Customer Reviews

Heard Ya Missed Me, Well I'm Back

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

 

 

Though billed as an album with the Family Stone, Sly's band on this album is almost completely different from previous albums, with trumpet player Cynthia Robinson the only returning player. Released in 1976, this album didn't apparently come at a great time in Sly's life, with bankruptcy, drug abuse and divorce recent occurences (soon to be combined with this album failing to make the Top 200. Guess not too many people were missing Sly at this point!). Strange then, that basically all the lyrics on this album are upbeat, offering advice on life's lessons. More then one song's main gist is that, while he may have done bad things in the past, that's all over now and everything's fine (hence the album's title). That doesn't make them bad lyrics really, but it makes one wonder who Stone was trying to convince more, the listener or himself. For fan's of Sly's funk tunes, the music is dissapointing: aside from the second track "What Was I Thinking" (which features a cool instrumental jam section) the album is devoid of funk, sticking mainly to easy-listening pop arrangements. Not bad, but its a big change from the funk odyssey that was his previous album "High On You," which I would recommend even at import CD prices. The main vocal hook from his old song "You Can Make It If You Try" is recycled on "Blessing In Disguise," which I think is the album's best song. Elsewhere, "Family Again" is a sequal to "Dance To The Music," released as a single no doubt to try to copy the former's success (it didn't). The bottom line here is that HEARD YA MISSED ME is a pleasent enough album that Sly completists should seek out, but it is atypical of Sly's best work, and should be approched with caution by the average listener. Although, as an expensive import, the average listener will never come near this album anyway, and that's not that great of a loss.

While I would agree that this LP is hardly in the same league as Sly's best work, this isn't the complete disaster it is often described as (well, not artistically, tho it was certainly a commercial disaster).

I remember reading a critic saying that by '76 (when this LP was released), everybody was doing Sly better than Sly himself - that's a bit cruel, it would be more accurate to say that musicians INSPIRED by Sly were having more success than Sly himself. I don't think too many people actually sounded that much like Sly, with one rather glaring and galling (for Mr Stewart) exception: namely Sly's old bassbuddy Larry Graham who was selling tens of thousands more records than Sly by simply aping the old Family Stone formula (which he did after all help to invent) but accentuating the positive elements and omitting the darker vibes present from "Thank You Falettinme..." onwards. Sly follows suit on this LP which is relentlessly upbeat in that rather irritating way the early Family Stone could be - though here Sly has more of a fixed grin than ever. As one of the other reviewers said, the album is full of "that was then but this is now" positivity which seems to be aimed more at Sly himself than his listeners. At times Sly reminds you of a drunk who corners you in a bar and tells you all about his drinking problems and keeps insisting "But I'm alright now" ....until eventually he falls off his barstool.

Having said that, the title track is a Latin-influenced number which reminds you of how odd and catchy Sly's pop songs could be and though "Family Again" is yet another rewrite of "Dance to the Music", it's perky enough to retain your interest. "What Was I Thinkin'" has a killer bassline, as has "Sexy Situation", though in the latter case that's all the song has. "Nothing Less Than Happiness" is a promising blusey doowoppy ballad, a great verse but unfortunately Sly never got round to writing a chorus (or much of a lyric) to go with it. "Blessing In Disguise" is probably the best song here, with a great arrangement and good singing. In fact Sly sounds in good voice throughout but latterly the album peters out a bit with some rather anonymous songs. All in all, not great, not terrible.

This cd, although definitely not the best in the Sly/Family Stone discography, still has some shining moments in my opinion. The title track is one of the first to incorporate reggae into the music mainstream. "Mother is a Hippie" is a nice song for momma, and "Let's Be Together" is a tight disco groove.I like the "STOP-DON'T, STOP-DON'T, STOP-DON'T STOP, STOP-DON'T STOP DON'T STOP!" in the song's hook. It is a clever pre-90's seduction groove minus the R-rated language. Sly gives the listener the ecstasy of the moment without being as verbal and straight to the point as some of the songwriters of today's music.
I really do miss ya Sly...Still waiting for one more blast!!!

The original Family Stone had disbanded after the previous album and Sly formed a "New" Family Stone. In many ways Sly had received much criticism for falling into repeating his various songwriting styles previous to this album; so in one last ditch attempt he tried remaking his formula with a new band. If he'd been able to hold this group together, there is no telling whether they might have matured into a force to reckon with. What we are left with here is a casting of Sly's net in as many musical directions as possible for new inspiration; and though certainly varied, coming up lacking in the spark that made the original Family Stone such a mindblowing experience. Due to his lack of success staying off drugs and the lackluster success of this album; it is truly Sly's last gasp. The few albums after this have him pretending to be alright and cranking out increasingly paler versions of songs that had succeeded with the original band.

Several songs here still have something to sink your teeth into like the sweet mellow of "Blessing In Disguise," the p-funked "Mother Is A Hippie" and beyond a doubt the (Public Enemy sampled) amazing groove classic "Let's Be Together." "Sexy Situation" is pretty good as is "The Thing." Even "Family Again" has it's moments, but it's unfortunate lyrics simply make you compare it to the unbreakable standard the original band had set; a different lyric in this one crucial song, might have allowed people to accept this album for what it was. In this way, his bad judgement to not tout this as a completely different experiment, and focusing instead on equating this band with the other, opened himself to the worst kind of criticism. In fact, there is a depth to the instrumentation on this album, involving violins and such; that sometimes gives a unique impression of listening to a funky broadway musical. So many elements of this could have payed off, if he'd simply been able to maintain focus and keep his head in the right place.

Ah well, Sly's rise and fall has been the complete blueprint for Prince's success; as much in knowing what NOT to do, as in knowing what's golden. Some of the players on this album are of passing interest like; John Colla who was in Van Morrison's back-up band for a time and became a founding member of Huey Lewis & The News; as well as Lady Bianca, who had been performing with Frank Zappa, John Lee Hooker and Van Morrison; who's gone on to become Oakland's most high profile female Blues singer in the late 90's. Of course, there's Cynthia Robinson and Sister Vet (from the original band) as well as Peter Frampton on the best song. If you want to get this for the one classic, two greats, a pair of passable imitations and several strangely intriguing experiments; you'd better be a diehard fan like me.

When I first heard the album it was not what I expected from Sly. It sounded a little wierd with the new Family Stone. When I heard "Heard Ya Missed Me Well, I'm Back" I was a little confused. I expected something a little different. "What Was I Thinkin' In My Head" is a funky upbeat song. "Nothin' Less Than Happiness" has a nice bluesy style to it with a nice smooth bass line and some harmonica. Sly and a woman are singing lead(if you hear her she reminds you of his sister, Rosemary). It's pretty nice even though it failed to chart. "Sexy Situation" is another funky upbeat song with funky violins. "Blessing In Disguise" has a nice melody and good vocals. Around the middle of the song it gets a little funky and towards the end. "Everything In You" has a very beautiful tune to it. I love it. If you really listen closely there is pizz(plucking) of the violins in between the arco(bowing). "Mother Is A Hippie" I kind of think that it's a little funny. Mother's a hippie? "Let's Be Togther" is one of my favorites, it starts out a little weird then it breaks out into this funky song.Stop Don't Stop Don't Stop Don't Stop Don't Stop is clever. I love the Gimme Gimme Gimme I Want I Want I Want. It sounds so sexy. Also the congas are really good along with the violins. "The Thing" is pretty good. I like the See You Later Aligator and After While Crocadile. What I really like about the song is the build-ups with the instruments. Like in the beginning it starts out with the percussion bass and organ, then guitar, violins and horns. Then later the same build-up happens but horns are in the beginning and then it runs out into an instrumental. "Family Again" is funky with a funky bass and organ. It's like a new sound. It makes me think that they are trying to repalce the original Family Stone, which is impossible. One thing I do like about the album is that the songs are heavy in violins to give it a fuller sound. The album is pretty good but I think personally Sly could've put a little more time into it. It was like it was a different Sly Stone.

The title track to this album is in my opinion one of Sly's best songs and highlights the musical range and genuis of this man. It utilizes timbales and latin percussion. The horn riffs are amazing. The clavinet throughout the chorus is dripping it is so funky. This song is just so damn catchy, I played it over and over again when I first bought the album. If you are a Sly fan, buy this album just for this song alone.
"Everything in You" is another great song with wonderful vocal arrangements, clever interplay between horns and strings, and a head nodding bassline during the verse. "Blessing In Disguise" sounds like funkadelic at its best. Mamma's A Hippe" is another infectious tribute to mothers, with a nice 32nd beat riff on the drums. "What was I thinking in my head" is a catchy dancefloor tune with a funky jam instrumental toward the end. I read somewhere that this song was a dancefloor hit.
The worst song on this album is "Family again", which he released as a single. Utterly annoying. Why he released this song and not the title track is beyond me. His album may have fared better commercially if he had. His duo with Peter Framton was another major dud.
All of the other songs on this album are passable, and I definitely recommend this album if you are a Sly fan. Not on par with his greatest, but there are some gems here to round out your "Best of Sly" personal collection.

By the time of this offering, it was clear that the Sly and the Family Stone of old was simply in name only. At this point, Sly chose to hire a brand new team of players(while still retaining Cynthia Robinson) to back him up on a collection of songs that really shows the effects of fame and drug abuse that continued to deprive and sap Sly of his talents of which he had so successfully managed to curb and control to his advantage from years past. All of these cuts trade shamelessly on the Philly Soul sound of the day and its sad to know that Sly was now chasing trends of music as opposed to being an innovator of forms that had been on display on records like There's a Riot Goin' On and Fresh. Blessing in Disguise is about as close as one could get to something that shows promise and his abilities of old. All of the other tracks are filler and throwaways and I cannot even recommend this release to casual fans. I was aware of the hollowness of this album from seeing other reviews and purchased this out of die-hard curiosity; instrumentally, everything is tight and well arranged, its the songwriting that is the culprit. Simply nameless and faceless inspiration adorns this release and as the old saying goes, you can't polish a lump of coal. Very Disappointing. 2 "weak" stars

a Album that truly never gets off the Ground.While Sly Stone certainly knows how to craft songs this Set seemed like a Cat just going through the Motions¬ really caring which way was up?"Blessing In Disguise" is as close as you get to Up to Standard Sly Stone Material.a few things here&there work but overall it's 2nd&3rd tier Material that is only truly best served for Die-Hards.even though the "Fresh" Album had only come out 3 Years Prior to this Album it seemed more like 13 compared to the way the Material went down after a while.

This is Sly at his last amazing high! A well crafted album considering his state of mind in 1976. My favorite track on this is "A Blessing In Disguise." He captures is old Stand style of song writing! I consider this to be one of my top 10 greatest Sly Stone songs of all time. This album is not one of his funkiest, it tends to sway more towards a more free, gentle, pop zone than anything else he's done. If you are looking or more funk, get Fresh or Riot. If you are looking for Sly in a more chilled out mode with well written songs, then get this one. The title track is amazing as well as "Family Again" (which features Peter Frampton on guitar!) and "Mother Is A Hippie." Like one reviewer said before me-I miss the hell out of you Sly-PLEASE come back-I miss you and the music world sure could use you right now!

I think this album is great. It's like a funky broadway musical. Much easier to sing along to than most tracks on Fresh, for example. Title track is fascinating melodically and lyrically. What Was I Thinking in my Head and Let's Be Together hold down the funk just fine. Don't let the bad reviews fool you, this record is gold.