How “At Your Best (You Are Love)” Has Stood The Test Of Time
From The Isley Brothers to Aaliyah to Frank Ocean.
August 19, 2016
Frank Ocean’s new visual album Endless opens with a song he originally shared with the world months ago: his soul-stirring cover of The Isley Brothers’ “At Your Best (You Are Love).” Frank’s version has undergone a lush transformation since he first posted it on Tumblr, now featuring synths by James Blake and string orchestration by Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood. The song, originally released in the 1970s and made super popular in the 1990s by Aaliyah, has a long and beloved history in the cultural canon. Here’s a quick recap.
1976: The Isley Brothers released “At Your Best (You Are Love).”
The Ohio trio and legendary songwriters originally dedicated the song to their mother, Sally.