1969 Classic, Ranked Among 'Best Funk Songs' of All Time, Remains a Timeless Anthem 57 Years Later
When you think of songs that undeniably make you want to tap your toe and bust a move, the 1969 classic, "It's Your Thing" by the Isley Brothers, is an absolute essential. The groovy track, released by vocal trio, brothers Ronald, Rudolph, and O'Kelley Isley, remains a timeless anthem nearly six decades later.
Part of the group's sixth studio album-aptly titled It's Our Thing, based on the circumstances and timing of the release-it climbed charts around the world and earned its place among Billboard's best funk songs of all time. The song became their first major success after leaving Motown and the debut single on their own independent label, T-Neck Records.
The famed music publication ranked the hit-which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 for one week starting May 3, 1969, and hit No. 1 on the Hot R&B chart-at No. 27 on its lineup of the 30 greatest era-defining funk tracks. Earth, Wind, and Fire‘s "Shining Star,"Lipps Inc.'s "Funkytown" and Stevie Wonder‘s "Superstition" also make appearances, among several others; Zapp‘s "More Bounce to the Ounce" was ranked No. 1.
Additionally, the song won the 1970 Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group.
Fifty-seven years later, it remains a popular dance staple. At the time of writing, it had gained over 124 million streams on Spotify and nearly three million views on YouTube.
The tune tells the story of being free to do something your own way. "In this song, Ronald Isley is letting a girl know that she is free to spread her love around, as long as he gets some of it too. 'It's Your Thing' was a popular saying at the time and wonderfully ambiguous, so it could have a sexual connotation or simply be about personal independence," according to Genius.
Meanwhile, the album, in its totality, was reportedly an artistic and commercial response to the group's former record label's restrictive nature, and themed around gaining their own independence in the industry after conflicts with Motown.
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This story was originally published June 10, 2026 at 4:49 PM.