Showdown (Isley Brothers album)

Showdown is the sixteenth studio album by the Isley Brothers, released on April 22, 1978, on their T-Neck Records label. Singles released from the album include the #1 funk/disco hit, "Take Me to the Next Phase" and the top 20 R&B slower, "Groove With You". The album became another platinum album for the Isley Brothers. It was remastered and expanded for inclusion in the 2015 released CD box set The RCA Victor & T-Neck Album Masters, 1959-1983.

Showdown
Studio album by the Isley Brothers
Released	April 22, 1978
Recorded	1978
Studio	Bearsville (Woodstock, New York)
Genre	Funk rock[1]
Length	41:50
Label	T-Neck Records
Producer	The Isley Brothers
The Isley Brothers chronology
Go for Your Guns (1977) Showdown (1978) Timeless (1978)

Release

Showdown was released 22 April 1978 on the Isley Brother's own T-Neck Records label. It was their sixteenth album release.

It was remastered and expanded for inclusion in the 2015 released CD box set The RCA Victor & T-Neck Album Masters, 1959-1983.

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Christgau's Record Guide	B[2]

Spawning the #1 funk/disco hit, Take Me to the Next Phase (Part 1 & 2) and the top 20 R&B slower, "Groove With You", the album became another platinum album for the Isley Brothers. Though not released as a single, the smooth funk jam "Coolin' Me Out" was also a hit.

Track listing

Unless otherwise noted, Information is based on Liner notes^[3]

Side one

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Showdown (Part 1 & 2)"	5:25
2.	"Groove with You"	4:52
3.	"Ain't Givin' Up No Love"	4:42
4.	"Rockin' with Fire (Part 1 & 2)"	5:57

All tracks are written by Ernie Isley, Marvin Isley, Chris Jasper, Rudolph Isley, O'Kelly Isley and Ronald Isley

Side two

No.	Title	Length
5.	"Take Me to the Next Phase (Part 1 & 2)"	5:10
6.	"Coolin' Me Out (Part 1 & 2)"	6:03
7.	"Fun and Games"	4:41
8.	"Love Fever (Part 1 & 2)"	5:00

Note

• While ”Take Me to the Next Phase” sounds like a live stadium recording, it is actually a studio recording with audience overdubs. Additional crowd noises are provided by Ernie Isley, Marvin Isley and Chris Jasper.^[4]

Personnel

• Ronald Isley - lead vocals, background vocals
• O'Kelly Isley, Jr. - background vocals
• Rudolph Isley - background vocals
• Chris Jasper - percussion (5),^[5] foot stomps (5),^[4] piano, keyboards, ARP synthesizers, clavinet, tambourine, background vocals
• Marvin Isley - foot stomps (5),^[4] bass, woodblock, cowbell, percussion, background vocals
• Ernie Isley - congas, percussion (1, 3, 5, 7),^[5][6][7][8] foot stomps (5),^[4] guitar, drums, timbales, maracas, background vocals

Technical

• John Holbrook - recording engineer
• Thomas Mark - recording engineer

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1978) Peak position US Billboard 200[9] 4 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[10] 1

Year-end charts Chart (1978) Position US Billboard 200[11] 82 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[12] 9

Singles

Year	Single	Chart positions[13]
		US R&B
1978	"Take Me to the Next Phase"	1
	"Groove with You"	16

See also

• List of number-one R&B albums of 1978 (U.S.)

External links

• The Isley Brothers-Showdown at Discogs

References

1. Henderson, Alex. The Isley Brothers: Showdown > Review at AllMusic. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
2. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: I". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved February 27, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
3. The Isley Brothers. “Showdown” (Album notes). T-Neck. 1978.
4. The Isley Brothers. “Take Me to the Next Phase, Pts. 1-2”. Allmusic: Review by Ed Hogan. https://www.allmusic.com/song/take-me-to-the-next-phase-pts-1-2-mt0048480428
5. ”Take Me to the Next Phase, Pts. 1 & 2”. YouTube: The Isley Brothers - Topic. February 18, 2017. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XPKryuyQw1w
6. “Showdown, Pts. 1 & 2”. YouTube: The Isley Brothers - Topic. August 22, 2015. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6r48NXQ4h8c
7. “Ain’t Givin’ Up No Love”. YouTube: The Isley Brothers - Topic. August 22, 2015. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=K0rVcuDGOOA
8. “Fun and Games”. YouTube: The Isley Brothers - Topic. August 22, 2015. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ptbl8W1ozhA
9. "The Isley Brothers Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
10. "The Isley Brothers Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
11. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1978". Billboard. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
12. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1978". Billboard. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
13. "The Isley Brothers US singles chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved September 3, 2011.