1968 - May: Sly and the Family Stone “Dance to the Music”

What the Riff?!?

Sylvester Stewart was born in Dallas, Texas, but moved to the Bay area of California before becoming a multi-instrumentalist and changing his name to Sly Stone - the primary driver of the group Sly and the Family Stone. This was one of the first integrated groups, and one that crossed many genres. They played what would become known as psychedelic soul, but you can trace the origins of funk, soul, and psychedelic music through Sly and the Family Stone.

The first Family Stone album was called “A Whole New Thing,” and it caught good critical coverage. Unfortunately it was a commercial failure. Clive Davis asked for a more pop friendly sound, and Sly Stone created an approach to their second album, Dance to the Music, which followed a formula. Each lead singer would take turns on lead vocals or sing together in unison, the songs would feature a prominent solo for the instrumentalists, and the lyrics would appeal to a wide audience even though they would still focus on peace, love, and opposition to racism. The group really did not care for the formulaic approach of this album, but it worked when it came to commercial appeal. “Dance to the Music” became a top 10 pop hit, and it inspired several groups to gravitate towards psychedelic soul, including the Temptations, the Impressions, and the Four Tops.

Sly Stone is the primary driver of the group, writing almost all of their songs, serving as a multi-instrumentalist, and as a primary vocalist. His borhter Freddie Stone is on vocals and guitar, and his sister Rose Stone joins the group for the first time on this album. Other members are Larry Graham on vocals and bass, Cynthia Robinson on trumpet and vocals, Jerri Martini on saxophone, Greg Errico on drums, and backing vocals by Little Sister (Vet Stone, Mary McCreary, and Elva Mouton).

Sly and the Family Stone would release a number of songs to hit the top 10 in the Billboard Hot 100 in the years to come. The follow-up album to this one is called "Stand!," and is considered the band's high water mark, along with their performance in 1969 at Woodstock. The band would encounter instability and drug problems as time went on, with the original group dissolving in 1975. Sly Stone would continue to record as "Sly and the Family Stone" for many years afterwards using rotating musicians, until drug problems basically forced him to retire by 1987.

Bruce brings the early funk for this week's podcast.

Are You Ready
This song is an expression of opposition to racism with lyrics like "Don't hate the black, don't hate the white, of you get bit, just hate the bite. Make sure you heart is beatin' right."

Ride the Rhythm
This song starts off side two of the album. It is a straightforward dance song, and has some obvious comparisons to James Brown. It has a nice mix of horns and "wah wah" guitar.

Don't Burn Baby
Scat was an early precursor to rap music, and this track is a good example of a rapid rhyme scat. The eastern feel is also reminiscent of George Harrison. "Don't burn, baby, burn. Just learn, baby, learn."

Dance to the Music
Here is the big hit off the album, and the first Sly and the Family Stone single to reach the top 10 on the Billboard Charts, peaking at number 8. It is a straight up party record, but was also one of the most influential songs of the late 60's. The formula used by Sly Stone to make the songs on this record are clear here, even though he and the group did not like that approach.

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

Shape of Things to Come by Max Frost and the Troopers (from the motion picture Wild In the Streets)
This dystopian comedy-drama became a cult hit of 1960's counterculture. Max Frost and the Troopers was a fictional rock band in the film.

STAFF PICKS:

Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
Lynch starts out the staff picks with a smooth grooving song off the soul duo's album “United.” Ashford & Simpson wrote and produced this song, which became a hit within a week of its release, going to number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 1 on the Hot Soul Singles chart.

Anyone for Tennis by Cream
Rob brings us the theme song for the 1968 film “The Savage Seven,” an outlaw biker exploitation movie. Eric Clapton's lyrics depict a callous disregard for all the turmoil going on in the world, with the singers discussing going out for a game of tennis while everything disintegrates around them.

She's A Heartbreaker by Gene Pitney
Wayne features an early 60's crooner who turns to a Motown sound for this go-go hit. It peaked at number 16 at the time. It is about a guy who is continually drawn to a woman who breaks his heart every time.

Love Is All Around by The Troggs
Bruce's staff pick is probably most familiar to fans of the Christmas movie "Love Actually," where an old rocker converts it to a cheesy Christmas song called "Christmas Is All Around." The Troggs' lead singer Reg Presley wrote it in about 10 minutes, inspired by a broadcast of the Salvation Army Band performing an evangelical song called "Love That's All Around."

NOVELTY TRACK:

The Unicorn by The Irish Rovers
The Irish story of how the unicorn missed its appointment with Noah's Ark was on the charts in 1968, and closes out our podcast this week.

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