Sly Stone

A whole New Thing

Peace and the Summer of Love

The emergence of Sly and the Family stone from San Francisco is significant. This inter-racial / inter-gender group was an icon for integration and gender equality. A major theme that was represented by the Summer of Love: Haight Asbury in San Francisco. Even with the "peace and love" concept Sly opens his sleeper debut LP "A Whole New Thing" with the song "Underdog"

The lyrics of the opening verse:

“I know how it feels to expect to get a fair shake, but they won’t let you forget that you’re the underdog and you got to be twice as good”

refer obviously to the Black struggle in America in 1967. This was released just two years after the assassination of Malcom X and the the Selma Montgomery March.

Dance to the Music

While the title track and primary focus of Dance to the music served two purposes: 1-to create a party atmosphere and 2-To sell records as compensation for Sly's debut flop. The album still contains politically motivated lyrics that are a direct reflection of what Sly is seeing in his community. “Don’t Burn Baby”Sly expresses sorrow about phenomenon of blacks setting their own communities on fire during times of civil unrest.

I can understand frustration

Joined by agitation

Creates aggravation

Led by a congregation

But don't burn baby, burn

You just learn, baby, learn

Don't burn baby, burn

You just learn, baby

He also makes his anti-racism statement in the song "Are You Ready."

Don’t hate the black, don’t hate the white. If you get bitten just hate the bite,

Stand

Multiple statements are made on this record starting with the title track. It is interesting to not that some of the civil rights oriented music on this album ride in on the coattails of James Brown's 1968 release "I'm Black and I'm Proud" The title track: "Stand" not only asserts African American pride with lyrics it also does so with the music itself. The abrupt transition at 2:18 takes the listener right out of mainstream pop a straight into the funk.

"Stand" and "You Can make it if you Try" coincide perfectly with Jesse Jackson's Intoduction to the Wattsstax Festival

There's a Riot Goin' On

This album answers the question asked by Marvin Gaye on his album "What's Goin' On?" Sly's answer "There's a riot Goin' On." Musically more than lyrically this record makes a statement. Sly has turned his back on the integrated band and pop oriented crossover sound of his music up until now. It all comes to fruition on the reconstruction of his party hit "Thank You fa lettin be Mice Elf" which is slowed down, blacker, funkier and as the title suggest, more of a nod toward African roots.

Thank You for Talkin to me Africa

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