Lay-Away / Feel Like The World
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Album Summary
Released in 1972 on T-Neck Records — the Isley Brothers' very own independent label, which itself was a statement of Black artistic ownership and self-determination — this single-style release paired 'Lay-Away' and 'Feel Like The World' as a double-sided offering that captured the Brothers at a moment of serious creative momentum. Produced by the Isley Brothers themselves, the record reflected their growing confidence as self-sufficient artists who didn't need a major label machinery to speak their truth. Cut during a period when the group was firing on all cylinders — tightening their funk grooves while keeping that sanctified soul warmth alive — this release stood as evidence that Ronald's voice and the family's collective musicianship were operating at a deeply soulful level.
Reception
- 'Lay-Away' connected with R&B audiences and performed on the soul charts, affirming the Isley Brothers' continued commercial relevance in the early 1970s R&B landscape.
- The record was received warmly by fans who recognized the group's ability to blend aching emotional sincerity with rhythmic groove, a balance that defined their T-Neck era output.
- Critics and listeners alike recognized 'Lay-Away' as a standout soul composition, with Ronald Isley's vocal delivery drawing particular reverence from those paying close attention.
Significance
- 'Lay-Away' stands as a testament to the Isley Brothers' mastery of slow-burning soul — the kind of track that could silence a room and make every heartache feel understood, cementing their place as architects of emotional Black music in the early 1970s.
- The release represented the Isley Brothers' continued commitment to T-Neck Records as a vehicle for artistic independence, a radical act in an industry that routinely stripped Black artists of creative and financial control.
- 'Feel Like The World' showcased the group's range, demonstrating that their artistry moved fluidly between tender introspection and the kind of raw, grounded feeling that connected deeply with working-class Black communities across America.
Samples
- "Lay-Away" — one of the most celebrated soul samples in hip-hop history, sampled by numerous artists drawn to its rich melodic and rhythmic texture, with its legacy running deep through the fabric of sample-based music production.
Tracklist
-
A Lay-Away —
3:08
-
B Feel Like The World 131
3:25
Artist Details
The Isley Brothers are a legendary soul and R&B institution, born out of Cincinnati, Ohio in the mid-1950s, where brothers Ronald, Rudolph, and O'Kelly first fused gospel fire with rhythm and blues grit to create a sound that could shake the walls and still make you cry like a baby. From the raw, hollering energy of "Shout" to the smooth, funky grooves of "That Lady" and "Between the Sheets," these brothers evolved with every decade, proving that true greatness doesn't age — it just gets deeper. Their influence stretches across rock, soul, funk, and hip-hop, touching everyone from Jimi Hendrix, who actually toured with them early in his career, to the countless producers who've sampled their irresistible grooves, cementing the Isley Brothers as one of the most enduring and far-reaching forces in the entire history of American music.
