Eternal is a studio album by American soul group The Isley Brothers. It was released by DreamWorks Records on August 7, 2001 in the United States.
Now popular again with audiences, almost single-handledly for Ronald Isley's "Mr. Biggs" persona, Eternal included production from not only R. Kelly who gave the Isleys their biggest hit as leading artists in over two decades with "Contagious" but also from Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Raphael Saadiq and Ronald's wife at the time, Angela Winbush.
Based on thesuccess of lead single "Contagious", Eternal peaked at number on the US Billboard 200 chart, while also topping number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, eventually going Platinum. The first album the Isleys released as a duo in over a decade (the first as Ronald and Ernie), Marvin Isley left the group after suffering a bout with diabetes, which later caused both of his legs to be amputated), Ernie Isley also showcase his talents as a guitarist in songs like "Move Your Body" and the aptly titled "Ernie's Jam" while Ronald was still as vocally strong on this album as he had been throughout the Isley Brothers' legendary catalogue.
Within seconds of listening to "Move Your Body," the opener to Eternal, the latest by the Isley Brothers, audiences will easily agree -- the forefathers of boudoir faire still have it.
Forty years in the business have not chiseled away at the talented brothers: Ronald Isley's falsetto is unwavering and remains inimitable in 2001, when the R&B market is saturated.
Ernie Isley soars on guitar -- "Ernie's Jam" showcases the brother playing soulful and tasty solos, à la Jimi Hendrix -- adding further sexiness to this already sensual album.
Cheaters are blatantly busted on the slithering "Contagious," where the rogue-lover is caught in the act. The words coming from the jilted are so vivid and painful. Ronald specifically describes walking toward the bedroom, hearing his lover crying out someone else's name. Ouch.
While it's all about sex and pleasing a lover on the arousing "Just Like This," the disc is not just skin on skin. The album poignantly explores commitment on such romantic slow jams as "You're All I Need," "Settle Down," and the title track.
An impressive roster of collaborators -- writers, performers, and producers -- grace Eternal and they span old-school and modern R&B players such as R. Kelly, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, and Jill Scott.
There is nothing groundbreaking on this recording, however, the longtime R&B legends prove they're still very much worth their salt and can keep up very well with the Joneses. Indeed, the Isley Brothers are eternal.
Track listing
1. Move Your Body - 5:15
Backing Vocals – The Johnson Sisters, Raphael Saadiq
Bass – Raphael Saadiq
Co-producer – Jake & The Phatman
Drums [Programming] – Jake & The Phatman
Guitar – Ernie Isley
Percussion – Martgol Beasley
2. Contagious - 5:46
3. Warm Summer Night - 4:54
4. You Deserve Better - 4:02
Instruments – Steve 'Stone' Huff
Producer – Steve 'Stone' Huff
5. Just Like This - 4:18
6. Secret Lover - 4:23
Backing Vocals – Avant
Guitar [Solo] – Ernie Isley
Instruments – Steve 'Stone' Huff
Producer – Steve 'Stone' Huff
7. You're All I Need - 4:49
8. Settle Down - 6:29
9. Eternal - 8:30
10. If You Leave Me Now - 7:02
11. Said Enough (featuring Jill Scott) - 5:08
Featuring – Jill Scott
Producer – Andre Harris, Vidal Davis
12. You Didn't See Me - 4:26
13. Ernie's Jam - 4:49
14. Think - 5:00
Personnel
- Ronald Isley – Lead and Background Vocals, Executive Producer
- Ernie Isley – Guitar
- Donnie Lyle – Bass, Guitar
- Peter Mokran – Engineer
- Neil Pogue – Mixing
- Alex Richbourg – Percussion, Drum Programming
- Louil Silas, Jr. – Executive Producer
- Angela Winbush – Keyboards, Producer, Drum Programming, Vocals
- Tony Flores – Assistant Engineer
- Michelle Lynn Forbes – Assistant Engineer
- Raphael Saadiq – Bass, Background Vocals, Producer, Guitar
- Chris Bellman – Mastering
- Bradley Yoast – Assistant Engineer
- Jake and the Phatman – Drum Programming
- Kelvin Wooten – Keyboards
- Andre Harris – Producer
- James "Big Jim" Wright – Keyboards, Background Vocals
- Jeff Vereb – Engineer
- Avant – Background Vocals
- Jill Scott – Background Vocals
- Vidal Davis – Producer, Engineer
- Clint Roth – Engineer
- Andy Gallas – Assistant
- Ian Mereness – Programming, Engineer
- Kevin Guarnieri – Engineer, Digital Editing, Assistant Engineer
- Nick Monson – Assistant Engineer
- Gary Brown – Engineer
- The Johnson Sisters – Background Vocals
- R. Kelly – Arranger, Producer
- Paulinho Da Costa – Percussion
- Steve Hodge – Engineer, Mixing
- Steve Huff – Producer, Instrumentation
- Jimmy Jam – Arranger, Producer, Keyboards
- Terry Lewis – Arranger, Producer, Instrumentation
Companies, etc.
- Phonographic Copyright ℗ – SKG Music LLC
- Copyright © – SKG Music LLC
- Glass Mastered At – Universal M & L, Germany – 51190315
Credits
- Executive Producer – Louil Silas, Jr., Ronald Isley
- Mastered By – Chris Bellman
- Mixed By – Neal Pogue (tracks: 1, 12, 13), Peter Mokran (tracks: 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 14), Serban Ghenea (tracks: 11), Steve Hodge (tracks: 7, 8)
Notes
Released: August 7, 2001
Genre: Soul, Contemporary R&B
Length: 75:37
Producer(s): Dre & Vidal · Steve Huff · Ronald Isley · Jake and the Phatman · Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis · R. Kelly · Raphael Saadiq · Angela Winbush
Label - DreamWorks
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