Forever Gold

Good clean vinyl with a smart cover.

Originally issued to commemorate the Isleys' four-album streak of gold records, Forever Gold served as a concise summary of the band's classic mid-'70s era, and it does the job. "Fight the Power," "That Lady," and "For the Love of You" are all here in their original uncut versions, along with covers of "Hello It's Me" and "Summer Breeze." All are essential. The one unusual cut here is "Hope You Feel Better," from 1975's The Heat Is On, a cut not found on most other Isley albums. It's a great tune, but anyone starting an Isley collection would automatically start with The Heat Is On -- it's a required album. As a summary of the Isley Brothers' classic era, though, Forever Gold is a little more than serviceable.