I Want to Take You Higher_ The Life and Times of Sly & the Family Stone - Jeff Kaliss [82]
(1) Dance to the Music; (2) Higher; (3) I Ain't Got Nobody (For Real); (4) Dance to the Medley: (a) Music Is Alive, (b) Dance In, (c) Music Lover; (5) Ride the Rhythm; (6) Color Me True; (7) Are You Ready; (8) Don't Burn Baby; (9) I'll Never Fall in Love Again; Bonus Tracks: (10) Dance to the Music (single version); (11) Higher (unissued single version); (12) Soul Clappin'; (13) We Love All; (14) I Can't Turn You Loose; (15) Never Do Your Woman Wrong
Sly Stone-vocals, keyboards, guitar; Rose Stone-keyboards, vocals; Freddie Stone-guitar, vocals; Cynthia Robinsontrumpet; Larry Graham-bass, vocals; Jerry Martinisaxophone, vocals; Greg Errico-drums
The imperative of the title track proved both attractive and easy for fans to follow up on, an invitation to come celebrate and party with this bi-racial, bi-gender band that was new on the scene. The extended "Medley," like "Dance," served to introduce the individual members of the Family Stone and also to affirm their collective fun and ensemble strength, with flashes of psychedelia and phase shifting. Not all the tracks are equally memorable, but the single and the album earned the band a place on rock radio and in stores. The previously unreleased "We Love All" contains the kind of social messaging apparent on several later hits. "I Can't Turn You Loose" exhibits a tight horn-rhythm connection evocative of Otis Redding. "Soul Clappin"' suggests what the B-52's would mine for retro fun three decades later.
Life Epic, 1968
(1) Dynamite!; (2) Chicken; (3) Plastic Jim; (4) Fun; (5) Into My Own Thing; (6) Harmony; (7) Life; (8) Love City; (9) I'm an Animal; (10) M'Lady; (11) Jane Is a Groupee; Bonus Tracks: (12) Dynamite! (single version); (13) Seven More Days; (14) Pressure; (15) Sorrow
Sly Stone-vocals, keyboards, guitar; Rose Stone-keyboards, vocals; Freddie Stone-guitar, vocals; Cynthia Robinsontrumpet; Larry Graham-bass, vocals; Jerry Martinisaxophone; Greg Errico-drums
Listened to now, it's hard to tell why Life was so overshadowed by its predecessor, because in many ways it's a brighter record. "Fun," "Life," and "Love City" were as catchy as "Dance to the Music," with even more of Sly's "message" lyrics. "M'Lady" was a catchy valentine. And there was much humor and delight in "Chicken," "I'm an Animal," and "Jane Is a Groupee." The group continued to showcase its broad, confident embrace of R & B, funk, psychedelia, and pop dance music.
Stand! Epic, 1969
(1) Stand!; (2) Don't Call Me Nigger, Whitey; (3) I Want to Take You Higher; (4) Somebody's Watching You; (5) Sing a Simple Song; (6) Everyday People; (7) Sex Machine; (8) You Can Make It If You Try; Bonus Tracks: (9) Stand! (single version); (10) I Want to Take You Higher (single version); (11) You Can Make It If You Try (unissued single version); (12) Soul Clappin'; (13) My Brain (Zig-Zag)
Sly Stone-vocals, keyboards, guitar; Rose Stone-keyboards, vocals; Freddie Stone-guitar, vocals; Cynthia Robinsontrumpet; Larry Graham-bass, vocals; Jerry Martinisaxophone, vocals; Greg Errico-drums
The grooves laid down on earlier discs became stronger and more sophisticated on Stand!, and Sly's mastery of pop poetry proved unmatchable and irresistible, resulting in four hit songs within one dynamic album. Aside from the hits, there was the forthright, somber sound of "Don't Call Me Nigger, Whitey," a precursor of Riot, and the blue psychedelia of "Sex Machine" With more message than perhaps any other rock record outside the folk/rock genre, Stand! was also a paradigm of arrangement and production.
Greatest Hits Epic, 1970
(1) I Want to Take You Higher; (2) Everybody Is a Star; (3) Stand!; (4) Life; (5) Fun; (6) You Can Make It If You Try; (7) Dance to the Music; (8) Everyday People; (9) Hot Fun in the Summertime; (10) M'Lady; (11) Sing a Simple Song; (12) Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)
Sly Stone-vocals, keyboards, guitar; Rose Stone-keyboards, vocals; Freddie Stone-guitar, vocals; Cynthia Robinsontrumpet; Larry Graham-bass, vocals; Jerry Martinisaxophone, vocals; Greg Errico-drums
This compilation served