Monty Posted October 16, 2013 Posted October 16, 2013 Adding to Jake's series of Talking...threads: I’ll kick things off with a review of Sly & The Family Stone – Higher! released in August on 4CDs or 8LPs. It’s described in the blurb as an ‘Overview and Rarities Box Set’ and that’s a pretty good way to look at it. As an overview the track listing is roughly, though not exactly, chronological, starting with some mid-60s pre-Family Stone R&B-type material. It traverses the Epic Family Stone albums from A Whole New Thing (1967) to Small Talk (1974) and includes key non-albums tracks. It ends with five post-Family Stone solo tracks, which though well enough chosen can’t fully disguise his decline. Within that arc is some of the best, most original and influential music recorded in what was a golden era: a synthesis of R&B, pop, soul, psychedelic, rock and a foundation of funk; with an ear for language comparable with Dylan and an ear for rhythm comparable with James Brown; topped off with a vocal versatility that only comes with multiple strong voices. Did I mention I think they’re good? As for rarities, there are 17 previously unreleased tracks. These can be divided into early outtakes (interesting but not essential), mid-period instrumentals (funky unfinished songs that never had vocal tracks added) and live tracks (similar to the previously released Woodstock sets but welcome given the paucity of available live material). There is also about a disc worth of more or less familiar songs presented here in the now rare mono single mixes. These have a nice heft to them, but how much of draw card this is will depend a lot on your nerd quotient. The only glaring omission is ‘Thank You (For Talking To Me Africa), possibly the heaviest, deadliest funk there is. You could argue for a few more deep album cuts over singles or less from early on and more from their peak, but that’s mostly nitpicking. More unreleased material would be nice too, but of course they want to keep a bit more bait left in the can. Which brings us to the main purpose of these kinds of sets: to get fans to repurchase a lot of music they already have to get some stuff they don’t have. Is it worth it? If you’re a big fan you will probably be happy enough to play the sucker – there are just enough rarities here to satisfy, plus a nice 104-page booklet with introductory essay, track-by-track commentary, photos and shiz. But it’s pretty marginal. For vinylphiles, the 8LP version might be a good way to get a good selection of Sly on wax. But for the casual or merely curious it probably makes more sense to pick up the one disc Greatest Hits for a few bucks and if that tickles a fancy move on to one or more of There’s A Riot Goin’ On, Fresh and Stand! Or go all out and get the 2007 The Collection box set, which includes all seven Family Stone albums plus bonus tracks and can be had pretty cheap. Finally it’s worth noting that Amazon (US) is selling it with an exclusive 6 track bonus disc. Sucks for the small guys but you’d be silly not to get it. -------------------------------------------------- Hope there are some other freaks hear to discuss anything Sly... 5
eman Posted October 16, 2013 Posted October 16, 2013 Sly and Family's stuff is so funky it just keeps getting packaged and re-packaged. All the extras in that latest box are tempting but I can't justify the cost just for those. So far I have the 3 CD version of Essential (Vic Anesini mastering), 2 CD Woodstock Experience (Stand & full Woodstock gig), LP Greatest Hits (Original US press unsealed by me.yay.), and the LPs brown Woodstock Box from 2009 (Kevin Gray mastered?). That covers most of the good gear. Obscurer than that would be interesting but not needed.
Luc Posted October 16, 2013 Posted October 16, 2013 There’s A Riot Goin’ On, does it for me. Family Affair, You Caught Me Smiling and Spaced Cowboy...Hand me the Southern Mist please in an Old Fashioned tumbler[glass], a joint and and an Onkyo Quadraphonic sound system blasting out the vibes in Darling St, Sth Yarra circa 73/4/5/6...haha!! Happy days indeed 2
Monty Posted October 16, 2013 Author Posted October 16, 2013 E.Man: That’s pretty good coverage and good job unsealing that Greatest Hits LP. I was very excited when the full Woodstock set was released. I remember several raves over the year along the lines: 'They gotta have some live recordings in the can...' I don’t know the Essential CD specifically, but they’re generally pretty good. I reckon it would be worth looking out for There’s A Riot Goin’ On whatever the duplication. It stands as a great album. Luc: You were listening to Riot before I was born, so quicker on the uptake than me! I bought it in 1996 with money my dad paid me to cut trees away from the power lines. I remember a branch flicked in the nuts and when you’re up a tree with a saw in one hand there’s nothing you can do but hold on and grin and bear it. So I earned that CD. After that it was Coopers, bottom shelf bourbon and coke (in a Crown peanut butter jar), bongs and a Yamaha/Paradigm stereo on Miller St, O’Connor. Happy days indeed. 1
emesbee Posted October 16, 2013 Posted October 16, 2013 (edited) I have a couple of Sly and The Family Stone compilation albums (on CD and vinyl), but none of the original albums as such. Family Affair and If You Want Me To Stay are two of my favourite Sly tracks. I always wondered what happened to Sly Stone. After a lot of early success he just seemed to drop out of the music scene altogether into obscurity. This wikipedia article gives a summary. Its all rather sad really. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sly_Stone Edited October 16, 2013 by emesbee
eman Posted October 16, 2013 Posted October 16, 2013 (edited) E.Man: That’s pretty good coverage and good job unsealing that Greatest Hits LP. I was very excited when the full Woodstock set was released. I remember several raves over the year along the lines: 'They gotta have some live recordings in the can...' I don’t know the Essential CD specifically, but they’re generally pretty good. I reckon it would be worth looking out for There’s A Riot Goin’ On whatever the duplication. It stands as a great album. Luc: You were listening to Riot before I was born, so quicker on the uptake than me! I bought it in 1996 with money my dad paid me to cut trees away from the power lines. I remember a branch flicked in the nuts and when you’re up a tree with a saw in one hand there’s nothing you can do but hold on and grin and bear it. So I earned that CD. After that it was Coopers, bottom shelf bourbon and coke (in a Crown peanut butter jar), bongs and a Yamaha/Paradigm stereo on Miller St, O’Connor. Happy days indeed. Essential is this one except there was a 3 CD version release with half a dozen more tracks added on disc 3. http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-essential-sly-the-family-stone-sony-mw0000227216 It's pretty comprehensive for the 'classic' period. Production is very good. I've had a look at my PC 'striaight digital' collection where I audition in MP3 etc format and I have the albums Whole New Thing, Dance To The Music, Life and Fresh but not Riot for some reason. Prob cos most of it is on Essential but I know original running order makes a difference. Speaking of original I won the Greatest Hits LP from a bulk seller on ebay for $3 ! Bulk standard listing didn't show it as sealed so I was very happy to find that when it arrived. I was shopping specifically for 1st press to get the best sound on clean vinyl to replace a 1970s? Aussie press that was flat and undynamic. The US 1st press proved to be far supperior. (BTW it's a trick thing to tell a first press LP online. The pic on the front cover moved very slightly on repress and there's just a little different amount of car side mirror showing.) I remember buying the Oz copy in the early1980s? and loving the picture on the back of some crazy guy wearing a tea cosy, hahaha. Was the first time I ever heard of them/him. Their Woodstock gig at 3AM !! is legend. Must be the best Fonk ever. There does seem to be real lack of other live material even tho that's where they got down the most. Mid 1990s I was funkin' it up in Garran , ACT and going to the Uni Bar to watch Directions In Groove, Swoop, Birdseed. Very sad how his life went downhill. I don't think he's had any income for all the music for a long time. Edited October 16, 2013 by E.Man 1
Monty Posted November 30, 2013 Author Posted November 30, 2013 Imagine if you never had Mormon's knocking on your door but every now and then a Sly Evangelist popped by to check if you knew about Sex Machine. Excuse us for taking up your time, we are just working in your neighborhood because we heard that some people don't know about Sly & the Family Stone's 'Sex Machine'. Freddie Stone's wah-wah solo on this one is essential listening. It sounds like it's played under water in the Milky Way. And that is just one highlight amidst early voice box explorations, metronomic riff-mongering and the slowly slowing drum climax. 'Hah-hah-hah. We blew your mind.' 1
Monty Posted March 9, 2014 Author Posted March 9, 2014 Sly Stone's fall from the top is tragic and well documented. The general view is that everything after Fresh is crap. I'm quite fond of Back On The Right Track though. It's not a lost classic by any stretch of the imagination. It's patchy and he's certainly not pioneering new sounds and syntheses like he was in his glory days. But the best songs - 'Remember Who You Are', 'Same Thing That Makes You Laugh (Will Make You Cry)', 'Shine It On' - are funky enough to make you take your pants off and dance. I cranked this whilst doing the washing up. The Squeeze asked: 'What's this music selection? Prince?' Not bad at all.
Luc Posted March 9, 2014 Posted March 9, 2014 you take your pants off and dance. I cranked this Hmm, see what happens when you get old, you tell people things that many many years ago you'd be too embarrassed to mention...in public, but now it's like what the hell lets do it. TMI alert!(Too much information)
eman Posted March 9, 2014 Posted March 9, 2014 (edited) Pants off might have something to do with this 'squeeze' person ; ) My Cd set stops at Fresh. I recently bought a US High On You. Have only run it through once to check it. Credited to Sly alone and I think he does most of the instruments. Worth going back to for a better listen. Somewhat related. I'm now listening to the Larry Graham/Graham Central Station first few. Just finishing Release Yourself. Funky of course but not Sly type inspired. Edited March 9, 2014 by E.Man 1
Saxon Hall Posted March 9, 2014 Posted March 9, 2014 Sly Stone's fall from the top is tragic and well documented. Glad I never did dope
Keith Anderson Posted March 9, 2014 Posted March 9, 2014 Larry is coming to Byron Blues Fest this April. I believe Sly wouldn't have been the same without him.
eman Posted March 9, 2014 Posted March 9, 2014 Larry is coming to Byron Blues Fest this April. I believe Sly wouldn't have been the same without him. goddamn. I wish.... I wish Byron was closer. Really is very fine that Larry has gone on to have an ongoing career. The original Family Stone had it together which is why it would be great for another early Live recording to surface.
likwidsh0k Posted April 13, 2014 Posted April 13, 2014 Ah my mistake, thinking 'Talking Sly' by these guys
ThirdDrawerDown Posted April 13, 2014 Posted April 13, 2014 Ah my mistake +1 for the Black Uhuru fans especially with Sly & Robbie coming to Australia later this year. As for Sly - well, Stand and Riot are essential. Excellent review, thank you Monty.
Monty Posted September 25, 2014 Author Posted September 25, 2014 I just saw this thread over at Steve Hoffman Forum. A new Sly 'from the vaults' release from Light In The Attic covering the gap between Stand! and Riot. Up on iTunes now, with CD and LP releases in the coming months apparently. Sounds good to me. https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/id915974583 1
soundfan Posted September 25, 2014 Posted September 25, 2014 A nice coincidence to see this thread revived. I am playing the 8LP vinyl box Higher at the minute. Fantastic. 1
eman Posted July 26, 2015 Posted July 26, 2015 (edited) A nice coincidence to see this thread revived. I am playing the 8LP vinyl box Higher at the minute. Fantastic. Going for about $70US at amazon for the 8lp set http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00DX88FTO/ref=tmm_other_meta_binding_new_olp_sr?ie=UTF8&condition=new&qid=&sr= It was $42 US earlier when I ordered so seems to be on the way up ? Edited July 26, 2015 by E.Man 1
SteveC Posted July 26, 2015 Posted July 26, 2015 Just listening to this on Tidal - wow sometimes you just feel like you were born in the wrong decade. That would have been an unbelievable concert 3
ZEN MISTER Posted July 26, 2015 Posted July 26, 2015 I remember flogging 'STAND' when it came out, endlessly. My beautiful baby sister, Gaynor, ...........years gap, used to bop around the house in her nappies bopping the ' Wah, Wah, Wah Nah' guitar line from ' SEX MACHINE' much to my mothers consternation. Happy days. ZM. 3
LogicprObe Posted July 26, 2015 Posted July 26, 2015 Going for about $70US at amazon for the 8lp set http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00DX88FTO/ref=tmm_other_meta_binding_new_olp_sr?ie=UTF8&condition=new&qid=&sr= It was $42 US earlier when I ordered so seems to be on the way up ? Damn! I would have got that for $42 bucks as the shipping is more.
eman Posted July 26, 2015 Posted July 26, 2015 Damn! I would have got that for $42 bucks as the shipping is more. Yeah still came out at about $90 AU. 1
Citroen Posted July 27, 2015 Posted July 27, 2015 Mine has just shipped, for the equivalent of AUD82! Crossing toes, fingers, and similar appendages in the hope that its the vinyl that arrives and not some poxy CDs! 2
Monty Posted July 27, 2015 Author Posted July 27, 2015 Always nice to see people talking Sly! I'm enjoying the new Live At The Filmore East release. So far I've only listened to the first three sets on Spotify, but it will definitely go in the cart when I place my next order. It's great hearing them stretch out a bit while remaining tight. And I really love Rosie's vocal 'Won't Be Long'. Sometimes her role in the ensemble vocal arrangements ismostly high energy screams, but taking the lead here she comes on like a James Brown diva.
Recommended Posts