That’s My Jam is a weekly feature where one person from the Selective Hearing staff goes to wax poetic about music that is pivotal to their musical tastes. Whether that would be an album, a song, or anything in-between. We all had to start somewhere.
Release Date: May 14, 1996
Track Listing
- Floatin On Your Love
- Whenever You’re Ready
- Let’s Lay Together
- Tears
- Can I Have A Kiss (For Old Times’ Sake)
- Mission To Please
- Holding Back The Years
- Make Your Body Sing
- Let’s Get Intimate
- Slow Is The Way
Review
The Isley Brothers are a group that should be familiar to those who enjoy Soul, Funk and R&B music. Younger heads may be used to hearing many of their songs used as samples in popular Hip-Hop songs. Regardless of your age, you have most likely heard one of their songs, whether you were aware of it.
In 1996, they released their 27th album, Mission To Please, which featured collaborations with R. Kelly, Babyface, Keith Sweat and Angela Winbush. This album was their return to commercial success with a platinum certification, a feat they previously did with 1983’s Between The Sheets.
Driven by the singles Let’s Lay Together, Tears, Floatin’ On Your Love and Mission To Please, this peaked at #2 on the US R&B charts.
Thanks to this album and their collaboration with R. Kelly on Down Low, the Isley brothers were introduced to a new generation of R&B listeners and fans. For those looking for club bangers, you’re looking in the wrong place with Mission To Please.
This album is full of smooth mid to low-tempo R&B tracks that are meant as a soundtrack for a romantic night in or some passionate baby-making sessions. Those who appreciate some straight-up R&B goodness without the interruption of unnecessary MCs or Hip-Pop may want to seriously consider giving this album a go.
If you’re one to pick off just a few tunes to test the waters, go with the singles mentioned above and add Can I Have A Kiss (For Old Times’ Sake) and Slow Is The Way. Should these whet your appetite, go for the full deal. You won’t regret it.
