3 + 3
Studio album by
the Isley Brothers
ReleasedAugust 7, 1973
Recorded1973
StudioThe Record Plant, Los Angeles
Genre
Length38:55
LabelT-Neck/Epic Records
ProducerRonald 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[3]
Christgau's Record GuideB+[4]
Pitchfork9.1/10[5]

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]

Background

Their first album for the label after several years on 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 (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

The 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

Unless 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

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
2003 reissue bonus track
No.TitleLength
10."That Lady" (Recorded Live)4:15

Personnel

The Isley Brothers

Guest musicians

  • George Moreland – drums (1-3, 5–7), tom-toms (6)
  • Truman Thomas – organ (1, 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 Staff (April 16, 2015). "10 Essential Psychedelic Soul Albums". Treble. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  2. ↑ Martin, Bill (1998), Listening to the Future: The Time of Progressive Rock, Chicago: Open Court, p. 216, ISBN 0-8126-9368-X
  3. 1 2 Henderson, Alex. "The Isley Brothers - 3 + 3 (1973) album review, credits & releases". AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-08-14.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (September 11, 2015). "The Isley Brothers: The RCA Victor and T-Neck Album Masters". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  6. 1 2 "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. 2020-09-22. Retrieved 2020-09-22.
  7. ↑ The Isley Brothers - The RCA Victor & T-Neck Album Masters, 1959-1983 (2015) 23CD Box Set review by Andy Kellman, credits & releases at AllMusic
  8. ↑ 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.
  9. ↑ "Rocklist". Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  10. ↑ Isley Brothers. "3 + 3". T-Neck / Epic. 1973.
  11. 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
  12. 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
  13. 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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