ohio 1968

while I can't find all the songs I used to have, I do have 3 of Sly and his Family's' albums. their importance cannot be highlighted enough, not just because they were an interracial and inter gender group, or the fact that 'Everyday People' is a great damned song but was reduced to triviality thanks to Chevy or ford or whatever the fuck car company picked up the song, but also because they made amazing music. Sly as the band leader and resident psychopathic genius (extreme recluse and drug abuser) expanded upon James' epiphany of soul/funk by sparingly adding rock and roll and bigger controlled musical chaos. the bassist Larry Graham was also an amazing product of Sly and the Family stone, always duplicated but never replicated Graham invented the bass slap, invented it! he, after the dissolution of the Family Stone, went on to head Graham Central Station which did pretty well if I recall. an interesting parallel between Sly and James that I noted today whilst thumbing through sly songs and James brown you tube entries is that they often used or added upon older songs of theirs. On Sly's first album they had 'Higher' which would evolve into many longer and epic songs he also similarly manipulated 'Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Again)' and 'Dance to the Music.' James did this very often, building upon a songs fountations to create something in the same vein but new. it should also be noted that Sly began as a San Francisco DJ and was from where? oh that's right, VALLEJO. this video is apparently from a Ohio State Fair talent show in 1968, they rip Ohio a new one and although they win, not one corn farmer in the crowed got up and rocked the fuck out, just another reason to keep out of the no man's land that is middle America.



Here's 'Family Affair' which is seriously a perfect song, the mellow tone and Sly's beautiful convicted voice are just amazing, and it's message as with most of their songs was very political and a poetic description of the times.

family affair

'If You Want Me to Stay' is another well known song of theirs, akin to 'Family Affair' in that it's fast enough to be a dance floor burner but it still has a muted sad tone to it which again lends greatly to Sly's voice. both of these songs are pretty recognizable and well known your dad that kicked it in the late 60's and early 70's will totally have some flashbacks when this is played. I'm planning another Sly post with some rarer shit so 'keep tuned'...Steve, and anyone else.

want me to stay

Oh and there's a tasty bit of new R Kells genius as well, whats on your ringtone?

ringtone