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Smooth Sailin'
Studio album by the Isley Brothers
Released	1987
Recorded	1986–1987
Studio	Conway (Hollywood, California) Ocean Way (Los Angeles, California) Westlake (Los Angeles, California)
Genre	R&B
Length	41:23
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley, Angela Winbush
The Isley Brothers chronology
Masterpiece (1985) Smooth Sailin' (1987) Spend the Night (1989)

Smooth Sailin' is an album by the American musical group the Isley Brothers, released in 1987 on Warner Bros. Records. It was the first album that the group released as a duo of Rudolph and Ronald after the untimely death of eldest brother O'Kelly, who died in 1986 due to occlusive coronary artery disease. Hooking up with R&B singer-songwriter Angela Winbush, the Isleys scored with the top 10 R&B title track and "I Wish", also an R&B top 40 hit.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Rolling Stone Album Guide

The Los Angeles Times wrote that the album is close "to the old Isley style-slow, sensuous R&B."

Track listing

Personnel

The Isley Brothers

• Ronald Isley – lead & background vocals
• Rudolph Isley – lead & background vocals

with

• Tony Maiden – guitar (tracks 1–6)
• Angela Winbush – keyboards (tracks 2–8), Moog synthesizer (track 7); bass synthesizer (tracks 1, 2), drum machine (track 5), additional background vocals (tracks 2, 3, 7)
• Jeff Lorber – additional synthesizers (tracks 1, 3–6)
• Raymond Reeder – synthesizer (tracks 7); string line guitar synthesizer & drum machine (track 8)
• Nathan East – bass (tracks 1, 3–6)
• Louis Johnson – bass (track 2)
• Gregory Phillinganes – bass synthesizer (track 2)
• Rayford Griffin – drums (tracks 1, 2, 6)
• Andre Fischer – drums (tracks 4, 7)
• Paulinho da Costa – percussion (tracks 1–3, 5)

Technical personnel & arrangements

• Produced by Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley & Angela Winbush
• Recorded & mixed by Steve Sykes
• Additional engineer (Conway Studios): Czaba Petocz
• Assistant engineer (Ocean Way Recording): Bob Loftus, Joe Schiff, Mike Ross
• Assistant engineer (Westlake Studios): Debbie Johnson
• Mastered by Brian Gardner
• Art direction & design by Janet Levinson
• Photography by Jeff Katz

Charts

References

1. Oermann, Robert K. (December 31, 1987). "I'm looking over the albums that shook my soul in 1987". USA Today.
2. ^ Tucker, Ken (21 June 1987). "Isleys: Still in Harmony". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. K9.
3. Wynn, Ron. "The Isley Brothers - Smooth Sailin' (1987) album review, credits & releases". AllMusic. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
4. The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 346.
5. Hunt, Dennis (3 July 1987). "Isley Brothers' 'Sailin'' Back on Charts". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 21.
6. "The Isley Brothers Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
7. "The Isley Brothers Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
8. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1987". Billboard. Retrieved January 14, 2021.

External links

• The Isley Brothers - Smooth Sailin' (1987) album releases & credits at Discogs

• The Isley Brothers albums
• 1987 albums
• Warner Records albums
• Albums produced by Ronald Isley
• Albums produced by Angela Winbush