If you’ve ever sat in a car and felt that fuzzy, psychedelic guitar solo vibrating through the dashboard, you’ve met the "Lady." But here is the thing: most people think The Isley Brothers That Lady was just a random 1973 hit. They’re wrong. It wasn't just a hit; it was a total reinvention of a band that had been around since the 1950s.
Honestly, the story of this track is kinda wild. It’s a tale of two different decades, a teenage guitar prodigy, and a ghost named Jimi Hendrix.
The 1964 Version You’ve Probably Never Heard
Before it was a funk-rock behemoth, the song was titled "Who’s That Lady." Released in 1964, it sounded nothing like the version we blast today. It was a smooth, mid-tempo R&B track inspired by The Impressions. Think brass sections, finger snaps, and a bossa nova beat.
It flopped. Basically, nobody cared.
The Isleys were known for "Shout" and "Twist and Shout," but by the mid-60s, they were stuck in the Motown machine. They were singers, not a self-contained band. That changed when the younger brothers—Ernie, Marvin, and their brother-in-law Chris Jasper—started growing up.
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3 + 3: The Moment Everything Changed
By 1973, the original trio (Ronald, Rudolph, and O'Kelly) realized they needed to modernize. They brought the younger kids into the fold, forming the "3 + 3" lineup.
Ernie Isley was only 19 years old.
He had spent his childhood watching a young, struggling guitarist named Jimmy James live in his family’s house. You might know him better as Jimi Hendrix. Hendrix played in the Isleys' backing band in 1964, and he left a permanent mark on young Ernie.
When they decided to revisit "Who’s That Lady" for the 3 + 3 album, Ronald Isley told Ernie to take the lead.
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The Sound of That Legendary Solo
The guitar on The Isley Brothers That Lady is legendary for a reason. It’s not just "loud." It’s textured.
Ernie used a specific cocktail of gear to get that "chainsaw through silk" tone:
- A Maestro Phase Shifter for that swirling, underwater movement.
- A Big Muff Pi fuzz box for the grit and endless sustain.
- An Octavia (an effect Hendrix popularized) to add those high-pitched, shrieking overtones.
When Ernie finished the first take in the studio, the room went dead silent. His older brother, Kelly, reportedly stared at him through the studio glass for 15 minutes without saying a word. He couldn't believe his little brother had just played that.
Why the Song "That Lady" Almost Didn't Work
There was a logistical nightmare during the recording. Ernie's first take was so long and so explosive that they realized they hadn't left any room for Ronald’s vocals.
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Imagine that.
The guitar was so dominant it literally pushed the singer off the track. They had to go back and record a second take to make space for the lyrics. Interestingly, Ernie still thinks the first take was better, even though the second one is what we hear on the record today.
The song isn't just about the guitar, though. Chris Jasper’s clavinet and T.O.N.T.O. synthesizer work gave the track a futuristic sheen that bridged the gap between R&B and the emerging prog-rock scene.
The Chart Success and Cultural Impact
The song "That Lady" (Part 1) peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1973. It was their biggest hit since "It’s Your Thing" in 1969. But its reach went way beyond the charts.
- Kendrick Lamar: He famously sampled the track for his Grammy-winning song "i."
- Beastie Boys: They tucked a sample into "A Year and a Day" on Paul’s Boutique.
- Pop Culture: From Anchorman to hair care commercials in the 90s, the riff has become shorthand for "cool person entering the room."
Isley Brothers That Lady: Actionable Listening Guide
If you want to truly appreciate the depth of this track, don't just listen to the radio edit.
- Listen to the full album version (5:35): The radio edit cuts out the best parts of the bridge. The full version allows the groove to breathe.
- Focus on the Percussion: Listen to the congas and the interplay between the drums and the bass. It's a masterclass in "pocket" playing.
- A/B Test the 1964 Version: Go find the original "Who's That Lady" on YouTube or Spotify. Compare the two. It shows you how a great song can be completely transformed by a change in "vibe" and arrangement.
- Check the "B-Side": Part 2 of the single is essentially an extended guitar jam. If you're a gearhead, that's where the real gold is hidden.
The Isleys proved that you could be a soul group and a rock band at the same time. They didn't care about genres. They just cared about the groove.