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Smooth Sailin' (Isley Brothers album)

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Smooth Sailin'
Studio album by
Released1987
Recorded1986–1987
Studio
GenreR&B
Length41:23
LabelWarner Bros.
ProducerRonald Isley, Rudolph Isley, Angela Winbush
The Isley Brothers chronology
Masterpiece
(1985)
Smooth Sailin'
(1987)
Spend the Night
(1989)

Smooth Sailin' is an album by the American musical group the Isley Brothers, released in 1987 on Warner Bros. Records.[1] It was the first album that the group released as a duo of Rudolph and Ronald after the untimely death of eldest brother O'Kelly, who died in 1986 due to occlusive coronary artery disease.[2] Hooking up with R&B singer-songwriter Angela Winbush, the Isleys scored with the top 10 R&B title track and "I Wish", also an R&B top 40 hit.

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
The Philadelphia Inquirer[2]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[4]

The Los Angeles Times wrote that the album is close "to the old Isley style-slow, sensuous R&B."[5]

Track listing

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Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Everything Is Alright"Angela L. Winbush, Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley4:57
2."Dish It Out"Angela L. Winbush, Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley4:55
3."It Takes a Good Woman"Angela Winbush5:05
4."Send a Message"Angela L. Winbush5:33
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
5."Smooth Sailin' Tonight"Angela L. Winbush4:59
6."Somebody I Used to Know"Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley, Everett Collins, Angela L. Winbush4:59
7."Come My Way"Angela L. Winbush, René Moore5:48
8."I Wish"Raymond Reeder6:47

Personnel

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The Isley Brothers
with
  • Tony Maiden – guitar (tracks 1–6)
  • Angela Winbush – keyboards (tracks 2–8), Moog synthesizer (track 7); bass synthesizer (tracks 1, 2), drum machine (track 5), additional background vocals (tracks 2, 3, 7)
  • Jeff Lorber – additional synthesizers (tracks 1, 3–6)
  • Raymond Reeder – synthesizer (tracks 7); string line guitar synthesizer & drum machine (track 8)
  • Nathan East – bass (tracks 1, 3–6)
  • Louis Johnson – bass (track 2)
  • Gregory Phillinganes – bass synthesizer (track 2)
  • Rayford Griffin – drums (tracks 1, 2, 6)
  • Andre Fischer – drums (tracks 4, 7)
  • Paulinho da Costa – percussion (tracks 1–3, 5)
Technical personnel & arrangements
  • Produced by Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley & Angela Winbush
  • Recorded & mixed by Steve Sykes
  • Additional engineer (Conway Studios): Czaba Petocz
  • Assistant engineer (Ocean Way Recording): Bob Loftus, Joe Schiff, Mike Ross
  • Assistant engineer (Westlake Studios): Debbie Johnson
  • Mastered by Brian Gardner
  • Art direction & design by Janet Levinson
  • Photography by Jeff Katz

Charts

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References

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  1. ^ Oermann, Robert K. (December 31, 1987). "I'm looking over the albums that shook my soul in 1987". USA Today.
  2. ^ a b Tucker, Ken (21 June 1987). "Isleys: Still in Harmony". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. K9.
  3. ^ Wynn, Ron. "The Isley Brothers - Smooth Sailin' (1987) album review, credits & releases". AllMusic. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  4. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 346.
  5. ^ Hunt, Dennis (3 July 1987). "Isley Brothers' 'Sailin'' Back on Charts". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 21.
  6. ^ "The Isley Brothers Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  7. ^ "The Isley Brothers Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  8. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1987". Billboard. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
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