3 + 3
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. [The 2003 reissue of 3 + 3 boasts remastered sound, new liner notes by David Ritz that draw from new interviews with Marvin and Jasper and the inclusion of one bonus track: a previously unreleased live version of "That Lady" recorded in 1980.] ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
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Credits »
The Isley Brothers - Main Performer
Ernie Isley - Arranger
Ernie Isley - Producer
Chris Jasper - Arranger
Chris Jasper - Producer
Chris Jasper - Quotes Researched & Compiled
Stephen Moore - Project Director
Steven Berkowitz - A&R
Malcolm Cecil - Engineer
John Holbrook - Engineer
Marvin Isley - Arranger
Marvin Isley - Producer
Marvin Isley - Reissue Producer
Marvin Isley - Quotes Researched & Compiled
O'Kelly Isley - Arranger
O'Kelly Isley - Producer
Ronald Isley - Arranger
Ronald Isley - Producer
Rudolph Isley - Arranger
Rudolph Isley - Producer
Joseph M. Palmaccio - Mastering
Stevie Wonder - Quotes Researched & Compiled
David Ritz - Liner Notes
Leo Sacks - Reissue Producer
Bob Margoleff - Engineer
Don Hunstein - Photography
Howard Fritzson - Art Direction
Tim Morse - Design
Patti Matheny - Artist Coordination
Darren Salmieri - Artist Coordination
Fong Y. Lee - Packaging Manager
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