The result was a album that was as consistently well played as it was well sung. It was also a sort of coming-out party for the twenty-one year old Ernie, whose fretted flights of fancy helped to make "That Lady" such a huge hit in 1973 (#6 Pop, #2 R&B), and 3 + 3 their first platinum seller.
"Summer Breeze" also charted (top ten, R&B) and it's not hard to imagine why. The Isleys started with a great tune that was still fresh in people's minds and put their own unique stamp on it. The harmonies by the Isleys don't quite come up to the level of Seals and Crofts', but who needs stinkin' harmony when Ronald Isley's lead croon is as smooth as a freshly-zambonied ice rink?
And then there's lil' bro Ernie and his Strat. Indeed, we've had a kind word or two to say about this guy before. As a colleague once put it, just as he can display the Hendrix-style pyrotechnics, he's just as capable of letting it simmer with a great deal of control. After the last chorus, though, Ernie opens it up with some Carlos Santana-ish sweet blues lines as he did for "That Lady", but appropriately keeping the tempo a tad restrained. Meanwhile, Jasper sticks with the piano and Ernie adds an acoustic rhythm guitar to retain a folk element, while Marvin's bass the Ernie's drums speak in a funkier language. This demonstrates well why the Isleys were so good at reaching across color barriers in music.
Even today, 3 + 3 makes for great listening no matter the season. But for on any summer mix collection, "Summer Breeze" belongs on it. Even better, make it the Isley Brothers' version.
Listen: The Isley Brothers "Summer Breeze"
"One Track Mind" is a more-or-less weekly drool over a single song selected on a whim and a short thesis on why you should be drooling over it, too.
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