Customer Reviews

Sly & the Family Stone - Greatest Hits [Epic]

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

"Greatest Hits" (1970) is the only compilation released by Sly & The Family Stone during its tenure with Epic Records (1967 - 76), and it is classic: with emphasis on the group's third ("Life") and fourth ("Stand!") albums, it is made essential by the inclusion of three absolute stone classic non-lp single sides ('Hot Fun In The Summertime', the glorious 'Everybody Is A Star', and the lyrically and musically astonishing five-minute funk classic 'Thank You'). "Greatest Hits" also marked the end of an era for the group, which would begin to fragment, and reveal a far darker vision with its next release, "There's A Riot Goin' On!" (1971). The themes and hallucinatory musical textures (including Sly's pioneering use of drum machines) of "Riot" were more than hinted at on two 1970 singles written and produced for Little Sister, "You're The One (Parts 1 & 2)" and "Somebody's Watching You" b/w "Stanga", both released on Sly's Stone Flower label (via Atlantic), and not licensed by Epic/Sony. Thus, "Greatest Hits" summarizes Sly's original, and magnificent, racially- and gender-integrated group, and his boldly integrationist vision, always lyrically sharp and musically eclectic. Despite every track herein being a joy, Sony has not bothered to remaster this collection since its first release during the early days of the compact disc, and the sound is thin and harsh, as comparison to the out-of-print gold disc of "Stand!" will make painfully obvious. Until the label gets around to upgrading this and subsequent Sly classics, check out the recent 2-disc compilation "Essential", which contains superior transfers of every track on this set. If you want the original albums, get the superb 1995 remasters of Sly's first three: the eclectic 1967 debut "A Whole New Thing," a blueprint for much of what came next, "Dance To The Music" (1968), and "Life" (1968). All three have bonus tracks and all - especially the latter two - remain remarkably fresh, musically inventive and detailed, and mastered from the original master mixes (by Bob Irwin), sonically wiping this drab "Greatest Hits" off the map. Though not as famous as "Stand!" and "Riot!" they are highly recommended. Finally, Sly's two albums for Warner Bros., "Back On The Right Track" (1979) and "Ain't But The One Way" (1983), from the period when he was collaborating with George Clinton, remain underrated if minor gems, and hold up better than his last two albums for Epic. These are now available (again with bonus material) in a limited edition of 5000 from Rhino Handmade under the title "Who In the Funk Do You You Think You Are: The Warner Bros. Recordings" - get it while you can!

While the music on this disc is certainly great, there's really no reason why even the most casual Sly fan should buy it. For the same price, you can get the Anthology CD, which contains everything Greatest Hits does, but in chronological order AND with eight additional tracks besides. For that reason, I'd say anyone looking for a comprehensive introduction to, or overview of, Sly's music should seek out the Anthology rather than this.

One other problem, not only with this CD but also with the Anthology and all of the original album CDs, is that the discs were issued in the early- to mid-1980s and suffer from poor sound quality, bare-bones packaging, etc. Epic really needs to overhaul this band's catalog, and give us a full-blown box set as well; supposedly those things are going to happen in the next year or so. Stay tuned.

The Sly Stone aesthetic is characterised by excess: heady, exuberant, joyous excess. Listening to 'I want to take you higher' or 'Dance to the music' is like listening to a thousand Stax records played simultaneously at the highest volume on the loudest sound system, with scraping Velvets guitar licks, hysterically noisy vocals, sound-voyaging synths, booming drums and, of course, the soul of the funk, that belly-bludgeoning bass.

Some might shudder at this 'decadent' over-decorating soul's purity, but Sly can conjure stunningly evocative ballads, such as 'Everybody is a star', in between the raucous, colourful racket.

This is a party album, where the words 'Stand!', 'Fun', 'Dance' and 'Summertime' feature prominently, but it is also a political album, inviting the everyday people to groove, advocating tolerance and selflessness in the face of tacit pressure, party poopers of all hues.

My only criticism is the sound on the album, sometimes mixed so thinly, it's like listening to a great party taking place next door.

An extremely wonderful collection of music from Sly and Family. Unfortunately, the remastering is poor. It's an effort for me to listen and enjoy at the same time. A historically significant funk-rock collection such as this truly deserves a proper remaster. I'm waiting....

This collection of Sly and the Family Stone is simply THE BEST CUTS you can put on ONE CD! Sure,there are others like "You got Me Smilin'(again)" "Family Affair" "If you Want me to Stay" but you need more than one CD for that! These are the cuts that turned me on to this History changing music!!!

This is the best intro to Sly's "happy music" years that I could possibly think of. Since this was released in 1970, though, there isn't anything here from 1971-onwards. Pity, since that's probably Sly's best material (well, at least "Riot" is, "Stand!" and "Fresh" are equally amazing). If "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" doesn't get you dancing, or even just really wanting to dance, you have no sense of funk and therefore should just stick to crap like Good Charlotte. Sorry about that, but really... Sly is the greatest. "I Want To Take You Higher" here is fantastic, but, like many say, the Woodstock version's better (inconceivable, but true). Still, it's a great admission for beginners into the world of Sly. I'd recommend "Stand!" and "Fresh" after this, then "Riot", and then whatever else you can find. The man is still a genius, and his music lives on. I just wish he'd get back to music.

Greatest Hits concluded the first phase of Sly and the Family Stone's career, neatly summing up their boisterous, politic-pop era. But the darkness was creeping in, as heard on the sarcastic "Thank You (Fallenme Be Mice Elf Agin)" and the resigned "Everybody is a Star." Sly's next move would be the mercurial There's a Riot Goin' On, and then his subsequent slippage. Greatest Hits is one of the few "best-of" packages which serves as a complete statement rather than the typical career supplement of most such collections. This stunning set covers a mere two years of recording and argues favorably for the group's place alongside The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan.

Now here is a greatest hits cd that's worth owning! This cd is a brilliant and satisfying effort from beginning to end, and I usually don't like greatest hits cds. I usually have a problem with greatest hits cds because they tend to come off as shoddy patchwork quilts. They just don't seem to flow correctly because the songs are taken out of their original context. Yet, I still recognize the value of such collections in introducing someone to an artist that they are not familiar with. This is the single greatest "greatest hits" album that I have ever heard, and I would definitely recommend this album to anyone who wants to discover the brilliance of Sly & the Family Stone. I don't think that there has ever been another album released with such great songs that consistently display such powerfully positive energy. That pretty much describes the tone of the entire album. There are socially relevant tightly constructed pop songs such as 'Everyday People', thoughtful and insightful lite funk jams such as 'Life', deep soulful funk extravaganzas such as 'I want to take you higher, and impeccably constructed brilliant musical moments such as 'Hot Fun in the Summertime'. This album has all of this and much more and these guys prove that they are one of the best bands all across the board from all genres of music to emerge during the late sixties. The fact that this album includes three non-album singles which happen to be three of the best songs that Sly & the Family Stone has ever done makes this collection absolutely essential.

I have to admit right up front that I am a Sly and the Family Stone fan! I tried never to miss a concert in the 70's and showed up at some venues when the Family Stone showed up and Sly didn't!!!

This group was one of the first predominately Black rock bands back in the 60's along with their contemporaries, The Chambers Brothers. True children of the Haight-Ashbury generation and culture. I don't think that I have ever heard a more accomplished group of musicians...the thumpin' bass of Larry Graham, Gregg Enrico on the drums, Cynthia and Jerry on the horns, Freddie Stone on the guitar and of course the ring mastery and ultimate musicianship of Mr. Sylvester Stewart.

With some albums labled "Greatest Hits" you get a few songs that you remember and the rest is filler. With this album, EVERY song is a certifiable monster!

If you are an "oldhead" Sly fan, let this album take you back to the days of Shindig,Hullibaloo, mini skirts and white go-go boots. If you are new to Sly, let the music take you 'Higher'!

"Some people listen to remember, some people listen to forget".

It's been years. Sylvester Stewart is over 60. But he is/was the funkiest music man I can recall. His hit singles with the Family Stone stand out by themselves from all others. Proud, defiant, political, and FUNKY. Except for "Family Affair", a more laidback tune, they are all here to enjoy and enjoy again. I've been wondering for years where is this man? Did those drugs do him in? Why isn't he an honored guest on some late night show or music retrospective. This is his best stuff. Better buy two.