Harvest for the World (song)

"Harvest for the World" is a 1976 single released by The Isley Brothers on their T-Neck imprint. It was from their 1976 album Harvest for the World. One of their socially conscious singles (about world peace), the song was originally lyrically composed by Ernie Isley, who also musically composed it with Marvin Isley and Chris Jasper, with additional lyrics and musical arrangements added by the three original members O'Kelly, Rudolph and Ronald. As on many Isley Brothers records, Ronald sung lead on the song while his older brothers O'Kelly and Rudolph usually backed him up. The song became a top ten R&B hit peaking at #9 and peaking at #63 on the US pop charts and was a bigger pop hit in England reaching #10 on the UK pop singles chart.

Cover versions

In the 1980s, supergroup "The Power Station" (consisting of John Taylor and Andy Taylor from Duran Duran, Robert Palmer, and Chic drummer Tony Thompson) released the song on their début album in 1985. The recording featured lead vocals by Andy Taylor and Robert Palmer.

English band The Christians released a hit cover of the song in 1988 that reached #8 in the UK, and three years later the song was performed by Jason Donovan and Kim Wilde on an anniversary show for Amnesty International.

Other cover versions were recorded by Vanessa L. Williams for her album Everlasting Love, and by Phats & Small. The song was also performed live by The Style Council.

The song has covered by Jewell for the soundtrack for to the Snoop Doggy Dogg film, Murder Was the Case.

Filipino singer Gary V also covered the song from his 2001 album, Revive.

Personnel

• Ronald Isley: lead vocals
• O'Kelly Isley, Jr. and Rudolph Isley: background vocals
• Ernie Isley: acoustic guitar and drums
• Marvin Isley: bass
• Chris Jasper: piano, keyboards, synthesizers
• Handclaps by The Isley Brothers
• Produced, written, arranged and composed by The Isley Brothers and Chris Jasper