The Isley Brothers Are The Most Important American Band Of All Time

[GoogaMooga]

Finally, some due recognition: https://magazine.vinylmeplease.com/maga ... gFPkJBcJEQ

[BARON CORNY DOG]

Bands are not important.

[fange]

I love the Isleys, both in their 60s and 70s forms, but this article is clearly self-promoting clickbait.

[Matt Wilson]

They weren't even the most important African American band.

[GoogaMooga]

They weren't even the most important African American band.

Who, then? Funkadelic?

[ChrisB]

Some great records, but, seriously ?

[Walk In My Shadow]

At least we had the Chambers brothers.

[Matt Wilson]

They weren't even the most important African American band.

Who, then? Funkadelic?

I don’t know if there is one African-American band who stands head and shoulders above all the others. Maybe the Temptations, or a mixed race band like sly and the family stone. The parliament/funkadelic unit in the 70s might qualify. It’s hard to say. All of those would be a better choice than the Isley brothers though.

[The Modernist]

The article's headline, which has been used for this thread, is hyperbole which is counter-productive as it just encourages people to think of all the reasons why they aren't, whereas the article should be shining a light on why they've been underrated (which I think they have, they're certainly the equal of Sly and the Family Stone if a broad view of their career is taken). Their biggest weakness was their dependence on covers, but the way they changed their sound, transitioning effortlessly from Motownesque soul to white hot funk makes them major players.

[GoogaMooga]

Let's make a distinction between bands and groups. Temptations are a vocal group, as were the Isleys originally, until the T-neck years.

[Count Machuki]

Let's make a distinction between bands and groups.

Oh let's not, for God's sake.