3 + 3 (studio album) by The Isley Brothers

From AAL2014 03/21/2024 18:50

Not everything here is on a supremely high level in terms of substance, but there’s at the very least an apparent and appropriate amount of care put into every last song and arrangement here. Musically there’s always a few different elements to latch onto even in moments where the writing isn’t at its highest peak.

The tentpoles of the record (Who’s That Lady, Summer Breeze) are brilliantly placed and more than strong enough to support the different fields of funk the Isley’s explore through the rest of the record’s runtime.

A classic and a very obvious influence on a lot of other great music.

Album Rating: 74.22
(668/9)

1.That Lady, Pt. 1 & 2. 83
2.Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight. 69
3.If You Were There. 67
4.You Walk Your Way. 68
5.Listen To The Music. 67
6.What It Comes Down To. 77
7.Sunshine (Go Away Today). 74
8.Summer Breeze. 91
9.The Highways Of My Life. 72

This comment is beneath your viewing threshold.

From planetneutral 02/21/2021 11:35

It's half covers, but those are some great songs they're interpreting, and these guys get why the music matters as much as the vocals.

Favorite Tracks:Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight, Summer Breeze

One of the great rock/soul albums. Great guitar work amongst the fantastic songs, what a stroke of genius to bring the youngsters in to write great songs for the elders. Summer breeze, is without doudt the highlight, but there are other superb tracks in, that lady, and, don't let me be lonely tonight. Brilliant record.

From flamingyesdept 05/29/2016 08:44

Incredible and underrated funk/soul record - the highlights are the originals here, as well as the amazing cover of Summer Breeze

When I wa 16 or so and all my mates and I were into yes, Floyd and Zep etc. I risked life and limb expounding the virtues of this album. Yes it is mostly covers but they are total reinterpretations and generally brillinatly executed. Summer Breeze and That Lady are epic. The vocals are superb but it is Ernie Isleys guitar work that lifts the album to greatness

It's hard to know what to do with an album of great covers. I'd love to hear the Isley Brothers play this album as the house band at a wedding, but I'm not sure how I feel about this as an album. To their credit, they certainly put their own twist on all these songs, rather than settling for direct covers. It doesn't feel revolutionary, but it's a lot of fun.

From Romanelli 03/12/2011 15:15

The Isley Brothers have had hits in every decade since the 1950's, and have scored 20 top 10 albums. 3+3, which finds the band as a sextet, opens with "That Lady"...worth having the album for alone. It's funky, and Ernie Isley tears it up on guitar. The album is also notable for its choice in cover material. They hit James Taylor ("Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight"), The Doobie Brothers ("Listen To The Music"), Seals & Crofts ("Summer Breeze"), and the Jonathan Edwards hit "Sunshine". All are done in the Isley's style...no copycatting here. It's a fun listen from a great group that still soldiers on today. And you get one more listen to Ernie's searing solo on a bonus live version of "That Lady". Enjoyable stuff.