Smooth Sailin' (The Isley Brothers album)
# Smooth Sailin' (The Isley Brothers album)

Smooth Sailin is the 24th album released by The Isley Brothers on Warner Bros. Records on March 14, 1987. This album was the first that the brothers released as a duo of Rudolph and Ronald after the untimely death of eldest brother O'Kelly, who had died in March of the previous year of a heart attack.

## Reception

Professional ratings :

| Review scores ||
| - | - |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |

Hooking up with R&B singer-songwriter Angela Winbush for this album, the Isleys scored with the top 10 R&B title track and "I Wish", also an R&B top 40 hit.

## 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
