Sly Stone pt.2

My father left a comment mentioning Sly Stone's trip 'off the deep end.' Sly and his Family parted ways soon after the album Fresh, in which he would barely enter conversation with his band or family. He would often bring in substitute musicians with out even asking his original band members that he wished to hit the studio in the first place. A few poorly received albums after Fresh and Sly did indeed fall off the face of the earth. There have been many speculations as to why he abandoned
even his wife and children, most people do wish to place the blame on the copious amount of drugs that not only Sly himself but his whole band and family were knee deep in. No doubt this fueled their separation but I do not believe it was the driving force. He rarely after Small Talk performed or even made a record that graced the charts. In 1975 he actually signed to tour with the Monster that was P-Funk, he would play a few songs then retreat backstage from purported stage fright. STAGE FRIGHT! The man that practically killed Motown and ushered in the sound of Funk into the seventies, the man that was called back at Woodstock in 1969 by more than half a million people to deliver the songs that practically defined an age in American history and music. There have been rumors that he was seen on the streets in LA as a homeless man, or that he traveled abroad and chose to become a hermit in France or some shit like that, these are just rumors. This man was a certified genius and it's distressing to me that when Sly matured in the late 60's and early 70's there were dozens of artists that to this day we place them on a pedestal, The Rolling Stones, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin. Sly and the Family Stone did just as much for music at that time as any of those artists did, yet his name has fallen to the side. The best I can do for their legacy is give anyone who wants them some of their best songs.

M'Lady is off the album Life which came after Dance to the Music and right before Stand. While Life was less acclaimed than either Stand or Dance it does not detract from their musicianship or their amazing organization. They were so different from everything at the time, honestly this was 1968, think of all the stuff then and compare them to a crazy song like M'Lady.

M'Lady

I think I mentioned before how amazing There's A Riot Goin' On is, as a whole record it truly encompassed much of 1971 and sonically it was just another of Sly's evolving music. Just like a baby is not political or a message of love and understanding but a break up song, break ups suck, this song does not, it might make you cry a little though.

Just Like a Baby

Fresh like I mentioned was when Sly was slowly separating himself from his formers, If it Were Left Up to Me is an obvious full band, not pieced together by Sly (not that I'm hating on any of those great songs I'm just saying it sucks to just leave your family/friends behind like that). I like this song, I'm a sucker for harmony, except for the gad damned Eagles, how many times do you think in your life you're gonna have to hear Hotel California? Too many.

If It

This I was going to save, it's like a secret ninja star or kung fu move that is a total trump, but I couldn't help myself. A few years ago a Sly and the Family Stone cover album came out with tons of people on it, most songs were good tries but nothing truly solid came out of it even with the help of like 50 major artists all accomplished and talented in their own right. No songs except this one, by Big Boi, it came out not only as a great cover but as a great song alone. Killer Mike and Sleepy Brown are also up in there, but Big Boi man. I've always believed that he is one of the most underrated mc's ever. He's always on point and...I'll leave more Outkast and Big Boi and Organized Noize to another time, enjoy this cover of Running Away.

Running Away