Customer Reviews

Fresh (Exp)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

After the dark, claustrophobic masterpiece of "There's a Riot Goin' On" and following the departure of bassist Larry Graham, Sly Stone turned his band's attention to a bit of a cooled off sound. This could have been in response to the demise of the powerful rhythm section of Graham and drummer Gregg Errico, who had left prior to 'Riot', but I think in some ways it was a response to the overwhelming nature of its predecessor-- "There's a Riot Goin' On" is an experience to listen to, making it must have been extraordinary.

This isn't to say that "Fresh" is light pop fare. On the contrary, it's a fantastic record, dark in its own way, but it's really quite a bit less intense then its predecessor. At its best, it finds a midtempo, loping sound over which Stone can wail out full of passion and the band can form a swirl around him, single and standout "If You Want Me To Stay" is a fine example of this-- the bassline provides a graceful drive, Stone is passionate in his lead vocal, and the horns cascade around him. By and large, the album sticks to this midtempo funk, driven by the basslines and at times angular guitars ("In Time") or swanky horns ("Skin I'm In"). Stone does develop a tendency to mumble and ramble here and there ("Frisky"), but by and large the great on this one manages to blindingly overshadow the bad and Stone proves stunningly inventive, even taking a schlock Doris Day pop song and making it into a fantastic soul/gospel number ("Que Sera Sera") and survives a remake of hit "Dance to the Music" as a chilled funk number ("Keep on Dancin'", which proves to be quite engaging).

This reissue has been remastered and adds a handful of alternate mixes as bonus tracks as well as including new liner notes. The bonus tracks here are interesting-- Sly Stone had tinkered substantially with the mix on "Fresh" before settling on its released version, although at some point in its early CD release history, alternate mixes for some of the record leaked out (and were quickly recalled by the label). Some of these are actually quite superior to the original mix, illustrating significantly more space and occasionally benefitting from a lack of overdubs-- "Let Me Have it All" is the best example of this, without the layers of vocal overdubs, Sly's vocal really shines. The remastering on this is equally top notch, the record sounds great throughout.

"Fresh" is always going to be thought of as the album that followed "There's a Riot Goin' On"-- it's not quite as good as its predecessor (or as "Stand!" before that), but truthfully this came at the end of a window where Sly Stone could do no wrong. "Fresh" is a fine record in its own right. Highly recommended.

'Fresh' is a Sly album that is always in an awkward possition because it comes as the follow up to Stand! and
There's a Riot Goin' On ,both of which are considered classics.But trying to judge any Sly & The Family Stone did in the late 60's and early 70's is like trying to debate which chocolate you like best.If you love chocolate,you love it all.One thing 'Fresh' really helps you understand about Sly Stone is that he's a slick producer.Not in the sense of over doing it but how he takes,for example the first song "In Time" with it's gritty organ/guitar sound and get it all to sound smooth as melted caramel all at the same time.The best part about that song is the use of the rhythm box beat;unlike like drumming it gives the music a very exotic,modern feel and a lot of emotion rather then sound cold and artificial.Even more interesting to note is that "Let Me Have It All","Skin I'm In' and "Keep On Dancin",something of a reprise of "Dance To The Music" from six years earlier all share the same style-deep,brooding but funky and never at a slow crawl as the music on the previous album was.On the hit "If You Want Me To Stay" the absense of Larry Graham comes to the surface as newcomer Rusty Allen takes a more timid bassline but the song itself showcases an important theme;'Fresh' is an album about Sly letting go of the past and creating a new future;Sly tells us that if we "want to him stay" he'll be around but we should let him be himself in the meantime.The same theme extends into Sly's version of "Que Sera Sera",which takes the frothy meloncaughly of the Doris Day original into pure gospel/blues passion (plus primetime drama lovers will note it was featured in an episode of 'Judging Amy').The "old" Sly & The Family Stone is best represented on "If It Were Left Up To Me" with that perky horn style of "Everyday People" and,lyrically is matches up very well with the mildly claustraphobic funk of "Babies Makin' Babies",a flat out terrific funk tune that really does the impossible;it's funky and cool at the same time,two things that seldom go together.All five of the bonus cuts being alternate takes you get to see 'Fresh' in the trial and error stages with echo plexed vocals on "Frisky" and the music on "Babies Makin' Babies" kept even further in the backround.As for this CD the remaster of 'Fresh' is excellent,especially the stereo seperation which makes the album sound more genuine then even the first CD reissue.Plus the fact you get very good liner notes that actually enhance the listening experience rather then detract from it.So as an album (if you never heard it before this) 'Fresh' lives up to it's title by being an ear catching musical experience that will draw you right into it's grooves and melodies.And even if you've already heard it a million times this will make you love it all over again.

One of the greatest funk recordings ever.The above review has it right: the 'alternate mixes' are in fact alternate takes. This is my third CD copy of it and it sounds the best of all by far. BTW My first CD copy is signed by the drummer Andy Newmark who I was lucky enough to do a recording session with a few years back.

One of the coolest records you will ever hear!! If someone ask me to define the word "Groove" I'll put this record all the way through. EVERY SONG IS JUST GREAT. NOT A BAD SONG I FUNKIN' PROMISE. Buy this record NOW!!!

Sly moving the Family Funk more towards James Brown, using a more angular approach than he had been doing combined with interesting drum/bass sounds. Plus the scratch tracks before the metamorph gives us a look at the "before & after." BONUS!

I'm a big fan of seventies music. Among the tremendous musical diversity born in that period was funk. This is one of its finest examples. Most importantly it's just great, original music made extra special through the remastering process.

A lot of outstanding funk music emerged in the late 60's/early 70's. But for me, Sly and co. were always a step ahead of the rest, and Fresh, IMHO, was the crux of Sly's career. Not as dark or dense as Riot or as bright and optimistic as Stand!, this album has the perfect balance of sexy, dirty funk as well as soulful R&B and pop. Timeless 70's music.

This is Sly's first album without the whole original Family Stone. When I first heard it, it was obvious that Graham was not pulsating the rhythm. The sound of this album was weak compare to Sly's previous albums. The songs were good for the time, but seemed like Sly was running out of ideas. The Family Stone is a product of it's parts, not just Sly. From "Dance to the Music" to "Thank you for let me be myself again" You felt the music. Fresh was a new start with a new crew, but this crew couldn't hang with the original. "If you want me to stay" had the sound of the original, but it was on regular octane instead high octane. I thought it was strange that a funkmeister like Sly would include an old Doris Day tune on this album. Compare to the funk releases of that year, Sly lost step with his own beat.

This would have to be one of my DID's. The single, 'If you want me to stay' just will not be ignored! It was similar to Dr. John's "Right Place, Wrong Time" in just the way it came across. California soul! Sly was leading the way at this point. The whole album had that same vibe going, right down to the last track! With the bonus stuff, you can see more of the mind of a genius. This would be the last, unfortnately, even sounding Sly & the Family Stone record. Some stuff on Warners', some disco-it was the late 70's OK? Some attempts in the early 80's, though his brother said he is still composing....who knows, maybe he can re emerge like Brian Wilson did. Here's hoping....Sly, we miss ya!

The story here is that at the conclusion of the original album, there are some great remixes. Not a lot of effects, but some echo and lots of subtracting of instruments to make this very much "X-Ray Music", like classic Jamaican Dub. Who mixed these and when? The liners don't say but these bonus cuts do a great job of drawing the listener further into Sly's music. This album also contains what I consider to be the pinnacle of Sly's wonderfully idiosyncratic organ playing.