This old heart of mine, Behind a painted smile

The Isley Brothers achieved their greatest American success with other labels, especially Epic, yet their two biggest UK hits came during their time with Motown. The brothers (O' Kelly, Rudolph and Ronald) didn't enjoy their time with Motown because they didn't have control over what they recorded or how, yet the quality of their Motown music is outstanding as this twofer with bonus tracks shows.



The biggest hit here is This old heart of mine, an American top twenty hit and minor UK hit in 1966, which made the UK top three when re-released in 1968. Rod Stewart's cover of the song made the UK top five in 1975. I guess I'll always love you, also a minor UK hit for the Isley Brothers in 1966, just missed the UK top ten early in 1969. Behind a painted smile became a UK top five hit later that year. Put yourself in my place completed their run of UK Motown hits, making the top twenty.



Those hits are all here, together with covers of three other Motown classics - Nowhere to run (Martha Reeves and the Vandellas), Stop in the name of love and I hear a symphony (both Diana Ross and the Supremes) - and many other excellent songs.



The Isley brothers took control of their recordings in the seventies, recording such classics as Summer breeze and Harvest for the world, yet even those classic songs didn't do as well in the UK charts as their biggest Motown hits. Those tracks can be found on a separate compilation, but if you're looking for their Motown recordings, this is the best single CD there is.