The Isley Brothers vs. The Main Ingredient | Head 2 Head

In the 29^th edition of Head 2 Head (2024), The Isley Brothers and The Main Ingredient contend for the best rendition of “Summer Breeze.”

Welcome to Head 2 Head! On Head 2 Head, we pit at least two musicians performing the same song, comparing their respective performances.  After deliberating, we render a verdict of which performance was the best, or, subjectively, which performance moved us more.  In the 29^th edition of Head 2 Head (2024), The Isley Brothers and The Main Ingredient contend for the best rendition of “Summer Breeze.”

1. The Isley Brothers, “Summer Breeze, Pts. 1 & 2”

3 + 3 // Sony Music Entertainment // 1973 

“Summer breeze, all in my mind.” Indeed, Ronald Isley, indeed. The Isley Brothers’ gem “Summer Breeze, Pts. 1 & 2”, the eighth track from their lauded 1973 album, 3 + 3, is a cover.  It is hard to believe given that the gifted sextet makes the song sound original. “Summer Breeze” was written by Dash Crofts and the late Jim Seals aka Seals and Crofts in 1972. The duo scored a top 10 pop hit (no. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100).  Even though “Summer Breeze” was a moderate success for The Isley Brothers (“Summer Breeze, Pt. 1” reached no. 60 on the Billboard Hot 100), it showed their musical versatility.

3 + 3 marked the expansion of The Isley Brothers and their eclecticism. The addition of Ernie Isley is monumental.  He kills it on guitar 🎸, specifically his sick, rock-infused solo.  That solo alone is a key reason why “Summer Breeze” is an elite song in The Isley Brothers catalog.  It’s not only the solo, of course.  The instrumental introduction is the first hook, emulating the summer breeze perfectly. Ron Isley is on-point, singing with his ripe, ‘to die for’ falsetto. Besides the melodic guitar, the acoustic rhythm guitar gives this rendition a sublime blend of folk-rock, rock, and soul.  This was a different sound for the group, and it’s nothing short of awesome.  There are also the keys of Chris Jasper and bass of Marvin Isley, forming the instrumental half of the band.  Harmonizing sweetly with Ron are the late Rudolph Isley and the late O’Kelly Isley. With Seals and Crofts solidifying the excellence of the songwriting, Ron, Rudolph, and O’Kelly ensure the lyrics come alive in their rendition. The section to beat is the chorus, of course:

“Summer breeze, you make me feel fine

Blowin’ through the jasmine in my mind

Oh, summer breeze

Summer breeze, makes me feel fine

Blowin’ through the jasmine my mind

All in my mind.”

“Summer Breeze, Pt. 1” is the shorter ‘single’ version.  It’s well-rounded however “Summer Breeze, Pts. 1 & 2” is worth the six-minute-plus duration. This is a cover that brings something new and distinct to the original.

Appears in 🔻:

• The Isley Brothers, Summer Breeze, Pts. 1 & 2: Covers No. 26 (2024)

2. The Main Ingredient, “Summer Breeze”

Euphrates River // RCA // 1974

When a song is as awesome as “Summer Breeze” by Seals and Crofts’, everybody and his brother wants to cover it.  The Isley Brothers killed it on their 1973 cover, “Summer Breeze, Pts. 1 & 2”. Was that REALLY a cover? Another sublime soul collective, The Main Ingredient, led by the late, great Cuba Gooding Sr., also tried their hand at the Dash Crofts / Jim Seals-penned classic.  Unsurprisingly, The Main Ingredient delivers a stunning interpretation of “Summer Breeze” that oozes with soul.  This is a song that didn’t chart but deserved to.

What makes “Summer Breeze” sound like an original in The Main Ingredient’s hands? It begins with the instrumental accompaniment.  The arrangement and production are stupendous.  The strings are lush and gorgeous. The use of the harp, the most celestial instrument in the orchestra, is genius.  The low horns provide some bite and provide a sound foundation.  The mallets (xylophone and vibraphone) provided a distinct timbre too.  The rhythm section is locked in.  There are plenty of stellar riffs – the little things – that make “Summer Breeze” special.  This is a well-engineered track given how it is mixed, particularly the panning.  The main attraction is the vocals, led by Gooding. He is poised in the verses, which embrace a cool, folk-soul sound.  The background vocals are cleverly incorporated, and when harmonized, sound angelic. Between the vocal and instrumental arrangements, one can’t listen to “Summer Breeze” and not be awed by the incredible musicianship.  The melodies are executed flawlessly.  The riffs occur at the right place at the right time.  The way the song fades out is perfect too.

The Verdict 👨🏿‍⚖️ 

So, who covered “Summer Breeze” by Seals and Crofts the best? Was it the ambitious take by The Isley Brothers or the buttery smooth, soulful rendition by The Main Ingredient?  This one is tough! The Isley Brothers ‘put their foot’ into “Summer Breeze, Pts. 1 & 2” showcasing incredible musical versatility and successfully expanding the collective. Ernie Isley – DEFINITELY a big deal.  As for Cuba Gooding Sr. and The Main Ingredient, they knew they had to bring it in their cover after Ron Isley and company killed it.  Bring it The Main Ingredient does. The performance is sophisticated while the instrumental is brilliantly orchestrated. So, who wins? I’m close to a tie but remember how I said Ernie Isley is ‘a big deal?’ His guitar skill and soloing alone give The Isley Brothers a close win.

The Isley Brothers vs. The Main Ingredient: Head 2 Head No. 29 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; RCA, Sony Music Entertainment; Hernán Toro, Los Muertos Crew, RDNE Stock project, Thomas Ronveaux from Pexels]