The Isley Brothers – It’s Your Thing

Song

"It's Your Thing" is a funk single by The Isley Brothers. Released in 1969, the anthem was an artistic response to Motown chief Berry Gordy's demanding hold on his artists after the Isleys left the label in late 1968.

The lyrics of the chorus, which also serve as first verse, run: "It's your thing/ Do what you wanna do/ I can't tell you/ Who to sock it to". The song is ranked #420 on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Overview

After scoring one popular hit with the label with "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)", the Isleys felt typecast in the role as a second-tier act while well-established Detroit acts like The Temptations, The Miracles, and the Four Tops got more promotion from the label Motown.

The brothers' decision to leave Motown came after a successful UK tour, where they had a bigger fan base than in America. A re-release of "This Old Heart" had reached number three on the UK pop singles chart. Similar success came with two more singles from their Motown catalog that were hits well after their Motown departure.

Berry Gordy allowed the brothers to leave the label, and the Isleys reactivated their own label, T-Neck Records, which they had originally started a few years prior to their Motown signing. For Buddah Records, the Isleys recorded "It's Your Thing" which Ronald wrote upon arriving home after taking his daughter Tawana to school.

The lead singer said that he thought of the melody and some of the lyrics in his head. His older brothers O'Kelly and Rudolph helped compose more lyrics.

Release and reaction

Recorded in two takes and featuring the first appearance of 16-year-old Ernie on bass and Skip Pitts on guitar. The song was released as a single on February 16, 1969, and quickly rose to the top of both the Billboard pop and R&B singles charts, peaking at #2 on the former, (behind Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In by The 5th Dimension), and marking their first #1 hit in the latter.

Upon the song's release and ascent to success, Gordy threatened to sue the group for releasing it in an attempt to bring them back to Motown, but he eventually cancelled his threat, and in February 1970 the brothers became the first former Motown act to win a Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group.

Album

It's Our Thing is the sixth album released by The Isley Brothers on their own T-Neck Records imprint on April 26, 1969.

Fully emancipated from three and a half years in Motown Records and encouraged by their international success in England, the Isleys composed this album in the style of Sly & the Family Stone/James Brown funk that was dominating the music industry at the time but with their own flair as explained in their smash "It's Your Thing".

Artist

The Isley Brothers (/ˈaɪzliː/) are an American musical group originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, that started as a vocal trio consisting of brothers O'Kelly Isley Jr., Rudolph Isley and Ronald Isley.

The group has been cited as having enjoyed one of the "longest, most influential, and most diverse careers in the pantheon of popular music".

The Isley Brothers sono un gruppo musicale statunitense nato negli anni cinquanta, di grande successo e influenza grazie ai suoi lavori di genere R&B e Soul.

Il gruppo, nella sua formazione più estesa, era costituito dai sei fratelli Isley più loro cognato Chris Jasper, ma i fondatori furono O'Kelly Isley Jr., Rudolph Isley, Ronald Isley e Vernon Isley.

(chorus)
It's your thing, do what you wanna do
I can't tell you, who to sock it to

(chorus)

If you want me to love you, maybe I will
Believe me woman, it ain't no big deal
You need love now, just as bad as I do
Make's me no difference now, who you give your thing to

(chorus)(x4)

I'm not trying to run your life, I know you wanna do what's right
Give your love now, to whoever you choose
How can you lose, with the stuff you use now

(chorus)

It's your thing, do what you wanna do
Don't let me tell you, who to sock it to

(chorus)

(coro)
È roba tua, fai quello che vuoi
Non so dirti a chi calzino

(coro)

Se vuoi che ti ami, forse lo farò
Credimi donna, non è un grosso problema
Adesso hai bisogno di amore, proprio come me
Non fa alcuna differenza ora, a chi dai la tua roba

(Coro) (x4)

Non sto cercando di gestirti la vita, so che vuoi fare la cosa giusta
Dai il tuo amore ora, a chiunque tu scelga
Come puoi perdere, con le cose che usi ora

(coro)

È roba tua, fai quello che vuoi
Non lasciare che ti dica a chi lo calzino

(coro)