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Winner Takes All | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | August 21, 1979 | |||
Recorded | 1979 | |||
Studio | Bearsville Studios, Bearsville, New York | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 72:28 | |||
Label | T-Neck Records | |||
Producer | The Isley Brothers | |||
The Isley Brothers chronology | ||||
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Singles from Winner Takes It All | ||||
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Winner Takes All is a studio album by the Isley Brothers, released on T-Neck Records on August 21, 1979. It was their first and only double album. The album included the number-one R&B hit, " I Wanna Be With You" and the top 20 UK disco hit, " It's a Disco Night (Rock Don't Stop)".
The album was remastered and expanded for inclusion in the 2015 released CD box set The RCA Victor & T-Neck Album Masters, 1959-1983.
The album continued the brothers' trademark of mixing uptempo funk numbers with softer soul balladry. However, their sound now included elements of disco. While some of their music had pioneered the genre, Winner Takes All was the first album to embrace disco rhythms.
The disco element helped songs such as "I Wanna Be With You" and "It's a Disco Night (Rock Don't Stop)" become hits. However, the band didn't release any ballads from the album, making it one of the few times since 1973 that they not released a ballad as a single. However, ballads like "You're Beside Me" and "How Lucky I Am" still received airplay on quiet storm radio formats.
The album was successful enough on both the pop and R&B album charts where it reached #14 and #3 respectively and eventually went gold after selling past 500,000 copies.
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
Christgau's Record Guide | C+ [2] |
Smash Hits | mixed [3] |
The Bay State Banner wrote that "every song is done in the characteristic two-part formula, with high energy levels and the familiar funk-rock synthesis." [4]
Unless otherwise noted, Information is based on Liner notes [5]
All tracks are written by Ernie Isley, Marvin Isley, Chris Jasper, Rudolph Isley, O'Kelly Isley and Ronald Isley
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | " I Wanna Be with You (Parts 1 & 2)" | 6:20 |
2. | "Liquid Love (Parts 1 & 2)" | 5:17 |
3. | "Winner Takes All" | 4:18 |
No. | Title | Length |
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4. | "Life in the City (Parts 1 & 2)" | 7:55 |
5. | " It's a Disco Night (Rock Don't Stop) (Parts 1 & 2)" | 5:13 |
6. | "(Can't You See) What You Do to Me?" | 4:09 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Let's Fall in Love (Parts 1 & 2)" | 4:39 |
2. | "How Lucky I Am (Parts 1 & 2)" | 5:38 |
3. | "You're the Key to My Heart" | 3:26 |
4. | "You're Beside Me (Parts 1 & 2)" | 5:32 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
5. | "Let Me into Your Life (Parts 1 & 2)" | 5:10 |
6. | "Love Comes and Goes (Parts 1 & 2)" | 5:07 |
7. | "Go for What You Know" | 3:24 |
8. | "Mind Over Matter (Parts 1 & 2)" | 6:00 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "It's a Disco Night (Rock Don't Stop)" (12" Disco Version) | 8:44 |
Chart (1979) | Peak position |
---|---|
Billboard Pop Albums [6] | 14 |
Billboard Top Soul Albums [6] | 3 |
Year | Single | Chart positions [7] | |
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US Pop |
US R&B | ||
1979 | "I Wanna Be With You" | - | 1 |
"It's A Disco Night (Rock Don't Stop)" | 90 | 27 |