"Lay Away" is a 1972 funk-rock

Rock music

Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...

 single released by The Isley Brothers

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. Released as the first record off their Brother, Brother, Brother

Brother, Brother, Brother

Brother, Brother, Brother is a 1972 rock album released by The Isley Brothers on their T-Neck imprint. It was to be the Isleys' last studio record with Buddah Records moving on to Epic in the middle of 1973...

album, the song depicted the narrator's description of how his lover's love was so special that he wanted to have for keeps just in case (hence the lyrics going back to get (your love) on a rainy day/your love is safe in my lay-away). The song took the riff of Honey Cone

Honey Cone

Honey Cone was an American R&B and soul all girl vocal group, who are best remembered for their Billboard #1 hit single, "Want Ads". They were the premier female group for Hot Wax Records, operated by Holland–Dozier–Holland after they had departed from Motown Records.-Career:Honey Cone comprised...

's "Want Ads

Want Ads

"Want Ads" was a R&B/Soul/Funk song recorded by Honey Cone for their third album Sweet Replies and also appears on their fourth album Soulful Tapestry...

" especially in the bridges. The song was significant for showcasing brother Ernie

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...

 on lead guitar for the first time on an Isley Brothers record. Written and produced by elder brothers 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:...

, the song charted at number fifty-four pop and number six R&B in the spring of 1972.

Credits

• Lead vocals by Ronald Isley
  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:...
  
  
• Background vocals by 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 Isley
  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:...
  
  
• Instrumentation by the Isley Brothers:
  • 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...
    
    : guitar
    Guitar
    The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
    
    s
  • 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...
    
    : piano
    Piano
    The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
    
    
  • Marvin Isley
    Marvin Isley
    Marvin Isley was the youngest member of the family music group the Isley Brothers and its bass guitarist....
    
    : bass guitar
    Bass guitar
    The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
    
    
• Other instrumentation by assorted musicians