The Isley Brothers

3+3

First released1973

The Isley Brothers recorded "3+3" in 1973 at T-Neck Studios in New York, their own in-house facility that gave them complete creative control over the project. The album was produced by the Isley Brothers themselves—Ronnie, Rudolph, and O'Kelly Isley—along with their younger brothers Ernie and Marvin, who contributed instrumentally to the record's sound. The production marked a significant shift toward funk and progressive soul, featuring live instrumentation including Ernie Isley's prominent guitar work, which became a defining characteristic of the album. "3+3" became one of their most commercially successful and critically acclaimed releases, reaching number 2 on the Billboard 200 chart and featuring the hit single "That Lady," which showcased the band's evolution from their earlier doo-wop and R&B roots into a more sophisticated funk sound. The album's success helped establish T-Neck Records as a major independent label and demonstrated the Isleys' ability to remain artistically relevant during the 1970s.