Celebrating Sylvester Stewart aka Sly Stone, 15th March 1943 to 9th June 2025.
In an era where artists of the 1960s and 1970s have been able to experience a critical, creative and commercial rebirth, in some cases exceeding the achievements of their 'first phase", Sylvester was perhaps among the exceptions to the rule.
Although Sylvester was deservedly held up as a musical icon and inspiration from the late 1980s/early 1990s when I was signposted by artists I liked and who regularly name checked him, his golden age remained in a handful of records made with Sly & The Family Stone over half a century ago. But what a legacy.
That said, when it came to hastily pulling together a tribute selection this morning, I realised that I had relatively little in my music collection. The Best Of Sly & The Family Stone has been played to death since I bought it on CD in 1992, and it is as good a summary of Sly's career high points as you could wish for.
Apart from that, I have only one studio album, Fresh from 1973, which I love but not considered a 'peak' record and a live bootleg from 2004 called Thee Encyclopedia Of Ecstacy (sic), which captures two blistering shows at the Fillmore East in New York on 5th October 1968. Apart from that, a few remixes and odds and sods on various artist compilations.
So, I've drawn from all of these to create an 11-song, 46-minute selection. Fresh inevitably gets a favourable share with three tracks, I've picked one song from each of the 1968 live shows, and there's a re-edit by Danny Krivit to round things off. All together, I think they hold their own with the classic cuts.
Rest in power, Sly.
1) Are You Ready? (Late Show) (Live @ the Fillmore East, New York) (1968)
2) Hot Fun In The Summertime (Single Version) (1969)
3) Everyday People (1969)
4) If You Want Me To Stay (Single Version) (1973)
5) Let Me Have It All (1973)
6) Life (Album Version) (1968)
7) (You Caught Me) Smilin' (1971)
8) In Time (1973)
9) Color Me True (Early Show) (Live @ the Fillmore East, New York) (1968)
10) If It Were Left Up To Me (1973)
11) Dance To The Music (Medley) (A Danny Krivit Edit) (2003)
Great tribute, K.
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