Sly Stone hit some lofty heights in the early days of his career. For a while it seemed he could do no wrong. It didn't really last beyond the early 70s. In 2011 he put out an album called I'm Back!, but it didn't really prove he was. That's true in a lot of cases. The downside of achievement is the struggle to equal it. But at least you've achieved.
As to the title of this song, it's still summer, not as hot. Bit better for sleeping.
2 comments:
Sly and the Family Stone was an amazing band, just incredible, plus it was multiracial too. The video of 'Thankyou for lettin' me be miceself again is a great one from the era. Unfortunately, other than in a few documentaries it's hard to see their perfomances now.
https://youtu.be/3pnoVMEH7QI?si=MReO0HB_QVACsX74
There's a documentary of the 1969 Harlem show called Summer of Soul - this is an outtake that shows the tremendous energy and delight all the musicians, including Sly, generated.
https://youtu.be/slFiJpAxZyQ?si=YVhNaFFmHd6DwpTv
He went a long way to engendering hip hop - never mind Prince, George Clinton, and Miles Davis too. Sly Stone was a genuine genius.
Yeah, he and the Family Stone made for a great band. And they're being multiracial was very cool too. At the end of the 60s the Black Panthers were pressuring him to get rid of the white musicians, which strikes me as mistaken priorities. Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin is one of my favorite songs of his or anyone's. That was an interesting version, and went on for quite a bit before he even entered the stage. He had the charisma to pull it off, though.
I liked the trailer for Summer of Soul too. I noticed that Nina Simone was doing the intros, or at least some of them. She was a great performer and songwriter.
Sly's influence was in a lot of places, including Sesame Street, I believe. Prince certainly took some inspiration from him in leading the Revolution.
Post a Comment