Sly & the Family Stone

Sly and the Family Stone
Sly Stone and his "Family Stone"
General information
origin	San Francisco , United States
Genre (s)	Soul , funk
founding	1966
resolution	1983
Website	slystonemusic.com
Founding members
Vocals , piano , organ , guitar , bass	Sly Stone
Vocals , guitar	Freddie Stone
bass	Larry Graham
Trumpet , singing	Cynthia Robinson († 2015)
saxophone	Jerry Martini
Drums	Greg Errico

Sly & the Family Stone was an American radio - and Soul - band from San Francisco , the end of 1966 by Sylvester Stewart aka Sly Stone was founded and was active until the 1983rd

meaning

The band played a central role in the development of funk , soul and rhythm and blues . Sly Stone exemplified his ideals of a perfect society to the fans through a fact that was not yet entirely self-evident at the time, by casting the band with people of different skin color, gender and culture. With the latter, as a black man, he set a clear example for the USA in the 1960s, in which the history of the African American (characterized by slavery , racial segregation and discrimination ) was still a sore point. Together with James Brown , Sly & the Family Stone were responsible for the breakthrough in funk. In the preface to his 1998 book For the Record: Sly and the Family Stone - An Oral History , Joel Selvin sums up the band's influence with the sentence: “There are two types of black music: black music before and black music after Sly Stone. “The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.

In 2002, Prince named the songs Higher (1967), Sing a Simple Song (1968), (You Caught Me) Smiling (1971) and In Time (1973) as four of 55 songs that inspired him musically. In 2011, the US music magazine Rolling Stone listed the band at number 43 of the 100 greatest musicians of all time .

occupation

The band emerged in late 1966 from the previous bands "Sly & the Stoners" and "Freddie & the Stone Souls" by the brothers Sly (singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist) and Freddie Stone ( guitar , vocals ). The other members were Cynthia Robinson († November 23, 2015; trumpet), Greg Errico (drums), Jerry Martini (saxophone) and bassist Larry Graham . A year later, Rosie Stone ( piano ), Sly and Freddie's sister, joined them. From 1972, Rusty Allen and Andy Newmark replace the previous musicians Larry Graham Jr. and Greg Errico.

Career

The first single Underdog in 1967 was already a regional success. The success for the debut album A Whole New Thing was initially not a. The release Dance to the Music from the album of the same name made it into the top 10 of the UK charts as well as the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard R&B charts in 1968 . The album Life as well as the decoupled title track and the song M'Lady only got lower chart ranks.

In the same year the single Everyday People from the album Stand! , which topped the US pop and R&B charts. Don't Call Me Nigger, Whitey and Everyday People are statements against the nonsensical evaluation of a person according to skin color and other externalities or according to culture and religion . Was standing! is an uplifting song that should encourage the listener not to let the intolerance of the environment dissuade them from their personal goal and courage to face life. The album also features the classics Sing a Simple Song , Sex Machine and I Want to Take You Higher .

The group became a popular live band and performed at the Woodstock Festival . This concert is considered one of the best of the legendary hippie festival. Next up was the single Hot Fun in the Summertime , which climbed to number 2 on the US pop and number 3 on the R&B charts in 1969. Thank You and the associated B-side Everybody Is a Star , made it to number one on the pop and R&B charts with their content in 1969 and 1970. The corresponding greatest hits album landed at number 2.

The frequent side effects of such a great success were not long in coming. Due to an incipient addiction to narcotics , Sly appeared late at performances or was sometimes absent. Sly began to give up because of various political developments that did not meet his expectations, for example the end of the Civil Rights Movement . Nevertheless, he achieved another commercial and artistic success in 1971 with the album There's a Riot Goin 'On and the number one hit Family Affair .

The band also changed. Larry Graham Jr., who then formed the band Graham Central Station , and Greg Errico left the band and were replaced by Rusty Allen and Andy Newmark.

Fresh (1973) made it into the top ten like the accompanying single If You Want Me to Stay . Small Talk from 1974 only made it to fifteenth place. High on You , published in 1975, could no longer build on the success. Sly Stone was now addicted to cocaine . In 1979 his record company Epic ended the joint contract after the release of Ten Years Too Soon - an attempt to approach the subject of disco music.

He switched to Warner Brothers and was able to win a few former members for Back on the Right Track , but here too it did not come to the desired success. Sly Stone joined George Clinton in 1981 , toured with him and appeared on The Electric Spanking of War Babies album . He released Ain't but the One Way with Bobby Womack in 1983 , but the album didn't sell well. Sly Stone was arrested for cocaine possession and attempted rehab.

Then it went up again at first. He sang Crazay with Jesse Johnson in 1986 , which was another hit. In 1987, he sang with Martha Davis the Soul-Man - Soundtrack Love & Affection . But the failure of the solo piece Eek-a-Boo-Static ended this high phase again. Sly Stone has been arrested and arrested multiple times for the same reason as before. Again and again he tried to get out of drug addiction .

Discography

Studio albums

year	Title music label	Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, music label , placements, weeks, awards, notes)				Remarks
		DE	UK	US	R&B
1968	Dance to the Music Epic 26371	-	-	US142 (7 weeks) US	R&B11 (10 weeks) R&B	First published: April 27, 1968 Producer: Sly Stone
	Life (US) / M'Lady (UK) Epic 26397	-	-	US195 (5 weeks) US	-	First published: September 1968 Producer: Sly Stone
1969	Was standing! Epic 26456	-	-	US13 platinum (102 weeks)US	R&B3 (82 weeks) R&B	First published: March 3, 1969 Producer: Sly Stone
1971	There's a Riot Goin 'On Epic 30986	-	UK31 silver (2 weeks)UK	US1 platinum (31 weeks)US	R&B1 (29 weeks) R&B	First published: November 1971 Producer: Sly Stone
1973	Fresh Epic 32134	-	-	US7th gold (33 weeks)US	R&B1 (25 weeks) R&B	First published: June 1973 Producer: Sly Stone
1974	Small Talk Epic 32930	-	-	US15th gold (15 weeks)US	-	First published: July 1974 Producer: Sly Stone
1975	High on You Epic 33835	-	-	US45 (10 weeks) US	R&B11 (7 weeks) R&B	First published: October 1975 under Sly Stone Producer: Sly Stone
1976	Heard Ya Missed Me, Well I'm Back Epic 34348	-	-	-	R&B33 (5 weeks) R&B	First published: December 1976 Producer: Sly Stone
1979	Back on the Right Track Warner 3303	-	-	US152 (3 weeks) US	R&B31 (7 weeks) R&B	First published: October 1979 Producer: Mark Davis
	Ten Years Too Soon Epic 35974	-	-	-	R&B62 (2 weeks) R&B	First release: November 1979 remix album; Remixes published under Sly Stone : John Luongo

More albums

• 1967: A Whole New Thing
• 1982: Ain't but the One Way
• 1995: Slyest Freshest Funkiest Rarist Cuts (demo album; complete first demo session from January 1967)
• 2005: Different Strokes by Different Folks (remix and cover album with guest singers; release: July 13th)
• 2011: I'm Back! Family & Friends (remix album; published under Sly Stone; release: August 16)

Live albums

• 2009: The Woodstock Experience (2 LPs: Stand! + Live at the Woodstock Music Art Fair, August 17, 1969 )
• 2015: Live at the Fillmore East (recording: 1968; release: April 18th)
• 2015: Live at the Fillmore East October 4th & 5th, 1968 (4 CDs; recording: 1968; release: July 17th)

Compilations

year	Title music label	Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, music label , placements, weeks, awards, notes)				Remarks
		DE	UK	US	R&B
1970	Greatest Hits Epic 30325	-	-	US2 × 5 Quintuple platinum (79 weeks)US	R&B1 (48 weeks) R&B	First published: November 1970

More compilations

• 1974: The Golden Era of Pop Music (2 LPs)
• 1975: High Energy (2 LPs)
• 1981: Anthology (2 LPs)
• 1983: The Early Years
• 1991: Dance to the Music
• 1991: The Collection
• 1991: Do the Rattle Snake & More Psychedelic Soulsongs
• 1991: In the Still of the Night
• 1992: Greatest Hits
• 1992: The Best of Sly and the Family Stone
• 1992: On the Right Track
• 1993: Spotlight on Sly & the Family Stone
• 1993: Oh! What a night
• 1994: Every Dog Has His Day
• 1994: Shine It On
• 1996: Sly & the Family Stone
• 1997: Rock & Roll
• 1998: Dance to the Music
• 1999: Backtracks
• 1999: Boogie Thang!
• 2000: Big Funked Up Hits
• 2000: Ain't That Lovin '
• 2001: Who in the Funk Do You Think You Are: The Warner Bros. Recordings
• 2001: Rare Grooves
• 2001: Sly & the Family Stone
• 2001: Fame and Fortune
• 2002: The Essential Sly & the Family Stone (3 CDs)
• 2005: Higher!
• 2007: The Collection (box with 7 CDs + DVD)
• 2009: Spaced Cowboy: The Best of Sly and the Family Stone (2 CDs)
• 2010: Original Album Classics (box with 5 CDs)
• 2010: great hits
• 2011: Dynamite !: The Collection
• 2013: Higher! (Box with 4 CDs)
• 2013: Higher! (Highlights)
• 2015: Playlist: The Very Best of Sly & the Family Stone

Singles

year	Title album	Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes)				Remarks	[↑]: treated together with the previous entry; [←]: placed in both charts
		DE	UK	US	R&B
1968	Dance to the Music Dance to the Music	-	UK7 (14 weeks) UK	US8 (15 weeks) US	R&B9 (18 weeks) R&B	First published: November 17, 1967 Grammy Hall of Fame / Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Number 225 on the Rolling Stone 500 (2010 list) Author: Sylvester Stewart
	Life life	-	-	US93 (3 weeks) US	-	First published: June 14, 1968 Author: Sylvester Stewart
	M'Lady Life	-	UK32 (7 weeks) UK	US93 (3 weeks) US	-	B-side of Life Author: Sylvester Stewart
	Everyday People Stand!	-	UK36 (5 weeks) UK	US1 gold (19 weeks)US	R&B1 (15 weeks) R&B	First published: November 1, 1968 No. 146 on the Rolling Stone 500 (2010 list) No. 319 in the Songs of the Century ( RIAA , 2001 list) Author: Sylvester Stewart
1969	Sing a Simple Song Stand!	-	-	US89 (4 weeks) US	R&B28 (10 weeks) R&B	B-side of Everyday People Author: Sylvester Stewart
	Was standing! Was standing!	-	-	US22 (8 weeks) US	-	First published: March 24, 1969 Author: Sylvester Stewart
	I want to take you higher stand!	-	-	US38 (16 weeks) US	R&B24 (7 weeks) R&B	B-side of stand! Author: Sylvester Stewart
	Hot Fun in the Summertime Greatest Hits	-	-	US2 (16 weeks) US	R&B3 (15 weeks) R&B	First publication: July 21, 1969 Number 250 on the Rolling Stone 500 (list 2010) also on the soundtrack of the films My Girl (1991) and Wachgeküßt (1998) Author: Sylvester Stewart
	Life and Death in G&A	-	-	US74 (6 weeks) US	R&B25 (8 weeks) R&B	First published: August 1969 as Abaco Dream Author: Sylvester Stewart
1970	Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) There's a Riot Goin 'On	-	-	US1 gold (13 weeks)US	R&B1 (14 weeks) R&B	First published: December 10, 1969 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Number 410 on the Rolling Stone 500 (list 2010) Author: Sylvester Stewart
	Everybody Is a Star Greatest Hits	-	-[US: ↑]		-	B-side of Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) Author: Sylvester Stewart
1971	Family Affair There's a Riot Goin 'On	DE33 (3 weeks) DE	UK15 (8 weeks) UK	US1 gold (14 weeks)US	R&B1 (13 weeks) R&B	First published: October 15, 1971 # 139 on the Rolling Stone 500 (2010 list) Author: Sylvester Stewart
1972	Runnin 'Away There's a Riot Goin' On	-	UK17 (8 weeks) UK	US23 (10 weeks) US	R&B15 (7 weeks) R&B	First published: January 18, 1972 Author: Sylvester Stewart
	Smilin ' There's a Riot Goin' On	-	-	US42 (7 weeks) US	R&B21 (7 weeks) R&B	First published: March 30, 1972 Author: Sylvester Stewart
1973	If You Want Me to Stay Fresh	-	-	US12 gold (17 weeks)US	R&B3 (16 weeks) R&B	First published: June 6, 1973 Author: Sylvester Stewart
	Frisky Fresh	-	-	US79 (2 weeks) US	R&B28 (8 weeks) R&B	First published: October 24, 1973 Author: Sylvester Stewart
	If It Were Left Up to Me Fresh	-	-	-	R&B57 (10 weeks) R&B	B-side of Frisky Author: Sylvester Stewart
1974	Time for livin ' small talk	-	-	US32 (12 weeks) US	R&B10 (15 weeks) R&B	First published: June 4, 1974 Author: Sylvester Stewart
	Loose booty small talk	-	-	US84 (4 weeks) US	R&B22 (11 weeks) R&B	First published: October 1974 Author: Sylvester Stewart
1975	I get high on you high on you	-	-	US52 (9 weeks) US	R&B3 (15 weeks) R&B	First published: August 1975 under Sly Stone. Author: Sylvester Stewart
	Le Lo Li High on You	-	-	-	R&B75 (7 weeks) R&B	First published: December 1975 under Sly Stone
1977	Family Again Heard Ya Missed Me, Well I'm Back	-	-	-	R&B85 (3 weeks) R&B	First published: January 1977 Author: Sylvester Stewart
1979	Remember Who You Are Back on the Right Track	-	-	-	R&B38 (11 weeks) R&B	First published: September 1979 Authors: Sylvester Stewart, Hamp Banks
1986	Crazay Shockadelica	-	-	US53 (16 weeks) US	R&B2 (18 weeks) R&B	First release: September 1986 as Jesse Johnson feat. Sly Stone Author: Jesse Johnson
1987	Dance to the Music (4 Track EP)	-	UK89 (2 weeks) UK	-	-	First publication: September 1979 including Dance to the Music , Family Affair , Everyday People and Running Away

More singles

• 1967: Underdog (release: September 1st)
• 1969: Another Night of Love (as Abaco Dream; released December)
• 1972: I Ain't Got Nobody
• 1983: Que Sera Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be) (released November 30th)
• 1979: The Same Thing (Makes You Laugh, Makes You Cry) (released December)
• 1982: LOVINU
• 1983: Ha Ha, Hee Hee (release: March)
• 2006: Family Affair (with Joss Stone and John Legend )
• 2013: I Want to Take You Higher (release: April 20th)
• 2013: Sexy Situation (release: November 29th)

literature

• Stambler, Irwin: The Encyclopedia of Pop, Rock and Soul . 3rd revised edition, New York City, New York: St. Martin's Press, 1989, pp. 620f - ISBN 0-312-02573-4 .

Web links

Commons : Sly and the Family Stone  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• Official website
• Sly & the Family Stone on Allmusic (English)
• Sly & the Family Stone at Discogs (English)
• Discography at 45cat.com

swell

1. ↑ Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
2. ^ Sly Stone Book
3. ^ Joel Selvin: For the Record: Sly and the Family Stone: An Oral History . Quill Publishing, New York 1998, ISBN 0-380-79377-6 .
4. ↑ Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Sly & the Family Stone in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
5. ↑ 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. Rolling Stone , December 2, 2010, accessed August 8, 2017 . 
6. ↑ Victoria Johnson: Cynthia Robinson, of Sly and the Family Stone, Dies at 69. In: theboombox.com. November 24, 2015, accessed November 25, 2015.
7. ↑ ^{a b c} Chart sources: DE UK US
8. ↑ ^{a b c} gold / platinum database US UK
9. ^ Joel Whitburn : Top R&B Albums 1965–1998, ISBN 0-89820-134-9 .
10. ^ Joel Whitburn : Hot R&B Songs 1942–2010: 6th Edition, ISBN 978-0-89820-186-4 .
11. ↑ ^{a b c d e} RS500 Songs (List 2010)
12. ↑ Songs of the Century, RIAA (List 2001)