You know that opening riff. It’s fuzzy, distorted, and sounds more like something off a Jimi Hendrix record than a Motown track. Then the groove hits—a silky, sophisticated R&B shuffle that feels like a cool breeze on a humid July night. That is the magic of That Lady, the 1973 smash hit by The Isley Brothers. It’s one of those rare songs that transcends its era. It isn’t just a "soul song." It’s a rock song. It’s a funk anthem. Honestly, it’s a masterclass in how a band can completely reinvent themselves when the world thinks they’ve already peaked.
The song who's that lady—or "That Lady, Pts. 1 & 2" as it’s officially titled—wasn't actually a new idea in 1973. That’s the part most people miss. The Isleys had actually recorded a version of it nearly a decade earlier. But the difference between the 1964 original and the 1973 remake is the difference between a spark and a forest fire.
The 1964 Roots: Before the Fuzz
Back in 1964, the group was still very much a vocal trio consisting of the elder brothers: O'Kelly, Rudolph, and Ronald. They recorded a track called "Who's That Lady" which was heavily inspired by the Impressions. It was upbeat, jazzy, and very "standard" for the time. It had a bossa nova beat. It was fine. It was nice. But it didn't set the world on fire. It barely cracked the charts.
By the early 70s, the music landscape had shifted under their feet. The Beatles had happened. Hendrix had happened. Sly and the Family Stone had happened. The Isleys realized that if they wanted to stay relevant, they couldn't just be a vocal group anymore. They needed a band. They recruited their younger brothers, Ernie and Marvin, along with their brother-in-law Chris Jasper. This changed everything. Suddenly, you had Ernie Isley—a kid who had literally grown up watching Jimi Hendrix practice in his family's living room (Jimi played backup for the Isleys in the mid-60s)—bringing a raw, psychedelic rock energy to the table.
Why That Lady Still Hits Different
When they went into the studio to record the 3 + 3 album, Ernie brought a Maestro FZ-1S Fuzz-Tone pedal. He didn't want the guitar to sound polite. He wanted it to scream.
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The result was a sonic texture that R&B radio simply hadn't heard before. You have Ronald Isley’s lead vocals, which are smooth as single-malt scotch, floating over this gritty, aggressive guitar work. It’s a contradiction that shouldn't work, but it does. It works perfectly. The contrast creates a tension that keeps the listener hooked for the full five-minute duration of the album version.
The Secret Sauce of the Arrangement
- The Percussion: It’s not just drums. There’s a persistent, driving conga line that gives the song its Latin-soul heartbeat.
- The Bass: Marvin Isley’s bassline is deceptively simple. It stays in the pocket, allowing the guitar and vocals to dance around it.
- The Phasing: If you listen closely, there’s a lot of "whooshing" sounds—phase shifting—on the drums and guitars. This was cutting-edge studio tech in 1973.
Ernie Isley once mentioned in an interview with Guitar World that he was trying to channel the spirit of Hendrix, but with the melodic sensibility of gospel music. You can hear that in the solo. It’s melodic. You can hum it. How many guitar solos can you actually hum? Not many.
The Cultural Impact and Sampling Legacy
The song who's that lady didn't just stop at the 70s. It became a foundational text for hip-hop. If the riff sounds familiar and you weren't alive in '73, you're likely thinking of Kendrick Lamar’s "i." Kendrick didn't just sample a snippet; he built the entire track around the "That Lady" DNA. He even got Ronald Isley to appear in the music video and sing on the album version of To Pimp a Butterfly.
But Kendrick wasn't the first. Beastie Boys sampled it. Public Enemy sampled it. It has been used in countless commercials (notably for hair care products, for obvious reasons) and movies. Why? Because it communicates "cool" instantly. There is no ramp-up period. Within two seconds of that guitar intro, the vibe of the room changes.
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Common Misconceptions About the Song
A lot of people think the song is a cover of someone else. Nope. It’s an "Isley original" that they just happened to cover themselves. Another big myth is that Jimi Hendrix played on the 1973 version. While Hendrix did play with the Isleys in 1964, he had been gone for three years by the time the hit version of "That Lady" was recorded. That’s all Ernie Isley.
Also, some folks get the lyrics confused. They think it's a song about a specific celebrity. In reality, it's just a classic "love at first sight" trope—the mysterious woman walking down the street who stops everyone in their tracks. It’s simple songwriting elevated by incredible production.
How to Listen Like an Expert
If you really want to appreciate the song who's that lady, stop listening to the radio edit. The 3-minute version cuts out the best parts. You need the "Part 1 & 2" version from the 3 + 3 album.
Listen for the transition. Around the midway point, the vocals drop out and it becomes a sprawling, psychedelic jam session. This is where you hear the interplay between Chris Jasper’s T.O.N.T.O. synthesizer and Ernie’s guitar. It’s funky, it’s messy, and it’s beautiful. They weren't worried about "radio time" back then; they were worried about the groove.
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Technical Breakdown for the Nerds
For the musicians out there, the song is primarily in the key of A Major, but it borrows heavily from the Mixolydian mode, which is why it has that bluesy, slightly "flat" feel in the melody. Ernie’s guitar wasn't just a Stratocaster through a fuzz box; he was also using a Uni-Vibe pedal to get that swirling, underwater sound. It’s the same setup Hendrix used for "Machine Gun."
The vocal layering is also incredible. If you listen with headphones, you can hear Ronald’s harmonies tucked just behind his lead vocal. It’s tight. It’s precise. It shows that even though they were embracing the "wild" side of rock, they never lost their disciplined R&B roots.
Making the Most of This Classic
To truly digest the impact of this track, don't just leave it on a "70s hits" playlist. Do a little homework.
- Compare the versions: Go to a streaming service and play the 1964 "Who's That Lady" followed immediately by the 1973 "That Lady." It is the most dramatic evolution you will ever hear from a single artist.
- Check the credits: Look at the album 3 + 3. It’s where the Isleys started covering rock songs by artists like James Taylor and Seals and Crofts. It explains the headspace they were in.
- Watch the live footage: Find the 1973 Soul Train performance. Seeing Ernie Isley play that solo while wearing a literal disco-ball outfit is a core human experience.
The Isley Brothers proved that you don't have to stay in your lane. They were a "doo-wop" group that became a "Motown" group that became a "funk-rock" powerhouse. "That Lady" was the pivot point. It taught the industry that R&B could be loud, distorted, and experimental without losing its soul. Next time you hear that fuzz-drenched intro, remember you're listening to the moment the Isleys claimed their throne in the rock pantheon.