On this day March 14 1987 The Isley Brothers released their twenty-fourth studio album Smooth Sailin’. The album continued their signature mix of soulful ballads and funk-driven grooves while embracing a more contemporary 80s R&B sound.
Smooth Sailin’ peaked at number 64 on the Billboard charts but performed much better on the R&B charts where it reached number five. The title track Smooth Sailin’ Tonight became a standout hit helping the album maintain the group’s status as one of R&B’s most enduring acts.
80s insight: Smooth Sailin’ was the first Isley Brothers album released as a duo featuring only Ronald and Rudolph Isley following the departure of the other original members.
Smooth Sailin’ peaked at number 64 on the Billboard charts but performed much better on the R&B charts where it reached number five. The title track Smooth Sailin’ Tonight became a standout hit helping the album maintain the group’s status as one of R&B’s most enduring acts.
80s insight: Smooth Sailin’ was the first Isley Brothers album released as a duo featuring only Ronald and Rudolph Isley following the departure of the other original members.
