SLY & THE FAMILY STONEFAMILY AFFAIR
(1967-1983)
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 rock's history. That integration shone through the music, as well as the group's 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 Stone's 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 1971's There's 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, 1973's 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. (allmusic)
My SLY & THE FAMILY STONE Top 3
1 – There’s a Riot Going On (1971)
2 – Stand! (1969)
3 – Life (1973)
My SLY & THE FAMILY STONE Bottom 3
1 – Ain’t But the One Way (1983)
2 – Heard Ya Missed Me, Well I’m Back (1976)
3 – Back on the Right Track (1979)
RIYL:
The Average White Band, Parliament, The Undisputed Truth
8 comments:
Looking forward to trying this one. Haven't owned the complete albums since the vinyl days and have forgotten the songs that weren't singles. In all honesty, the official 1970 Greatest Hits is a nearly perfect record (all it's missing is Family Affair). It will be hard to beat but I trust your selections.
Dude!
You left off 'Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)' from the Greatest Hits album! Inconceivable!
The selections on these compilations are understood to be a matter of personal choice but I'm surprised by this omission.
I was about to complain that "hot fun in the summertime" is missing, but then who doesn't own their greatest hits album?
I should be, and am, thanking you for this because there are a number of tunes in this collection that I've forgotten over the years or I'm not that familiar with.
Thankyouverymuch!
Drew
For more about the man, the band, and the recordings, see my authorized biography: I Want to Take You Higher: The Life and Times of Sly & the Family Stone (Backbeat Books). --- Jeff Kaliss
@ Andy D
As always, tough choices had to be made. The two tracks you and Drew mentionned were considered but not selected in the final tracklist.
Hope you enjoy our work nonetheless.
I do enjoy your work. Hopefully, even a negative (signed) comment indicates that there are people who care about this blog and actively seek it out. Not all of us are here because you came up in a search command. There is still an audience that wants to see this blog continue.
The three major omissions, "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)", "Everybody Is A Star" and "Hot Fun In The Summertime", are huge holes. But the stuff you've included is amazing! Thanks for a more comprehensive look at the band that is in sore need of a legitimate examination.
Thank you.
-J.
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