3 + 3 is the eleventh album released by the Isley Brothers for the Epic label under their T-Neck imprint on August 7, 1973. In 2020, the album was ranked at 464 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list.[6]
| 3 + 3 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 7, 1973 | |||
| Recorded | 1973 | |||
| Studio | The Record Plant, Los Angeles | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 38:55 | |||
| Label | T-Neck/Epic Records | |||
| Producer | Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley, O'Kelly Isley Jr. | |||
| The Isley Brothers chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |  [3] |
| Christgau's Record Guide | B+[4] |
| Pitchfork | 9.1/10[5] |
Background
editThe Isley Brothers first album for the label after several years on Buddah Records, it was also the first time the family group, which had contained 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 (1972) 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" (1969), 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" (1972), 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 (1973). 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 23-CD box set The RCA Victor & T-Neck Album Masters (1959–1983).[7]
Reception
editThe album was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die [8] and is listed number 992 in All-Time Top 1000 Albums (3rd. edition, 2000).[9] In 2020, the album was ranked at 464 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list.[6]
Track listing
editUnless otherwise noted, Information taken from AllMusic[3] and based on album liner notes.[10]
All tracks are written by The Isley Brothers, except where noted
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "That Lady" | 5:35 | |
| 2. | "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" | James Taylor | 4:00 |
| 3. | "If You Were There" | 3:22 | |
| 4. | "You Walk Your Way" | 3:08 | |
| 5. | "Listen to the Music" | Tom Johnston | 4:07 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6. | "What It Comes Down To" | 3:54 | |
| 7. | "Sunshine (Go Away Today)" | Jonathan Edwards | 4:23 |
| 8. | "Summer Breeze" | Jim Seals, Dash Crofts | 6:12 |
| 9. | "The Highways of My Life" | 4:17 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 10. | "That Lady" (Recorded Live) | 4:15 |
Personnel
editThe Isley Brothers
edit- Ronald Isley – lead vocals, background vocals
- Rudolph Isley – background vocals
- O'Kelly Isley Jr. – background vocals
- Ernie Isley – background vocals (1,[11] 6,[12] 8)[13], maracas (6), tom-toms (6), acoustic guitar, electric guitar, 12-string guitar
- Marvin Isley – background vocals (1,[11] 6,[12] 8)[13], bass guitar
- Chris Jasper – background vocals (1,[11] 6,[12] 8)[13], Hohner clavinet (3, 5–7), Moog synthesizer (8–9), ARP synthesizer, acoustic piano, electric piano, tambourine
Guest musicians
edit- George Moreland – drums, tom-toms (6)
- Truman Thomas – organ (1, 3–6)
- Rocky – congas (1)
Production and design
edit- Produced by Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley & O'Kelly Isley Jr.
- Malcolm Cecil, Robert Margouleff – recording engineers
- Ed Lee – cover design
- Don Hunstein – photography
Charts
editWeekly charts
edit| Year | Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | US Billboard Black Albums | 2 |
| US Billboard Pop Albums | 8 |
Singles
edit| 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
edit- ^ a b Staff (April 16, 2015). "10 Essential Psychedelic Soul Albums". Treble. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
- ^ Martin, Bill (1998), Listening to the Future: The Time of Progressive Rock, Chicago: Open Court, p. 216, ISBN 0-8126-9368-X
- ^ a b Henderson, Alex. "The Isley Brothers - 3 + 3 (1973) album review, credits & releases". AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-08-14.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: I". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved February 27, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (September 11, 2015). "The Isley Brothers: The RCA Victor and T-Neck Album Masters". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- ^ a b "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. 2020-09-22. Retrieved 2020-09-22.
- ^ The Isley Brothers - The RCA Victor & T-Neck Album Masters, 1959-1983 (2015) 23CD Box Set review by Andy Kellman, credits & releases at AllMusic
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Rocklist". Retrieved July 22, 2018.
- ^ Isley Brothers. "3 + 3". T-Neck / Epic. 1973.
- ^ a b c 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
- ^ a b c The Isley Brothers. "What It Comes Down To". YouTube: Isley Brothers – Topic. 8 February 2017. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vBek7ExBqHE
- ^ a b c The Isley Brothers. "Summer Breeze Pts 1 & 2". YouTube: The Isley Brothers – Topic. 9 February 2017. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=w3o6ECdCZ7Q