Harvest for the World (song)
Encyclopedia
"Harvest for the World" is a 1976 single released by The Isley Brothers
on their T-Neck
imprint. It was from their 1976 album Harvest for the World
. One of their socially conscious singles (about world peace), the song was originally lyrically composed by Ernie Isley
, who also musically composed it with Marvin Isley
and Chris Jasper
, with additional lyrics and musical arrangements added by the three original members O'Kelly
, Rudolph
and Ronald
. As on many Isley Brothers records, Ronald sung lead on the song while his older brothers O'Kelly and Rudolph usually backed him up. The song became a top ten R&B hit peaking at #9 and peaking at #63 on the US pop charts and was a bigger pop hit in England reaching #10 on the UK pop singles chart.
and British
singer Kim Wilde
on an anniversary show for Amnesty International
. Despite rumours that the track would be recorded and released as a single, it was not.
Other cover versions were recorded by [Vanessa L. Williams] for her album Everlasting Love, and by [Phats & Small]. Another version was recorded by [The Style Council] which was performed on a British TV programme in 1983 but has not been officially released.
The song has covered by Jewell
for the soundtrack for to the Snoop Doggy Dogg
film, Murder Was the Case
which was produced by Dr. Dre
in 1994.
Filipino singer Gary V. also covered the song from his 2001 album, Revive.
The Isley Brothers
The Isley Brothers are a highly influential, successful and long-running American music group consisting of different line-ups of six brothers, and a brother-in-law, Chris Jasper...
on their T-Neck
T-Neck Records
T-Neck Records was a record label founded by The Isley Brothers in 1964.It's notable for having the Isleys becoming the first R&B band to form a record label, a rarity in black music. During the label's early years, the Isleys issued the records "Testify" and "Move Over And Let Me Dance", which...
imprint. It was from their 1976 album Harvest for the World
Harvest for the World
Harvest for the World is a 1976 album released by The Isley Brothers on their T-Neck imprint.-Reception:The album included the successful socially-conscious title track and the top three R&B record, "Who Loves You Better?" The album sold over 500,000 copies in the first three weeks of release,...
. One of their socially conscious singles (about world peace), the song was originally lyrically composed by Ernie Isley
Ernie Isley
Ernest "Ernie" Isley is a member of the iconic American musical ensemble, The Isley Brothers.-Life and career:Ernie was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, where his older brothers formed The Isley Brothers, first as a gospel group, then as a secular-singing group. In 1960 his family moved to Englewood and...
, who also musically composed it with Marvin Isley
Marvin Isley
Marvin Isley was the youngest member of the family music group the Isley Brothers and its bass guitarist....
and Chris Jasper
Chris Jasper
Chris Jasper is a former member of both the Isley Brothers and Isley-Jasper-Isley. He is also a successful solo artist and record producer, recording a number of his own solo albums, and producing artists, for his New York based record label, Gold City Records...
, with additional lyrics and musical arrangements added by the three original members O'Kelly
O'Kelly Isley, Jr.
O'Kelly Isley, Jr. , better known as Kelly Isley, was an American singer and one of the founding members of the legendary family group, The Isley Brothers.-Biography:...
, Rudolph
Rudolph Isley
Rudolph Bernard Isley , better known as Rudy Isley, is an American singer-songwriter and is one of the founding members of the legendary family group, The Isley Brothers.-Biography:...
and Ronald
Ronald Isley
Ronald Isley is an American singer and is known as the lead singer and founding member of the family music group The Isley Brothers.-Career:...
. As on many Isley Brothers records, Ronald sung lead on the song while his older brothers O'Kelly and Rudolph usually backed him up. The song became a top ten R&B hit peaking at #9 and peaking at #63 on the US pop charts and was a bigger pop hit in England reaching #10 on the UK pop singles chart.
Cover versions
In the 1980's, supergroup "The Power Station", consisting of "Duran Duran" members John Taylor and Andy Taylor as well as English crooner Robert Palmer and drummer Tony Thompson from 70's disco band "CHIC", released the song on their debut album in 1985. Historically featuring the debut vocals of Andy Taylor alongside Robert Palmer's, gave a pop-rock flavor to "Harvest" which was an album favorite, though not a released single. English band The Christians released a hit cover of the song in 1988 that reached #8 in the UK, and three years later the song was performed by Australian singer Jason DonovanJason Donovan
Jason Donovan is an Australian actor and singer. He initially achieved fame in the Australian soap opera Neighbours, before beginning a career in music in 1988. In the UK he has sold over 3 million records, and his début album Ten Good Reasons was one of the highest-selling albums of 1989...
and British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
singer Kim Wilde
Kim Wilde
Kim Wilde is an English pop singer, author and television presenter who burst onto the music scene in 1981 with the number 2 UK Singles Chart new wave classic "Kids in America". In 1987 she had a major hit in the United States when her version of The Supremes' classic "You Keep Me Hangin' On"...
on an anniversary show for Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
. Despite rumours that the track would be recorded and released as a single, it was not.
Other cover versions were recorded by [Vanessa L. Williams] for her album Everlasting Love, and by [Phats & Small]. Another version was recorded by [The Style Council] which was performed on a British TV programme in 1983 but has not been officially released.
The song has covered by Jewell
Jewell (singer)
Jewell is a female R&B singer who was signed to Death Row Records from 1992-1996. She was working part-time - though still unsigned - for IV Life Records. She had a video and charting hit "Woman to Woman", that reached 72nd on the Billboard Hot 100...
for the soundtrack for to the Snoop Doggy Dogg
Snoop Dogg
Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school...
film, Murder Was the Case
Murder Was the Case
Murder Was the Case is a 1994 short film and soundtrack album starring Snoop Doggy Dogg. The 18 minute film was directed by Dr. Dre and Fab Five Freddy and chronicles the fictional death of Snoop Dogg and his resurrection after making a deal with the Devil...
which was produced by Dr. Dre
Dr. Dre
Andre Romelle Young , primarily known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, record executive, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and a former co-owner and artist of Death Row Records...
in 1994.
Filipino singer Gary V. also covered the song from his 2001 album, Revive.
Personnel
- Ronald IsleyRonald IsleyRonald Isley is an American singer and is known as the lead singer and founding member of the family music group The Isley Brothers.-Career:...
: lead vocals - O'Kelly Isley, Jr.O'Kelly Isley, Jr.O'Kelly Isley, Jr. , better known as Kelly Isley, was an American singer and one of the founding members of the legendary family group, The Isley Brothers.-Biography:...
and Rudolph IsleyRudolph IsleyRudolph Bernard Isley , better known as Rudy Isley, is an American singer-songwriter and is one of the founding members of the legendary family group, The Isley Brothers.-Biography:...
: background vocals - Ernie IsleyErnie IsleyErnest "Ernie" Isley is a member of the iconic American musical ensemble, The Isley Brothers.-Life and career:Ernie was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, where his older brothers formed The Isley Brothers, first as a gospel group, then as a secular-singing group. In 1960 his family moved to Englewood and...
: acoustic guitar and drums - Marvin IsleyMarvin IsleyMarvin Isley was the youngest member of the family music group the Isley Brothers and its bass guitarist....
: bass - Chris JasperChris JasperChris Jasper is a former member of both the Isley Brothers and Isley-Jasper-Isley. He is also a successful solo artist and record producer, recording a number of his own solo albums, and producing artists, for his New York based record label, Gold City Records...
: piano, keyboards, synthesizers - Handclaps by The Isley BrothersThe Isley BrothersThe Isley Brothers are a highly influential, successful and long-running American music group consisting of different line-ups of six brothers, and a brother-in-law, Chris Jasper...
- Produced, written, arranged and composed by The Isley BrothersThe Isley BrothersThe Isley Brothers are a highly influential, successful and long-running American music group consisting of different line-ups of six brothers, and a brother-in-law, Chris Jasper...
and Chris JasperChris JasperChris Jasper is a former member of both the Isley Brothers and Isley-Jasper-Isley. He is also a successful solo artist and record producer, recording a number of his own solo albums, and producing artists, for his New York based record label, Gold City Records...