Today in rock history: on this date in 1973, powerhouse R&B band The Isley Brothers released its 11th album, the essential 3+3. The album’s title refers to the band (consisting of real-life brothers) expanding its lineup from its normal threesome to a sextet and beginning a new chapter in its legendary run as one of the leading R&B bands of all time. The record was the first to be released under the band’s brand new record label, Epic Records, and, more specifically, under the T-Neck Records division that was created especially for the Isleys. An unprecedented success, 3+3 included the hit singles “That Lady,” “What it Comes Down To” and the band’s superb interpretation of “Summer Breeze,” a song that was popularized by soft rock duo Seals and Crofts in 1972; all three singles became Top 10 hits on R&B singles charts. A sizable hit, the album climbed as high as No. 2 on Billboard’s R&B albums chart and No. 8 on the publication’s pop chart. Apart from becoming one of this renowned band’s strongest and best-performing albums of its tenure, 3+3 was also the very first Isley Brothers album to reach platinum status marking sales of over 1 million copies sold in the United States alone.

SUMMER BREEZE
Review: The Isley Brothers do their thing at St. Pete’s Mahaffey Theater (w/photos)

Today in rock history: on this date in 1971, brother act and pop trio The Bee Gees, scored its very first No. 1 hit single in America. “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart” from the group’s Trafalgar album reached the top spot on Billboard’s pop singles chart for the first of four weeks making it the biggest and most successful single the group had enjoyed on American shores to date. Originally written for pop crooner Andy Williams to sing, the then-popular vocalist passed on the opportunity to record the song. The song would later be covered by artists like Al Green, Cher, Johnny Mathis and Michael Buble, and it remains one of the best-known and most beloved Bee Gees songs of all time. Curiously, the single didn’t chart at all in England but was a substantial hit in countries like Canada, Australia and New Zealand which helped the group achieve worldwide success. The Bee Gees would become disco music kingpins towards the end of the 1970s but, during the period when they were known as more of a pop vocal group, this single perfectly illustrated the incredible harmonies and pop music sensibilities the Gibb brothers were capable of in their prime.

Today in rock history: on this date in 1965, the mighty and powerful R&B vocalist Wilson Pickett scored the very first No. 1 hit single of his career. His soul staple, “In The Midnight Hour,” which he co-wrote with legendary guitarist and songwriter Steve Cropper, topped Billboard’s R&B singles charts and climbed as high as No. 21 on pop charts. Pickett would score four more No.1 r&b hits throughout his long and impressive career but this, undoubtedly one of his most famous and well-known hits, was the very first chart-topper this soul music legend would achieve.

Today in rock history: on this date in 1981, the animated, sci-fi fantasy film Heavy Metal premiered in movie theaters across America. Based on stories found within the pages of the magazine of the same title, the film consisted of a series of vignettes that sometimes delved into a violent or profane nature. Set to a soundtrack that consisted of music by rock artists like Devo, Cheap Trick, Black Sabbath, Stevie Nicks, Sammy Hagar and several others, the film was an unexpected success that’s since earned a cult following . Voiceover work for some of the film’s animated characters was handled by comedic actors John Candy, Harold Ramis and Eugene Levy among many others. The film grossed over $20 million in box office receipts and its accompanying 2-LP soundtrack album climbed as high as No. 12 on Billboard’s pop albums chart.