Customer Reviews

3+3

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This was the Isley Brothers introduction to the seventies. Breaking free from Motown, adding brother Ernie, cousins Marvin Isley and Chris Jasper and setting up shop in New Jersey, the Isleys begun to chart their course for the new decade. With this album they decided to do their "own thing," and come up with some of the best soul/funk/rock put together on wax. They blend funk and rock with "Who's that Lady," and "Sunshine." They take "Don't Let Me be Lonely Tonight," a classic in its original James Taylor version, and make it a classic "quiet storm" jam. They also do the same with Seals and Crofts "Summer Breeze." This was the first of several classic Isley Brothers albums of the seventies, and moved them from being just another male vocal group that used to be on the Motown label, to one of the tightest, funkiest, and most versatile soul bands of the decade. "3+3" is the first of many great Isley Brothers albums.

If you have a shelf of music void of the Isley Brothers anything, you're missing out! My Isley Borthers collection is complete now that I have "Summer Breeze", the hypnotizing song that plays in my mind each time the sun shines. It takes me back to happy days of the 70's filled with cookouts, afros and of course, Isley eight tracks. The CD itself is wonderful, but Summer Breeze made me a believer. It's one of my all-time favorites, right behind "Voyage to Atlantis." Get the CD now!

Summer Breeze.. I was hypnotized by this song. In my world, it was as though the Seals & Crofts written original classic version never existed. The Brothers made this their own. "Who's that lady cooks, and Don't let me be lonely is a love ballad for the ages. This and other Isley albums are on my CD "re-buy" list. They have too many good songs to have a Best Of collection do it justice.

The Isley Brothers had begun to establish themselves as a major rock group with this album. It was an innovative move on their part to redo their own song ("Who's That Lady"-1964/1973) and revamp songs that were already, even at that early date, classics ("Summer Breeze", "Love The One Your With", etc.).

Ernie's unique guitar style had really begun to shine through (meaning that since this is a major label (CBS), more people were reached by it than the "Giving It Back" album by Buddah) and can be heard, not so much in "Summer Breeze", but in the "Highway of My Life", "Sunshine Go Away Today", "What It Comes Down To", and, of course, "Who's That Lady".

Chris Jasper also shines in "Highway of My Life", "Summer Breeze" and "Sunshine Go Away Today", and Marvin was clear and good in "You Go Your Way", among others.

The harmony matures more and more with each passing album and culminates in "Showdown" (1978). Wonderful singing and beautiful, creative songwriting as well on the part of Ronald and the Isleys as a group.

In the 60's the Isley Brothers reinvented soul with the
funky "It's your Thing" in 1969 and after that formula went a
bit stale they added two younger brothers and a cousin,keyboardist Chris Jasper and released "3+3",whitch is actually a close extention of the previous album in 1972
"Brother,Brother,Brother",all except three standouts.There is of
course "That Lady" a hard funk/rock classic that stands as a
milestone of 70's music in general and two covers that blow the

originals out the door-an "It's Your Thing"-like remake of
the Doobie's "Listen To The Music",the sensual "Summer Breeze"
and the deeply funky "(Sunshine Go) Away Today".And even with some slightly vapid material (not that much though) "3+3"
is the honest first effort of what turned out to be a whole new Isley Brothers and a whole new funk!

That Lady is the most known song on this track. However, one must not forget about summer breeze, don't let me be lonely, highways of life, what it comes down to, and listen to the music.

The most underated electric guitarist plays on this album (as well as many other Isley Brothers albums)and his name is Ernie Isley.Ernie is the most soulful guitarist I have ever heard since Jimi Hendrix.He has never gotten the recognition he desereves.It is Ernie Isley that should grace the covers of all the major Guitar magazines,not these no talent rockers that you see on them so often.

Anyway,this album is full of great musicianship and soulful singing from the great Ronald Isley.

I found 3 + 3 at the Salvation Army in '91 for a whopping 50 cents. I thought I'd better get my money's worth, listened to it and was blown away by Summer Breeze and Highways....I never met a remake I liked until Summer Breeze -- not to discount the other, wonderfully crafted songs on this album. A must-have for any soul music lover.

The Isley Brothers 3+3 has some very tight rhythms. The drums are kickin' and the grooves are slammin'. I noticed that in the other reviews, no one mentioned the very last song, "Highways of Life". That song, along with "Summer Breeze" are beautifully arranged. Brother-in-law Chris Jasper demonstrates his classical background, especially on these pieces, while Ernie displays his Hendrix influence. Play this album, Live It Up, and The Heat Is On back to back and you'll see the progression of their talent.

do you really love music? can you visualize the momentum in culture by the music of that time? it's seminal to the rock and soul melting pot. we're not talking about electrifying the blues like the british groups. this isn't a group becoming a family, they're a family with an evolving identity enthusiastically obliterating the definitions of rock and soul. you could call it raw like the first three Prince albums [it's better], but there's no doubt that there's an equal love of music is there. the joy in life and truth is there. open your mind, hefe.