It's Your Thing

"It's Your Thing"
Song

"It's Your Thing" is an influential funk single by the Isley Brothers. Released in 1969, the funk anthem (and feminist anthem), the song was an artistic response to Motown chief Berry Gordy's demanding hold on his artists after the Isleys left the label in late-1968.

History

Overview

After scoring one popular hit with the label with "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)", the Isleys felt typecasted in the role of second-tier acts in the Motown label while well-established Detroit acts such as The Temptations, The Miracles and The Four Tops got more promotion than the group and forced not to express themselves, the brothers' decision to leave Motown came after a successful UK tour, where in England, the brothers had a bigger fanbase than in America where a re-release of "This Old Heart" had reached number three on their pop singles chart. Similar success came with two more singles from their Motown catalogue that were hits well after their Motown departure. After Motown founder Berry Gordy allowed the brothers to leave, the Isleys reactivated their own label, T-Neck Records, which they had originally started a few years prior to their Motown signing. Signing with Buddah Records, the Isleys recorded "It's Your Thing" after Ronald came home after taking his daughter Tawana to school. The lead singer said that he thought of the melody and some of the lyrics in his head. His older brothers O'Kelly and Rudolph helped compose more lyrics to the song.

Release and reaction

Recorded in two takes and featuring the first appearance of seventeen-year-old Ernie on bass, the song made its chart debut on March 15, 1969 and quickly rose to the top of both the Billboard pop and R&B singles charts peaking at #2 on the former and marking their first #1 hit in the latter. Upon the song's release and ascend to success, Gordy threatened to sue the group for releasing it in an attempt to bring them back to Motown, eventually Gordy dropped his suit and in February 1970, the brothers became the first former Motown act to win a Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group.

Cover versions and legacy

Over sixty artists each recorded their own version of the song including a not yet established Jackson Five, who first performed the song at their television debut on the Miss Black America Pageant, and later recorded it for their ABC album. Another version was recorded by Memphis soul singer Ann Peebles. The song also has been heavily sampled by hip-hop acts, most famously by Salt 'N' Pepa, who sampled it for their go-go single, "Shake Your Thing", in 1988 and like many of their earlier singles, the song has been featured in commercials. The song has been credited for being one of the first full-fledged funk songs around the same time artists like James Brown and Sly & the Family Stone came to the scene with their own anthems.

Credits

• Lead vocals by Ronald Isley
• Background vocals by O'Kelly Isley, Jr. and Rudolph Isley
• Written, arranged and composed by Ronald Isley, O'Kelly Isley, Jr. and Rudolph Isley
• Produced by The Isley Brothers
• Bass by Ernie Isley
• Guitar by Charles "Skip" Pitts
• Piano by Everett Collins