That Lady, Pt. 1 & 2

Infobox Single
Name = That Lady, Pts. 1 & 2


Artist = The Isley Brothers
from Album = 3 + 3
Released = July 14, 1973
Format = 7" single
Recorded = Burbank Studios, Burbank, California; 1973
Genre = Funk/rock/soul
Length = 5:343:09 (radio edit)
Label = T-Neck
2251
Writer = Rudolph Isley
Ronald Isley
O'Kelly Isley, Jr.
Ernie Isley
Marvin Isley
Chris Jasper
Producer = Ronald Isley
Rudolph Isley
Chart position =
*#6 (US Pop Singles)
**#2 (US R&B Singles)
*#14 (UK Singles Chart)
Last single = "It's Too Late"
(1973)
This single = "That Lady, Pt. 1 & 2"
(1973)
Next single = "What It Comes Down To"
(1973)

"That Lady, Pt. 1 & 2" is a 1973 rock smash for The Isley Brothers, released on their T-Neck imprint. The song, one of the group's most well known, was originally performed by the group nearly a decade before in 1964 (released as "Who's That Lady?") inspired by The Impressions. After signing wih Epic Records in 1973, the eldest members of the group (O'Kelly Isley, Jr., Rudolph Isley and Ronald Isley) had included younger members, guitarist Ernie Isley, bassist Marvin Isley and keyboardist/pianist Chris Jasper, as official members. In a response to this transformation, the group gave themselves the moniker of "3 + 3", describing the three original vocalists in the group and three recruited instrumentalists, inspiring the aptly-titled album that came out that year.

The group entered the studio to remake "Who's That Lady?" after being inspired by rock acts such as Carlos Santana bringing in a Latin percussive rock feel to it including congas and an organ solo by assorted other musicians while the other Isleys played various instrumentation. The two youngest Isley brothers and in-law Jasper re-wrote the instrumental while the older brothers revamped their harmonies with Ronald showcasing a much more smoother vocal than the original version. Brother Ernie Isley's Jimi Hendrix/Santana-inspired guitar solo was one of the major highlights of the song and one of the key elements of what defined the "3 + 3" era of the Isleys. The song became their first Top 10 pop single since 1969's "It's Your Thing" peaked at number two on the pop singles chart, reaching number six on the pop chart while also reaching number two on the US R&B Singles chart. It was also another international hit for the group, reaching number fourteen in the UK.

The song is ranked #348 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Credits

*Ronald Isley: lead vocals
*Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley and O'Kelly Isley, Jr.: background vocals
*Ernie Isley: guitar and percussion
*Marvin Isley: bass and percussion
*Chris Jasper: piano, keyboards
*George Moreland: drums, percussion
*Truman Thomas: organ