Sly & the Family Stone | ||
| Allmusic Biography : Sly & the Family Stone harnessed all of the disparate musical and social trends of the late 60s, creating a wild, brilliant fusion of soul, rock, R&B;, psychedelia, and funk that broke boundaries down without a second thought. Led by Sly Stone, the Family Stone was comprised of men and women, and blacks and whites, making the band the first fully integrated group in rocks history. That integration shone through the music, as well as the groups message. Before Stone, very few soul and R&B; groups delved into political and social commentary; after him, it became a tradition in soul, funk, and hip-hop. And, along with James Brown, Stone brought hard funk into the mainstream. The Family Stones arrangements were ingenious, filled with unexpected group vocals, syncopated rhythms, punchy horns, and pop melodies. Their music was joyous, but as the 60s ended, so did the good times. Stone became disillusioned with the ideals he had been preaching in his music, becoming addicted to a variety of drugs in the process. His music gradually grew slower and darker, culminating in 1971s Theres a Riot Going On, which set the pace for 70s funk with its elastic bass, slurred vocals, and militant Black Power stance. Stone was able to turn out one more modern funk classic, 1973s Fresh, before slowly succumbing to his addictions, which gradually sapped him of his once prodigious talents. Nevertheless, his music continued to provide the basic template for urban soul, funk, and even hip-hop well into the 90s. Sly Stone (born Sylvester Stewart, March 15, 1944) and his family moved from his home state of Texas to San Francisco in the 50s. He had already begun to express an interest in music, and when he was 16, he had a regional hit with "Long Time Away." Stone studied music composition, theory, and trumpet at Vallejo Junior College in the early 60s; simultaneously, he began playing in several groups on the Bay Area scene, often with his brother Fred. Soon, he had become a disc jockey at the R&B; station KSOL, later switching to KDIA. The radio appearances led to a job producing records for Autumn Records. While at Autumn, he worked with a number of San Franciscan garage and psychedelic bands, including the Beau Brummels, the Great Society, Bobby Freeman, and the Mojo Men. During 1966, Stone formed the Stoners, which featured trumpeter Cynthia Robinson. Though the Stoners didnt last long, he brought Robinson along as one of the core members of his next group, Sly & the Family Stone. Formed in early 1967, the Family Stone also featured Fred Stewart (guitar, vocals), Larry Graham, Jr. (bass, vocals), Greg Errico (drums), Jerry Martini (saxophone), and Rosie Stone (piano), who all were of different racial backgrounds. The groups eclectic music and multiracial composition made them distinctive from the numerous flower-power bands in San Francisco, and their first single, "I Aint Got Nobody," became a regional hit for the local label Loadstone. The band signed with Epic Records shortly afterward, releasing their debut album, A Whole New Thing, by the end of the year. The record stiffed, but the follow-up, Dance to the Music, generated a Top Ten pop and R&B; hit with its title track early in 1968. Life followed later in 1968, but the record failed to capitalize on its predecessors success. "Everyday People," released late in 1968, turned their fortunes back around, rocketing to the top of the pop and R&B; charts and setting the stage for the breakthrough success of 1969s Stand! Featuring "Everyday People," "Sing a Simple Song," "Stand," and "I Want to Take You Higher," Stand! became the Family Stones first genuine hit album, climbing to number 13 and spending over 100 weeks on the charts. Stand! also marked the emergence of the political bent in Stones songwriting ("Dont Call Me Nigger, Whitey"), as well as the development of hard-edged, improvisational funk like "Sex Machine." The Family Stone quickly became known as one of the best live bands of the late 60s, and their performance at Woodstock was widely hailed as one of the festivals best. The non-LP singles "Hot Fun in the Summertime" and "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" b/w "Everybody Is a Star" became hits, reaching number two and number one respectively in late 1969/early 1970. Both singles were included on Greatest Hits, which became a number two record upon its fall 1970 release. While the group was at the height of its popularity, Sly was beginning to unravel behind the scenes. Developing a debilitating addiction to narcotics, Stone soon became notorious for arriving late for concerts, frequently missing the shows all together. Stones growing personal problems, as well as his dismay with the slow death of the civil rights movement and other political causes, surfaced on Theres a Riot Goin On. Though the album shot to number one upon its fall 1971 release, the record -- including "Family Affair," Stones last number one single -- was dark, hazy, and paranoid, and his audience began to shrink slightly. During 1972, several key members of the Family Stone, including Graham and Errico, left the band; they were replaced by Rusty Allen and Andy Newmark, respectively. The relatively lighter Fresh appeared in the summer of 1973, and it went into the Top Ten on the strength of the Top Ten R&B; hit "If You Want Me to Stay." Released the following year, Small Talk was a moderate hit, reaching number 15 on the charts and going gold, but it failed to generate a big hit single. High on You, released in late 1975 and credited only to Sly Stone, confirmed that his power and popularity had faded. "I Get High on You" reached the R&B; Top Ten, but the album made no lasting impact. Disco had overtaken funk in terms of popularity, and even if Sly wanted to compete with disco, he wasnt in shape to make music. He had become addicted to cocaine, his health was frequently poor, and he was often in trouble with the law. His recordings had slowed to a trickle, and Epic decided to close out his contract in 1979 with Ten Years Too Soon, a compilation of previously released material that had the original funky rhythm tracks replaced with disco beats. Stone signed with Warner Brothers that same year, crafting the comeback effort Back on the Right Track with several original members of the Family Stone, but the record was critically panned and a commercial failure. In light of the albums lack of success, Stone retreated even further, eventually joining forces with George Clinton on Funkadelics 1981 album The Electric Spanking of War Babies. Following the albums release, Stone toured with Clintons P-Funk All-Stars, which led him to embark on his own tour, as well as a stint with Bobby Womack. The culmination of this burst of activity was 1983s Aint but the One Way, an album that was ignored. Later that year, Stone was arrested for cocaine possession; the following year, he entered rehab. Stone appeared on Jesse Johnsons 1986 R&B; hit "Crazay." The following year, he dueted with Martha Davis on "Love & Affection" for the Soul Man soundtrack; he also he recorded "Eek-a-Bo-Static," a single that didnt chart. Stone was arrested and imprisoned for cocaine possession by the end of 1987, and he was never able to recover from the final arrest. Stone continued to battle his addiction, with varying degrees of success. By his 1993 induction to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, he had disappeared from public view. Avenue Records gave Stone a recording contract in 1995, but nothing would be recorded. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 25 Title: A Whole New Thing Released: 1967 Tracks: 17 Duration: 56:31 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Underdog (03:59) 2 If This Room Could Talk (03:14) 3 Run, Run, Run (03:07) 4 Turn Me Loose (01:57) 5 Let Me Hear It From You (03:35) 6 Advice (02:23) 7 I Cannot Make It (03:20) 8 Trip to Your Heart (03:43) 9 I Hate To Love Her (03:33) 10 Bad Risk (03:05) 11 That Kind of Person (04:28) 12 Dog (03:07) 13 Underdog (single version) (03:06) 14 Let Me Hear It From You (single version) (03:30) 15 Only One Way Out of This Mess (03:53) 16 What Would I Do (04:07) 17 You Better Help Yourself (02:19) |
| A Whole New Thing : Allmusic album Review : Sly & the Family Stones debut album is more restrained and not nearly as funky or psychedelic as their subsequent efforts, owing far more to traditional soul arrangements. These arent that traditional, though; Sly is already using goofier and/or more thoughtful lyrics than the soul norm, and taking some cues from rock in his adventurous and unexpected song construction. The Family Stone, similarly, arent as innovative as they would shortly become, but are already a tight unit, particularly in the interplay between lead and backup vocals and the sharp horn riffs. | ||
 | Album: 2 of 25 Title: Dance to the Music Released: 1968 Tracks: 15 Duration: 58:17 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Dance to the Music (02:59) 2 Higher (02:49) 3 I Aint Got Nobody (For Real) (04:27) 4 Dance to the Medley: Music Is Alive / Dance In / Music Lover (12:13) 5 Ride the Rhythm (02:48) 6 Color Me True (03:11) 7 Are You Ready? (02:50) 8 Dont Burn Baby (03:15) 9 Ill Never Fall in Love Again (03:29) 10 Dance to the Music (single version) (02:59) 11 Higher (unissued single version) (02:55) 12 Soul Clappin (02:40) 13 We Love All (04:32) 14 I Cant Turn You Loose (03:35) 15 Never Do Your Woman Wrong (03:34) |
| Dance to the Music : Allmusic album Review : Sly & the Family Stone came into their own with their second album, Dance to the Music. This is exuberant music, bursting with joy and invention. If theres a shortage of classic material, with only the title track being a genuine classic, that winds up being nearly incidental, since its so easy to get sucked into the freewheeling spirit and cavalier virtuosity of the group. Consider this -- prior to this record no one, not even the Family Stone, treated soul as a psychedelic sun splash, filled with bright melodies, kaleidoscopic arrangements, inextricably intertwined interplay, and deft, fast rhythms. Yes, they wound up turning "Higher" into the better "I Want to Take You Higher" and they recycle the title track in the long jam "Dance to the Medley," but theres such imagination to this jam that the similarities fade as they play. And, if these are just vamps, well, so are James Browns records, and those didnt have the vitality or friendliness of this. Not a perfect record, but a fine one all the same. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 25 Title: Life Released: 1968-09 Tracks: 11 Duration: 30:37 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Dynamite! (02:43) 2 Chicken (02:14) 3 Plastic Jim (03:31) 4 Fun (02:21) 5 Into My Own Thing (02:11) 6 Harmony (02:52) 7 Life (03:00) 8 Love City (02:44) 9 Im an Animal (03:22) 10 M’Lady (02:45) 11 Jane Is a Groupee (02:49) |
| Life : Allmusic album Review : Just a matter of months after Dance to the Music, Sly & the Family Stone turned around and delivered Life, a record that leapfrogged over its predecessor in terms of accomplishment and achievement. The most noteworthy difference is the heavier reliance on psychedelics and fuzz guitars, plus a sharpening of songcraft that extends to even throwaways like "Chicken." As it turned out, Life didnt have any hits -- the double A-sided single "Life"/"MLady" barely cracked the Top 100 -- yet this feels considerably more song-oriented than its predecessor, as each track is a concise slice of tightly wound dance-funk. All the more impressive is that the group is able to strut their stuff within this context, trading off vocals and blending into an unstoppable force where its impossible to separate the instruments, even as they solo. The songwriting might still be perfunctory or derivative in spots -- listen to how they appropriate "Eleanor Rigby" on "Plastic Jim" -- but whats impressive is how even the borrowed or recycled moments sound fresh in context. And then there are the cuts that work on their own, whether its the aforementioned double-sided single, "Fun," "Dynamite!," or several other cuts here -- these are brilliant, intoxicating slices of funk-pop that get by as much on sound as song, and theyre hard to resist. | ||
 | Album: 4 of 25 Title: Stand! Released: 1969-05-03 Tracks: 8 Duration: 41:38 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Stand! (03:08) 2 Don’t Call Me Nigger, Whitey (05:59) 3 I Want to Take You Higher (05:23) 4 Somebodys Watching You (03:21) 5 Sing a Simple Song (03:56) 6 Everyday People (02:22) 7 Sex Machine (13:48) 8 You Can Make It If You Try (03:38) |
| Stand! : Allmusic album Review : Stand! is the pinnacle of Sly & the Family Stones early work, a record that represents a culmination of the groups musical vision and accomplishment. Life hinted at this records boundless enthusiasm and blurred stylistic boundaries, yet everything simply gels here, resulting in no separation between the astounding funk, effervescent irresistible melodies, psychedelicized guitars, and deep rhythms. Add to this a sharpened sense of pop songcraft, elastic band interplay, and a flowering of Slys social consciousness, and the result is utterly stunning. Yes, the jams ("Dont Call Me Nigger, Whitey," "Sex Machine") wind up meandering ever so slightly, but theyre surrounded by utter brilliance, from the rousing call to arms of "Stand!" to the unification anthem "Everyday People" to the unstoppable "I Want to Take You Higher." All of it sounds like the Family Stone, thanks not just to the communal lead vocals but to the brilliant interplay, but each track is distinct, emphasizing a different side of their musical personality. As a result, Stand! winds up infectious and informative, invigorating and thought-provoking -- stimulating in every sense of the word. Few records of its time touched it, and Sly topped it only by offering its opposite the next time out. | ||
 | Album: 5 of 25 Title: There’s a Riot Goin’ On Released: 1971-11-20 Tracks: 16 Duration: 1:05:24 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Luv n’ Haight (04:03) 2 Just Like a Baby (05:13) 3 Poet (03:03) 4 Family Affair (03:05) 5 Africa Talks to You “The Asphalt Jungle” (08:45) 6 There’s a Riot Goin’ On (00:04) 7 Brave & Strong (03:30) 8 (You Caught Me) Smilin’ (02:56) 9 Time (03:03) 10 Spaced Cowboy (04:00) 11 Runnin’ Away (02:58) 12 Thank You for Talkin’ to Me Africa (07:18) 13 Runnin’ Away (single version) (02:44) 14 My Gorilla Is My Butler (03:12) 15 Do You Know What? (07:16) 16 That’s Pretty Clean (04:11) |
| There’s a Riot Goin’ On : Allmusic album Review : Its easy to write off Theres a Riot Goin On as one of two things -- Sly Stones disgusted social commentary or the beginning of his slow descent into addiction. Its both of these things, of course, but pigeonholing it as either winds up dismissing the album as a whole, since it is so bloody hard to categorize. Whats certain is that Riot is unlike any of Sly & the Family Stones other albums, stripped of the effervescence that flowed through even such politically aware records as Stand! This is idealism soured, as hope is slowly replaced by cynicism, joy by skepticism, enthusiasm by weariness, sex by pornography, thrills by narcotics. Joy isnt entirely gone -- it creeps through the cracks every once and awhile and, more disturbing, Sly revels in his stoned decadence. What makes Riot so remarkable is that its hard not to get drawn in with him, as youre seduced by the narcotic grooves, seductive vocals slurs, leering electric pianos, and crawling guitars. As the themes surface, its hard not to nod in agreement, but its a junkie nod, induced by the comforting coma of the music. And damn if this music isnt funk at its deepest and most impenetrable -- this is dense music, nearly impenetrable, but not from its deep grooves, but its utter weariness. Slys songwriting remains remarkably sharp, but only when he wants to write -- the foreboding opener "Luv N Haight," the scarily resigned "Family Affair," the cracked cynical blues "Time," and "(You Caught Me) Smilin." Ultimately, the music is the message, and while its dark music, its not alienating -- its seductive despair, and thats the scariest thing about it. | ||
 | Album: 6 of 25 Title: Fresh Released: 1973 Tracks: 11 Duration: 39:42 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 In Time (05:48) 2 If You Want Me to Stay (03:00) 3 Let Me Have It All (02:56) 4 Frisky (03:11) 5 Thankful n Thoughtful (04:41) 6 Skin I’m In (02:53) 7 I Dont Know (Satisfaction) (03:52) 8 Keep on Dancin (02:22) 9 Que será, será (Whatever Will Be, Will Be) (05:21) 10 If It Were Left Up to Me (02:00) 11 Babies Makin Babies (03:35) |
| Fresh : Allmusic album Review : Fresh expands and brightens the slow grooves of Theres a Riot Goin On, turning them, for the most part, into friendly, welcoming rhythms. There are still traces of the narcotic haze of Riot, particularly on the brilliant, crawling inversion of "Que Sera, Sera," yet this never feels like an invitation into a junkies lair. Still, this isnt necessarily lighter than Riot -- in fact, his social commentary is more explicit, and while the music doesnt telegraph his resignation the way Riot did, it comes from the same source. So, Fresh winds up more varied, musically and lyrically, which may not make it as unified, but it does result in more traditional funk that certainly is appealing in its own right. Besides, this isnt conventional funk -- its eccentric, where even concise catchy tunes like "If You Want Me to Stay" seem as elastic as the opener, "In Time." Thats the albums ultimate charm -- it finds Sly precisely at the point where hes balancing funk and pop, about to fall into the brink, but creating an utterly individual album that wound up being his last masterwork and one of the great funk albums of its era. | ||
 | Album: 7 of 25 Title: Small Talk Released: 1974 Tracks: 15 Duration: 49:44 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Small Talk (03:23) 2 Say You Will (03:19) 3 Mother Beautiful (02:01) 4 Time for Livin (03:17) 5 Cant Strain My Brain (04:09) 6 Loose Booty (03:47) 7 Holdin On (03:39) 8 Wishful Thinkin (04:26) 9 Better Thee Than Me (03:35) 10 Livin While Im Livin (02:58) 11 This Is Love (02:59) 12 Crossword Puzzle (early version) (03:49) 13 Time for Livin (alternate version) (04:01) 14 Loose Booty (alternate version) (02:07) 15 Positive (02:14) |
| Small Talk : Allmusic album Review : A new bass player and drummer signaled a toned-down Sly & the Family Stone sound. Partially in keeping with changes in much of popular music in the early 70s, and maybe the result of marriage and a child, Sly became more introspective, quieter, and calmer, even employing a string section on various cuts. A less exhilarating album than earlier efforts, there is still much of merit here, including the Top Ten R&B hit "Time for Livin." | ||
 | Album: 8 of 25 Title: Heard You Missed Me, Well Im Back Released: 1976-12 Tracks: 10 Duration: 34:06 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Heard You Missed Me, Well Im Back (04:01) 2 What Was I Thinkin in My Head (04:02) 3 Nothing Less Than Happiness (03:01) 4 Sexy Situation (02:59) 5 Blessing in Disguise (03:51) 6 Everything in You (03:16) 7 Mother Is a Hippie (03:03) 8 Lets Be Together (03:38) 9 The Thing (03:23) 10 Family Again (02:49) |
| Heard You Missed Me, Well I'm Back : Allmusic album Review : Heard Ya Missed Me, Well Im Back, Sly Stones ninth album for Epic, features a reunited Sly & the Family Stone. Slys previous album, the funk-filled High on You (1975), had been a solo effort. The sentiment here sure seems inviting -- Sly optimistically reuniting with his group in an aim to recapture the magic of his late-60s prime -- yet the result is sadly disappointing. Rather than revisit the funk of High on You or the psychedelic pop/rock of late-60s Sly & the Family Stone, Heard Ya Missed Me, Well Im Back seems modeled after the Philly soul sound of the time. This in itself is fine -- this was 1976, after all, and the Family Stone seemed well-suited for the horn- and chorus-filled style of Philly soul, which was then in vogue -- and it certainly makes for a curious entry in the groups catalog. However, neither the songs nor the music here is especially engaging beyond the level of curiosity. The marketplace didnt respond well to Heard Ya Missed Me, Well Im Back, and its fairly easy to hear why -- nothing here sticks, even if the music is pleasant enough and even if Sly is in an optimistic mood. Sly & the Family Stone may be back here, as the title proclaims, but this isnt the same band spiritually or musically. One suspects Epic may have pushed Sly in the Philly soul direction, given the labels treatment of the Jackson 5 on Goin Places (1977). After all, the label didnt care enough about Sly to keep him around for long; following the commercial failure of Heard Ya Missed Me, Well Im Back, he was dropped from his contract after only two albums. | ||
 | Album: 9 of 25 Title: Back on the Right Track Released: 1979-11-03 Tracks: 8 Duration: 26:28 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Remember Who You Are (03:18) 2 Back on the Right Track (03:23) 3 If Its Not Addin Up (02:44) 4 The Same Thing (Makes You Laugh, Makes You Cry) (02:43) 5 Shine It On (04:52) 6 It Takes All Kinds (03:01) 7 Whos to Say? (02:50) 8 Sheer Energy (03:33) |
| Back on the Right Track : Allmusic album Review : By the late 70s, Sly Stone had been so thoroughly written off as a has-been that few listeners checked out Back on the Right Track. Nor have listeners been inspired to rediscover the album, since his late-60s/early-70s classics cast such a huge shadow over his subsequent work. It comes as somewhat of a surprise, then, to find the basic Stone soul/rock/funk foundation still firmly in place here. There were two problems: the foundation didnt make any notable advancements on the territory hed already mapped out by the early 70s, and the songs themselves werent that special, sounding more like basic vamps or promising scraps than fully baked ideas. Judged solely on its own terms, its actually a respectable slice of funk; its only when stacked against Stones other works that the disappointment becomes intense. | ||
 | Album: 10 of 25 Title: Anthology Released: 1989 Tracks: 20 Duration: 1:14:07 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Dance to the Music (02:59) 2 M’Lady (02:45) 3 Life (03:00) 4 Fun (02:21) 5 Sing a Simple Song (03:56) 6 Everyday People (02:22) 7 Stand! (03:08) 8 I Want to Take You Higher (05:23) 9 Dont You Call Me Nigger, Whitey (05:57) 10 You Can Make It If You Try (03:38) 11 Hot Fun in the Summertime (02:38) 12 Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) (04:48) 13 Everybody Is a Star (03:00) 14 Family Affair (03:05) 15 Runnin’ Away (02:54) 16 (You Caught Me) Smilin’ (02:56) 17 Thank You for Talkin’ to Me Africa (07:12) 18 Babies Makin Babies (03:35) 19 If You Want Me to Stay (03:00) 20 Que será, será (Whatever Will Be, Will Be) (05:21) |
| Anthology : Allmusic album Review : Anthology essentially replicates the previous collection Greatest Hits and adds singles from Theres a Riot Goin On and Fresh to the end of the album. Where Greatest Hits didnt follow chronological order, Anthology presents every single in the order it was released -- and, with the exception of the latter-day singles and the inclusion of "Dont Call Me Nigger, Whitey," that is the major difference between the two collections. Anthology goes for a sweeping, definitive overview, while Greatest Hits is a brief blast of 12 of the finest singles of the rock & roll era. Either compilation functions as an excellent introduction, but Anthology is more comprehensive, giving it the edge as a first purchase. | ||
 | Album: 11 of 25 Title: The Collection Released: 1991-09-01 Tracks: 16 Duration: 1:04:15 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Dance to the Music (02:59) 2 Dont Call Me Nigger, Whitey (06:02) 3 I Get High on You (05:55) 4 Family Affair (03:05) 5 Loose Booty (03:47) 6 Que será, será (Whatever Will Be, Will Be) (05:21) 7 I Want to the Take You Higher (05:26) 8 Keep on Dancin (02:25) 9 Everyday People (05:58) 10 Dynamite! (02:46) 11 Thank You (Fallenttinme Be Mice Elf Agin) (04:53) 12 Running Away (02:58) 13 Smilin (02:59) 14 If You Want Me to Stay (03:06) 15 Frisky (03:14) 16 Time for Livin (03:16) |
 | Album: 12 of 25 Title: Greatest Hits Released: 1992 Tracks: 20 Duration: 1:10:46 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Dance to the Music (02:59) 2 I Want to Take You Higher (05:25) 3 Family Affair (03:05) 4 Thank You (Falettime Be Mice Elf Again) (04:43) 5 I Get High on You (03:13) 6 Stand (03:06) 7 MLady (02:46) 8 Skin Im In (02:53) 9 Everyday People (02:22) 10 Sing a Simple Song (03:57) 11 Hot Fun in the Summertime (02:38) 12 Dont Call Me Nigger, Whitey (05:58) 13 Brave & Strong (03:28) 14 Life (03:00) 15 Everybody Is a Star (03:00) 16 If You Want Me to Stay (03:00) 17 (You Caught Me) Smilin (02:54) 18 Que será, será (Whatever Will Be, Will Be) (05:21) 19 Runnin Away (02:56) 20 Family Affair (remix) (03:52) |
| Greatest Hits : Allmusic album Review : Released in 1970 during the stopgap between Stand! and Theres a Riot Goin On, Greatest Hits inadvertently arrived at precisely the right moment, summarizing Sly & the Family Stones joyous hit-making run on the pop and R&B; charts. Technically, only four songs here reached the Top Ten, with only two others hitting the Top 40, but judging this solely on charts is misleading, since this is simply a peerless singles collection. This summarizes their first four albums perfectly (almost all of Stand! outside of the two jams and "Somebodys Watching You" is here), adding the non-LP singles "Hot Fun in the Summertime," "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)," and "Everybody Is a Star," possibly the loveliest thing they ever recorded. But, this isnt merely a summary (and, if it was just that, Anthology, the early-80s comp that covers Riot and Fresh would be stronger than this), its one of the greatest party records of all time. Music is rarely as vivacious, vigorous, and vibrant as this, and captured on one album, the spirit, sound, and songs of Sly & the Family Stone are all the more stunning. Greatest hits dont come better than this -- in fact, music rarely does. | ||
 | Album: 13 of 25 Title: Aint but the One Way Released: 1992 Tracks: 9 Duration: 34:20 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 L.O.V.I.N.U. (04:40) 2 One Way (04:26) 3 Ha Ha, Hee Hee (03:54) 4 Hobo Ken (02:38) 5 Who in the Funk Do You Think You Are (04:34) 6 You Really Got Me (03:51) 7 Sylvester (00:44) 8 We Can Do It (03:46) 9 High, Yall (05:42) |
| Ain't but the One Way : Allmusic album Review : Aint But the One Way was the last in a series of comeback albums attempted by an increasingly dispirited Sly Stone and ended up being his swan song. On the surface, its a relatively poor Sly & the Family Stone album, one that only dedicated fans, completists, and the historically curious will want to seek out. So if youre just a casual Sly listener, steer clear! But if you do fall into that category of Sly fanatics curious about those hazy final days before the funk legend descended into semi-obscurity, youll find some insight here if you put the album into its proper context. To backtrack for a moment and frame that context, remember that Sly had been struggling, both commercially and creatively, for years. Following a long dry spell, he left Epic and moved to Warner Brothers at the end of the 70s, resulting in Back on the Right Track (1979). That album didnt prove to be the comeback it was planned to be, and Sly then drifted toward Warner labelmate George Clinton, with whom he would plan his next comeback. If you dig into the credits of P-Funk songs of this early-80s era such as "Funk Gets Stronger" (from Electric Spanking of War Babies, 1981) and "Hydraulic Pump" (Urban Dancefloor Guerillas, 1983), youll note some co-writing credits for Sly. And if you attended some P-Funk concerts back then, you may have seen him open for Clinton and company. But when it came time to record Aint But the One Way, problems arose. For one, Clinton had a serious falling out with Warner Brothers. Secondly, urban legend says Sly simply disappeared after half-recording these songs around 1980 or so, leaving the album in an uncompleted state for a while. Whatever the truth, Clintons presence is indeed lacking here on Aint But the One Way (despite evidence of a demo version of "Who in the Funk Do You Think You Are" later arising on the first volume of the odds-and-ends George Clintons Family Series), and Warner did bring in producer Stewart Levine (Jazz Crusaders, Simply Red) to pull the album together for release. (Another urban legend claims that the cover photo of Sly dates back to Back on the Right Track, further proof perhaps that Sly was AWOL.) The resulting album confirms such speculation: in general, the songs are sketchy funk vamps along the lines of what Clinton and company were recording around that time, and the innumerable studio musicians and the overall stitched-together feel of the album do suggest Levine earned his production paycheck. In any event, there are some glimmers of Slys genius here, albeit momentary glimmers. "Ha Ha, Hee Hee" is a gem -- a gentle ballad à la "Runnin Away" with curiously cryptic lyrics -- while "Who in the Funk Do You Think You Are" stands out with a bracing guitar riff, if not much else too noteworthy going for it. Elsewhere, "High, YAll" is an "I Wanna Take You Higher" rewrite, "Sylvester" is a spooky a cappella minute, "L.O.V.I.N.U." is a perky pop song, and yes, "You Really Got Me" is a run-through of the Kinks classic. Taken together, these songs amount to less than a solid album, let alone a good one, but as latter-day leftovers, theyre fairly interesting glimpses into Slys hazy descent into coked-out infamy. And as such, theyre a little sad. | ||
 | Album: 14 of 25 Title: The Best of Sly & The Family Stone Released: 1992-09-08 Tracks: 20 Duration: 1:10:46 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Dance to the Music (02:59) 2 I Want to Take You Higher (05:25) 3 Family Affair (03:05) 4 Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Again) (04:43) 5 I Get High on You (03:13) 6 Stand! (03:08) 7 M’Lady (02:45) 8 Skin I’m In (02:53) 9 Everyday People (02:22) 10 Sing a Simple Song (03:56) 11 Hot Fun in the Summertime (02:38) 12 Don’t Call Me Nigger, Whitey (05:59) 13 Brave & Strong (03:28) 14 Life (03:00) 15 Everybody Is a Star (03:00) 16 If You Want Me to Stay (03:00) 17 (You Caught Me) Smilin’ (02:56) 18 Que será, será (Whatever Will Be, Will Be) (05:21) 19 Runnin’ Away (02:54) 20 Family Affair (remix) (03:53) |
 | Album: 15 of 25 Title: Who in the Funk Do You Think You Are: The Warner Bros. Recordings Released: 2001 Tracks: 22 Duration: 1:18:44 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Remember Who You Are (03:18) 2 Back on the Right Track (03:24) 3 If Its Not Addin Up (02:44) 4 The Same Thing (Makes You Laugh, Makes You Cry) (02:43) 5 Shine It On (04:52) 6 It Takes All Kinds (03:00) 7 Whos to Say? (02:50) 8 Sheer Energy (03:35) 9 L.O.V.I.N.U. (04:40) 10 One Way (04:26) 11 Ha Ha, Hee Hee (03:54) 12 Hobo Ken (02:38) 13 Who in the Funk Do You Think You Are (04:34) 14 You Really Got Me (03:51) 15 Sylvester (00:44) 16 We Can Do It (03:46) 17 High, Yall (05:42) 18 Youre the One (instrumental demo) (03:38) 19 In Other Words (demo) (03:45) 20 Hand of Love (demo) (02:44) 21 Lets Be Together (demo) (02:47) 22 Get Back (backing track takes 2 + 3) (05:00) |
| Who in the Funk Do You Think You Are: The Warner Bros. Recordings : Allmusic album Review : By the time Sly Stone -- with a revamped version of the Family Stone -- released his two Warner Bros. albums, Back on the Right Track and Aint But the One Way, he had been dismissed as a drugged-out has-been, with his best days past him. The latter part was most certainly true, since he was not only worn out, it would have been hard for most musicians to reach the peaks of Stand!, Theres a Riot Goin On, and Fresh, not to mention his unbelievable singles of the late 60s. But the truth was Sly was running on near-empty, barely able to keep afloat during a series of personal trouble and addictions. In retrospect, that makes these Warner recordings all the more remarkable -- not because theyre great, but because theyre competent, enjoyable, period-piece funk. Thats a testament to the sheer size of his genius -- even amid all the trouble he made pretty good music. Not great, to be sure, but neither of these records are disasters, which is more evident now than it was at the time. This still isnt music that packs any revelations, and theres not much depth in the music, apart from "The Same Thing (Makes You Laugh, Makes You Cry)," but its surprisingly enjoyable, considering its reputation, and the presentation and packaging is first-rate, making this a nice collectors piece. | ||
 | Album: 16 of 25 Title: Fame & Fortune Released: 2001 Tracks: 17 Duration: 42:54 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Life of Fortune and Fame (03:16) 2 Hi Love (02:28) 3 Rock Dirge (03:33) 4 If You Were Blue (02:10) 5 I Ain’t Got Nobody (02:40) 6 Watermelon Man (03:02) 7 Take My Advice (02:05) 8 I Can’t Turn You Loose (03:11) 9 Seventh Son (02:17) 10 Suki Suki Part 1 (02:08) 11 Suki Suki Part 2 (01:44) 12 Every Dog Has His Day (02:09) 13 Swim (02:12) 14 Ain’t That Lovin’ You Baby (02:17) 15 Don’t Say I Didn’t Warn You (02:21) 16 Searchin’ (02:30) 17 In the Still of the Night (02:49) |
 | Album: 17 of 25 Title: The Essential Sly & The Family Stone Released: 2003-03-11 Tracks: 35 Duration: 2:05:21 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Underdog (03:59) 2 I Cannot Make It (03:19) 3 Dance to the Music (02:59) 4 Are You Ready? (02:50) 5 Fun (02:21) 6 M’Lady (02:45) 7 Life (03:00) 8 Love City (02:44) 9 Stand! (03:08) 10 Don’t Call Me Nigger, Whitey (05:59) 11 I Want to Take You Higher (05:23) 12 Somebodys Watching You (03:21) 13 Sing a Simple Song (03:56) 14 Everyday People (02:22) 15 You Can Make It If You Try (03:38) 16 Hot Fun in the Summertime (02:38) 17 Everybody Is a Star (03:05) 18 Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) (04:48) 1 Family Affair (03:05) 2 Luv n’ Haight (04:03) 3 Poet (03:03) 4 (You Caught Me) Smilin’ (02:56) 5 Runnin’ Away (02:54) 6 Brave & Strong (03:30) 7 Just Like a Baby (05:13) 8 Thank You for Talkin’ to Me Africa (07:18) 9 In Time (05:49) 10 If You Want Me to Stay (03:01) 11 Frisky (03:11) 12 Skin I’m In (02:53) 13 Babies Makin Babies (03:39) 14 If It Were Left Up to Me (02:00) 15 Time for Livin (03:17) 16 Loose Booty (03:47) 17 I Get High on You (03:13) |
| The Essential Sly & The Family Stone : Allmusic album Review : The Essential Sly & the Family Stone does what a double-CD best-of/career overview should do: it packs a lot of career highlights into a two-disc set for listeners who want more than the basic greatest hits, but dont want every last album. Of course, all of those greatest hits are here, including a few from 1970 that didnt make it onto album releases at the time. As youd expect, the fattest slice comes from Sly & the Family Stones late-60s/early-70s peak: in fact, most of the tracks from the Stand! and Theres a Riot Goin On albums are here. The fun extras come in the not-too-well-known tracks from pre-Stand! albums and Fresh (which is actually amply represented, with six cuts). This doesnt quite deserve the highest rating, as the post-Theres a Riot Goin On material doesnt keep up the momentum of the rest of the set. Small Talk and Sly Stones 1975 solo effort, High on You, are wisely lightly plucked, though at least the hits from those albums are the three cuts selected. This deserves better annotation than the cursory liner notes, but otherwise its an excellent summary of a major rock and soul band. | ||
 | Album: 18 of 25 Title: Different Strokes by Different Folks Released: 2005-07-13 Tracks: 14 Duration: 1:01:50 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Dance to the Music (04:04) 2 Everyday People (02:46) 3 Star (04:25) 4 Runnin Away (04:04) 5 Family Affair (03:42) 6 (You Caught Me) Smillin (03:52) 7 If You Want Me to Stay (03:32) 8 I Get High on You (03:36) 9 Love City (04:57) 10 You Can Make It If You Try (05:34) 11 Sing a Simple Song (06:37) 12 I Want to Take You Higher (05:09) 13 Dont Call Me Nigger, Whitey (04:07) 14 Thank You Nation 1814 (05:17) |
| Different Strokes by Different Folks : Allmusic album Review : Different Strokes by Different Folks is a tribute album to Sly & the Family Stone, but it has strong elements of a remix album, as well. All 14 tracks here -- 12 tracks comprise the album proper, with two bonus tracks -- find the featured artists (sometimes duets or groups of artists) using the original Sly & the Family Stone recording as a basis for a new version, which is a blend of samples, drum loops, newly overdubbed instruments, and vocals. Often, these involve new, freestyle raps, but sometimes -- as when Maroon 5 or Buddy Guy and John Mayer team up -- its just a newly sung song, albeit one sung over samples. Theres an impressive, rather diverse roster here -- everybody from Aerosmiths Steven Tyler and Moby to Chuck D, OutKasts Big Boi, DAngelo, Isaac Hayes, Joss Stone, and Black Eyed Peas will.i.am are here -- yet the sound of Different Strokes by Different Folks is rather consistent, due as much to the through-line of Sly Stones original material as it is to the shared aesthetic of all the artists. This keeps things groove-oriented -- thanks to the predominant loops and drum machines, its never as loose and funky as the original recordings, but its beats are infectious, and even if some of the added flair of the performances is a little labored or silly (most notably will.i.am on "Dance to the Music," which unfortunately kicks off the album, and Tylers jive on "I Want to Take You Higher"), Stones songs are so strong they shine through any missteps or cluttered production. This may not be a knock-out, but Different Strokes does serve as a potent reminder of just how vital Sly & the Family Stones best music could be. | ||
 | Album: 19 of 25 Title: The Woodstock Experience Released: 2009-06-30 Tracks: 17 Duration: 1:31:56 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Stand! (03:08) 2 Don’t Call Me Nigger, Whitey (05:59) 3 I Want to Take You Higher (05:23) 4 Somebodys Watching You (03:21) 5 Sing a Simple Song (03:56) 6 Everyday People (02:22) 7 Sex Machine (13:48) 8 You Can Make It if You Try (03:38) 1 MLady (07:46) 2 Sing a Simple Song (05:14) 3 You Can Make It if You Try (05:37) 4 Everyday People (03:16) 5 Dance to the Music (04:28) 6 Medley: Music Lover / Higher (07:51) 7 I Want to Take You Higher (06:43) 8 Love City (06:04) 9 Stand! (03:20) |
| The Woodstock Experience : Allmusic album Review : Sony/BMGs Legacy imprint decided to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Woodstock by issuing a slew of double-disc deluxe packages by catalog artists who played the festival. Each slipcase contains the featured artists entire performance at Woodstock and, as a bonus, an LP sleeve reproduction of a classic album issued near the time the festival occurred, as well as fine, individually designed 16" X 24" double-sided posters. Sly & the Family Stone were riding the chart success of Stand!, their fifth album in three years(!), that had been released the previous May for Epic when they played the Woodstock Festival. Going on at 3:30 in the morning of Sunday, August 17, 1969, they brought their West Coast meld of soul, R&B;, gospel, positive vibes, and the newly emerging funk to the tired masses and turned them into a stomping, screaming, joyous, army of believers. Hearing this set reconstructed in its original context is a gift. The band came storming out of the gate with "MLady," and didnt stop for 50 minutes. The music that had previously been heard on the Woodstock albums -- "Dance to the Music," as well as the medley of "Music Lover/"Higher," and "I Want to Take You Higher" -- actually took place in the middle of the bands concert. Before and after are six other performances that have never been issued before. The gig was comprised mainly of tracks from the then-current album: the title track, "Everyday People," "Sing a Simple Song," "I Want to Take You Higher," and "You Can Make It If You Try." "Love City," a little known jam from the MLady LP is also here. "Stand" closes the album on a somewhat mellower groove than theyd started with at its 100-miles-an-hour pace, but its presented with the ease and flawless execution of a group of master show men and women who can take a crowd to the outer edges of excitement and bring them back seamlessly. The funk groove at the end of the track assures concertgoers that what theyd just heard was real. Sonically, it fares a little better than some of the volumes in this bunch: Eddie Kramer did a fantastic job of mixing. This is a surprise and one of the best titles in the series hands down. | ||
 | Album: 20 of 25 Title: Dynamite! The Collection Released: 2011-10-24 Tracks: 22 Duration: 1:14:12 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Dance to the Music (02:59) 2 Everyday People (02:21) 3 Family Affair (03:03) 4 Fun (02:20) 5 I Cannot Make It (03:17) 6 Ride The Rhythm (02:46) 7 Are You Ready (02:48) 8 Dynamite! (02:43) 9 Underdog (03:56) 10 Stand! (03:08) 11 (You Caught Me) Smilin (02:52) 12 You Can Make It If You Try (03:39) 13 Que será, será (Whatever Will Be, Will Be) (05:21) 14 Brave & Strong (03:27) 15 Time For Livin (03:17) 16 Loose Booty (03:46) 17 If You Want Me to Stay (03:01) 18 Sing A Simple Song (03:56) 19 Mlady (02:44) 20 I Want to Take You Higher [Clean] (05:21) 21 Hot Fun In The Summertime (02:37) 22 Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) (04:50) |
 | Album: 21 of 25 Title: S.O.U.L. Released: 2012 Tracks: 10 Duration: 43:43 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Soul Clappin (02:38) 2 Dance to the Music (02:59) 3 Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Again) (04:45) 4 Everyday People (02:22) 5 Family Affair (03:04) 6 Stand! (03:04) 7 I Want to Take You Higher (05:22) 8 Sing a Simple Song (03:55) 9 Somebodys Watching You (03:20) 10 Dance to the Medley: Music Is Alive/Dance In/Music Lover (12:10) |
 | Album: 22 of 25 Title: Higher! Released: 2013-08-23 Tracks: 83 Duration: 5:12:42 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 I Just Learned How To Swim (02:31) 2 Scat Swim (02:28) 3 Buttermilk (Part One) (02:10) 4 Dance All Night (originally unissued) (02:55) 5 Temptation Walk (Part One) (02:26) 6 I Aint Got Nobody (For Real) (02:55) 7 I Cant Turn You Loose (03:29) 8 Higher (mono single master) (02:54) 9 Underdog (mono single master) (03:07) 10 Bad Risk (mono single master) (03:06) 11 Let Me Hear It From You (mono single master) (03:31) 12 Advice (02:23) 13 If This Room Could Talk (03:13) 14 I Cannot Make It (03:17) 15 Trip To Your Heart (02:33) 16 I Hate To Love Her (03:32) 17 Silent Communications (previously unissued) (04:20) 18 I Get High On You (version 1, previously unissued) (05:56) 19 I Remember (previously unissued) (05:26) 20 My Womans Head (instrumental, previously unissued) (02:46) 1 Whats That Got To Do With Me (previously unissued) (03:08) 2 Fortune And Fame (previously unissued) (05:36) 3 What Would I Do (originally unissued) (04:06) 4 Only One Way Out Of This Mess (originally unissued) (03:53) 5 I Know What You Came To Say (previously unissued) (05:34) 6 Dance To The Music (mono single master) (02:59) 7 Ride The Rhythm (02:48) 8 Color Me True (03:09) 9 Are You Ready (02:50) 10 Dont Burn Baby (03:14) 11 We Love All (originally unissued) (04:32) 12 Danse A La Musique (mono single master) (03:06) 13 Small Fries (mono single master) (02:51) 14 Chicken (mono single master) (02:14) 15 Into My Own Thing (02:15) 16 Life (mono single master) (03:00) 17 Love City (previously unissued mono mix) (02:42) 18 MLady (mono single master) (02:45) 19 Dynamite! (stereo, previously unissued) (02:47) 20 Undercat (instrumental, previously unissued) (03:49) 1 Everyday People (mono single master) (02:19) 2 Sing A Simple Song (mono single master) (03:07) 3 I Get High On You (version 2, previously unissued) (04:14) 4 Wonderful World Of Color (instrumental, previously unissued) (05:01) 5 Pressure (originally unissued) (03:46) 6 I Want to Take You Higher (mono single master) (03:03) 7 Seven More Days (originally unissued) (03:26) 8 Feathers (instrumental, previously unissued) (02:30) 9 Somebodys Watching You (03:21) 10 Sex Machine (13:48) 11 Hot Fun In The Summertime (mono single master) (02:39) 12 Everybody Is A Star (mono single master) (03:03) 13 Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) (mono single master) (04:50) 14 Stand! (live from The Isle Of Wight Festival) (05:08) 15 You Can Make It If You Try (live from The Isle Of Wight Festival) (06:03) 16 Dance To The Music (live from The Isle Of Wight Festival, previously unissued) (05:02) 17 Medley: Music Lover/I Want to Take You Higher/Music Lover (live from The Isle Of Wight Festival, previously unissued) (06:16) 1 Luv n’ Haight (single version) (04:04) 2 Family Affair (single version) (03:05) 3 Brave & Strong (single master) (03:32) 4 Runnin Away (single master) (02:43) 5 (You Caught Me) Smilin’ (single master) (02:55) 6 Spaced Cowboy (03:58) 7 Youre the One (06:27) 8 In Time (05:49) 9 If You Want Me To Stay (single master) (03:04) 10 Frisky (single master) (03:13) 11 Skin Im In (02:55) 12 If It Were Left Up To Me (single master) (01:59) 13 Time For Livin (single master) (03:18) 14 Cant Strain My Brain (single master) (04:09) 15 Loose Booty (03:47) 16 Le Lo Li (single master) (03:19) 17 Crossword Puzzle (single master) (02:56) 18 Family Again (02:49) 19 Hoboken (03:24) 20 High (previously unissued) (05:11) 1 Stand! (long version) (04:13) 2 TV Medley: Sing A Simple Song/Hot Fun In The Summertime/Sex Machine/I Want To Take You Higher (07:35) 3 Time For Livin (alternate Record Plant mix) (03:57) 4 Saint James Infirmary (instrumental, live) (07:43) 5 Sittin On My Fanny (04:14) 6 Dust To Dust (instrumental) (02:31) |
 | Album: 23 of 25 Title: Live At The Fillmore East October 4th & 5th, 1968 Released: 2015-07-17 Tracks: 34 Duration: 3:28:05 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Are You Ready (04:57) 2 Color Me True (04:54) 3 Wont Be Long (06:55) 4 We Love All (Freedom) (08:24) 5 Medley: Turn Me Loose / I Cant Turn You Loose (05:14) 6 Chicken (09:22) 7 Love City (08:52) 1 MLady (05:12) 2 Dont Burn Baby (04:38) 3 Color Me True (06:03) 4 Wont Be Long (06:41) 5 St. James Infirmary (07:39) 6 Medley: Turn Me Loose / I Cant Turn You Loose (05:46) 7 Are You Ready (05:45) 8 Dance to the Music (05:11) 9 Music Lover (08:07) 10 Medley: Life / Music Lover (09:11) 1 Life (03:05) 2 Color Me True (06:03) 3 Wont Be Long (07:14) 4 Are You Ready (06:20) 5 Dance to the Music (05:24) 6 Music Lover (06:18) 7 MLady (05:43) 1 MLady (05:23) 2 Life (03:03) 3 Are You Ready (07:59) 4 Wont Be Long (07:52) 5 Color Me True (06:25) 6 Dance to the Music (05:30) 7 Music Lover (05:51) 8 Love City (05:33) 9 Medley: Turn Me Loose / I Cant Turn You Loose (05:25) 10 The Riffs (01:48) |
| Live At The Fillmore East October 4th & 5th, 1968 : Allmusic album Review : When Sly & the Family Stone seized Manhattans Fillmore East for a two-night, four-set stand in October 1968, the sonically and socially advanced band was just starting to cook. Earlier in the year, "Dance to the Music" became their first charting single, a Top 10 pop hit. They were pushing their third album, Life, so the repertoire was still rather limited. As detailed in this generous releases liner notes, written by biographers Edwin and Arno Konings, the Epic label intended to assemble an album from these performances, but the plan was ditched once "Everyday People" -- the first single from Stand!, still months away from hitting shelves -- took flight and went to number one. That smash was issued only a month after the gigs, but the band didnt preview it on-stage, at least not the way the sets are documented here. Live at the Fillmore East October 4th & 5th, 1968 contains a representation of all four sets. Each one must be at least close to complete, as theyre between 40 and 65 minutes in length, and contain some flubs and the working out of some technical issues. Despite playing roughly the same songs each set while knowing that they were being recorded, the band continually switched up the sequencing of the set lists -- "MLady" was placed up front and saved toward the end, for instance -- and the musicians played loose enough to allow for some spontaneity and variable interaction. The bands vitality, as they continually stomped through material from all three albums, is no surprise. Material from the first album and "Dance to Music" are played with equal levels of conviction. Slys demeanor is consistently fervent and poised. The whole gang is at the top of their game. Whats truly revelatory is that each set featured a Sister Rosie Stone-fronted version of "Wont Be Long," a song popularized seven years earlier by Aretha Franklin and the Ray Bryant Combo. It wallops each time, particularly so on the first nights early set. That a studio version wasnt released is as baffling as the heretofore absence of a live album. As heard here, they were playing like indisputable giants, not like a band fighting for a second hit. The CD edition is especially nice -- a fold-out cardboard package with sharp, true-to-the-era artwork for each disc. It tops the double-vinyl edition, a truncated and smart selection made by the Roots Captain Kirk Douglas, released months earlier for Record Store Day. | ||
 | Album: 24 of 25 Title: Playlist: The Very Best of Sly & The Family Stone Released: 2015-09-03 Tracks: 14 Duration: 46:55 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Family Affair (single version) (03:05) 2 Stand! (03:08) 3 Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) (04:48) 4 Hot Fun in the Summertime (02:38) 5 Sing a Simple Song (03:56) 6 Dance to the Music (02:59) 7 If You Want Me To Stay (single master) (03:04) 8 Everyday People (02:21) 9 (You Caught Me) Smilin’ (02:54) 10 I Want to Take You Higher (05:23) 11 M’Lady (02:45) 12 If You Want Me to Stay (03:00) 13 You Can Make It If You Try (03:38) 14 I Get High on You (03:13) |
| Playlist: The Very Best of Sly & The Family Stone : Allmusic album Review : Sony/Legacys 2009 set Playlist is a terrific budget-line collection of Sly & the Family Stones hits, containing every one of their huge hits from "Dance to the Music" to Slys solo "I Get High on You." While there are some charting singles like "Running Away" and "Loose Booty" missing," this has all their anthems -- "Family Affair," "Stand!," "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)," "Hot Fun in the Summertime," "Everybody Is a Star," "Everyday People," "I Want to Take You Higher," "If You Want Me to Stay," "You Can Make It If You Try" -- making this an excellent collection of the groups basics. | ||
 | Album: 25 of 25 Title: Small Talk / High on You / Heard ya Missed Me, Well Im Back Released: 2017-09-01 Tracks: 31 Duration: 1:46:01 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Small Talk (03:23) 2 Say You Will (03:18) 3 Mother Beautiful (01:59) 4 Time for Livin (03:17) 5 Cant Strain My Brain (04:08) 6 Loose Booty (03:47) 7 Holdin On (03:39) 8 Wishful Thinkin (04:24) 9 Better Thee Than Me (03:34) 10 Livin While Im Livin (02:57) 11 This Is Love (02:55) 1 I Get High on You (03:15) 2 Crossword Puzzle (02:57) 3 Thats Lovin You (02:56) 4 Who Do You Love? (03:42) 5 Green Eyed Monster Girl (03:54) 6 Organize (03:20) 7 Le Lo Li (03:20) 8 My World (03:36) 9 So Good to Me (03:24) 10 Greed (04:13) 11 Heard ya Missed Me, Well Im Back (03:59) 12 What Was I Thinkin in My Head (04:01) 13 Nothing Less Than Happiness (03:00) 14 Sexy Situation (02:58) 15 Blessing in Disguise (03:50) 16 Everything in You (03:17) 17 Mother Is a Hippie (03:03) 18 Lets Be Together (03:38) 19 The Thing (03:23) 20 Family Again (02:50) |