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3 + 3

 

  • Artist: The Isley Brothers
  • Rating: StarStarStarStarStar
  • Release Date: 1973
  • Total Time: 38:55
  • Genre: Rhythm & Blues

Review

Recorded in 1973, 3 + 3 was a major turning point for the Isley Brothers. With this album, the Isleys moved their T-Neck label from Buddah to Epic/CBS (which became Epic/Sony in the early '90s), and it was at Epic that they unveiled their new lineup. Lead singer Ronald Isley and his siblings O'Kelly and Rudolph remained, but the Isleys became a sextet instead of a trio when cousin Chris Jasper and younger brothers Ernie and Marvin were added. This new lineup was called 3 + 3, and the addition of Jasper on keyboards, Ernie on guitar, and Marvin on bass added exciting new elements to the Isleys' sound. One of finest R&B bassists of the 1970s, the ever-so-funky Marvin is in a class with heavyweights like Larry Graham and Louis Johnson -- and Ernie is a stunning guitarist who is heavily influenced by Jimi Hendrix but has a distinctive style of his own. The Isleys had always been lovers of rock, but with the addition of Ernie, their sound became even more overtly rock-influenced. Nonetheless, the rock and pop elements didn't alienate R&B audiences, which ate this album up. The single "That Lady" (which is based on an Impressions-like gem they had recorded in 1964) was a major hit, and the Isleys are equally captivating on soul interpretations of Seals & Crofts' "Summer Breeze," James Taylor's "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight," and the Doobie Brothers' "Listen to the Music." With this superb album, the Isley Brothers sounded better than ever -- and they gained a lot of new fans without sacrificing the old ones. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
That Lady, Pts. 1 & 2 (Lyrics) Ernie Isley, Chris Jasper, Marvin Isley, O'Kelly Isley, Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley The Isley Brothers (5:34)
Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight James Taylor The Isley Brothers (4:02)
If You Were There (Lyrics) Ernie Isley, Chris Jasper, Marvin Isley, O'Kelly Isley, Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley The Isley Brothers (3:23)
You Walk Your Way Ernie Isley, Chris Jasper, Marvin Isley, O'Kelly Isley, Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley The Isley Brothers (3:05)
Listen to the Music Tom Johnston The Isley Brothers (4:05)
What It Comes Down To (Lyrics) Ernie Isley, Chris Jasper, Marvin Isley, O'Kelly Isley, Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley The Isley Brothers (3:54)
Sunshine (Go Away Today) J. Edwards The Isley Brothers (4:22)
Summer Breeze (Lyrics) Dash Crofts, James Seals The Isley Brothers (6:13)
The Highways of My Life Ernie Isley, Chris Jasper, Marvin Isley, O'Kelly Isley, Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley The Isley Brothers (4:17)

Credits

The Isley Brothers (Main Performer), Ernie Isley (Guitar (Acoustic)), Ernie Isley (Guitar), Ernie Isley (Drums), Ernie Isley (Guitar (Electric)), Ernie Isley (Maracas), Ernie Isley (Tom-Tom), Ernie Isley (Guitar (12 String)), Chris Jasper (Piano), Chris Jasper (Keyboards), Chris Jasper (Piano (Electric)), Chris Jasper (Tambourine), Chris Jasper (Clavinet), Chris Jasper (Moog Synthesizer), Steven Berkowitz (A&R), Malcolm Cecil (Engineer), Rocky Dzidzornu (Conductor), Kelly Isley (Vocals), Marvin Isley (Bass), O'Kelly Isley (Producer), Ronald Isley (Vocals), Ronald Isley (Producer), Rudolph Isley (Vocals), Rudolph Isley (Producer), Ed Lee (Cover Design), George Moreland (Drums), George Morland (Drums), George Morland (Tom-Tom), Truman Thomas (Organ), Truman Thomas (Keyboards), Leo Sacks (Reissue Producer), Robert Wolf (Author), Al Quaglieri (Surround Mix), Chris Hasper (Piano), Chris Hasper (Piano (Electric)), Chris Hasper (Tambourine), Chris Hasper (Clavinet), Chris Hasper (Moog Synthesizer), Bob Margoleff (Engineer), Don Hunstein (Photography), Darcy Proper (Mastering)
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Wikipedia: 3 + 3
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3 + 3
Studio album by The Isley Brothers
Released August 1973
Recorded The Record Plant, Los Angeles, California, 1973
Genre Funk/soul/rock
Length 38:55
Label T-Neck/Epic Records
Producer Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley
Professional reviews
The Isley Brothers chronology
Brother, Brother, Brother
(1972)
3 + 3
(1973)
The Isleys Live
(1973)

3 + 3 is a 1973 album released by The Isley Brothers for the Epic label under their T-Neck imprint. Their first album for the label after several years in Buddah Records, it was also the first time the family group, which had consisted of founding members O'Kelly Isley, Jr., Rudolph Isley and Ronald Isley, included six members instead of the standard three. Although they had performed on Isley Brothers albums since 1969's It's Our Thing, this was the first album where younger brothers Ernie and Marvin and in-law Chris Jasper were now known as Isley Brothers members starting a period where the brothers would only be part of the musical and production department. The success of the album is contributed to their first Top 10 pop record since "It's Your Thing", with their own cover of the self-penned "Who's That Lady", now re-titled "That Lady, Pt. 1 & 2". Other hit singles included the top five R&B single, "What It Comes Down To", and their cover of Seals & Crofts' folk hit, "Summer Breeze", which was also a top ten R&B single. The album became their first platinum album.

Contents

Track listing

All songs composed and arranged by The Isley Brothers; except where indicated

  1. "That Lady, Pt. 1 & 2"
  2. "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" (James Taylor)
  3. "If You Were There"
  4. "You Walk Your Way"
  5. "Listen to the Music" (Tom Johnston)
  6. "What It Comes Down To"
  7. "Sunshine (Go Away Today)" (Jonathan Edwards)
  8. "Summer Breeze" (Seals & Crofts)
  9. "The Highways Of My Life"
  10. "That Lady, Pt. 1 & 2" (Bonus Track: previously unreleased live recording on 2003 remaster.)

Trivia

  • The Isley Brothers recorded 3+3 in the Record Plant at the same time as Stevie Wonder was recording Innervisions. In fact they walked in on him recording 'Don't You Worry Bout a Thing'. Both Chris Jasper of the Isley Brothers and Stevie Wonder were users of the Moog Synthesiser and both worked with visionary engineers Robert Margouleff and Malcolm Cecil.
  • In addition to a Stereo record release, this album was mixed in Quadraphonic and released in 1974 on SQ record: T-NECK PZQ - 32453. It was also released on SACD 12/04/2001. Label: Sony, Catalog No.: 32453, UPC: 074643245364.
  • The song "The Highways Of My Life" is notoriously know for its piano intro played by Chris Jasper. The intro has been sampled a number of times like Fantasia's song "Truth Is" and Children Of The Corn's producer Lil' Grimm has used it on "Devil Shit", "Grab My Mask" and "Witch Way Do I Go".

Personnel

Charts

Album

Year Chart Position
1973 Billboard Black Albums 2
1973 Billboard Pop Albums 8

Singles

Year Single Chart Position
1973 "That Lady (Part 1)" Billboard Black Singles 2
1973 "That Lady (Part 1)" Billboard Pop Singles 6
1973 "What It Comes Down To" Billboard Black Singles 5
1973 "What It Comes Down To" Billboard Pop Singles 55
1974 "Summer Breeze (Part 1)" Billboard Black Singles 10
1974 "Summer Breeze (Part 1)" Billboard Pop Singles 60

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Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
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