Songfacts®:

• In an interview with Ernie Isley on The Isley Brothers: Summer Breeze Greatest Hits Live DVD, he says that this song was originally done as a Cha-Cha/Bossa Nova in 1964 titled "Who's That Lady." Ernie originally did not want to re-record it because he felt that it already had been done. Ronald Isley convinced him it would be worthwhile, as they were going to change the melody, tempo, and lyrics and that it would showcase the guitar work of younger brother Ernie, who had become an excellent player. The 1964 recording, which features a horn section, was renamed "That Lady" and is featured on the album 3+3. This version is the more widely-known recording of the song. >>

  Suggestion credit:
  Rudy - Bakersfield, CA
• Ernie Isley learned a lot about the guitar from Jimi Hendrix, who played with The Isleys in 1964. His work on this song is studied and revered by guitar aficionados in much the same way Hendrix is deconstructed. According to Ernie, it was a magical moment when it happened. He said: "When I finished the solo to 'That Lady,' Kelly looked at me for 15 minutes straight without blinking. I felt like I had one foot on the ground, one on Mount Olympus. I went from a black-and-white world to Technicolor."
• This crossed over to become a hit on both rock and R&B radio. In the early '70s, The Isley Brothers were one of the most popular acts in America with widespread appeal.
• The younger Isley brothers, Ernie and Marvin, were going to college at CW Post in Long Island when this hit. They became quite popular on campus.
• The song was used during the 2004 comedy The Legend of Ron Burgundy. It features as the intro music for the arrival Christina Applegate's Veronica Corningstone character at Channel 4 News.
• The guitar solo at the beginning of the song was sampled by the Beastie Boys for "A Year and a Day," which was part of their Paul's Boutique-closing deluxe medley "B-Boy Bouillabaisse."
  
  This was sampled by Kendrick Lamar for his 2014 single "I." Lamar turned up at Ronald Isley's house to personally ask permission to borrow from the song.