Composition
Primarily a funk and soul outing, The Heat Is On features elements of quiet storm and rock. The latter musical style is mostly provided by the Jimi Hendrix-influenced guitar of Ernie Isley. The album is part of a succession of slickly-produced, successful soul records issued by the Isley Brothers during the 1970s that were divided between startlingly tough funk songs and subdued romantic ballads. This musical formula for the album serves as a development of the group's transitional sound last featured on their landmark tenth album, 3 + 3 (1973).
The Heat Is On is notable for its two radio singles, the album's angry funk opener "Fight the Power (Part 1 & 2)" and the melodic soul ballad "For the Love of You (Part 1 & 2)". One critic cited the former song as the Isley Brothers' "most overtly political tune to date". According to writer Colin Larkin, the album's contrasting sides, with one side comprising uptempo funk and the other comprising a suite of smooth soul, represent "the pinnacle of both genres". Side one's closer, "Hope You Feel Better Love (Part 1 & 2)", contrasts both of the styles, as it contains melodic verses and a forceful chorus. Songs from The Heat Is On, including "Fight the Power" and "For the Love of You", were sampled extensively by the following generation of hip hop artists, including Slick Rick, Common, and Masta Ace.
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