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The Isley Brothers – 3 + 3

The Isley Brothers - 3 + 3 album cover

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Genre:Rock, Funk / Soul
Style:Soul, Funk
Year:

Tracklist

That Lady5:35
Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight4:00
If You Were There3:22
You Walk Your Way3:08
Listen To The Music4:07
What It Comes Down To3:54
Sunshine (Go Away Today)4:23
Summer Breeze6:12
The Highways Of My Life4:17

Credits (8)

Notes

3 + 3 is the eleventh album released by The Isley Brothers for the Epic label under their T-Neck imprint in August 7, 1973.

Their first album for the label after several years in Buddah Records, it was also the first time the family group, which had consisted of founding members O'Kelly Isley, Jr., Rudolph Isley and Ronald Isley, officially included six members instead of the standard three. Following the recording and release of Brother, Brother, Brother the previous year, this was the first album to officially include younger brothers Ernie and Marvin and in-law Chris Jasper, even though all three had played on the previous several albums. The success of the album is attributed to their first Top 10 pop record since "It's Your Thing", with their own cover of the self-penned "Who's That Lady", now re-titled "That Lady, Pt. 1 & 2". Other hit singles included the top five R&B single, "What It Comes Down To", and their cover of Seals & Crofts' folk hit, "Summer Breeze", which was also a top ten R&B single. The album became their first platinum album.
The Isley Brothers recorded 3 + 3 in the Record Plant at the same time as Stevie Wonder was recording Innervisions. In fact, they walked in on him recording "Don't You Worry Bout a Thing". Both Chris Jasper of the Isley Brothers and Stevie Wonder were users of the ARP synthesizer and both worked with visionary engineers Robert Margouleff and Malcolm Cecil.

In addition to a stereo record release, this album was mixed in quadraphonic and released in 1974 on SQ record: T-NECK PZQ – 32453. It was also released on Super Audio CD on December 4, 2001.
The album was remastered and expanded for inclusion in the 2015 released CD box set The RCA Victor & T-Neck Album Masters, 1959-1983.

Versions

Filter by
    65 versions
    Image, – In Your Collection, Wantlist, or Inventory
    		Version DetailsData Quality
    Cover of 3 + 3 Featuring: That Lady, 1973, Vinyl3 + 3 Featuring: That Lady
    LP, Album, Yellow Labels, Gatefold
    		Epic – EPC 65740, Epic – S EPC 65740UK1973UK — 1973
    Recently Edited
    Cover of 3 + 3, 1973, Vinyl3 + 3
    LP, Album, Stereo
    		T-Neck – KZ 32453, Columbia – KZ 32453Canada1973Canada — 1973
    Recently Edited
    Cover of 3 + 3, 1973, Vinyl3 + 3
    LP, Album, Stereo, Pitman Pressing, Gatefold
    		T-Neck – KZ 32453US1973US — 1973
    Recently Edited
    Cover of 3 + 3, 1973, 8-Track Cartridge3 + 3
    8-Track Cartridge, Album
    		T-Neck – ZA 32453US1973US — 1973
    Needs Changes
    Cover of 3 + 3, 1973, Vinyl3 + 3
    LP, Album, Gatefold
    		CBS – SBP 234410, CBS – SBP-234410, CBS – KZ 32453Australia1973Australia — 1973
    Recently Edited
    Cover of 3 + 3 Featuring: That Lady, 1973, Vinyl3 + 3 Featuring: That Lady
    LP, Album, Stereo, Gatefold
    		Epic – EPC 65740Europe1973Europe — 1973
    New Submission
    Cover of 3 + 3 Featuring: That Lady, 1973, Vinyl3 + 3 Featuring: That Lady
    LP, Album
    		CBS – SBP 474154New Zealand1973New Zealand — 1973
    New Submission
    Cover of 3 + 3, 1973, Cassette3 + 3
    Cassette, Album
    		CBS – PC 4154New Zealand1973New Zealand — 1973
    New Submission
    Cover of 3 + 3, 1973, 8-Track Cartridge3 + 3
    8-Track Cartridge, Album
    		Epic – EPC 42-65740UK1973UK — 1973
    New Submission
    Cover of 3 + 3, 1973, Vinyl3 + 3
    LP, Album, Terre Haute Pressing, Gatefold
    		T-Neck – KZ 32453US1973US — 1973
    New Submission
    Cover of 3 + 3 Featuring: That Lady, 1973, Vinyl3 + 3 Featuring: That Lady
    LP, Album, Quadraphonic
    		CBS – SBPQ 474154New Zealand1973New Zealand — 1973
    New Submission
    Cover of 3 + 3, 1973, Vinyl3 + 3
    LP, Album
    		CBS – MOT-60.021Venezuela1973Venezuela — 1973
    New Submission
    Cover of 3 + 3, 1973, Vinyl3 + 3
    LP, Album, Gatefold
    		CBS – EPC 65740 ESpain1973Spain — 1973
    New Submission
    Cover of 3 + 3, 1973, Cassette3 + 3
    Cassette, Album
    		CBS – 40-65740Netherlands1973Netherlands — 1973
    New Submission
    Cover of 3 + 3, 1973, Vinyl3 + 3
    LP, Album, White Ring
    		T-Neck – KZ 32453US1973US — 1973
    New Submission
    Cover of 3 + 3 Featuring: That Lady, 1973, Vinyl3 + 3 Featuring: That Lady
    LP, Album, Yellow Labels, Gatefold
    		Epic – EPC 65740Europe1973Europe — 1973
    New Submission
    Cover of 3 + 3 Featuring: That Lady, 1973, Vinyl3 + 3 Featuring: That Lady
    LP, Album, Orange Labels, Gatefold
    		Epic – EPC 65740Netherlands1973Netherlands — 1973
    New Submission
    Cover of 3 + 3, 1973, Vinyl3 + 3
    LP, Album
    		Date Records (2) – DAS.2178South Africa1973South Africa — 1973
    New Submission
    Cover of 3 + 3, 1973, Vinyl3 + 3
    LP, Album, Terre Haute Pressing, Gatefold
    		T-Neck – PZ 32453US1973US — 1973
    New Submission
    Cover of 3 + 3, 1973, Vinyl3 + 3
    LP, Album, Unofficial Release, Stereo
    		Liming Record – LM-2588Taiwan1973Taiwan — 1973
    New Submission
    Cover of 3 + 3, 1974, Vinyl3 + 3
    LP, Album, Reissue, Gatefold
    		T-Neck – PZ 32453US1974US — 1974
    Recently Edited
    Cover of 3 + 3, 1974-04-00, Vinyl3 + 3
    LP, Album, Quadraphonic
    		T-Neck – PZQ 32453US1974US — 1974
    Recently Edited
    Cover of 3 + 3, 1974-04-00, 8-Track Cartridge3 + 3
    8-Track Cartridge, Album, Quadraphonic
    		T-Neck – ZAQ 32453US1974US — 1974
    Recently Edited
    Cover of 3 + 3, 1974-04-00, Vinyl3 + 3
    LP, Album, Quadraphonic
    		T-Neck – ZQ 32453US1974US — 1974
    Recently Edited
    Cover of 3 + 3 Featuring: That Lady, 1974, Vinyl3 + 3 Featuring: That Lady
    LP, Album
    		Epic – EPC 65740Italy1974Italy — 1974
    New Submission
    Cover of 3 + 3, 1974, Vinyl3 + 3
    LP, Album, Quadraphonic
    		Epic – ECPM-86Japan1974Japan — 1974
    New Submission
    Cover of 3 + 3 Featuring: That Lady, 1977, Vinyl3 + 3 Featuring: That Lady
    LP, Album, Reissue
    		Epic – EPC 81954Europe1977Europe — 1977
    New Submission
    Cover of 3 + 3, 1985, Vinyl3 + 3
    LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo
    		Epic – EPC 32039UK1985UK — 1985
    New Submission
    Cover of 3 + 3, 1991, CD3 + 3
    CD, Album, Reissue
    		Epic – 982651 2UK1991UK — 1991
    Recently Edited
    Cover of 3 + 3, 1994, CD3 + 3
    CD, Reissue
    		Epic Collectors Choice – 982 651 2UK1994UK — 1994
    New Submission
    Cover of 3 + 3, 1995-04-13, CD3 + 3
    CD, Album, Reissue
    		Sony Records – SRCS 6462Japan1995Japan — 1995
    Recently Edited
    Cover of 3 + 3, 1995-04-13, CD3 + 3
    CD, Album, Promo, Reissue
    		Sony Records – SRCS 6462Japan1995Japan — 1995
    New Submission
    Cover of 3 + 3, 1997-07-14, CD3 + 3
    CD, Album, Reissue
    		Epic – 487937 2, Epic – EPC 487937 2Europe1997Europe — 1997
    Recently Edited
    Cover of 3 + 3, 2001, SACD3 + 3
    SACD, Multichannel, Album, Reissue, Remastered
    		Epic – ZS 32453, Legacy – ZS 32453US2001US — 2001
    Cover of 3 + 3, 2003, CD3 + 3
    CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered
    		Epic – EK 85798, Legacy – EK 85798US2003US — 2003
    New Submission
    Cover of 3 + 3, 2003-05-19, CD3 + 3
    CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered
    		Epic – EPC 510734 2, Legacy – 510734 2, T-Neck – 5107342000Europe2003Europe — 2003
    Recently Edited
    Cover of 3 + 3, 2003, CD3 + 3
    CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered
    		Epic – EK 85798, Legacy – EK 85798Canada2003Canada — 2003
    New Submission
    Cover of 3 + 3, 2003, CD3 + 3
    CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered
    		Epic – EK 85798, Legacy – EK 85798US2003US — 2003
    New Submission
    Cover of 3 + 3, 2003, CD3 + 3
    CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered
    		Epic – EK 85798, Legacy – EK 85798US2003US — 2003
    New Submission
    Cover of 3 + 3, 2010-11-24, CD3 + 3
    CD, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered, Papersleeve
    		Sony Records Int'l – SICP 2865, T-Neck – SICP 2865Japan2010Japan — 2010
    New Submission

    Recommendations

    Reviews

    • Nilssonline's avatar
      Nilssonline
      Agreed, excellent pressing but – in printing technology terms – lousy color reproduction.
      • soulfunktion's avatar
        soulfunktion
        This was one of my first ever albums which I bought as 14 yr old which I still have to this day and it still sounds good to my ears with every track a gem. It was perfect blend of soul vocals which could turn a rock cover on it's head. My only regret was that they never toured the UK in their heyday. A classic album which needs to have the follow up Live It Up on rotate.
        • isaacmusicman's avatar
          isaacmusicman
          Edited 6 months ago
          Album Revolution #4:

          "The Isley Brothers" were already TIGHT with just "Ronald", "Rudolph", and "O'Kelly", but they did the smartest thing by including "Marvin", "Ernie", and "Chris Jasper" to the group.....

          For years the momentum was building up to this point ("Brother, Brother, Brother" in particular), and the "Brothers" were ready to TEAR THINGS UP!!!! No longer with "Buddah" and now with "Columbia Records", "3+3" just KNOCKED everything out the BOX!!!!

          There were NO rules here!!!! They covered EVERYTHING from "Soul, "Funk", "Rock", even "Covers"....

          The album kicks off with the BLAZIN' "That Lady"...

          I didn't know it then, but I found out that this was a remake of their song "Who's That Lady"...That one was a Moody Lounge type song...This one is a straight out the gate, conquering joint!!!! And to cap it off, "Ernie" was just TEARING the track and RIPPING it to SHREDS with his Guitar!!! I read once that after he did that, "O'Kelly" STARED at him for 15 minutes straight without blinking, as in total disbelief!!!!! I FEEL HIM!!!!

          That was just the first song...

          Their version of "James Taylor's", "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight", is a "Slow Jam" dream!!! "Chris" helped "Ronald" to really get the essence of the song with his re-arrangement of the Melody......It also has a 6 String Guitar drop courtesy of "Ernie"....Priceless!!!!

          "If You Were There" is a Bouncy Organ themed jam that just makes you bob your head and sing along!!!! I actually first heard it through a group named "Ace Spectrum", and I really liked it....But once I found out it was really "The Isley's" song, and I heard it, I threw "Ace Spectrum's" version out the window!!!!

          "You Walk Your Way" was another Organ themed song, this one was a slow break up song...Again, Priceless!!!!

          Their version of "The Doobie Brothers" "Listen To The Music", kind of mirrors what they were doing on "Givin' It Back"...It's honestly not all that, but it wasn't that bad either...

          Whew!!! finished with the first side, now the second side...

          "What It Comes Down To" has "The Isley's" just playing around with a "Soulful" track...

          Their version of "Jonathan Edwards" "Sunshine (Go Away Today)", sounds like they were just having a "ROCKIN'" good time, with "Ernie" doing His thing....

          Their cover of "Seals & Crofts" Folk HIT, "Summer Breeze", is just ABSOLUTELY SPECIAL..."Chris" with the Keyboards, "Ronald" KILLING the Vocals, and once again "Ernie" SHEDDING the Guitar!!!!!!

          Now, the last song and the Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate Crown Jewel, "The Highways Of My Life" is straight "Chris Jasper", STRAIGHT UP!!!!! The beginning Piano vibe is SOOOOO FANTASTIC, it is like at times, you just don't believe what you are hearing!!!!!!

          I am truly focusing on "Chris Jasper" A LOT, because after finding out that he is mostly responsible for the "3 + 3" sound (so to speak), it is about time that he gets his props...And it doesn't hurt that he started to use the "ARP Synthesizer", engineered by "Robert Margouleff" and "Malcolm Cecil" (who also worked with "Stevie Wonder"...had to mention it because people keep educating me to mention it)....

          If you noticed, I really didn't name too many Crown Jewels, because honestly, this album is "One Big Ultimate Crown Jewel (and the BEST album they ever made!!!!!!!)!!!!!!!

          In a whole, "The Isley Brothers" becoming a Self Contained Band was the BEST thing that ever happened to them, because it made their catalog richer......For the next 10 years they would create some of the BEST albums in history, but it started here!!!!
          • mikeSF_'s avatar
            mikeSF_
            Edited one year ago
            Had these guys stopped at the end of the 60's, they would've had a great run as a '60's R&B, early rock and roll band, with huge hits having the words "shout" and "twist", lol. Lucky for us, they pivoted into soul & funk in the 70's with a heavier sound, some Hendrix-esque fuzz guitar and Moog leads, and a few more Isley Brothers to fill out the lineup.

            This is a very enjoyable album of originals and some very re-imagined covers of pop radio songs of the time. The writing is top notch and the arrangements are engaging.

            Nice mix and decent enough pressing. Worth listening again and again.
            4 stars. Recommended.
            • tomwebb101's avatar
              tomwebb101
              I would buy into the whole AAA vs digital source if it mattered to me when i am sitting listening to my 1500 records. However, much to my advantage, it doesnt matter. My copy of this sounds as warm and alive as many of my all analogues because its produced that way, cut and pressed with obvious care (a seriously quiet LP here) and the textured gatefold is a real cherry on top. YMMV as ever but with MOV right now i would be very confident your experience will match that of mine.
              • ultron500's avatar
                ultron500
                I'll add my positive assessment of this release to the others already posted. While it's likely this is sourced from high rez digital files...the sound is warm and nicely detailed and very quiet vinyl surfaces...in fact quieter than a recent MoFi One Step I just got!.
                Nice packaging and lined inner sleeve too.
                • mcnab.cheyne's avatar
                  mcnab.cheyne
                  Sounds glorious to my ears. Perfect vinyl - absolutely perfect. Exceptional dynamics and balance. Wide soundstage. Cool textured cover. Thrilled with this release

                  Equipment used:
                  * Rega Planar 6
                  * Rega Exact cartridge
                  * Rega Elex-R
                  * Dali Oberon 5
                  * Blue Jeans Cables + interconnects
                  * All LPs cleaned on Project VC-E
                  • MrShocktime's avatar
                    MrShocktime
                    Absolutely perfect. Dead silent and flat vinyl by Record Industry with dynamic, punchy sound. The gatefold material is very nice as well. Easy 5/5
                    • tomwebb101's avatar
                      tomwebb101
                      Flawless pressing, blows away my original in noise floor terms. Getting used to this from MOV to be fair. Glad i got one early!
                      • nreszetar's avatar
                        nreszetar
                        Edited 3 years ago
                        A fantastic LP to own! One of the BEST soul records of the '70s. Excellent songwriting and covers. Well-recorded and pressed. You have never heard the Isleys if you have not heard them on vinyl.

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                        • Ratings:921
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