The Isley Brothers

3 + 3 (T-Neck ’73) Rating: B+
After recording a couple of all-time classic party songs ("Shout," "Twist and Shout"), Ronald, Rudolph, and O'Kelly Isley had another hit with Motown in 1967 ("This Old Heart Of Mine," which they later sued no-talent Michael Bolton for plagiarizing, forever winning my affections). After forming their own T-Neck label and releasing a #2 hit in "It's Your Thing," the group really hit their stride when younger brothers Ernie (guitar) and Marvin (bass), and brother-in-law Chris Jasper (keyboards) joined the fold on the aptly titled 3 + 3. Marvin was the key to the band's smooth yet funky sound, while Ernie was a fully-fledged guitar hero who pushed the group's music into a more rock oriented direction. Obviously indebted to Hendrix but with a much cleaner tone that often sounds as if it was filtered through a synthesizer, Ernie's astonishing lead runs highlight "That Lady" (a remake of an earlier song that became another hit) and several other songs, my favorites of which are catchy Isley originals such as "If You Were There" and "You Walk Your Way," as well as their strangely successful cover of Seal and Croft's "Summer Breeze." Alas, Ernie can't save the trite lyrics of the Doobie Brothers' "Listen To The Music" or the boring melody of James Taylor's "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight," but the group's silky smooth vocals makes all of these songs worth hearing, though several struggle with unmemorable melodies. Some of the performances are a tad too clean and perfect as well, particularly the ballads, which lack the sweat and grit of an Al Green. Still, the band's funky strengths and singable harmonies, not to mention Ernie's great guitar exploits (which more than salvages several songs), made the Isley Brothers one of the top second tier soul groups of the '70s, and 3 + 3 was a key effort in that it unveiled the group's powerhouse new lineup and sound while simultaneously containing several key songs.

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