Thursday, April 27, 2006

Sly And The Family Stone-Whole New Thing(1967 US Psychedelic Soul)



Actually, this is Sly's best album, an unrecognized wonder, a great lost album, really. As he went downhill (from drugs), his music became simpler, here it begins at its most clever and ambitious. What sets it apart from his subsequent output is how eclectic and highly arranged his songs are. It's the late sixties; Sly is opening up his kind of R&B-- just as the British Invasion opened up the rock/pop song in general. He was a music major in college, so his beginning the disc with a minor key "Frere Jacques" was a conscious borrowing from Mahler.... Listen to how tight and varied and "Advice" and "Dog" are-- as Sly keeps the beat, but puts the tune through one change after another. Wonderful use of the different voices, distinct and blended. Two excellent touching slow ballads: "Let me Hear it from you" (sung by Larry Graham), and "That kind of person" (by Sly's brother, Freddie). Dig the insanely frantic "Turn Me Loose"-- which they used to attach to their equally frantic version of Otis Redding's "I Can't Turn You Loose." Great drumming! Great sound; beautifully produced, by Sly.
(amazon user review)
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http://rapidshare.de/files/19074979/Sly.rar.html


6 Comments:

Blogger mr.A said...

...nice selection you got here dude!!!

2:40 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

really great selection and especially this funky Sly. Unfortunately track 6 "Advice" is missing. Do you have it somewhere? Thank you

2:23 PM  
Blogger Dirk said...

sorry i didnt have that track

9:22 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks for posting this stuff. I love this kind of music. You have good taste in music.

7:15 PM  
Blogger freQazoidiac said...

I must agree with you. I listen to this album the most
of any Sly album. Before I knew this one existed
it was probably Riot Goin On for me.
Essential and unfortunate that it bombed when released.
I have the 67 and 71 pressings. The First cover is the coolest
but you can't mess with the Greatest Hits styled
2nd cover. The new Sly stone sessions on ACE came out, you have to hear that.

10:55 PM  
Anonymous maxidus sex shop said...

It cannot have effect in actual fact, that is exactly what I think.

1:51 PM  

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