Choosey Lover Explained

"Choosey Lover" is a 1983 soul song by The Isley Brothers (Originally titled "Juicy Lover").

Background

Released on their T-Neck imprint, the song was their second consecutive top ten R&B hit after their seminal "Between the Sheets" hit No. 3 on that chart. It was the second of two chart-topping singles the Isleys released off their aptly titled Between the Sheets album. The song has similarities to the Earth, Wind & Fire song "Devotion".

"Choosey Lover" was also the last charting single to feature the 3 + 3 lineup of the band. A year later, younger brothers Ernie Isley (who played the memorable guitar solos on the song and co-wrote the lyrics), Marvin Isley and their brother-in-law Chris Jasper left to form Isley-Jasper-Isley while older brothers Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley and O'Kelly Isley continued on under the "Isley Brothers" name.

Personnel

• Ronald Isley – lead vocals, background vocals
• Ernie Isley – guitar, drum machine programming, background vocals
• Marvin Isley – bass guitar, background vocals
• Chris Jasper – keyboards, piano, synthesizers, background vocals
• Rudolph Isley – background vocals
• O'Kelly Isley, Jr. – background vocals
• Produced, written, arranged and composed by The Isley Brothers and Chris Jasper

Charts

Chart performance for "Choosey Lover"!Chart (1983) !Peak
position

US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs[2] [3]	6

Cover versions

• The song was covered by R&B singer Aaliyah as "Choosey Lover (Old School/New School)" on her 1996 album One in a Million,^[4] with the "Old School" section very closely resembling the original before transitioning into the "New School" section, which features more of a hip hop beat and feel to match the contemporary feel of the rest of the album.

Samples

• The song was sampled and redone to make "Buddah Lovaz", a song dedicated to marijuana, by Bone Thugs-n-Harmony
• It was sampled as the remix to "Street Dreams" by Nas featuring R. Kelly.
• The song also has elements which have been used in Keith Sweat's "Nobody" and his 2002 single, One on One.

External links

• Choosey Lover - List of Releases at Discogs

Notes and References

1. Web site: www.allmusic.com. allmusic.com. February 18, 2024.
2. Web site: The Isley Brothers Songs ••• Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts. May 1, 2020.
3. Web site: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart - August 1983. billboard.com. May 1, 2020.
4. Web site: www.discogs.com. discogs.com. February 18, 2024.