November 27, 2019 Playlist

"3 + 3" by The Isley Brothers (1973)
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
The Isley Brothers "3 + 3"  1973 (USA) 
Today would have been Jimi Hendrix' 77th birthday. Since all four albums he made during his lifetime are already classic albums, here's a showcase for one of Jimi's greatest guitar disciples of the 1970's, Ernie Isley of The Isley Brothers. The Isleys really should be hailed as one of the greatest American musical groups of all time. The original trio (Ronnie, Rudy & O'Kelly) scored their first hit in 1959, which makes them contemporaries of Chuck Berry, Elvis and the other founders of rock & roll. Though their hits were generally not that high-charting, in 1963 an obscure band from Liverpool used the Isleys' song "Twist And Shout" as the climactic finale of their debut album. That same year, The Isley Brothers hired a 21-year old guitar player called "Jimmy James" who made his first recordings with them before moving to England to become "Jimi Hendrix" in 1967. In 1969 the Isleys jumped on the funk wagon and scored the biggest hit of their career with the classic groover "It's Your Thing" which began an interesting transition to a new level of stardom in the 1970's. At the beginning of that decade, they specialized in taking "white rock and pop" hits and turning them into progressive soul ala Isaac Hayes or Curtis Mayfield. By 1973, with the release of this week's CAOTW they formalized their transition from a Motown-style "three slick guys singing and dancing" group into a "rock band" by adding a younger generation of Isley brothers on Hendrixian guitar (Ernie), funky poppin' bass (Marvin) and futuristic synths and keyboards (Chris Jasper, The Isley Brother-in-law). Hence the title "3 + 3" equals six brothers in the new line-up. "Who's That Lady?" from this album was another big hit for the band and featured Ernie's guitar soloing and they also turned Seals & Crofts hit "Summer Breeze" into a gorgeous funky jam with heavy psychedelic guitar (much cooler than you thought that song could ever sound.) From then on, the group focused on original songs and became one of the top bands of the 1970's with a string of platinum albums. They've also had more longevity than most, scoring three more platinum albums in the early 2000's, nearly 50 years after they debuted.
(N) = New Release
   
Artist Song Album Year Country
CreamStrange BrewDisreali Gears1967UK
Iron ButterflyBelda-BeastBall1969USA
Creedence Clearwater RevivalRamble TambleCosmo's Factory1970USA
The Jimi Hendrix ExperienceGloria (Them/Van Morrison)The Essential Jimi Hendrix Volume 2rec. 1967?, rel. 1979USA/UK
 
 
The Who All This Music Must FadeWHO (N - forthcoming album)2019 (Polydor)UK
Ty Segall The Crawler (live)Deforming Lobes (N)2019 (Drag City)USA
Sleater-Kinney Hurry On HomeThe Center Won't Hold (N)2019 (Mom + Pop)USA
Guided By Voices Tiger On TopSweating The Plague (N)2019 (GBV Inc.)USA
Kim Gordon Air BnBNo Home Record (N)2019 (Matador)USA
Royal Trux (Ariel Pink remix) Whopper DavePink Stuff EP (N)2019 (Fat Possum)USA
Santana Paraiso QuemadosAfrica Speaks (N)2019 (Concord)USA/Mexico
   
 
The Isley BrothersThat Lady3 + 3
 CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		1973USA
The Isley BrothersSummer Breeze (Seals & Crofts)3 + 3
 CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		1973USA
FunkadelicI Wanna Know If It's Good To YouFree Your Mind . . . And Your Ass Will Follow1970USA
Prince & The RevolutionLet's Go Crazy (extended version)12" single1984USA
   
 
The Isley BrothersOhio / Machine Gun (CSNY / Jimi Hendrix)Givin' It Back1971USA
Sly & The Family StoneDance To The Medley:
  (a) Music Is Alive
  (b) Dance-In
  (c) Music Lover		Dance To The Music1968USA
Guru GuruBo DiddleyHinten1971Germany
Jimi HendrixVoodoo Chile / Steppin' Stone
   --> The Star-Spangled Banner (trad.)
   --> Purple Haze (live)		Woodstockrec. 1969, rel. 1994USA
   
 
The Gil Evans OrchestraUp From The Skies (Jimi Hendrix)The Gil Evans Orchestra Plays The Music Of Jimi Hendrix1974Canada/USA
Kungens Män PatriarkivetHårt Som Ben (N)2019 (Riot Season)Sweden
   
 
The Jimi Hendrix ExperienceWild Thing (The Troggs - live)Jimi Plays Montereyrec. 1967, rel. 1986USA/UK
      
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