Stand!

Iconic clearly, not sure I’d pull it up to listen to again though

Liked it more than I thought I would.

Very Woodstock. Felt like I needed to be high as a kite to get the full effect.

Meh.

Funky, thunky, jazzy. Some very out there albums too. I hate to say it but this album was boring.

so funky and fun. didn't realize this was the first integrated rock band!!!

Funky af, track 2 is....tough, enjoyable but there's funkier stuff I'd prefer to listen to

Overall enjoyable but I likely won’t return.

Seicht poppig mit social commentary.

This almub refused to give up. The consistent originality and quality and flood of ideas is just amazing.

Half of this is dissonant and annoying. The rest is alright

I like a lot of it. Not keen on some of it.

A little bit too experimental in my taste, however still a really good album! 4

Yeah fun

There's a lot here. Definitely some good material, and it's interesting to hear what are effectively signatures of the time–lots of wah-wah guitar, talk box, and other staples of the era. I had heard this before a few times over the years, but never all in one sitting. I was mostly familiar with "Stand" and "I Want to Take You Higher" from a ridiculous cover-medley from an electric violinist named Mark Wood. And of course the big hit, "Everyday People", was well known to me because it's everywhere. Certainly in lots of commercials in the 80s and 90s. Not something I will put on regularly, but interesting and I understand why it made such an impact when it did. There's a lot here.

Ni bien ni mal. Un disco escuchable, de los que no cambian vidas

pretty good

Groovy

Lots to love about this one.

Total funk and soul

No big standouts but no bad tunes either. A perfectly alright listening experience.

So funky my crotch hurts.

2,5

I love the historical context of this album and enjoyed it's varied sound. Shout out to Sex Machine for reminding me of Splatoon so much. Favourite Track: Sing A Simple Song.

Very good, but very dated funk. My ideal listening environment for this album is a bar.

My Brain was Soul Clappin’ on this one. I just had to Stand up!

Yes.

Är inte mycket för den här typen av musik.

I like Everyday people

Prefer the older albums. Stand - bit trumpety, but decent Ok, 5 tracks in and this is not as good as expected. It's like it's over-experimental. Best tracks: Sing a simple song; Sex Machine

Super funky!

has it's moments, certainly some good grooves

Sex machine isn’t really my kinda song but the rest is great 4/5

Sly and the Family Stone - Stand! Classic soul album. Don't really have much to write or say about it other than I enjoyed it. 4/5

3-4

Exceptional album. Production is distinct. It's endlessly stylish and the song writing is exceptional. The stripped down slower tunes are my favorites, like "Somebody's Watching You".

Some classic songs on this album.

Great album. Fav songs were everyday people and you can make it if you try

1960s turmoil and revolution!

You’d think this would be up my alley. But I’ve always hated Everyday People. Sing a Simple Song isn’t my fave either. I do enjoy a long-ass instrumental funk jam, so that saved it for me. Songs added to Spotify: 0

Sex Machine is a preety good title since it’s essentially 13 minutes of fucking around

Great listen. Some of the jams maybe overstay their welcome a little but it sounds like a good time. The vocals are so great. I genuinely can't tell if some of the guitar tones were vocals through a talk box and wah but I love it. It's always fun to hear how old mixes were done. Songs had the full kit panned right and bass panned full left and it's a bit distracting. I feel like the version I had had remasters or something because some songs were night and day.

If I wanted jams this funky, I would have just gone to the Sea Monster lounge on December 15 with Jason, Dom, and Jim

First song absolutely ripped. Do not listen to song number 2 on a crowded inner city bus. Pretty groovy for the rest. nothing stood out tho

Really interesting marriage of joy and fury. Loved this.

Day37 - sly was a genius and this is an amazing album

Now if THIS is what RAP MUSIC sounded like these days, music would be so much better. This is a poorly worded statement, but this album is so full of love and feelings and happiness and joy. Why and how did rap music descend into vile, angry music. I'm not a fan of soul music BUT as a music lover I can feel the SOUL in this album. Rare decision for me but this gets 5 stars.

So good!

Really enjoyed this album - not every song is great but there is enough

No

A couple of soul classics here that I had no idea were originally by Sly & The Family Stone

The production always irked me on Sly's music, I think a remaster would be nice. That being said, I kind of dig how slightly muddy this album sounds, in a strange way. It's ooey, dare I say even a tad gooey. I was a big fan of the title track and that one song I can't say the name of. "Sex Machine" kind of overstayed its welcome though. I've been meaning to return to "There's a Riot Goin' On" because I gave it a 2/5 pretty unfairly (wasn't feeling very funky that day, what can I say). Definitely will now. Strong 3/5.

Classic stuff-can't get enough of this album!

nice

I knew it was gonna be funk just by the the style of the cover. Second track's name is interesting, and I've never heard of them. First song, I love the boogie vibe already. It's upbeat and his voice is fine. Liking the vocals. It's repetitive yet it's quite good. Outro is very FUN. This it's THE vibe one might be looking for. 8.9/10, it's not my genre, but I'm getting it. Second song, as I said a name is giving. Woman vocals came in, quite nice. I like that he repeats the title. Oh the song is big, and now it's instrumental break, with some weird noises he makes in between, even instruments are weird, only the trombone thing in my right ear makes sense. And it comes back, THE TITLE. I love love this song so much, it's not annoyingly long orr instrumentals being boring. It's getting loud, with his mumbling and vocals. I think this is outro already, I was right, great ending. 9.7/10 definitely. -0.3 for too much instrumentals. Third song, WOW such energy, it's low key jazzy too. And there is woman and man singing. Not anymore. Right ear is for the woman and left for man. The "boom lakalaka" or whatever is very good in the right ear. Country vibes came in. The deep voice in the left ear is perfect. The production is amazing just to say. The instrumental break is going on and it's sooo chaotic, the vocals, the beat, and the trombone thingy, plus him singing. Last one had some spark in the name so 9.4/10 is this one. 4th song, quite chilly vibe. There is trombone in the right ear and other thing in the left ear(so bad with the names ik). I like the chorus. Oh verse is great too. This is so satisfying I can't really describe it. Voices change in between singing, it's so well made. Outro is basically a chorus being monotonous, which was unexpectedly magnificent. 9.6/10 for this one, I'd rate songs 10 if I already knew them and loved them with my heart btw. 5th song, it's a little different vibe here. Drums are included, women vocals came in. Man singing in left then right and now middle. Every second is a surprise like, I'm impresseddd. Now it's slowed down only beat left, back to the song now. I didn't know I liked this vibe this much before this album, good to know. This was a little less entertaining so 9.3/10. 6th song, and I'm already loving it, it has a nostalgic vibe. Woman in the right ear singing the best melody. The piano is the most nostalgic here. it's not very upbeat, but that makes it better I suppose (in this song I mean). It's too short, this was melodically best, however, less full. Soo 9.5/10 seems fair. 7th song, cool name indeed. 13 fucking minutes wow, that's why the intro is quite long. Guitar in right ear and some weird instrument in the middle. Left ear also had a different guitar sound and smth else. Umm I just checked genius and it's mostly instrumental. It's too long if the song is gonna be just this tbh. Vibe changed to downtempo I think. I thought I had tinnitus in my left ear, it's the song apparently. So relaxing too. I listened to it fully, and it was mostly same, but at the end beat was different and at the really end the beat was edging, at the really end some men were laughing. So I'd say 7.5/10 would only listen to this when writing smth I guess. 8th song, short one. It's as good as others, the title repeating iconic as ever. Deep voiced guy is in the right ear now. WOOW WHAT INSTRUMENT WAS AT 1 MINUTES, I LOVED IT. It's normal now, very groovy and oldie. There are single versions of the songs I've already listened to, dunno what that means, maybe they're shorter. It's getting slower only right ear was active, then left joined. This was 9.2/10. 9th song, it's a single version of the first song, sound exactly same so Imma not listen to it fully or rate it. Same with 10th and 11th songs. 12th song, this is something, it started normally and now it's clapping sounds(soul clapping apparently), quite satisfying. It's jazzy, and full of sounds as always, I can't get enough of this I'm afraid, it's soft singing now both man and woman. Outro got downtempoed and some talking began. I say 9.4/10 for being unique. 13th song, already a good start what can I sayyy. It's only what it started with since it's an instrumental, but it's fun and entertaining. I think nothing else will happen, so I'm just gonna sum it up, before that this is 7.5/10 song, too same, but it's not annoying. Soo I LOVED this album, I actually like funk and soul, I just needed the right album, temptations were not it, but this one ATE. Basically, it's a 5 star album, despite some flops, that were two instrumental songs, I consider this one of the most entertaining and fun albums I've ever listened to here.

Endsechziger R&B.

Kinda funky

Another album that I already own, and absolutely love. It's a regular listen for me. It was ground-breaking, there really was no one else making music like this when it came out.

No me gustó!

Very enjoyable, I had heard of this band before but never actually heard any of their music. Pretty good variety of songs while staying on a similar vibe throughout the album.

I really like this one. Diverse, no low spots and catchy. Mulitple songs covered by multiple artists. The 13 minute instrumental Sex Machine probably my favorite.

Simultaneously refined and wild, there are a plethora of bold choices (highlighted by the drum fadeout in Sex Machine) in this cut. STFS sits at a crucial crossroads of funk, rock, jazz, and psychedelia both tonally and culturally. Favorite track: Don't Call Me Nigger, Whitey

Oh boy, this is funk at your finest. I have a hard time imagining anybody not finding themselves grooving out in their chair when they listen to this album. I just love the funk/soul/r&b sound from the 70's and 80's. This album no different. I have played this album 3 straight mornings, then let the genre play out the rest of the work day. It's been a great few days of music! Whether you're black, white, Puerto Rican or just a freaking, I don't know how you can't enjoy this sound. As Prince would say, Partyup! Very good album and loved each listen. Time to spend some time checking out their other albums. 4

4 Funk excellence. I mean, Everyday People in and of itself is probably enough to seal this as an all-time classic, and yet there are a number of songs here just as catchy and empowering that manage to rival it, with the one-two-three punch of Stand, Don’t Call Me N*****, and I Want to Take You Higher being an absolutely killer trio to open the album. So, this seemed to have the makings of an all-time classic in my book early on, but unfortunately, there’s a bit of a dip after the first three songs, and then especially after Everyday People. That’s not to say I think Somebody’s Watching You or Sing a Simple Song are bad songs, they’re fine, but it was around the time of these two that I found my groovy mood slowly fading. Fortunately, the album is quickly saved and hits an apex with Everyday People, only to immediately bottom out with Sex Machine, a song far too repetitive to be anywhere near as long as it is. You Can Make It If You Try is admittedly a step back in the right direction, but at that point you’re pretty winded from the previous track, and considering how strong the album starts, it just feels like a lackluster conclusion. Still, as a whole, this is a really solid funk album. When the group is firing on all cylinders, it’s absolutely electric, and paired with their signature brand of social messaging, you really have a showcase of what makes Sly & Co. so iconic and influential. While the mediocrity of some tracks made me question kicking this down to 3 territory, the greatness and importance of others here can’t be understated, so I don’t think I would feel right going any lower than a 4. Now, time to go back and re-evaluate my opinion of There’s a Riot Goin’ On.

I had high expectations for this one as a fan of funk and soul, but the album didn't quite work all the way through for me. Some of the songs just felt weirdly boring, which doesn't happen to me often with this genre of music.

Lots of great reviews for this undoubtedly "essential" record, and the best one is *this*, here copied in full: "If the drum breaks, bass lines, and in-your-face horn sections couldn't push the revolution to victory, nothing was going to do it." Amen. Please press the "like" button for that one. If you're reading this, you've probably seen this other review before. Where shall I start myself? Well, at the beginning of the album, of course: title track and opener "Stand" is an anthem for the ages, yet one must also point out how "sly" and "stoned" that chord progression on its verses sounds for anyone rooting for off-kilter harmonies. Sorry, couldn't resist this bad pun. But seriously, when his heart was into it, Sylvester Stone could pull off very sophisticated-yet-"catchy" stuff out of his brains and hands. And I feel like music fans don't underline this enough. After "Stand" comes a track whose offensive title says so much about the demise of the utopias that had previously been embraced by the majority of the US population at the tail end of the sixties. Coming from a unisex, interracial band, such a concept for a song is edifying. And frankly (but also unfortunately), the lessons of that swampy bluesy cut about tensions between "races" have still not been fully learned in 2023. Get educated by the street-savvy wisdom of Sylvester Stewart, kiddies. It's "simple' wisdom, but the latter should always be in our minds. Next comes the insanely groovy jam of "I Want To Take You Higher", another cut for the ages, whose length could have been doubled, so terrific the result is. Man, that bass slaps, and so do the drums parts, the horn solo and the vocals! And that main hook on the guitar and bass between the jams! *Everything* slaps *hard* actually. Higher and higher and higher, you don't want that song to end. Probably one of the studio performances of the band that best represent how good they were live (see also the Woodstock recordings for that!). Boom-shakalaka-boom! That iconic mantra has been stamped in public consciousness for the decades that came after! Sure you must file it under "essential", right? "Somebody's Watching You" is probably a lesser, "lighter" track compared to the rest of the album, but its subdued tones and paranoid lyrics also foretell the darker moods of next album (and other masterpiece) *There's A Riot Going On*. And it allows you to catch your breath a little after "I Want To Take You Higher", at least. Next comes the one-two punch of "Sing A Simple Song" and "Everyday People" (closing side one and opening side two, if I'm not mistaken). "Sing A Simple Song"'s titular program is somewhat belied by how sophisticated the composition is, once again--it's actually a very "meta" song suggesting the listener should get his easy pleasures where he can in a world faced with some many "complex", systemic dysfunctions of society. Which is why where the major-chord climax "do-re-mi-fa-sol-la-ti-do" surges at the end of each chorus, it's nothing short of revelatory. I don't feel like I have to say much about "Everyday People", it's one of Sly And The Family Stone's most famous signature songs, and listening to it for the hundredth time doesn't take away how elating the vocals on its stellar chorus are. This is the song that best exemplifies how powerful Sly and The Family's rallying cries to unite folks of all stripes, races and creed could be. But it's also a smoooooooth and sweet tune, as powerful as its chorus is. And yet its lyrics are nothing but naff or naive if you pay attention to them--the woes of class struggles and unchecked capitalism are taken into account in the picture Sly Stewart is here painting for us. So "Everyday People" is not only iconic. It's also a cut that aptly sums up what Sly And The Family were all about. Anyone knowing this album a little knows that "Sex Machine", the moody and funky instrumental track that follows "Everyday People", is probably a little too loooooooong for its own good, as "evocative" as its build-up is (a-hem). Had this somewhat self-indulgent jam been replaced by the handful of singles released right after *Stand* (legendary "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)", but also "Everybody Is A Star" and "Hot Fun In The Summertime"), this album would have been *perfect*, enough said. After this relative misstep, *Stand* ends with yet another iconic track, fortunately: "You Can Make It If You Try" is part of that vein of optimistic hits that Sly And The Family Stones will always be remembered for. As pointed out earlier, next album *There's A Riot Going On* will explore the other, darker, coke-fuelled and paranoid side of that elated coin. But I guess that's a story for another time, kiddies. 4.5/5 for the goals of this list selecting the best LPs of all time, here rounded up to 5. Which translates to a 9.5/10 grade for more general purposes (5 + 4.5). Number of albums left to review: 292 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 312 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 169 Albums from the list I won't include in mine (many other records are more important to me): 230

Cool funk album.

I was pleasantly surprised by this one

Great album. Ideal mix of 70s pop and proto-funk.

One of the band’s most accessible releases happens to be one of their most well-rounded. A fantastic gateway into what was to come

Very funky. Lots of toe tapping songs.

Solid funk/soul music from the late 60's. I recognize several of these songs. Everyday People the most familiar to me. My favorite line "..shady as a lady with a mustache" from Somebody's Watching You. Priceless. Can someone explain the lyrics from Sex Machine please.

This was better than I expected. Really stood up to the test of time. +1 for lyrics like "Shady as a lady in a moustache" - Somebody's Watching You.

Love some classic funk, although I think I prefer other Sly albums I've heard. When this album is on its really on, and Stand! It's a great way to start. It does get pretty unfocused at points and kind of meanders. Also a lot of not PC lyrics, but hey it was the 60s.

A very groovy, funk-psychedelic album. There is an incredible creativity, originality on this album, though I preferred the first half of of it more. Sex Machine was a bit of a let down after all those fantastic songs. 4.5/5.

3 stars

Solid. Sounds like the music of the time. Maybe it was first. Not my style.

Talented and speaks for its era

The 60s must have been a wild time to be able to experience. Imagine having an almost 14-minute track called 'Sex Machine' and it almost working out seamlessly.

Funky effort from an undeniable legend of the genre. It’s just missing that special spice that I get from George Clinton. There’s something that’s just not quite there. Hint: It’s not the drugs.

It was fine enough, enjoy other Sly albums more.

The break at the end of Stand! goes so dang hard

Have known Sly & the Family Stone were gigantic influences but not heard much of them, glad to have changed that. Could do without the long jam on side two. Love the guitar playing on the tracks that are more soul than funk. music: appreciated. (⌐■_■)

A lot of this kinda psychedelic funk is really hitting a sweet spot for me. This is a great one, I think it makes a case for being a 5, but ultimately the 13 minute noodley sex machine song stands out as a slow point. Dang this is a sick record though eh

cool

Such a powerful, fun and obviously very influential record! I could do without "Sex machine", which hasn't aged that well, but other than that it is a tight and beautiful record with surprisingly many fragments you know already if you like Hip Hop and Electronic records.

Had some interesting moments, but wasn't very memorable

Not as good as I remembered, pretty groovy in parts. Vocoder thing in Sex Machine is highly annoying.

Doesn't 100% bring the "wow" out of me, but damn if it ain't some good-ass funk n' soul.

Good ass funk.

Man, that’s a really good album. For 1969, I think it completely hits on all of its goals; talk about the social issues of the time, show off some fantastic musical skills, and just make an album you can vibe out to regardless of who you are. I’m really more impressed by the guitar work on this album than anything else – I’m not one to focus too heavily on individual instruments, since I think a full soundscape should usually be driven by everything working in harmony, but this album manages to achieve a great harmony between its vocals, the basslines, the drums, and all the other instruments that they throw in throughout, while letting the guitar just absolutely shine throughout. I ripped heavily into Third for not being able to keep its listener engaged, but I think it’s because it was just experimenting too hard for my tastes. On this album, I think Sex Machine is 14 minutes of just an incredibly satisfying jam session (save for that kinda grating guitar about 9 minutes in) that does exactly what I wish Third had done: keep it simple while just finding a fun way to integrate these rock instruments with a jazzy feel. That instrumental philosophy rings true throughout every aspect of this album, and I think my only complaint here is hoping for a little more lyrical density, but that’s kind of a nitpick. It’s a really fun album, and I think it’s a high 4 that could easily round up to a 5 on any subsequent listens. Probably didn't need Track 2, though.

funky, groovy, all around good vibes

Some decent songs on this, but also some pretty bad ones. I like this type of music, but this album just didn't contain the most exciting songs.

Funk has a weird place with me, I sometimes enjoy it and sometimes i find it boring, jammy and meandering. I have never quite pinpointed what makes me feel either way. This one fell to the latter, if it is due to just my mood today or not i don't know. It sounds good just wasn't feeling it today. Some good some bad songs.

Oustanding album, a bit of funk history. Bring back the 60s - and if we can do that then let's bring back Sly

Previous Familiarity: Average. I've heard the big songs here, but never the full album. I would have loved to have been witness to the Woodstock performance in 1969, just a few months after this album debuted. Apparently, they came on stage at 3:00am and blew everyone's chances for a good night's sleep. Too much funk! "Stand!", "I Want to Take You Higher", "Sing a Simple Song", "Everyday People", "You Can Make it if You Try" all classics. All sampled into oblivion by crate digging DJ's, with good reason. The songs that aren't the ones listed above are a bit of a chore, as the funk can get out of hand. But, the the songs that are the one's listed above make this an absolute classic. Socially, and funkily.

H*jnia

A late 60’s classic. I had a Sly and the family stone out Greatest Hits album in high school and listen to it a lot (mind you, this was in the 80s). I think five of the eight songs on the original album made it onto that Greatest Hits record to give you an idea of how solid of a record this is.

I enjoyed it when listening but it didn’t leave a mark. I honestly expected to like it more than I did. [0127/1001]

Great funk!

3/5. Started out as a 2/5, then straight to 4/5 with 'Sing a Simple Song' and 'Everyday People', but mellowed to a 3/5. Good for vibing out on the town in the mid-to-late afternoon.

I'm not diggin' the vibe on this one. It has this uplifting "Come on everyone, let's all sing some effin' songs together! WOO! Come on, baby gurl!" vibe -- it gets seriously grating after a bit. I'm also sensitive to treble, trumpets, symbols and groovy ass piano/synth/organs. Some voices felt a bit shrill to me, too. That being said, I did recognize "You Can Make It If You Try", "Stand!" and "Everyday People", and recognize they're really nice songs. I just can't Stand! them for long periods of time. Ha. Super personal rating: 2/5 - "Nothing wrong with it, I'm just never going to listen to this album ever again."

Guter Beat

Strong beginning, experimental ending

I knew “Everyday People”. I don’t know if it’s just the sound quality, but this album is not grabbing me. Ok. The “sex machine” jam has my attention. I’m digging this.

Some interesting stuff, but not my style.

powerful

Good, fun stuff. The instrumental, Sex Machine went a little long.

good vibes

It was good, very jammy, sometimes heavy, sometimes tight - good all round

What a funky groovy bunch

Soul/funk doesn't get much better, but I think I'm going to give this 4 stars. I might could go as high as 4.5, and I admit I might have some bias since this isn't in my top five genres. It might be the best soul/funk record ever, and I still might struggle to give it more than 4.5. (So rounding down to 4.)

Está muy bien

This was awesome!! Sex machine was an incredible track and instantly identifiable as an influence for both Joe Walsh and Steve Miller Band

Funk, soul progresivo. Animado. Venga, un 4.

Everyday People - I finally figured out the song my mom used to sing when I was child with the “Scooby-Dooby-Dooby” part. Overall, this is a fun album and I know it was a huge influence for so many musicians to come.

Before Usher, before Ice Cube, before hip hop, before George Clinton and funkadelic, the was Sly and the family Stone. He was the standard for funk and soul. I loved this album. Somereally good music here that still holds up.

I really love funk, and got my hopes up for this. And it is not bad, just a bit boring.

Disco divertido y muy interesante teniendo en cuenta la época en la que salió. Admito que no es mi estilo.

Nice funky music!

Eh

I already had this album

Not my type of music

I wanted to like this album a lot more than I did. I know why it's included in the 1001, but it just... didn't do anything for me. Like technically, it's great. Just not for me. It's very background for me, not one song really caught my attention or held it (minus the talk box on the second). Sing a simple song was probably my fav of the bunch. Also this may look like it has the same star rating as kraftwerk but I'd actually go back and give kraftwerk one star sooo....

Amazing. Grew up to this Motown funk original . Love sly one of my favorites .

Not my vibe

An OK listen

It was fun. Enjoyed it more than I thought I would

Big funk vibes kinda jazzy. I’m very confused by the second track but it isnt horrible? Still don’t love it though I want to take your higher has a good vibe quick music you can rock to. Fucking 15 minute long Guitar solo 2.3/5

I don't know why, but this album didn't catch much my attention, it's funk and i felt the vibe in some songs, but it's definitely not the best album i've listen.

I thought I was down with the funk. Turns out I straight up hate some of it (mostly the wailing vocal and guitars solos) and tolerate the rest.

Funky AF

4.5

Album 283 of 1001 Sly & The Family Stone - Stand! Rating : 4 / 5 Good album. Even on a day where I'm sick as a dog, it was a good listen.

An amazingly rockin' album. The weakest points are the jams; 13mins on "sex machine" is particularly belabored. Otherwise, a fantastic album.

Fantastic classic!!

Pretty good funky music. Some great songs and some ho hum.

Great album. Bunch of hits on here too.

Not good

Sorry but this genre of music does not do it for me. Avoided it when I was young but unlike some genre’s which I have grown to like and appreciate this type of funk and soul I cannot listen to and always push the stop button. Only good thing I can say is that some tracks take me back to my Mecca nightclub days standing at side of dance floor etc etc but even those nights sometimes turned out bad and this is a soundtrack for those times.

A few classic songs and even the less famous songs have sections the vibe or hit hard and have been sampled extensively

I liked this album - once it got into its groove after the title track which I didn't care for. The version streamed had a bunch of bonus tracks that didn't add much. Still, a good album, though I prefer There's a Riot Goin' On.

groovy

i like the drum on stand. for someone who prefers instrumentation to lyrics, i'm not huge on the instrumental breaks, but in general i do like the instrumentation throughout this especially the organ. hello cowbell on everyday people. the longer songs don't really have enough going on for me to enjoy them.

Bit funkier than I expected, does feel aged but not necessarily in a bad way (especially compared to some of the others older albums on this list). Everyday people I’ve known forever and truly is a classic song.

- Great opening track - "Stand!," "I Want To Take You Higher," "Sing a Simple Song" - Production Value: 4/5 - Lyrics: 3/5 - Instrumentals: 4.5/5 - Vibes: 4.5/5

there were a couple songs i liked like stand! and i wanna take you higher but overall not really my vibe

Hasn't got a lot of the hits but damn. A lotta talent went into this album.

Nicht mein Geschmack.

A few good songs, many average ones

Fun album, lots of familiar songs seen in movies or heard on the radio.

funky and upbeat, super interesting band to read about. standout song is 'sing a simple song', i enjoyed the whole album as background listening as i know very little about soul/funk but want to explore more. whenever i see a song significantly longer than others on the album i get a bit apprehensive (looking at you 'sex machine') but it didn't derail this album or become too self indulgent.

Much better! I liked this, it was fun and very cool. He (Sly?) has a really rich voice as well, more than I was expecting I guess. I knew a couple of songs, and they were the standouts. It loses some marks for a totally needless jam for 13 minutes in the middle.

I was a bit distracted and didn't manage to listen to this in a single sitting, so I'll need to come back to this in future. That said, the music is brilliant so I'm confident I'll want to come back.

Läßt sich gut anhören - besser als vermutet.

Beim Woodstock Festival aufgetreten. Instrumentals schön bläserlastig.

I absolutely loved There’s A Riot Goin’ On the first time I heard that, and this one is just as great! Sly & The Family Stone is one of the coolest rock bands I’ve ever heard, and I’m very excited to hear the rest of their stuff - 10/10

Albumi on... Unifying heh.. sillä political movement.. vastakulttuurin protestimarsseista ja mielenosoittajien rinnankkain kulkemisesta heh sellainen olohan siitä tulee.. Heh ollaan yhtä poppoota! Nuoret.. prkll......................................... SAAATAN!!!! Unifying toinen merkitys...... TOINEN 2"ND MERKITYS ON heh.. bändinä soittavat siellä.. graham bullish basslines... Freddien pysch. kitara... Rosie stonen eerie juoksevat urut.. ja pyörteiset torvetjotka toitottelevat...

listened to this many times

I knew about half of this album already, which is a good start. Good album to bop along to, it's funky and even though it;'s over 50 it does not feel dated. As for the second song on the album... Jane's Addiction & Ice-T used to perform it back in 1991. It still is a bit uncomfortable, but I guess that's the point, right? The rest of the album kicks butt, though. Skip the one song and you have a 5-star classic. But that one song... not something you can play more than once.

I was divided in my feelings on this album. It is definitely funky and has some great parts to it. Everyday People is a well-deserved classic and its B-side Sing a Simple Song is an even more up-tempo funky rocker. The title track is a pretty good opener but some of its lyrics sound a little bit basic by today's standards. Don't Call Me N..., Whitey and Sex Machine both have some great funky grooves but run on too long and use the voice modulator (or whatever) too much. In the end, I found myself bored too often, looking at the clock to see how much of the song or album was left. So good but flawed.

was digging it, and then it felt like a chore to complete halfway through don't care for it, feel like ive already forgotten it, 3/5

Gear: Grado Hemp (w/ Dekoni Custom Velour Pads) Mische: mitreißend - vom treibenden Rhythums über die dramatischen Vocals bis zu den (heraus)stechenden Trompeten Musik: trotz reichlich Sympathie für's Genre - das Album fühl' ich nicht so richtig Wertung: 3/5 (+1 für "Sex Machine")

Very funky - I like the use of rhythm in this album

cool

Funky fresh - 7/10

I kind of listened to most of this but don't remember much of it, only the guitar solo in the really long song. I’ll revisit some of the popular songs later

Thought the first song was the best, didn’t love that one n didn’t love the rest of the album either. 4/10

This album knows what it’s about. We played a couple songs from it in jazz band in high school. 9/10

4/10 - Stand! Somebody's watching you and My Brain were the only decent songs. The rest really did not hit for me. Plus the 13+ minute guitar solo was not my cup of tea.

Pretty weird, didn’t like it that much 5/10

Nothing bad but nothing really stood out to me. Wouldn’t revisit. 4.5/10

Really liked it

track 2 tho

Not bad. Some funk is better than none. 3/5

Some obvious classic tracks but found the rest of the album inconsistent.

So funky, great bass, the one and only Larry Graham

Enjoyed it, throw back of pleasure

Not my favorite of the king of funk. But still beautiful funk.

Love this

good, just not my style

I know this is a significant album but without knowing some of the context or doing research,. I have no idea why! I didn't know they did the song everyday people. This makes more sense now. Some of these are really fun vibe, but this is not always my kind of music. The extended Hendrix style guitar solos especially and not for me Listened on the house speaker.

Funk Instruments: 4/5 Modern Translation: 2/5 Dance potential: 3/5 Listening Location: Work Made me feel: Restless in my brain, not necessarily in my body.

To quote two English guys modifying a mini - Get the funk out. You know an album is a classic when multiple tracks from it have been covered by differing artists and become hits.

Super funky soul music. It's the type of thing that is definitely a product of the time. It's generally pretty good vibes and uplifting, though \"Don't Call Me N*, Whitey\" definitely stands out a bit. The pacing is interesting on this one too, with 7 3-5ish minute songs, and then 14-minute \"Sex Machine\" that's an instrumental jam session. Solid album, nothing that really blows me away today, but I can see the appeal and the significance at the time. Favorite song: Everyday People Other: Stand!, I Want to Take You Higher 12/11/23

Love this album. Incredible stuff from Sly.

Essential in every way. Sly belongs on the Mt Rushmore of funk

some great guitar riffs and funky vibes. Not really many songs I connected with 6/10

A couple groovy tunes that capture the essence of soul but otherwise pretty weird overall, not a huge fan of the psychedelic aspects

I respect the effort here, and I'm sure this was remarkable for the time, but it's not a generally appealing listen. A lot of repetition and too-long efforts. Not awful, but not an album I'd put on again. Fav tracks: Everyday People, My Brain (Zig-Zag)

This album brings me so much happiness and joy. It never gets old.

Feel very wonky and iffy about this album didn't feel all to good

Good

Rose Stone’s vocals on Sing a Simple Song 🥰 The album tracks > the hit singles I would not recommend trying the first half of this one before you’ve had your coffee. The spacey slow grooves won me over.

Psychedelic funk and soul that gets you moving. A fave of mine.

Soul n funk and politics oh my! So good.

Good old family fun. Some big instrumentals and a lot of personality is exactly what you'd expect from Sly & the Family Stone. Biggest surprise to me was that this album came out in the 69 as their 4th album

Honestly I really did like their music. I mean this isn’t really up my alley all the time and I feel like I could have been more engaged in the whole thing however I just thought it was really easy to get through.

"There's a midget standing tall" I'm immature. I laugh every time. OK but this is *the* Sly album. Great singles, great overall sound, the band is killing it. I see Larry Graham, I get happy. Only a few weaker songs (e.g. "Somebody's Watching You" and the too-long and aimless "Sex Machine") keep this from me giving a 5 but the bulk/best of it make it a keeper. 8/10 4 stars.

I generally like soul music, so I thought I should like this especially given the history. It didn't really hit the spot for me.

Bit too 60's

Funk album studded with massive, jammy earworms. You WILL shimmy while listening to this album.

This was pretty nice, a good Sunday morning record

Man, this is a heater. Generally pretty sick. Not a huge fan of Sex Machine as the big epic jammy album centerpiece, some of the tracks are a bit dated and sort of cheesy (such as the opening track up till the drastic change), but still a great listen. Top tracks: I Want To Take You Higher, Somebody’s Watching You, Sing A Simple Song, Everyday People

Really sick track with some bangers. I’m not happy with sex machine being a quarter of the album, but when it gets cranking it is so much fun. A classic

Funk envolvente, especialmente o faixa instrumental.

I see where the Jackson’s sound came from, and where Prince heard funky. Not my go to sound but I appreciate the music being so different from the end of the Beatles and the beginning of Led Zeppelin.

Funky, joyful, political.

STAAAND STAAAND

The first song Stand really just hit me, it was a good album, of course production wise. But nothing really stood out to me too much, good but not entirely for me.

Was belter that

Like it so much!

Didn't really enjoy this one, the music was a little too simple I think.

Great album. Fun listen and some classics I didn't know were theirs.

Mkt bra och två hitar i Everyday People och Stand. Bitvis lite rörigt. Kan dock tänka mig att komma tillbaka till detta album.

Funkigt. Man blir på bra humör, även om det inte är fantastiskt hantverk alla gånger

Det här är glädje. Skivan är full av hits. Det svänger och är mastigt. Piggt och melodiskt. I princip bara sex machine som är svag.

Något för bögigt för min smak

Första gången jag lyssnar på ett helt album av dem. Det är bra, jämnbra, men tycker inte att någon låt har det där lilla extra, knappt ens Everyday people (alltid haft svårt för tjejen som låter som en retramsa). Kanske skulle kunna växa på mig om jag lyssnade mer.

Not really my thing, but a couple good songs.

Funky, but missing the fun. Nothing stands out and I don't really get it. Rating: 2/5 Playlist track: I Want To Take You Higher Date listened: 22/11/23

Mi primera escucha completa de un álbum de esta banda, atravesada sin duda por la crisis social que estamos viviendo en Argentina. De esta primera vez, puedo decir que marida bien con una mañana primaveral: levanta ánimos. Además, siento que no puede desligarse del contexto de quiebre de ése momento. 1969. Hippiesmo. Ideas contraculturales. Conecta bien con nuestro presente mundial. En resumen, un buen disco para sentirse un poco mejor frente a lo incierto.

Damnit, what a funky album. Really into "I want to take you higher" and "everyday people".

The tunes were decent, 2nd track was not very office friendly though.

not vibing it

Jams last a bit long, but great funk

Favorite Tracks: Everyday People Sex Machine You Can Make It If You Try I Want to Take You Higher

a couple good songs but overall pretty average.

Another case of “a couple hits means this is a MUST LISTEN ALBUM” when you could just stick to the hits

A cool soul funk album that brought the family feeling of togetherness through the record, and felt like it highlighted the changing times in the Black movement of the late 60s. Particularly blending both Black & White artists in the group with something to say about the state of the world and what they want to change and how to move forward. Best: Stand! Worst: Sex Machine I only listened to the 8 original tracks, Spotify had the extended reissue tracks.

“Sing a Simple Song”, “Sex Machine” and the instrumental of “My Brain” were my highlights of this listen. The rest of the album I didn’t much care for. The lyrics to the second track were very unexpected when that played 🤣

Well, someone got a talk-box for Christmas. I do love a bit of funk music though, and this is not bad. It's not Clinton, but it's OK. There were a couple of stand out tracks including the title track, Somebody's Watching You and everyday People. And the two instrumental tracks were also worth a listen, even if I was expecting Sex Machine to be a cover. A medium 4

‘Sing A Simple Song’ was awesome. It had the funk turned right up. ‘Everyday People’ just great, although I only really knew it from the Arrested Development sample. ‘I Want To Take You Higher’, and ‘You Can Make It If You Try’ was also good enough to get me throwing some funky shapes at breakfast time. The rest of the album underwhelmed.

Didn't know what to expect from this, but I liked the sound of psychedelic funk/soul in the write up. Turns out I did like it, very much so. Sly Stone and his family did good! The standout tracks for me were 'Stand', 'Dont Call Me Nigger, Whitey' and especially, 'Sex Machine' as I was expecting that James Brown song! Loved the fucked up vocals on it too, when the guitar work gets going it just takes off! The album as a whole has a great groove, super funky psychedelic guitar and such a chilled out vibe. On my second listen and may want to give it a 5 if I do get to listen to it regularly, but will suffice with a mid 4 as I can't keep giving out 5's to every Tom, Dick and Harry.

Annoyingly funky.

Outstanding

Excellent album. Perhaps one of my favorite. It has a really cool sound that is emblematic of the early 70s period. Not replicated in today's artists yet truly timeless. This is an album I will definitely revisit and deserves to be high on the 1001 album list. Favorite songs: Stand You can make it if you try Don't call me.....

Sly & The Family Stone are some of my favorites! I was really torn between 4 and 5, but I feel like I’ve been stingy with 5s so I’ll give it. That’s my reasoning! Don’t like it? Well, deal with it.

I did not like this, was funny and very meh

Funky and fun for the most part. 3/5

A great funk album with a lot of passion and a strong message.

Very funky and groovy. A good listen

Super cool funk album. It gets a little repetitive and some of the songs are quite long (sec machine), but it’s got some great grooves for sure. Highlights: Everyday People, Sing a Simple Song, Stand!

Seriously funky

Not only is it filled with some well known bangers but Sex Machine is some crazy funkyness

Me encanta este estilo de música y de esta época concretamente.

some alright tracks but most of them are lousy stand! somebody's watching you everyday people

Good album, some catchy songs and nice rhythm, but a bit too similar towards the end

This record is better than a double shot of espresso in making you feel alive and energized. I dug every second of this.

Fun and love this sound

A nice fusion with a spine of funk running through it. At times falls into the trap of being too repetitive on a pretty simple theme and becomes boring but all in all not bad

Typical instrumental-focused 60's rock. Very enjoyable, but very light on the lyrics for my particular taste.

Knew the singles, good to listen to the whole album. 'Sex Machine' gets self indulgent, but everything else is awesome.

Very enjoyable and the first album in ~5 days that is actually unique/influential etc enough that I understand it is on this list

Not my favourite Sly album but the opener, Everyday People and You Can Make It If You Try are all fantastic

Fun but noisy

Enjoyed the album as background music. Quite upbeat

Lots of very fun free-form funk! Had some absolutely fun bops but lacked some deeper notions and through lines through the album

I hear the inspiration for most of the Sesame Street/Electric Company theme music in this album. Funky and cheerfully positive. The chronology clearly works out.

Wasn't really my jam

Nice album

Very Jimi Hendrix, very very good

Voor funk grijp ik toch eerder naar Parliament/Funkadelic, maar kon hier ook erg van genieten. Sex Machine is een banger

Bien, pero sin más.

Funk pop that sounds way better on headphones than speakers. At it's best this is a hard rocking wah-guitar workout. The standout track is Take Me Higher, all driving fuzzy bass and energetic horns. Simple Song and You Can Make It have a great NOLA funk sound with organ/guitar riffs establishing the dominant hook, back and forth interplay between singers, and horns for big hits. Sex Machine is a psych-funk wah excursion - fun but a bit repetitive. Everyday People and its B-Side You Can Make it are really awful though - EP is forever tainted from being played to death in a cloying Toyota ad - boring arrangements, slow dragging composition, and a meaningless quasi-political message.

1969 What an amazing year. Could you imagine being at Woodstock!? Never heard of these guys. LMAO! The second track is titled, "Don't Call Me Nigger, Whitney" That track was actually pretty cool. They do these vocals that sound like a harmonica or kazoo. Lot of funk and soul to this album. Oh shit! Everyday People. I've definitely heard this song before. I'll give this 3 stars. Didn't hate, didn't love it.

Not sure that a white Scotsman is their intended audience. Really liked it.

You can tell they put a lot of effort in. Not my particular taste, but I definitely respect it.

Not my kind of music. It has some good groves on it.

This was cool enough burbling away in the background to be fair. Got a bit tiresome towards the end but I suppose this kind of funky twittering can at some points.

Classic album of the times. I only knew a couple tracks, but it grew on me the deeper I got into it. I appreciate it for what it is.

Started off pretty freshhhh 2.5/5 Fav: Stand!

Classic song in Everyday People, overall good funk album

Not big on the old groove.

Funky stuff, interesting

nononono, no me ha gustado nada

I like the disco elements, some of the songs were slower but still pretty solid. Overall a pretty decent album

Listened to this while playing Nemesis. Some great jams. End of Sex Machine reminded of the end of Whiplash. Wondering if the director was at all influenced?

Old school funk…with a message.

Jazz, good 4/5

Love the funk!

It was fine. Nothing really major about it, but no real bad song either

If I could give it zero stars I would. Could not finish. It’s just noise

Funky

Favorite tracks: Stand!, Don't Call Me N*****, Whitey, I Want To Take You Higher Least favorite track: Sex Machine

Interesting lyrics

So very funky, so unbelievably good and filled with so many classic breaks, beats, and choruses....so much music has been built off the genius of this album. So much...and I'm ecstatic it exists. Added 5 of 9 songs to 1001 Playlist

Sly & The Family Stone is one of those bands that before I got into listening to music more in depth, I had heard some singles and knew about but did not know they were super critically acclaimed. Generally bands like that are as good as the critics say (with a few exceptions like Talking Heads imo) and Sly & The Family Stone is no exception. I previously had listened to "There's A Riot Going On" and that surpassed all my expectations and is in my opinion a 10/10. This album was the precursor to that one and it clearly laid some of the groundwork that made Riot so good. It is similarly consistent and has great groove in every song. This album features some of the best instrumentation I have ever heard from a soul/funk album. The basslines are really good and so is the percussion. I especially like when the songs feature the trumpet and sax because when used they are typically highlights of the track. The vocals throughout the album are very earwormy. I liked every song on the album. I am not really one for long instrumental songs but even "Sex Machine" was great. "Everyday People" is obviously the most popular track from the album and it is really good. "I Want to Take You Higher" is one of the best song I have heard from them as was "Somebody's Watching You" and "Don't Call Me Nigger, Whitey". The fusion of funk/soul and social commentary is strong throughout the album and I think they alongside Marvin Gaye are some of the best artists at incorporating more important social topics in their music. Overall though not much to say about this album besides it is really good. If I would change one thing it would be shortening "Sex Machine" but besides that it is pretty good. 9-9.5/10

Very solid funky album. With some bass lines which goes hard.

I liked the funk vibe coupled with the social messaging. Some of the language was a little jarring in today’s context, but overall a really solid album.

Any album that has the lyrics “scooby dooby doo-bee” is good with me…and love the funk!

I love any album that incorporates brass. The lyrics weren’t anything super profound but I enjoyed the music. There were some really cool parts!

funky

It was ok - not my favorite. I don't think I really like The Family Stone

not my jam. felt like a really long album.

This is a great example of the Soul/Funk genre. Plenty of enjoyable music packed into this album. I would definitely relisten to this album. It's just got a certain feel to it, and that feeling is excellent. 4 out of 5.

Amazing album. I can dig it

53/100

Wasn't really in the mood for listening to this, didn't really enjoy it too much. Can appreciate it though.

not for me really can understand other people enjoying it