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.

3+3=3

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.

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!

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

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

The instrumentals, the smooth vocals, the outfits on their album cover. These fellas do sappy cheesiness right! THIS is the kind of funk I like.

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

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.

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

The Isley Brothers are a massively under-rated band, who should be far more remembered than they are. Hits singles from 1959 to 2001, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, influence on the Beatles and Hendrix and hip hop. But you can pick up their records for a bargain. There are a bunch of other artists -- influential, successful in there day, and mostly black -- who similarly don't get their props, like the Pointer Sisters, Labelle, or Ike and Tina Turner. I have a bunch of the Isleys records. I will pick up any of their T-Neck records whenever I see them. This album is a particular favourite Isley Brothers album. It's funky and smooth and the singing and playing is awesome throughout. I love their ability to cover otherwise anodyne yacht-rock songs like Summer Breeze and turn them into something much more special. A big shout out to Ernie's terrific and immediately identifiable lead guitar playing. And check out their fits on the cover; they are a sharp-dressed dudes! Now I am going to have a rant about Dimery's terrible list. Iron Maiden are the band alphabetically before Isley Brothers. Iron Maiden are, for all their success, a one trick pony and they have TWO effectively indistinguishable albums on the list. The Isley Brothers, however, have had at least three major phases to their career -- their early RnB, the Motown years, and their 70s funk output -- with only a single album on the list. All of those phases had major hits and deserve to be celebrated, but Dimery can't be bothered. This does not help dispel my rising suspicions that Dimery is more interested in (mostly British) white boy rock than black music by black musicians. Five stars. Legends.

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

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...

I will not include the reissue bonus tracks and interview segments in this review. I am familiar with the Isley Brothers, having started as a cross between gospel and doo-wop before expanding their member roster and transitioning into a hybrid of funk rock and psychedelic soul. Alongside original compositions, the brothers would also funkify rock songs and other existing tracks. In fact, the big single off this record I already know, "That Lady", is a reworking of their earlier track "Who's That Lady". That re-recording continues to be an absolute banger, which made me curious how the rest of 3 + 3 sounded. Boy, I figured I was in for a fun treat, but this album impressed me. Younger brothers Ernie and Marvin Isley were officially brought into the fold as guitarist and bassist for the group, and they knock it out of the park. The infectious bass lines and guitar stabs made for such a delightful listen, alongside the brothers' harmonious vocals, George Morland's steady beat, and Truman Thomas's light organ finesse. Not only were the original songs of love and life exploration effective funk rock tunes, but I was genuinely floored by how they reworked other people's songs. The R&B waltz of James Taylor's "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight", the absolute chicken-scratch guitar work and bounce of the Doobie Brothers' "Listen to the Music", and the thumping bass-led groove of Jonathan Edwards's "Sunshine" were all amazingly realized. But the crown jewel of this record ended up being their cover of Seals & Crofts' "Summer Breeze", transforming a laid-back soft-rock tune into a full-on extended jam complete with a soaring guitar solo from Ernie. I cannot deny how strong reinterpretations like these match the quality of their original work. 3 + 3 proved to be such an amazing record, completing the Isley Brothers' metamorphosis into such an electrifying funk group with raw, genuine passion.

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.

Damn. This is funky.

That Lady. It rips. Guitar solo shreds. Summer Breeze, I prefer the Type O Negative cover. Sunshine, I prefer the original however the guitar solo again rips. Verdict, the originals save the first track are a bit of a drag. A high 3. Actually I'm gonna give it another point for the cover because they are cool as fuck.

Really juicy. I danced while I cooked stir fry. Made me wanna blow kisses to my baby

Some of their classics and good deep cuts but not as good as Go For Your Guns. Around an 8

Highly sampleable.

Really good really fun. Ton of talent in that family

PEAKKK AYEEEE

A lot more depth than I expected. Great songs and musicianship

Favorite tracks: That Lady, Pts. 1 & 2 Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight Summer Breeze, Pts. 1 & 2

This is a great listen. Funky, soulful, with a soupcon of absolutely kickass rock. These guys are incredibly talented. I've always appreciated the Isleys whenever I hear them, especially "That Lady", "It's Your Thing," and the other hits. But the whole thing is fantastic. The originals all whip, but the covers are what really got me. These guys made frickin' yacht rock sound like the coolest goddamn thing you've ever heard. Loved it.

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.

The Good: Brothers making music The Bad: Their outfits The Ugly: really… their outfits… unless you are heading to a pimps party… I knew the name of the band, but couldn’t recall ever having listened to one of their song… to find out that I’d listened to several of these songs, like most of us, via movies, or tv shows. And what a treat it is to listen to their versions of several contemporary classics… damn. 4*

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.

Good musicians, well written songs, but it's just too smooth and my brain slides right across it with nothing to latch on to.

good vibes. was surprised that I knew a few songs

Super fun listen. Hits hold up and the tracks I didn’t know impressed me. It will stay in the rotation.

3.5 actually. Don’t get me wrong, o album é bom, mas eu não consigo dar-lhe o mesmo que dei/daria a outros álbuns de 4*

Why 3 + 3 is 1001-worthy 1. It’s the moment the Isleys reinvent themselves — successfully Before 3 + 3, The Isley Brothers were a soul/R&B vocal group. This album marks the moment they expanded into a full self-contained band (hence “+3”), bringing in younger family members including guitar prodigy Ernie Isley. That shift changed their sound and set them up for a decade-long hot streak. 2. It fuses genres in a way that set the template for modern R&B 3 + 3 blends: funk psychedelic rock smooth soul early quiet-storm atmospheres It’s a blueprint for artists from D’Angelo to Prince to Anderson .Paak. 3. “That Lady” is a defining moment of 70s guitar-driven soul That opening riff and Ernie Isley’s scorching Hendrix-influenced solo? Still one of the great “wait, THIS is the Isley Brothers?!” moments in popular music. 4. Their cover choices are iconic, not filler Few bands could take songs like: “Summer Breeze” “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight” …and completely reimagine them. On 3 + 3, the covers become centrepieces, not B-sides. 5. It’s the start of their most influential era This album kicks off the run that gave us: The Heat Is On Showdown Go for Your Guns Between the Sheets It’s historically important because it launches one of the strongest multi-genre runs in 70s/80s Black music.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 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."

I forgot to review this. It's been a couple months. Oops. The title has 3's in it so let's go with that. I remember kinda liking it but not loving it so this seems fair.

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

I don't think I've ever listened to That Lady outside of an advert or a TV placement. I wasn't expecting it to last almost six minutes and certainly not that half that time would be given over to aimless, wah-wahed guitar bending. It explains the album title though: 3+3 = 3 minutes of catchy funk pop + 3 minutes of six string excess. This pattern continues with exuberant, but formless leads interrupting the rest of the delicately crafted songs. It's a bizarre choice each time. If the album title actually refers to the addition of three instrumentalists to the original vocal trio, it feels like a mistake to give the instrumentalists - or particularly that guitarist - a co-credit. However, album highlight, Summer Breeze almost gets away with it. They could easily have faded out at the four minute mark and everyone would have been happy. Oh, they did do that on the single version and it was a huge hit! See? 2.5 There is a good deal of talent on display here; technical gifts but also an unexpected amount of tastefulness and good judgement in arrangement. I love the basslines especially. It’s all bent to the service of a patchwork of platitudes. Love good, loneliness bad. Girls are to be cared for, dreams will hopefully come true. Listen to the music and dance if you are in the mood. I thought of Jamiroquai. Affectionately. 2/5

If i had 6 sons and got them to dress up in these outfits for a picture I would be through the moon! Unfortunately I liked the cover better than the tunes.

Not bad but I was not a huge fan

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.

Amazing smooth voice! Reminds me of Curtis Mayfield. Love songs>>> Fav tracks: Listen to the music, Don't let me be lonely, What it comes down to, That Lady pt.1&2, Sunshine... No skip album Holy baselines and guitar solos🤤 Sooo funky 10/10

So good

‘3+3’ was my first Isley Brothers album. I loved it immediately and still do. When I love something that way, my typical reaction is to search out more and this was no exception. Over the following 10 years or so, I gradually added the majority of their 70s albums to my collection. Often in these situations, I find myself constantly striving to match the joy of that first experience but being forever disappointed. Not in this case. All of those T-Neck label albums (with the lads trying to outdo the outrageousness of the threads they wear from one cover photo to the next) are all either very good or great. So impressed have I been with them, it has felt like ‘3+3’ may have lost its crown as their peak. Listening today though it’s hard not to consider it their best. All those albums deliver essentially 3 things in varying ratios: Absolute soul-magnificent slow jams with powerful melodies and quality chord patterns, full banger upbeat numbers as funky as all get-out, and guitar workouts from Ernie, usually labelled as Part 2 of many songs presented as two parts. On ‘3+3’ it veers more toward the upbeat funky stuff but the slow songs are truly top tier. As the first album adding the instrumental skills of 3 further family members to the already successful 3 piece vocal group (I mean 3+3, yeah we get it) Ernie is only given a couple of opportunities to let rip, but it is on probably the album’s 2 best known tracks. (His style is somewhat influenced by previous Isley’s guitarist one James Hendrix and Ernie is so good, in a couple of albums time, there are just 6 songs each with 2 parts) My favourite Isley Brothers album may change from week to week, but this album is always a contender. You get “Summer Breeze” and “That Lady” and my all time Isleys choice cut in “What it Comes Down To” and none of the other tracks let the side down. If you enjoy this album don’t miss out on the others. This deserves to be in the 1001, but accepting they only get one, there are other options.

Super funky and soulful, amazing fucking album Mesmerizing vocals, unreal instrumental it’s so flavorful and smooth

No unbiased opinion here, listened to this for years, great album. Smooth, grooving, rocks. Great combination of funk, soul, rock and pop. The self penned songs are classic, the covers perfect. Vocals are sweet and that guitar. This is one of the most underrated bands ever, just look what they did from their 50s to this. They directly influenced the Beatles!! And to this day on hip hop. Underrated band!!!! And then in 70s they brought in Ernie, who has got to be one of the most overlooked guitarists ever, remember 1st time I heard him and had to pick jaw off the floor - and unlike other flash guitarists who get all the flowers, he always keeps the momentum of the song. I could listen all day. On a summer day like today this is just perfect 5 Star

Yooo this shit is tight

Almost every song is saveable,great music

i like this jazzy funky album so much 10/10 so stevie wonder

Este álbum me gustó mucho porque justo estaba entrando en este mundo del soul y funk, me gusta los cambios de género que tiene como el rock y R&B. Aparte, me sorprendió que tiene muchas canciones sampleadas que ya las conocía

One of my go-to soul/funk records. What often troubles me with soul/funk is that it's difficult to find full albums that are great from start to finish. 3+3 certainly is awesome, as a whole. The way The Isley Brothers managed to fuse raw funk grooves, psychedelic rock, smooth soul and socially conscious songwriting into something this cohesive still feels special. It has the warmth of a family jam session, but also the ambition of a band clearly pushing beyond traditional soul formulas. Tracks like “That Lady” and “Summer Breeze” may be the obvious landmarks, but what makes the album endure is how naturally the deeper cuts carry the same atmosphere and emotional weight.

got me CREAMING

Álbum muito bom de Soul/Funk! Amei todos os solos de guitarra desse disco.

Absolutely perfect. Utterly adored

Absolutely essential listening. The samples and covers of these songs have echoed throughout the history of music.

Cool

This was a really cool album! Loved it front to back. The covers on here were fantastic along with the originals. Nothing really to say about it - I had a great time and thought it was fantastic.

Shit slaps

simplemente ✨cine ✨ me ha encantado, lo que no he acabado de entender que el disco incluya una entrevista la cual lo siento no me he escuchado entera

До этого ничего не слыхал о братьях Айзли, хотя это объяснимо: к соулу или блюзу я с должным вниманием не относился. Но как же прекрасны гитары на That Lady. Начать альбом с такой энергетики было определено хорошим решением. Okay-okay, быть может мне стоит лучше познакомиться с Соулом и Блюзом. Это отличный альбом, во всех смыслах отличный. Живые, энергичные аранжировки, сильный вокал и многоинструментальность. Короткий, как летний день, но столь же яркий и приятный. Любимчики: That Lady Listen to the Music Summer Breeze

I mean, c’mon!! So good!

On the cusp of soul becoming funk music. This was very good.

Muy buenas vibras, tipo retro más moderno, soul fresquito.

Canciones Favoritas: That Lady, If You Were There, The Highways of My Life

was going to give this a 4 but the guitar in summer breeze is so FUCKING ridiculous i was practically having an out of body experience

Very good

Chill cool vibes

Smoother than smooth, love the guitar and vocals on this album.

TE AMOOOOOO THE LADY!! por dios los temones que tiene este disco. No todos sus temas son un 10 de 10, pero que es el solo de summer breeze ?? t amo!!!!!!!!! solo porque no todo el disco me dejo agarrada el puntaje para mi es 4.5, pero te doy 5 porque te lo mereces ahre

Great album, really enjoyed

My long review got deleted. This album is timeless. 5/5

Damn, this just sounds so good. Hasn't aged a day really. So many artists trying to recapture these sounds. The tunes are funky and soulful, arranged perfectly, and played so well. And of course the vocals are a stand out. I really can't find any nits to pick, honestly.

Pretty good

Orgasmic fucking guitar tone! I was only familiar with 'Listen to the Music' of all the covered songs, and it matched the quality of the original. Awesome record, I wish I could give it 3 + 3 stars.

How is it I'm only listening to this now?!? It's phenomenal. So much ear candy in every track. And the covers? Blew my mind. I had no idea you could do that to "Summer Breeze".

Oh hell yeah!

So fucking good. That Lady and Summer Breeze are the clear standouts here but all of these songs are funky as fuck. I definitely have to listen to more of the Isleys because everything I've heard from them is absolutely top notch stuff. Fav Songs: That Lady, Summer Breeze, Sunshine (Go Away Today), What It Comes Down To Least Fav: If You Were There (Still a very good song) 9.3/10

I would give this a 3 + 3 out of 5 if I could. One thing I'm learning about myself through this project is that I really like Soul and Funk. I didn't know this - I've never really listened to those genres much before. It's been an incredible and very rewarding discovery.

Es un álbum de soul, R&B increíble, unos solos únicos

The perfect mood 👌🏻

This was peak I always loved jams like this!