The Isley Brothers ”Winner Takes All”

The Isley Brothers

”Winner Takes All”
(2xLP T-Neck Records, 1979 )
Catalog # PZ2 36077

Tracklisting:
A1 I Wanna Be With You (Parts 1 & 2) (6:20)
A2 Liquid Love (Parts 1 & 2) (5:17)
A3 Winner Takes All (4:18)
B1 Life In The City (Parts 1 & 2) (7:55)
B2 It’s A Disco Night (Rock Don’t Stop) (Parts 1 & 2) (5:13)
B3 (Can’t You See) What You Do To Me? (4:09)
C1 Let’s Fall In Love (Parts 1 & 2) (4:39)
C2 How Lucky I Am (Parts 1 & 2) (5:38)
C3 You’re The Key To My Heart (3:26)
C4 You’re Beside Me (Parts 1 & 2) (5:32)
D1 Let Me Into Your Life (Parts 1 & 2) (5:10)
D2 Love Comes And Goes (Parts 1 & 2) (5:07)
D3 Go For What You Know (3:24)
D4 Mind Over Matter (Parts 1 & 2) (6:00)

Note!:
Tracks 09. ”You’re the Key to My Heart” and 10. ”You’re Beside Me, Parts 1 & 2” are a ”medley” as they was on the original vinyl record. No tracks missed.

Credits:
Engineer [Assistant] – George Carnell
Engineer, Synthesizer [Programming] – John Holbrook
Mastered By – Stan Kalina
Producer, Written-By, Arranged By – C. Jasper, E. Isley, M. Isley,
O. Isley, R. Isley, R. Isley

Notes:
Recorded at Bearsville Studios, N.Y.C.
Mastered at CBS Recording Studios, N.Y.C., on the Discomputer System
Format: 2 x Vinyl, LP, Promo, Album, Gatefold
Country: US
Released: 1979

Review:
Winner Takes All was originally released as a two-album set, which reflected how popular the Isley Brothers were during this period of time. It features some rather lengthy but entertaining pieces. Ronald Isley’s silky tenor remains untarnished throughout the album. “I Wanna Be with You” made its claim on the Billboard R&B charts, peaking at number one. “Winner Takes All” and “It’s a Disco Night” followed in that order and only managed to reach numbers 38 and 27, respectively. Decent songs they are, but not as explosive as some of the Isley Brothers previously released up-tempo numbers. And as danceable as they, they come closer to good-listening songs. However, there are three solid ballads: “Let’s Fall in Love,” “How Lucky I Am” and “You’re the Key to My Heart.” Not one ever made a chart appearance, but all three remain popular to radio.
By Craig Lytle (AMG)

By Pier