Givin' It Back

Givin' It Back is the ninth album released by The Isley Brothers on their T-Neck imprint on September 25, 1971. After years of having white rock acts covering their most famed material, particularly, "Shout" (1959) and "Twist and Shout" (1961), the Isleys decided to do the same to music made famous by white artists such as Stephen Stills, Eric Burdon and Neil Young. Among the songs they covered were "Spill the Wine", "Love the One You're With", the social commentary medley of "Ohio" and "Machine Gun" (from Jimi Hendrix), "Fire and Rain" by James Taylor and Bob Dylan's "Lay Lady Lay". The Isleys' perseverance paid off when their covers of "Love the One You're With", "Lay Lady Lay" and "Spill the Wine" became charted hits. Bill Withers plays guitar on the Isleys' version of his "Cold Bologna".

The album was remastered and expanded for inclusion in the 2015 released 23CD box set The RCA Victor & T-Neck Album Masters (1959–1983).

Trivia
The only other recording of "Cold Bologna" is found on the 1973 Bill Withers live album, Live at Carnegie Hall as "Harlem/Cold Baloney".

Personnel

 * Ronald Isley – lead and backing vocals
 * O'Kelly Isley Jr. and Rudolph Isley – backing vocals
 * Ernie Isley – lead guitar (1-5, 7), rhythm guitar, drums
 * Marvin Isley – bass guitar
 * Chris Jasper – piano
 * Chester Woodard – lead guitar (1-5, 7), rhythm guitar
 * Bill Withers – lead guitar (6)
 * Milton Westley – organ
 * John Mosley – flute
 * George Moreland – drums, percussion
 * Gary Jones – congas (1-6)
 * Buck Clarke – congas (7)


 * Technical & arrangements
 * Produced by Ronald Isley & Rudolph Isley
 * Hal Wilson – photography
 * George Patterson – musical arrangements
 * The Isley Brothers – musical arrangements