Eternal is a studio album by American soul group The Isley Brothers. It was released by DreamWorks Records on August 7, 2001 in the United States. Now popular again with audiences, almost single-handledly for Ronald Isley's "Mr. Biggs" persona, Eternal included production from not only R. Kelly who gave the Isleys their biggest hit as leading artists in over two decades with "Contagious" but also from Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Raphael Saadiq and Ronald's wife at the time, Angela Winbush.
Based on the success of lead single "Contagious", Eternal peaked at number 3 on the US Billboard 200 chart, while also topping at number 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, eventually going Platinum. The first album the Isleys released as a duo in over a decade (the first as Ronald and Ernie), Marvin Isley left the group after suffering a bout with diabetes, which later caused both of his legs to be amputated), Ernie Isley also showcase his talents as a guitarist in songs like "Move Your Body" and the aptly titled "Ernie's Jam" while Ronald was still as vocally strong on this album as he had been throughout the Isley Brothers' legendary catalogue.
Blender critic Dan Epstein wrote: "For this album, the two bring in friends R. Kelly, Angela Winbush, Jill Scott, Lucy PearlâÂÂs Raphael Saadiq, and producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis â with lively results [...] The oldest hit machine in R&B still has it. AllMusic editor Liana Jonas found that while "there is nothing groundbreaking on this recording, the longtime R&B legends prove they're still very much worth their salt and can keep up very well with the Joneses. Indeed, the Isley Brothers are eternal."
Tamara Harris, writing for The Detroit Metro Times, concluded: "A hardworking track record of solid sounds and everything needed to call all fans of rhythmic blues is here; that is why they call this CD Eternal." PopMatters editor Mark Anthony Neal found that it "is understandable that Eternal often lapses into contemporary black pop drivel. Perhaps it is a tribute to Ronald Isley that he can do so when others of his generation have long moved on the senior Circuit. Despite some shortcomings, Eternal is a fitting testament to the longevity of [the] group."
Eternal debuted and peaked at number 3 on the Billboard 200 chart for the week of August 25, 2001 with first week sales of 225,500 copies, becoming the Isley Brothers' highest-charting project since their 1975 number one album The Heat Is On. It was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on September 10, 2001. By May 2003, the album had sold 1.2 million in the US, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
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