3 + 3

I wish *I* were a brother of the Isley Brothers so that we could all play and slay together. Just classic track after classic track and total guitar mastery. What's not to love? I think if I were being honest, I would give this a 4.5. It's not quite a perfect album to me. But it's much better than a lot of the 4's I've given out on this list, so a 5 it shall be.

Wooooaaaaahhhhhh listen to this music. Very funky, lots of soul. Great for a sunny morning drive. The kind of music that puts you in a good mindset for a day. The guitar work in some of the songs absolutely rip.

Little known fact. This album came out in August 1973 and 72.4% of babies born between April and August 1974 were conceived while this record was playing. The Isleys expanded from a trio to a six-person unit for this one and embraced funk. There are great covers (Summer Breeze, Sunshine, Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight) that transform the originals into soulful explorations. The self-penned Who's That Lady Pts 1 & 2 is a classic and, for me, has some of the best guitar work on a song that went Top Ten on the Billboard Hot 100.

3+3=3

The problem with early funk is that it's still close enough to its roots that it has the stank of disco on it. The bits of this that were funky were really funky. But there were so many bits that were cheesy, gross disco to keep it from being a good album. Not enough to tank it completely, though. The funk keeps it afloat. But only barely.

Life’s too short to not appreciate great albums. 10

Some great motifs, i can see why it is oft sampled, but is less than the sum of its parts

Some absolute bangers on this one. The organs, synth, electric Guitar, and bongos are all perfectly utilized. Loved it

Really hard for me to come at this album objectively as I've owned a copy for years, and I play it frequently. Very frequently. An astounding collection of music, originals combining with a deft choice of covers. Even when it's not their own material, the Isley's put their stamp on it - would anyone disagree with me that this is the definitive version of 'Summer Breeze'? What really gives 3+3 wallop is Ernie Isley's guitar, beamed in from outer space. It's truly a sound I could enjoy all day. When he's absolutely wailing in the latter part of 'That Lady Pts 1 and 2' I am in my happy place. What a life-affirming album!

Was hooked from the get go when I recognised the intro to "That Lady" as the sampled used for "i" by Kendrick Lamar. I really enjoyed this, it had the right balance between soul, funk and even some disco for me. A great mix of songs that never really got boring and towards the end the excellent "Summer Breeze" closed the album out. Solid 4.

To pimp a Isley Brothers

This was an excellent first album to start off this listening adventure. The drums were tight the whole time, the bass was on point and there were three similar guitar solos with fuzz woven into the mix. I thought this album was produced well, I really enjoyed the panning on the last track in the beginning and the keyboard part later on in that same song was sick. The vocalist is brilliant and can hit these high notes that was drawn back and very enjoyable to hear. This album would be best making love to your partner down by the fireplace in a log cabin in the winter.

That Doobie Brothers cover was an especially fun gem in this already very fun album. Unfortunately, that one set of Swiffer commercials completely ruined the song That Lady for me.

Nicht unbedingt meine Musikrichtung, aber das ist mehr als ok!

smooth as silk, and even the lesser known tracks are class

Give me the funk!!! There’s zero doubt these guys can jam. As I had said, every song on here is either a cover or has been covered. The unfortunate thing for me personally is that except for don’t let me be lonely, I like the other version of the song better. Which I was surprised by as their groove is right up my alley. Don’t hate me Mr Isley brothers for my 3

I just like the track "Sunshine", it sounds cool, rest is too sappy sounding for me.

Can't deny the groove, a few classics, but on a whole it didn't stand out to me

Vocals and backing vocals are strong throughout. The R&B/Motown to Funk/Rock transition in this album is really interesting to me, and I feel those influences wound around each other constantly in a way that elevates the music to me. The mix of time tested R&B beats prevents any song from being outright bad for me. Standout tracks are That Lady pt. 1, Listen to the Music, Sunshine, and Summer Breeze. Probably a 3.5, rounding to 3.

That Lady! Who’s that lady? Love it. The rest of the album is strong. Smooth. Don’t let me be lonely tonight, Listen to the Music, Summer Breeze 3.5/5

started strong and the star meter slowly drained as it went on...

Very very good. Will be coming back to this one.

Absolutely loved this from start to finish. The electric guitar is stellar throughout, and it's so groovy and funky. This is music that's right up my alley, and I'm excited to check out more of The Isley Brothers' discography!

Immediately from the first song on the album I knew i was in for a lesson in music history. That lady pt.1 and 2 came on and i immediately recognized the guitar line. Kendrick Lamar used the same line and overall composition for his song i off of To Pimp a Butterfly. As soon as i realized that I knew this one was gonna be something special. There's a lot of heart on this album right at the start with Don't let me be lonely tonight. It's a common sentiment among music throughout its history in America the last century especially entering the jazz and blues era. But the Isley Brothers put so much heart into everything from the vocals to the instrumentation that it feels fresh. Immediately the tone picks up in the next song with If You Were There. This album has many tonal shifts but they don't feel out of place. Everything blends together to make a really nice album.

I’m not sure what I was expecting when I looked at the track listing on this one and saw the cover of the soft rock hit “Summer Breeze” but it certainly wasn’t a ripping fuzzed out guitar solo. I preferred the harder and funkier parts of this album to the more gentle and soulful bits, but overall it’s a really good listen, and a nice way to start a cold and snowy Monday morning in November.

Good soul funk.

Laidback on the tunes with two out of the three bangers borrowed, but this is sumptuous and filthy with squelchy fuzz.

Really good, can hold its own with Innervisions. Guitar shredding all over the place, you can hear Hendrix left his mark!

Finally, good music

Smooth & Groovy, it felt like a pop-rock refinement of Parliament/Funcadelic. Enjoyable listen. Saved it & will be bumping it this summer for sure.

What a delightful collection of smooth listening. So many recognizable tracks, hardly a miss on here.

After having a Stevie Wonder album last week, I have to say that this reminds me of that quite a lot but is just straight up better. I ran through this album once, then did a second playthrough and then it stuck to me quite well. I especially like 'Summer Breeze, Pts. 1 & 2' which is a very nice song. I think this has been in quite a lot of travel commercials as well if I'm not mistaken. Had a hard time putting a score for this, but I think I'll give it a weak 4. I don't think there are any weak songs really, and the good ones are quite good actually.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1001 ALBUMS- # 49 3 + 3 equals FUNKAY! When The Isley Brothers dropped 3 + 3, they didn’t just add new member, they levelled up completely. This is the album where they brought in younger family members (including guitar wizard Ernie Isley) and totally refreshed their sound. The result? A record that still sounds cool, confident, and fresh over 50 years later. The opener, “That Lady,” hits hard right out the gate. It’s funky, catchy, and that guitar solo? Unreal. If you’ve ever wondered what soul and rock sound like when they’re perfectly blended, this is it. Then they switch gears and give you smooth, romantic jams like “Highways of My Life” and “What It Comes Down To.” Ronald Isley’s voice is pure silk—one of those voices that just floats over the music and makes everything feel deeper. 🎧 Classic Track: Summer Breeze 🎧 Deep Cut Gem: Sunshine (Go Away Today) 🎧 Personal Favorite: What It Comes Down To Their version of “Summer Breeze” is a real standout. They take a soft rock song and turn it into a soulful masterpiece, with Ernie’s guitar soaring in the background like it’s telling its own story. The whole album has this perfect mix of old-school soul and new-school funk/rock energy. You can feel the chemistry between the generations of Isleys—it’s like you’re listening to a family jam session where everyone is insanely talented. 🖼️ Album Artwork: Look at those fellas just oozing cool! 3 + 3 is the kind of album you throw on when you want to feel good, chill out, or even get into your feelings a little. It’s timeless, full of groove, and just straight-up cool. Whether you’re new to The Isley Brothers or already a fan, this album is worthy listening.

I loved listening to this album. The cover of "summer breeze" is great. I had never listened to this album, but will again.

Excellent funk (with some ultra-smooth R&B too). Some songs have a bit of an edge but they somehow still sound laid back. A few of these tracks were sampled by hip-hop artists later, or have a certain sound that was copied, like the whiny synth at 3:35 on "Sunshine (Go Away Today)" that sounds like something off of Dr. Dre's "The Chronic."

Приятная смесь фанка и соула, но не могу сказать, что запоминающаяся. Включайте в машине и смело поезжайте в закат. 5 из 10.

I was really giving to this album, it’s like the bridge between Marvin Gay abd the Doobie Brothers, or a black version of the band. “The Lady,” despite being co-opted for a shampoo commercial with dogs singing “who’s that lady” that loves in my nightmares, is a a good song. But then, really quickly, this album careens from a solid album into a covers album. I can’t grade a covers album high no matter how good—except Santana Abraxas, but that’s the exception that proves the rule—it quickly dropped from verging on a 4 to verging on a 3. Good musicians, lots of fun arrangements, buttery smooth voice, but covers. 2.

Great classic. Such an important milestone

Funkier than The Four Tops or The Temptations, not quite up to Isaac Hayes, still this is the sound of my youth and gets an easy 5 stars for the memories it brought back to me.

Fantastic album! Every song is a banger and the arrangements are so well done.

5/5

This is an excellent album. "That Lady" and "Sunshine (Go Away Today)" are excellent, but the album as a whole is fantastic.

Very funky, very soulful. The only think I dislike is that I hadn't heard this album before, because this is my shit.

Really iconic music on this one. ✊Guitar riffs, sultry vocals Seventieeeees

Loved it, brought back memories

Absolutely brilliant.

Unbelievably soulful, tremendous guitar (and musicianship in general) throughout. Just mad I've never listened through this before. Will be giving the Isley Brothers more listens in future for sure.

Super funky and a good listen. Lots of great melodies, although the opener really stands out.

I thought the first song of the album would never end. I liked the song, but I thought that it could have ended sooner. I thought that at times the lead singer was being over-the-top emotional while trying to sing the song which I found distracting. I didn't care for the tracks of the interviews.

absolutely loved this album. Such a mix of high energy funk, soothing R&B. Each song, while carrying the same genre, sounded unique, refreshing and was a joy to listen to. From the recognizable “That lady” to the pleading and aching “don’t let me be lonely tonight and the pulsating drums “ifyou were there”. Sunmer breeze is an excellent track that really does smoothe despite the hot summer air still kind of in the air This was a great album to listen to on a Monday.

What a groove. Besides the classics That Lady and Summer Breeze, each track had their own feel and addition to this album.

I knew I was in for a good time when I heard the first song. Every track was simply brilliant. The guitar solo on "Summer Breeze" was amazing. I did not expect such a fantastic album. It wasn't until recently that I learned that the Isley Brothers performed "Twist And Shout" first. 5 stars for "3 + 3".

Some great ones and some good ones.

Soulful and funky, very enjoyable. The guitar solos in "That Lady" and "Summer Breeze" elevate those already great songs to the next level - I love the guitar tone in particular in both of those. The rest of the tracks are not quite at that level but still very good. I think the inclusion of those two songs pushes into a 5/5

Me encantó super funky increible producción increibles vocals un 10/10 no hay mas que decir y nada que criticar I'm a sucker for a good soul funk album Favs: That Lady, Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight, Summer Breeze (wow)

Voy a hacer rondas relámpago hasta ponerme al día que voy muy atrás. Fresco, dinámico y divertido. Este disco tiene todo lo que buscas en uno de funk. A la playlist: casi todo el disco, pero si tengo que destacar una, If You Were There es una de mis canciones favoritas de todos los tiempos.

I had this album on repeat all day, and holy shit - what an album. Obviously the first track is the king of this thing - which I believe was sampled by Kendrick, making it instantly recognisable to most younger people. Man, there is so much substance in this thing it's not funny. I only really knew The Isley Brothers as the epic sexy time song from San Andreas. I'm not surprised it's this good, but I was expecting a lot less from this thing. That Lady & Summer Breeze were so fire. It doesn't help I'm a slut for soul and funk, and these songs are an outstanding combination of both. There's not really much more I want to say about this thing, I'm just going to go and buy the vinyl for it right now. Fucking incredible.

Extremely good. Listened twice back to back. If you’re still cranking out quality like this at album 11 you’re definitely an all time great.

Straight bangers with excellent musicianship.

- just incredible -- not a bad track whatsoever. the Summer Breeze cover is so good, I'd call it delicious - I get all the brothers mixed up (Doobie Brothers, Allman Brothers, etc), but now I for sure won't mix up the Isley Brothers with anyone else - this is the album you maybe put on while cooking hotdogs on your grill during your 4th of July cookout or while making a nice dinner with your spouse to enjoy out on the back porch with a glass of red wine. there's something about 70s R&B that pairs so well the comforts and high points of everyday life - I'm finding myself not really paying attention to the lyrics at all and am just getting swept away by the layers of clavichord, piano, bass, soaring electric guitar, and smooooooth vocals - this is the kind of album that makes me feel glad I sacrificed a chunk of this month's cell data to download the hi-fi version from Deezer. I think 70s funk/soul/R&B can sometimes sound a little washed-out and muted (esp when playing over some car speakers on Sirius XM's 70s on 7 channel, as the majority of 70s non-rock I'm familiar with was) but this doesn't have that quality at all

Favorite Track: Summer Breeze

This is maybe cheesy of me but definitely a perfect soul record to me. Just something undeniable on the playing, singing, arrangements etc.

Enjoyed this one

The Isley Brothers are well-known just by the fact that they created great melodies and grooves that were influential as hip hop samples. You can hear those on this album too. Their own material holds up well as does the covers, for example "Summer Breeze" that has never been better (except the version from reggae keyboard legend Jackie Mittoo). Definitely a great soul album that needs to be on this list and should be enjoyed by everyone!

The smoothest album ever. Unbelievable how good this album is. The piano, the vocals, the parts are amazing and the sum is even better.

Feeling it

Good stuff!

This shit is straight fire. 5 Stars.

Great!

Excellent

Easily the vibiest album so far

Uplifting and motivating. Pairs well with cooking with your wife or street skateboarding.

Oh that voice

Great stuff

Excellent. Cannot say enough good things. Am now a huge fan.

absolutely no notes, i love this album.

If I could give this a million out of 5 I would. Finally something fucking interesting, the Isley brothers are ALWAYS gonna come out with a banger and this was a whole album of them. Completely made my day listening to this will 100% listen again

This album is just incredible. Opens up with the endlessly sampled "That Lady" and keeps the bangers coming no matter if it's funky fun or a sad ballad. Great playing and great singing

Wow. Educational for me. So many samples and covers of their music that I'm familiar with. And those hits are fucking HITS, like dayummm. Groovy.

I've known about "That Lady" for decades, feel really foolish for sleeping on the rest of this album. Their choices of covers and the arrangements just kick ass. I gotta go buy it and add it to my library. These songs need to be in my regular rotation.

great

What a fun experience. There were a few songs that I didn't particularly love, (Highways of My Life, Listen to the Music), but overall, the album was superb. 4.5/5 for me, and the guitar!! What a pleasant surprise.

I love them. I feel a fondness for the Isley Brothers that I cannot explain. But this album is just the perfect soulful vibe. I'm sick today and it put me in a better mood! Just hit after hit. No notes.

No complaints

Funk is fun with an extra letter! Very enjoyable listening.

I wish i had more time and brain to write good things but i can say that this record is evergreen. listen to it now.

Take a few standard hits from the 70s and add soul, vitality, and a nice groove and you have this album. The original stuff is fantastic, but their alt takes on rock and roll standards or their day will blow your mind. A perfect example of a soul album no matter how you mix it up. I could listen to this all day!

Fantastic

What a perfect record. Never heard of it before but will definitely come back and listen to it again.

i listen to it

So funky… but also kind of rocks. The covers are amazing. Fantastic record!

No había tenido la oportunidad de escuchar este álbum previamente y debo decir que me pareció excelente. El groove de los temas, la calidad de la grabación, la expresividad de la voz, la adición de sintetizadores, los solos. Todo está hecho de manera alucinante y además la duración de los temas y del álbum es más que apropiada, prestándose a múltiples escuchas. Si tuviese que hacer alguna crítica negativa es que el contenido de las letras es un tanto cliché para el estilo, pero no considero que esto actue en detrimento del álbum. No mucho más que decir, un nuevo álbum sumado a mi lista de favoritos.

So smooth you could slip and fall by listening too hard. The Isley Bros are insane. They’ve been making music for 60 years, and they’ve managed to constantly reinvent themselves from decade to decade without losing their energy. They did killer swing in the late 50s, sick rock n’roll in the 60s, soul and funk in the 70s... It’s hard not to be in awe of their talent. To my great shame, they only came to my attention through the intro sequence of Final Destination VI (the band performing on the top floor is playing one of their hits from the late 50s). I took a instant liking to them and started exploring their early discog. Now this 1973 album pops up on the list and blows my mind again... Ok, it’s not 100 % perfect – it’s a bit too sweet and cheesy for my taste, some tracks are a bit too much on the disco side... But overall it’s an incredibly rich and generous album, with slick guitar work, songs that go all over the spectrum of soul and funk, and a couple of absolute bangers like Sunshine. I’d have rated it a 4* if they had other albums on this list. But since it’s the only Isley Brothers album here, I’ll add a star for their whole discog. And it’s not just a name, they’re really all brothers !! Family reunions must be super groovy.

The only thing more righteous than the Isley Brothers' jams is those outfits

Forgot how packed with perfection this was

Zoveel perfecte tracks. "That Lady", Suymmer Breeze" en "The Highways of My Life" zijn de klassieke singles, maar ook de albumtracks zijn prima. Vijf sterren. Moet deze plaat nodig weer eens uit de kast halen.

God damn! What a banger. Had no idea they sang all of these hits

Automatic 5 star album for me. I own this on CD and love "That Lady"

This album is fire from start to finish. The originals, starting with "That Lady" are fantastic and groovy as hell. The covers are absolutely, ridiculously sexy funky. I imagine there are a lot of babies born in 1974 that owe their existence to the cover of "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" on this album. 5 stars.

Oh yes, this is what soul is supposed to sound like! The vocals are fantastic and hints of funk, disco, and blues keep things interesting and add variation between tracks. Some great guitar parts like on That Lady give this album even more depth. I hadn't heard this album before, but definitely going to revisit it and listen to some other Isley Brothers albums as well.