Mr I

Ron Isley | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 30, 2010)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Def Jam
• ASIN: B003YOMN8G
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #15,945 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

2010 album from the R&B/Soul legend. This album not only marks Ronald's first solo foray, but the milestone 50 years in the recording business! Artists putting in guest appearances include T.I. ("Put Your Money On Me") and the Queen Of Soul, Aretha Franklin, on the album's climactic closing version of Carole King's "You've Got a Friend," produced by Jerry `Wonda' Duplessis (of the Fugees). Mr. I continues the Isley tradition of working with today's hottest young producers. In addition to Fuego (who co-produced "No More" with Max Gousse) and Duplessis, other producers include Greg Curtis (known for his work with Keyshia Cole) on four tracks, Tricky Stewart, Kajun, and Song Dynasty.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars More Plusses than Minuses December 1, 2010

By John L. Hughes, Jr.

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

On MR. I., his first official "solo" album, Ronald Isley continues the Mr. Biggs persona on such mack daddy tracks as "Supposed To Do," "Take It How You Want It," "Put Your Money On Me" (with fellow jailbird T.I.), and "Dance For Me". It might be a good time to retire this character for awhile because it's a little immature to hear an experienced man sing about being someone's sugar daddy ("Supposed To Do"), or getting his swag on with da homies ("Put Your Money On Me"). And the "Ladies and Gentleman, Mr. I" introductions on "Take It How You Want It" and "Put Your Money On Me" come off as a little too obnoxious, especially coming from loudmouth rappers.

However, MR. I really shines when Isley drops the gangsta attitude and wraps his Marvin Gaye-like tenor on such impressive romantic tunes as "No More," "If I Lose My Woman,"What I Miss The Most" (the best ballad on the album), and the closer "You Had Me At Hello". And when the Queen of Soul joins Mr. Biggs on a blazing version of Carole King's "You've Got A Friend", it's time to break out the fire extinguisher!

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Lukewarm Effort from a Great Soul Legend December 4, 2010

By Michael Brent Faulkner, Jr. VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Nobody can deny Ron Isley's `legend' status by any means; the man - through The Isley Bros. has more hits than many new artists will ever have. With a beautifully, sensual sounding tenor in his possession, Isley possesses a golden voice - one of the best of our time. On recent outings, `Mr. Biggs' has held it all together, continuing to `reinvent' himself just as he has throughout his long career with The Isley Bros. Some will be quick to clarify this is Isley's second solo album (After 2003's Here I Am), but keep in mind recent efforts focus mostly on the soul legend exclusively. Mr I, his fifth studio release of the new millennium (following 2001`s Eternal, 2003's Body Kiss and Here I Am: Isley Meets Bacharach, and 2006's Baby Makin' Music (Feat. Ronald Isley AKA Mr. Biggs), excluding 2007's holiday effort) falls short of an `upswing' for Isley. While Mr. I should serve as the perfect `comeback' album after Isley's bout with cancer and imprisonment for tax evasion, it is merely an average addition to his discography. Even the better cuts from Mr. I fail to capitalize on the momentum set by his previous three studio efforts with his brothers. The missing link? R. Kelly, whose songwriting and production talents truly helped to make Isley sound incredibly fresh and relevant without sounding ill with modern, gimmicky R&B.

The album opens with "Take It How You Want It," which is enjoyable, but not valedictory.... The cut feels a bit restrained and undercooked compared to strong opening cuts from previous efforts: "Move Your Body" (Eternal), "Superstar" (Body Kiss) or "You're My Star (Baby Makin' Music). A little more pizzazz may have made "Take It How You Want It" more captivating. Promo single "No More" is better, using guitar to give the cut a nice adult R&B feel. Despite being arguably the best cut from the album, it feels surprisingly restrained as well. A solid chorus makes it worthwhile: "So I'm never gonna let you go/they don't make `em like you no more... It's like an old school 64/they don't make `em like you no more."

"If I Lose My Woman" feels undercooked as well, which is unfortunate. "Put Your Money On Me" features an uninspired rap performance by T.I., which fails to aid in Mr. Biggs's lot. The track is too modern for Isley, even if it sort of works. Vocally, Isley feels to restrained, as if he cannot let his beautiful, sensual vocals encapsulate the track because of its nature. "Supposed To Do" is by no means a `savior,' but it reigns the production team in to give Isley a track that better suits him with more of an adult-contemporary R&B vibe. Despite this, a reference to `facebook' again questions if producers are `trying too hard' to make an already relevant artist (age or not) more relevant in the music industry of today. If that's the case, call in R. Kelly to pen another hit for Mr. Biggs.

"Dance for Me" is the first cut in a while that works perfectly with Isley, reviving the 80s sound that Isley cultivated with hit "Between the Sheets." "What I Miss The Most" is a strong slow jam, though it indulges the slightest bit too much becoming draggy by the finish. "I Need You" is fine, with a quicker tempo and a catchily penned chorus. Again, it is by no means `the second coming' but it is one of the albums better cuts.

"You've Got a Friend" pairs the soul singer with fellow soul star Aretha Franklin for a duet that is solid, though not exceptional. The chemistry is pretty close, particularly towards the end, but it never `gels' into the `perfect' performance. Closing cut "You Had Me At Hello" is solid and smartly closes the effort with a slow jam - Isley's strong point.

Overall, Mr. I is a flawed effort. It is always nice to hear a soul legend, regardless of the quality, but Isley has had much better efforts in recent times than this one. This effort proves to be only lukewarm, which is disappointing after a four-year hiatus. That said, Mr. Biggs's still has it, if anybody was questioning that. He'd REALLY still have it with better material, however. Read more ›

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars MR. I-NCREDIBLE!!!! August 13, 2011

By Phyllis Cinque

Format:MP3 Music

Mr. Isley has always one of my favorite artists (solo and w/the Isley's)and this selection of music does NOT dissapoint! His voice is unique and I love it!!! His songs definately give me romantical thoughts! :)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars WONDERFUL OLD SCHOOL October 25, 2012

By LDELL

Format:MP3 Music|Amazon Verified Purchase

NO one does it better than the Isley's.
Ron justs gets better with time. I purchased this when it was first released and loaned it to a friend. It was returned destroyed.
Purchasing it again was a no brainer....I had to have it

5.0 out of 5 stars great cd April 26, 2013

By Eric M. Bell

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Mr Isley and his group are marvelous singers, I am glad that he still songs passionately, he has great style

3.0 out of 5 stars One of those voices..... June 22, 2012

By T. Hutchinson

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Ronald Isley can really sing after all these years. There are no mega tracks on here but as a whole it is a very soulful affair. Well worth the money!
How many mega soul voices passed through the hands of Motown.....Ron,Marvin Gaye,Gladys Knight,Levi Stubbs,David Ruffin - all instantly recognisable and totally WOW!

5.0 out of 5 stars Smooth with the croons July 27, 2011

By Mikeisha Best

Format:MP3 Music

Ronald Isley is still as smooth as he ever was on this album. Inundated with ballads, the women are sure to find tracks that will have replay value and the gentlemen can learn a thing or two from these lyrics for Isley speaks on giving women what they want from a material and emotional standpoint. T.I. and Aretha Franklin are featured here; they do quite well. Isley sounds very gentle as he croons through all ten tracks.

"Supposed to Do" is sure to be a favorite, especially to the ladies. Isley says that a women is supposed to have breakfast cooked for them in the morning and good sex at the crack of dawn, as well cars and homes, all courtesy of their man. It's a great and sexy ballad indeed. "Put Your Money" is one of the more contemporary tracks on "Mr. I." I enjoyed it. T.I. does a nice job with his bars. "What I Miss the Most" is the performance of the album. He is doing some serious crooning and the beautiful lyrics and fantastic instrumentation only enhance the song.

There are no missteps and no filler here. Just press play and hold your lover!

Mikeisha's Top 5

1. "What I Miss the Most"
2. "Supposed to Do"
3. "No More"
4. "Put Your Money on Me"
5. "If I Lose My Woman"

4.0 out of 5 stars Over 50 years of goodness March 11, 2011

By Janice Miller

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

I just love Ron Isley and all the Brothers every since I can remember.
Still awesome after all these years