3 + 3

3 + 3
Studio album by The Isley Brothers
Released August 7, 1973
Recorded 1973
Studio The Record Plant, Los Angeles, California
Genre Funk, soul, rock
Length 38:55
Label T-Neck/Epic Records
Producer Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley, O'Kelly Isley Jr.
The Isley Brothers chronology
Isleys' Greatest Hits
(1973)		 3 + 3
(1973)		 Live It Up
(1974)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Robert ChristgauB+[2]

3 + 3 is the eleventh album released by The Isley Brothers for the Epic label under their T-Neck imprint in August 7, 1973.

Background

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, officially included six members instead of the standard three. Following the recording and release of Brother, Brother, Brother the previous year, this was the first album to officially include younger brothers Ernie and Marvin and in-law Chris Jasper, even though all three had played on the previous several albums. The success of the album is attributed 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.

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 ARP synthesizer 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 Super Audio CD on December 4, 2001.

The album was remastered and expanded for inclusion in the 2015 released CD box set The RCA Victor & T-Neck Album Masters, 1959-1983.

Reception

The album was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die [3] and is listed number 992 in All-Time Top 1000 Albums (3rd. edition, 2000) [4].

Track listing

Unless otherwise noted, Information taken from Allmusic[1] and based on album liner notes.[5]

All tracks written by The Isley Brothers, except where noted.

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."That Lady" 5:35
2."Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight"James Taylor4:00
3."If You Were There" 3:22
4."You Walk Your Way" 3:08
5."Listen to the Music"Tom Johnston4:07
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."What It Comes Down To" 3:54
7."Sunshine (Go Away Today)"Jonathan Edwards4:23
8."Summer Breeze"Jim Seals, Dash Crofts6:12
9."The Highways of My Life" 4:17

Personnel

The Isley Brothers

  • Ronald Isley – record producer, lead vocals, background vocals
  • Rudolph Isley – record producer, background vocals
  • O'Kelly Isley Jr. – record producer, background vocals
  • Ernie Isley – background vocals (1,[6] 6,[7] 8)[8], maracas percussion (6), tom-toms percussion (6), acoustic guitar, electric guitar, 12-string guitar
  • Marvin Isley – background vocals (1,[6] 6,[7] 8)[8], bass guitar
  • Chris Jasper – background vocals (1,[6] 6,[7] 8)[8], clavinet keyboard (3, 5-7), Moog synthesizer (8-9), ARP synthesizer, acoustic piano, electric piano, tambourine

Guest musicians

  • George Moreland – drums (1-3, 5-7), tom-toms percussion (6)
  • Truman Thomas – organ played by (3-6)
  • Rocky – congas (1)

Production and design

Charts

Weekly charts

Year Chart Peak
position
1973 US Billboard Black Albums 2
US Billboard Pop Albums 8

Singles

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

References

  1. 1 2 Henderson, Alex. "The Isley Brothers – 3 + 3". AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-08-14.
  2. ↑ Christgau, Robert. "The Isley Brothers – 3 + 3". Robert Christgau. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  3. ↑ Robert Dimery; Michael Lydon (7 February 2006). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition. Universe. ISBN 0-7893-1371-5.
  4. ↑ "Rocklist". Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  5. ↑ Isley Brothers. "3 + 3". T-Neck / Epic. 1973.
  6. 1 2 3 The Isley Brothers. "That Lady (Pt. 1 & 2)". YouTube: The Isley Brothers – Topic. 6 November 2014. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IM499-Q_DlA
  7. 1 2 3 The Isley Brothers. "What It Comes Down To". YouTube: Isley Brothers – Topic. 8 February 2017. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vBek7ExBqHE
  8. 1 2 3 The Isley Brothers. "Summer Breeze Pts 1 & 2". YouTube: The Isley Brothers – Topic. 9 February 2017. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=w3o6ECdCZ7Q
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