141. Dan Epstein Discusses The Isley Brothers, 3 + 3

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Music journalist and sports author Dan Epstein joins Al to talk about the Isley Brothers’ 1973 album, 3 + 3. Dan shares his memories of buying the album and listening to it for the first time, and he breaks down each of the album’s nine tracks. He also discusses the Isleys’ longevity, their lack of acclaim compared to contemporaries, such as Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye, and their penchant for recording covers.

Dan talked about his excellent Substack newsletter, Jagged Time Lapse.  Be sure to check it out and subscribe! It’s at danepstein.substack.com.

Follow Dan on Instagram at @dockfidrych!

Al is on Bluesky at @almelchior.bsky.social. This show has accounts on Instagram and Threads at @youmealbum. Subscribe for free to You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter! https://youmealbum.substack.com/

1:12 Dan joins the show

1:59 “That Lady” was Dan’s introduction to the Isley Brothers

4:58 Dan eventually learned the Isleys had been around since the ‘50s

5:50 Dan recounts the day he bought 3 + 3 in 1989

14:44 Dan and Al talk about the progression in the Isleys’ discography leading up to 3 + 3

17:07 Al was astounded when he first heard “Contagious”

18:28 Dan got Ernie Isley to tell him how he got his guitar sound on “That Lady”

20:16 Ernie Isley and Brian May are special guitarists for Dan for a particular reason

21:30 Dan walks through what he likes about each track on the album

Observations about each track

23:56 That Lady

24:09 Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight

25:21 If You Were There

26:01 You Walk Your Way

28:17 Listen to the Music

29:26 What It Comes Down To

31:40 Sunshine (Go Away Today)

32:53 Summer Breeze

38:02 The Highways of My Life

40:17 Dan asserts that 3 + 3  is one of the great albums of the early ‘70s

42:56 Dan has an explanation for why 3 + 3 hasn’t received more acclaim

47:34 Why did the Isleys include so many covers on their albums?

52:41 Dan and Al talk about associations they have formed around certain songs

56:08 Dan discusses his Substack, Jagged Time Lapse

57:35 Al sums up how his response to 3 + 3 developed

1:00:31 Dan’s got some holiday content on his Substack

1:06:01 Dan updates us on his upcoming book on Redd Kross

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