Sly And The Family Stone* – Stand!

Funkadelic with major hits and a joyous riot. Songs that are not excessively long and don’t overload on lyrics.

Perhaps the finest album from a groundbreaking multi-racial funk/soul/rock band that broke barriers and sold millions. The title track is timeless, with an uplifting message and some incredible music...if only those final 30 seconds or so could go on for another five minutes! Five of the eight tracks would appear on GREATEST HITS, and six of the eight are on 1980's ANTHOLOGY, but you need this album for "Sex Machine", 13+ minutes of fuzzed out groove with a nasty beat and wailin' wah wahs. This is a nice sounding pressing, the percussion pops, Larry Graham's bass thumps, and the communal vocals ring out. My copy is in fine shape, with only a trace of surface noise.

Album Revolution #2:

"Sly & The Family Stone" – "Stand!"....

Before I even owned the album, I and everyone in existence knew the significance of this...

After building a strong following from their first 3 albums, "Sly & The Family Stone" continues to expand their sound of the "Psychedelic Soul" persuasion....With that expansion, the different members of the group were allowed a lot of latitude, whether with the instruments or their vocals...

As I continue to marvel at this album, I might as well call this whole album as one big "Ultimate Crown Jewel" (my first time ever doing so)....

They got it right by having the "Title Track" start this album..."Sly's" fantastic lyrics, along with a melody that morphs into different phases, with the last one just going into a "Funk" jam session!!!!!

The thought provoking "Don't Call Me Nigger, Whitey", was as bold as it could be back in the days (very tamed by today's standards)....But it wasn't just the Lyrics that made it bold, it was the Music, and the delivery of the Music...It's sad though that over 50 years later that this song is still very much relevant today....

"I Want To Take You Higher", sounds like a big jam session, with the emphasis of the the "Music Getting Longer"!!!!!

"Somebody's Watching You" is a little more subtle, but the melody is RIGHTOUS!!!!!

"Sing A Simple Song" may sound like it could be a "Simple" song, but it packs a "Big Punch"!!!!!

"Everyday People" though...For a song only 2 minutes long, it has so much to say (In my opinion, it could have been just a little longer)....

The Super Dooper Massive "Sex Machine" is an outright MASTERPIECE!!!! 13 minutes and 48 seconds of pure "Funk", that obviously couldn't be contained in a 3, 4, 5 or even a 6 minute jam....

Last, but certainly not least, "You Can Make It If You Try" finishes off a MASTERPIECE of an album (this one should have been longer too)...

I don't think anyone had any idea that this album was going to make the impact that it did...I do believe "Sly" thought it would...Whatever he was trying to accomplish, he did that here and then some...

Unfortunately though, soon the brilliant mind of "Sly Stone" would start getting clouded by the use of Drugs...I really hate that, because down the line it would start to effect him, not just Musically but professionally as well...But thank goodness, that would not happen for a while, so let's enjoy what's in store!!!!!

Would be interested in buying a NM- or VG+ unipak cover only for my NM- copy with a badly damaged sleeve. Message me if you have one you would like to sell