1968 - May: Sly and the Family Stone “Dance to the Music”

Sylvester Stewart was born in Dallas, Texas, but moved to the Bay area of California before becoming a multi-instrumentalist and changing his name to Sly Stone - the primary driver of the group Sly and the Family Stone.  This was one of the first integrated groups, and one that crossed many genres.  They played what would become known as psychedelic soul, but you can trace the origins of funk, soul, and psychedelic music through Sly and the Family Stone.

The first Family Stone album was called “A Whole New Thing,” and it caught good critical coverage.  Unfortunately it was a commercial failure.  Clive Davis asked for a more pop friendly sound, and Sly Stone created an approach to their second album, Dance to the Music, which followed a formula.  Each lead singer would take turns on lead vocals or sing together in unison, the songs would feature a prominent solo for the instrumentalists, and the lyrics would appeal to a wide audience even though they would still focus on peace, love, and opposition to racism.  The group really did not care for the formulaic approach of this album, but it worked when it came to commercial appeal.  “Dance to the Music” became a top 10 pop hit, and it inspired several groups to gravitate towards psychedelic soul, including the Temptations, the Impressions, and the Four Tops.

Sly Stone is the primary driver of the group, writing almost all of their songs, serving as a multi-instrumentalist, and as a primary vocalist.  His borhter Freddie Stone is on vocals and guitar, and his sister Rose Stone joins the group for the first time on this album.  Other members are Larry Graham on vocals and bass, Cynthia Robinson on trumpet and vocals, Jerri Martini on saxophone, Greg Errico on drums, and backing vocals by Little Sister (Vet Stone, Mary McCreary, and Elva Mouton).

Sly and the Family Stone would release a number of songs to hit the top 10 in the Billboard Hot 100 in the years to come.  The follow-up album to this one is called "Stand!," and is considered the band's high water mark, along with their performance in 1969 at Woodstock.  The band would encounter instability and drug problems as time went on, with the original group dissolving in 1975.  Sly Stone would continue to record as "Sly and the Family Stone" for many years afterwards using rotating musicians, until drug problems basically forced him to retire by 1987.

Bruce brings the early funk for this week's podcast.

Are You Ready
This song is an expression of opposition to racism with lyrics like "Don't hate the black, don't hate the white, of you get bit, just hate the bite.  Make sure you heart is beatin' right."

Ride the Rhythm
This song starts off side two of the album.  It is a straightforward dance song, and has some obvious comparisons to James Brown.  It has a nice mix of horns and "wah wah" guitar.

Don't Burn Baby
Scat was an early precursor to rap music, and this track is a good example of a rapid rhyme scat.  The eastern feel is also reminiscent of George Harrison.  "Don't burn, baby, burn.  Just learn, baby, learn."

Dance to the Music
Here is the big hit off the album, and the first Sly and the Family Stone single to reach the top 10 on the Billboard Charts, peaking at number 8.  It is a straight up party record, but was also one of the most influential songs of the late 60's.  The formula used by Sly Stone to make the songs on this record are clear here, even though he and the group did not like that approach.

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

Shape of Things to Come by Max Frost and the Troopers (from the motion picture Wild In the Streets