Recorded in 1973,
3 + 3 was a major turning point for
the Isley Brothers. With this album,
the Isleys moved their T-Neck label from Buddah to Epic/CBS (which became Epic/Sony in the early '90s), and it was at Epic that they unveiled their new lineup. Lead singer
Ronald Isley and his siblings
O'Kelly and
Rudolph remained, but
the Isleys became a sextet instead of a trio when cousin
Chris Jasper and younger brothers
Ernie and
Marvin were added. This new lineup was called 3 + 3, and the addition of
Jasper on keyboards,
Ernie on guitar, and
Marvin on bass added exciting new elements to
the Isleys' sound. 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. The single "That Lady" (which is based on an
Impressions-like gem they had recorded in 1964) was a major hit, and
the Isleys are equally captivating on soul interpretations of
Seals & Crofts' "Summer Breeze,"
James Taylor's "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight," and
the Doobie Brothers' "Listen to the Music." With this superb album,
the Isley Brothers sounded better than ever -- and they gained a lot of new fans without sacrificing the old ones.