin' Music", The Isley Brothers are trying to prove that they still have it and trust me, they still do. The CD starts off strong with "You're My Star". Tim & Bob handle the production and you get a strong indication early on that Ron Isley still has the same voice as he always has. However, I am sure that Tim & Bob didn't listen to Joe's last CD, "And Then". Joe used the same Gladys Knight & The Pips sample, "Makings Of You" on his 1st track, "Sweeter Than Sugar" that Tim & Bob uses for "You're My Star". However, both songs are tight. After taking over on "Body Kiss", R Kelly only produces and features on one song which is "Blast Off" and the results are outstanding. I guess R Kelly figured if I'm only doing one song then I need to make it good and believe me he does. The 1st single from "Baby Makin' Music" is the Troy Taylor and Gordon Chambers' produced "Just Came Here To Chill". When I first heard this track, I knew that I would purchase "Baby Makin' Music" once it was released. Although, I must admit that I thought that Babyface produced the track because the production style is very similar to something that he would have produced. Mr. Biggs shows up on the Jermaine Dupri and Bryan Michael Cox produced "Gotta Be With You" and "Forever Mackin'". "Gotta Be With You" sounds alot like Confessions Part 1 from Usher's re-release of "Confessions". The thing that I like about these two tracks is that atleast you can listen to these tracks, eventhough you would rather hear Ronald Isley and not Mr. Biggs. Just like on "Contagious" from the "Eternal" CD. You would rather hear "Settle Down" or "Eternal" but atleast you could tolerate "Contagious".

If you don't believe in the title of this CD, I will gladly tell you to get to Track 7 and Track 8, which are "Show Me" and "Give It To You". Fellas, fellas.... all I am going to say if in nine months you are being told that you are the father, you might have to blame Ronald Isley..lol "Give It To Me" is VINTAGE Isley Brothers. You will easily be reminded of "Between The Sheets", "Sensuality (Parts 1 & 2)", and "Groove With You" once you hear this song. I must definitely commend Manuel Seal for writing and producing this sensual track for The Isley Brothers. "Show Me" is along the same lines as well and you won't have to guess too hard about what The Isley Brothers want to be shown. If you still think The Isleys didn't have it, whatever "it" is supposed to be, then definitely check these two tracks out. "Pretty Woman" and "Beautiful" are the closest things to an uptempo song that you are going to find on this CD. Both tracks are really midtempo tracks, but if you want a break from the slow jams, then these two tracks as well as, the aforementioned "You're My Star" will work for you. The Isley Brothers take a break from the baby makin' on the last two tracks, "Heaven Hooked Us Up" and "You Help Me Write This Song", with help from Troy Taylor and company. If you just want to hear the Isleys sing about love like they did on "How Lucky I Am", "You're Beside Me" and "Let's Fall In Love", then these 2 songs are the tracks for you.

In conclusion, if you expect The Isley Brothers to still be makin' songs like "Harvest For The World" and "That Lady", you may not be able to relate to the songs that the Isleys are making today. You may not want to listen to the current CDs and you just might want to stick to the classic CDs from back in the day. However, when I see the 1 star and 2 star reviews for an Isleys CD I find myself confused. For Ronald to even still be singing in 2006 and for Ernie to still be hittin' those guitar riffs 'til this day is an honor and a privlege for someone that likes to listen to different kinds of music, especially r&b and old school r&b. While this may not be a 5 star CD, there are no filler tracks and there are some songs on here that definitely prove that it is a good thing that The Isley Brothers and groups from their time are still releasing CDs like Stevie Wonder's "A Time To Love" and Earth, Wind & Fire's "Illumination".

If you are an Isley Brothers fan like I am then "Baby Makin' Music" should be in your collection. There is less Mr. Biggs this time around and trust me that is always a good thing.

James' Top 5

1) Give It To You
2) Just Came Here To Chill
3) You Help Me Write This Song
4) Blast Off w/ R Kelly
5) You're My Star

I have to say this album is hot, Ron Isley still can sing! I rate this album as a classic with Eternal and Body Kiss. I can't wait for the next one, I'm a loyal fun and I hope to catch him on tour.

I'm 20 yrs old and this album appeals to me and is better than alot of recent R & B releases. All the young guys should listen to this old mack and learn something! Go buy this album!

This has to be one of the best Isley Brothers CD to date and it is one of the best CD that has been released since Usher's confession or Maria Carey's Mimi. It is well developed and I could not find a song on this cd that I did not like. I really feel that this cd was worth buying.

I love anything the Isley Brothers does and love Ernie Isley's guitar solos. This CD is primarliy him singing songs of his professon of love for/to his new wife; no so much "baby makin music".

Since I'm 25, it's obvious that I wasn't around when Ronald and Ernie Isley were in their heyday, but I did listen to enough of their older material to get into their vibe. I also enjoyed their newer stuff except for Body Kiss; as other reviewers have mentioned, the problem with that album was too much Mr. Biggs (not too much Ron Isley; too much Mr. Biggs) and TOO MUCH R. KELLY. Well, now that Ron is once again becoming a family man because of the child that he and his granddaughter -- I mean, wife are expecting, maybe that opened his eyes into realizing that if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Thus, we have the excellent Baby Makin' Music. However, I didn't really know what to expect from the album because when I heard the lead single "Just Came Here to Chill" on Music Choice (a "radio" station on Time Warner Cable), it was incorrectly titled as "Baby Makin' Music". Also, this time around R. Kelly is only involved with one song, "Blast Off", and while that song is fine, there are even better tracks like "Gotta Be With You" and the aptly titled "Beautiful".

As another reviewer mentioned, most of the songs really aren't baby makin' music as the album title suggests, but when it IS done, it's done very well (see "Show Me" and "Give It to You"). But "You Helped Me Write This Song" is pretty damn good, as is "Heaven Hooked Us Up" (even though the title sounds a little corny). My favorite song is probably the aforementioned "Just Came Here to Chill", though.

While a couple uptempo songs might sound like Mr. Biggs is still itching to come out ("Pretty Woman" and "Forever Mackin'"), they don't disturb the flow of the album. And Ernie's guitar playing is back in great presence, too, all the more making Baby Makin' Music an album to add to your Isley Brothers collection.

Anthony Rupert

In the summer of 2004, while Mr. Biggs' and the great Patti LaBelle's super-duet "Gotta Go Solo" still peppered R&B stations' playlists, I heard Ronald Isley had a stroke. I thought, "Well, I guess that's it for the Isley Brothers." Not just yet! Mr. Biggs is back (on the DefJam label no less) to catch another case with Baby Makin' Music. It's truly an honor to have the Isleys as one of your favorite bands of all-time, yet still be young enough to appreciate their unions with the newer producers of today. Their devoted fans of the '70s are likely not their fans of today, and further, their surfing fans of the late '50s are likely not their devoted fans of the '70s. OK, enough of the obvious, let's critique!

Off the top, Baby Makin' Music has something to offer, such as the stress-relieving "Just Came Here To Chill", which is currently gliding across airwaves and is musically consistent with what the Isleys have always done and features Ronald Isley checking his alter-ego at the door to spend one-on-one time with his woman. Other cuts that jump off the disc are the celestial "Blast Off" featuring an amicable R. Kelly who offers a refreshing change from their over-extended soap-opera, the club-able and aurally haunting "Pretty Woman" (owww, his wiz sounds good on the hook!!!), the forward "Show Me", "Beautiful" where Ronald hits the high note, and Ronald's best performance on this collection "Heaven Hooked Us Up". "Gotta Be With You" gets honorable mention. Thankfully, Ernie gets to rip the Fender more often this go-'round, after being horrendously slighted on their 2003 chart-climber, Body Kiss. Also notable is the influx of new producers on this project, such as Troy Taylor who's responsible for some of the best cuts here, Manual Seal who's tracks best represent the album title, and Jermaine Dupri who provides the album's G swagger. Oh no, you can trust this album's radio run is not done! Sounds encouraging, eh? But hol' up...

As Kelly-dominated, youthfully tweaked and Ernie-less as Body Kiss was, the glaring positive was Ronald Isley's flawless (and I mean FLAWLESS) vocals. On BMM, Ronald's voice has noticeably weakened, is less consistent and he's taking less chances on his classic runs. On occasion, he is drowned out by background singers ("Pretty Woman") and his usually seamless transitions from diapraghm to falsetto break at times ("You Help Me Write This Song"). On "Forever Mackin'", he attempts to justify his playalistic lifestyle based on not being able to get the one he truly loves. Aside from the fact that this raises questions, since he's married, the subject matter is adolescent and is hardly music one would choose to make babies to.

Otherwise, (that is, if the buyers do their part) Baby Makin' Music serves its overall intended purpose. If you were making babies to a newly-released Between The Sheets album, the less-than-subtle lyrics and baller braggadocio may not be your cup of tea. Of course, unless you're a bit of a Mr. Biggs yourself, you're pretty much out of luck on the baby makin'. BMM pales in comparison to their PERFECT, fluid and more bedroom-appropriate 10-year old release, Mission To Please, but is commercial-ready enough for the next single to make you ignore this review. Keep doin' it, Ronald & Ernie!

I thought it was a smooth great album. I love the song just came here to chill. I think it's a cd worth vesting in. It's nice to listen to when you just chilling with your significant other.

This is a GREAT return for both of them, they have been doing it for a long time and this adds to thier great selection. I dont think the title fits the album because its not baby makin music (Caravan of love) because it is new school music. I still find it a good album

Baby Makin' Music indeed...let's see how many are born after this album! But seriously this a really good album. This is real music at it's best. Other artists should take some notes from The Isley Brothers. This album has a smooth feel to it. You can play it from beginning to end and repeat again. My favorite track is Just Came Here to Chill. Definite recommendation.

This cd puts you way into the mood to make babies or pretend to make babies. from the beginning 2 the end , Blast off with R. Kelly is very sensual.Got 2 be with you is oooh wee.
This is definete one for your collection.