It was during this period The Isley Brothers really became a Big Band commercially, In 1972 they released the Self Produced“Brother Brother Brother” their last through Buddah Records (on their T-Neck Label) it contained three Carol King Tracks, including the Title Track & “Its Too Late” My favorite track on Album was “Work To Do”
1973 saw the release of 3+3, the first Album to include the other two Isley Brothers & Cousin Chris Jasper, officially in the Band & on Album Sleeve, although they had been in the group since the 1969 Album ” Its Your Thing”
By now they had moved their T-Neck label over to Epic Records.
This was a Classic Album, including all the great Tracks “That Lady” Highways of my Life & “Summer Breeze” my favorite Track was “What it Comes Down To”
The Album went Platinum, a first for the Isleys, it got to number 2 on the Billboard Black Album Chart and number 8 on the Billboard Pop Album Chart!
The following year of 1974, saw the release of the Album “Live It Up” it reached Number 1 in the R&B Charts and Number 14 on the Billboard Chart.
There were 2 top 10 Hits on the Album, the Title Track “Live It Up” and also the track “Midnight Sky”
The Album also featured a Great Version of the Todd Rundgren Track “Hello its me”
The 12th Isley Brothers Album was released in 1975, called “The Heat is on”
It sold 500,000 copies in its first month of release and was the Isleys first Album to top both the Pop and R&B Charts! it spent a total of 40 weeks on the Billboard Album Chart.
The album featured the track “Fight The Power parts 1 & 2″ but my favorite Track on this Album & one of my All Time Isleys Brothers Favorites, was “For The Love Of You”
Over the years this Album contained 5 Songs that have been Sampled by other Artists over 25 times, they include; Cypress Hill, Doctor Dre, Real Roxanne & Public Enemy!
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