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For the Love of You

"For the Love of You" (sometimes titled "For the Love of You (Part 1 & 2)") is a song recorded by the Isley Brothers, who released the song as the second single off their 1975 album, The Heat Is On. The record showcased the two sides of the act, with the album's first single "Fight the Power" reflecting a fast-paced funk vibe while showcasing a ballad side on the latter. The song later became a crossover hit for the brothers.

Not to be confused with For the Love of You (Earth, Wind & Fire song).

"For the Love of You"

September 22, 1975

1975

Kendun Recorders, Burbank, California

Smooth soul

  • 5:38 (album version)
  • 4:44 (7" edit)

T-Neck/Epic

  • Ernie Isley
  • Marvin Isley
  • Rudolph Isley
  • O'Kelly Isley
  • Ronald Isley
  • Chris Jasper

The Isley Brothers

Release[edit]

"For the Love of You" was released in September 1975, after the success of its predecessor, "Fight the Power", had started to dwindle, leading to a drop of the charts. "For the Love of You" nearly repeated the success of its predecessor, reaching #22 on the Billboard Hot 100, giving the brothers the rarity of having two top 40 singles off one album as opposed to one every album, marking it as the first time that had happened since the 1972 album, Brother, Brother, Brother, where two top 40 singles emerged from that album ("Work to Do" and "Pop That Thang"). The song peaked at #10 on Billboard's R&B chart.


The song's success was contributed to the album's sequencing in which the harder, funk and rock-oriented first three tracks were placed on side one, while the more melodic, sensual soul ballads were placed on side two. As a result of the success of "For the Love of You", R&B radio began playing the album's other two ballads regularly – "Sensuality" and the album's swan song, "Make Me Say It Again, Girl". Since then, all three of the songs from the album's second side continued to get play on quiet storm radio playlists.

In 1976, South African flugelhornist covered the song for his eighteenth studio album, Colonial Man.

Hugh Masekela

In 1987, covered the song on her second studio album, Whitney. The song features as the B-side on the third single "So Emotional", released on November 12, 1987. Her cover version earned a nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 1988 Grammy Awards.

Whitney Houston

In 1994, Jazz musician covered the song, which appeared on his album, After the Storm.

Norman Brown

In 1997, saxophonist covered the song on her third album, which also used the song's title.

Candy Dulfer

In 1999, Filipina singer (with Gabby Eigenmann and KC Montero) covered the song on her tenth studio album, R2K.

Regine Velasquez

In 2002, the British group Hil St. Soul covered the song on their album Copasetik & Cool.

In 2004, (with background vocal group the Perry Sisters) covered the song in a medley with "The Love I Lost" by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes for her album, Lazy Afternoon.[1]

Regina Belle

: lead vocals

Ronald Isley

: background vocals

O'Kelly Isley, Jr.

: background vocals

Rudolph Isley

: six-string & twelve-string acoustic guitars, drums, background vocals

Ernie Isley

: bass guitar, background vocals

Marvin Isley

: electric piano, ARP synthesizer, background vocals

Chris Jasper

Produced, written, arranged and composed by the Isley Brothers

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.[9]