The Isley Brothers 3 + 3 180g Import LP

Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums of All Time - Rated 464/500!

3+3 (1973) was a major turning point for the Isley Brothers. Original members Ronald, O'Kelly and Rudolph Isley added cousin Chris Jasper on keys and younger brothers Ernie on guitar and Marvin on bass.

The lineup addition changed the sound of the Isley Brothers into a more Rock direction without losing the R&B / soul sound the group had gained a huge fanbase with. Special attention goes to Ernie's Hendrix-like fuzz solo work and Marvin's stellar bass ventures, truly enriching the group's music.

Album opener "That Lady" became a hit overnight, their interpretation of The Doobie Brothers' "Listen to the Music" is the pinnacle of contagious and "Summer Breeze" by Seals & Crofts became a true soul staple ever since the Isleys laid it on wax.

One of finest R&B bassists of the 1970s, the ever-so-funky Marvin is in a class with heavyweights like Larry Graham and Louis Johnson -- and Ernie is a stunning guitarist who is heavily influenced by Jimi Hendrix but has a distinctive style of his own. the Isleys had always been lovers of rock, but with the addition of Ernie, their sound became even more overtly rock-influenced. Nonetheless, the rock and pop elements didn't alienate R&B audiences, which ate this album up.