That Lady – The Isley Brothers | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#6) and R&B (2); 1973
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
One of the most exciting rock & soul tracks of 1973 was originally recorded and released by the Isley Brothers in 1964. By then, the three siblings had been recording for seven years, and had only one major hit – 1962’s Twist And Shout – to show for their efforts.
Promo copies of Who’s That Lady, the Ohio group’s new single, hit deejays’ desks during the first wave of the British Invasion, and the Isley’s 45 was promptly washed away by the English tide.
Two years later, in 1966, the brothers finally scored again with This Old Heart Of Mine (Is Weak For You), and once more with It’s Your Thing in 1969. The Isleys were now consistently placing records on the Hot 100, yet, only a handful cracked the Top 40.
In 1973 they dusted off their 1964 song and recut it as a showcase for the searing Hendrix-flavored guitar work of Ernie Isley, one of the three newest members (hence, the 3 + 3 album title).
This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
Produced by:
- Bert Berns
Lyrics Written by:
- Rudolph Isley
- Ronald Isley
- O’Kelly Isley Jr.
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).