Sly & The Family Stone – Fresh

Some one should AAA One Step this... Word.... Word..... Word.......

Even a shagged out old copy is worth owning. Mine has pops galore, but they can't hide one of Sly + Family's finest. Legend has it that Miles Davis played "In Time" for his band over and over for an hour. Every groove is slippery. No riff or beat repeats itself in exactly the same way twice, which is really enticing and forces you to listen and move in new ways (50 years on even).

Album Revolution #5:

There are times when you look at a situation, try not to judge, but at the same time, shake your head at what's going on...

That's what People were saying about "Sly Stone"...His trouble with Drugs were really starting to effect him Musically, but especially Professionally....He was missing tour dates, members "Greg Errico" and "Larry Graham" left the band, and album sales started to dwindle....

But in the stream of time, there was moments of brilliance....

That's where "Fresh" comes into play...Once again, I have to label this an Ultimate Crown Jewel Album...

By this time, the group consisted of: " Sly", Freddie", "Rose", "Cynthia" and "Jerry", along with new members, "Rustee Allen" (who had the had very hard task of replacing "Larry Graham" on Bass), "Andy Newmark" (Drums), "Sid Page" (Violin), "Pat Rizzo" (Saxophone), and background vocals by "Little Sister" ("Sly's" sister "Vaetta "Vet Stone" Stewart", Mary McCreary, and Elva Mouton).....

The album jumps off with the Keyboard Moody jam, "In Time"....It has "Sly" with slurred Vocals, but clear Lyrics, laced with "Little Sister" in the background...

"If You Want Me To Stay" is an OUTRIGHT CLASSIC!!!! "Rustee Allen" proved that he belonged with that BUMPIN' Bass line....

"Let Me Have It All" is MY Song!!!!!! I always have fun with this one!!!! I love how "Sly" sounds here....

I always say that I love "70's music, because when you hears a lot of songs, the titles fits...That is very true with "Frisky"...It sounds as it's labeled....

"Thankful N' Thoughtful" is a very nice offering, to bob your head to....

"Skin I'm In", well, if you listen to it, it's not a lot of Lyrics, but it says a lot....

The next 2 songs, "I Don't Know (Satisfaction)" and "Keep On Dancin'", are just ok, but they don't bring the album down...

"If It Were Left Up To Me", is EXTREMELY SHORT, but POWERFUL (even though "Little Sister" are the main Vocalist, with "Sly" sounding spaced out in the background)!!!!!

"Babies Makin' Babies" follows the same vain as "Skin I'm In", not that many Lyrics, but it says a lot....

I left the only remake in "Sly's" career in "Que Sera Sera (Whatever Will Be Will Be)" (written by "Jay Livingston' & "Ray Evans") last, because in my opinion, this one should have been last on the album...

As I said earlier, this brought a little spark to the group, but unfortunately, it could not sustain it....

"Sly's" Drug problem kept getting worse, and that was a hurtful situation...He would continue to release albums though, he even would get married in "Madison Square Garden"....But though it all, "Sly" just couldn't run away from his troubles....

Well, even with that being said, and even with the Album Revolution ending here, this album is still held in the highest regard (even though it didn't chart that high)....It was his last super creative album in his catalog...

dunno what versions if ive got on cd but prefer em to others ive heard. starker and darker brooding funk. if only they were available on wax..... prolly my favourite sly album either way