Today's album
3 + 3
The Isley Brothers
The Isley Brothers add three younger musicians and suddenly soft-rock covers come with guitar solos capable of property damage.
02
What Shaped This Album
By 1973, the older Isleys had survived gospel, “Shout,” Motown, and a return to their T-Neck label. The next breakthrough came from officially adding younger brothers Ernie and Marvin Isley and brother-in-law Chris Jasper.
Ernie's guitars, Marvin's bass, and Jasper's keyboards let the group absorb psychedelic rock without surrendering Ronald Isley's voice. They could now take polite singer-songwriter hits apart and rebuild them for Black radio, rock listeners, and anybody with working hips.
03
The Album Title,Dissected
3 + 3
The equation is literal. Three older brothers who built the group join three younger musicians who had already been contributing behind the scenes.
But the plus sign matters more than the numbers. This is not a replacement or a backing band receiving a courtesy credit. It announces a merger between generations, with the family name staying intact while the sound becomes much harder to classify.
04
What to Listen For
The family announcement
“That Lady” opens with an old Isley song, then Ernie's phased guitar drags it straight into 1973.
The cover takeover
“Summer Breeze” slows the original down, adds heat, and gives Ernie six minutes to ruin its innocence.
The working groove
“What It Comes Down To” makes guitar, clavinet, and bass compete for the funkiest job in the room.
The quiet exit
“The Highways of My Life” trades distortion for 12-string guitar and proves restraint was always available.
05
Why It Matters Today
Ernie Isley grew up near Jimi Hendrix, who had played in the older brothers' band, but 3 + 3 does not make him an imitator. His guitar serves songs that move between funk, soul, pop, and rock without asking which audience owns the solo.
That flexibility helps explain why he is often admired in pieces instead of named with the usual heroes. Guitar culture likes a clearly marked genre and a lone star. Ernie works inside a family machine. Put on “That Lady” or “Summer Breeze” and the ranking system becomes very difficult to defend.