Stand!

Les origines de quelques albums de Miles Davis s’y retrouvent ! On the Corner et Jack Johnson ont (peut-être) été créés suite à l’écoute de la pièce Sex Machine ! À revisiter, même chose pour le reste de la discographie.

Ett redigt jävla rock n roll. Riktigt fett. Ibland segt. Kan tänka mig att det är ett bra band att känna till i rockkretsar

Love it

I Want to Take you Higher was the first Sly song I heard, on the Woodstock album version. Everyday People is also a classic, and Stand also very good. Second track is pretty solid funk. Some of these guys' albums have a lot of filler, but this isn't the case with this one. I'll definitely go back to this. 4/5

This came 2 days after Sly passed away. Fitting.

Came across my feed on instagram that Sly passed away yesterday so what a coincidence he pops up today. Great listen

Funky but still a wats to go.

Important

This is some great stuff! I wouldn't say this is Sly's masterpiece, that's *probably* There's a Riot Goin' On, but this is a really excellent listen regardless. This is a really great soul and funk album that captures a lot of the tension of this era. Stand! has its fair share of both optimistic and pessimistic moments, reflecting the uncertainty of the times, as the hippy movement started collapsing and the Civil Rights movement was embroiled in a bitter fight. This album doesn't mince words, Sly says what he means. The 2nd track here, whose title I do not feel is for me to reproduce, is a really bold example of this. There aren't a lot of different lines here, but there doesn't need to be. The song's confrontational simplicity serves its purpose, and conveys Sly's righteous anger over a driving funk rhythm. But on the other hand, this album's biggest hit, Everyday People is an empathetic call for unity and understanding that truly seems to believe in a better future. This all balances out, the optimism here isn't blind, and the pessimism isn't nihilistic. The cumulative effect is an album the feels real and honest, with a message driven home by its energetic performances and great songs. The Soul songs here are impassioned, and the funk songs powerful. I will say, I like the nearly 14 minute jam, Sex Machine, but its probably not making it into my rotation, and I think it harms the pacing a little bit. That being said, This is still pretty awesome from start to end.

This is another album where I'm grateful to the artist for sharing so much of themselves. In this case it's less of an intimate way but rather it feels like Sly is sharing lots of facets of who he is. The ups and the downs. The album is funky, edgy, and absolutely deserving of this list.

Fucking banger lad

- Kind of Beatles-ish with funky influences - „I want to take you higher“: great groove - „Sing a simple song“: AMZING - Blues influences on some songs („Sex Machine“); super jammy incl. Octafuzz & Voice Box

Thoughts before listening: Classic soul rock n roll band. I don't know Sly:s music all that well but I know he is often cited for his influence on many genres. Review: This is definitely cool. Soul/R&B getting played by a powerhouse psychedelic rock band. What's not to love? There are some timeless hits on here with "Stand", "I Want to Take You Higher", and "Everyday People", along with a bonafide jam in "Sex Machine". I'm definitely glad to have heard this album. 4-stars

Great energy and catchy tracks that invite singing along (especially after a few listens). Catching this live must have been a great experience. 'Sing a Simple Song' is a standout track for the most aggressive reading of the solfège scale I've ever heard.

It's a jam.

Singles are great, the title track is one of my favourite songs. Quite a bit of filler stops it from being a 5, but it's close.

I think this might be the first funk album I feel I've clicked with! :) Political, interesting, not overproduced... yep I like this a lot!

Classic fun

Fun groovy psych soul/funk album. Will listen again high 4/5

God damn this album is funky

An incredible display of creativity, charisma, and unity that comes together in an album that remains vibrant and timeless.

Slaps beginning to end. Only part I didn't love was the extended jam on side 2

Enjoyed this one.

The funk and the soul are powerful

2nd song caught me so off guard, but I liked this album.

Some really awesome stuff. The first two thirds is really strong. Sex Machine kills the album. Can’t be having 13 min jams that don’t really go anywhere.

An album that alternates between party and real shit. But it's funky goodness all throughout.

4.3 rounded down. Fun!

With a song titled "Don't Call Me Nigger, Whitey", you know this album isn't going to stop short on being explicit about the message. The horns on this album are incredible. The vocals are outstanding. The lyrics, well, they have a clear purpose. A mixed gender, mixed race funk band that delivers and isn't obnoxious. Hard to pull off, but it does. I was into this. Eeeevveryday People....

This was surprisingly good. I think it's probably a 3.5, but I'm going to give it a bonus half star because I spent the rest of the day listening to The Payback by James Brown, and that album is FIRE.

Infectious tunes, love 'em.

This is an excellent album. I have heard so much of it before either by sampling or interpolation. I can't go 5 but it is a solid 3.5. The stand out track to me is "Sex Machine." 3.5/5

Classic funk still sounds fresh! Interesting use of the mouth wah

Cool and chaotic. Silly and serious. The singing through a box shenanigans are pretty annoying though. Production wise it sounds murky. But it’s so full of soul, funk and ideas it doesn’t matter. Imho ”Stand” is better than ”There’s a riot going on”.

gorgeous album, love the brass elements of it

It's REALLY good. Not quite that 5, but an incredibly strong 4. I like just about every song here.

GROOVY as fuck album. A couple of the more soul-oriented tracks toward the middle I didn't vibe as much with, but the sheer FUNK on display toward the start and end were enough to make this an easy 9/10.

FUNKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK ( 益 )

Great album! It starts out crazy and definitely never slows down or stops. The energy is maximum the entire time. The social commentary is on point. As always I love an album where everyone is going hard as hell. This was very nearly a 5 for me but I can't quite justify it.

Fun, clever, found myself dancing along

Unbelievable for the time, and a great listen the whole way through

Sly has been a blind spot for me aside from "Everyday People", and I have been meaning to explore his music for a while, so I am eager to listen to this. LISTENING: Holy shit. The opening track was featured in a Sly Stone tribute in the HBO Pee Wee Herman special in 1981 that Maryellen and I watched when we were way too young. I never knew what the song was or where it came from. Mystery solved, 44 years later. (And it's apparently a Sly Stone hit that I just never encountered outside of that childhood memory.) I had heard of Track 2 because of its eye/ear-catching title but never listened to the song. And so on and so on and scooby-dooby-dooby. This album is fantastic.

Really good. Ive never really heard a lot of funk music. Definitely a change of pace and a fun listen.

Sly and the Family Stone were integral to funk music - melding more rock and large ensemble sensibilities with funk, bringing this into the forefront of the mainstream - songs or parts of songs from "I Want to Take You Higher", "Everyday People", and the "yeah yeah yeah yeahs" intro from "Sing a Simple Song" are pretty ubitiquous in modern music of all genres. So many artists have rushed to cover these songs. The band and their tracks showcase their idealism for unity and integration - from being one of the very first integrated bands with a black lead to their songs calling for acceptance in "Everyday People", though this idealism isn't exactly naive - there's snark in "Don't Call Me N****" and "Somebody's Watching You." Maybe it was childlike optimism to love "Everyday People" so much when I was younger, back when I firmly believed all people had some goodness and common ground. Even the lyrics and the cadence of "There is a blue one that can't accept the green one...Scooby Dooby Doo" sounds kind of childish. I still adore this song and its message, maybe I need more of this outlook these days. Sly himself is a very interesting figurehead who evolved in his outlook and musical style - I can't wait for the band's next album to appear on this list.

Is this life-changing funk? No. But is it good funk? Yes.

Great grooves and a set of songs that feel like they really surround you. Sex Machine is insane.

cool grooves, 13 minute track wasnt the best but overall a good listen

Short tracks are great

Love the funk! Good listen with one of my favorite songs, Everyday People.

Stand! is a bold, joyful, and politically charged blend of funk, soul, and psychedelic rock that helped define the late '60s. With tracks like I Want to Take You Higher and the irresistible Everyday People, Sly Stone and his band deliver messages of unity and empowerment without ever losing the groove. The rhythms are tight, the hooks are massive, and the energy is infectious from the first track. That said, the album does lose a bit of momentum with the 13-minute jam Sex Machine, which feels more like a studio workout than a fully-formed idea. Still, the rest of the album is so strong, so alive with creativity and spirit, that it's easy to forgive a few indulgences. Stand! captures a moment in time with style and soul to spare. 4/5.

I recognised a couple of tracks

3.5 stars

What a great album. I know a ton of songs by Sly & The Family Stone but really never dug in to the actual album releases. It's classic and funky and socially conscious and just damn musically interesting. They don't make 'em like this anymore!

Funky!

Overall solid addition with socially conscious and straight-up enjoyable funk. Musicianship is top shelf.

Stand! is great Next one has incredible riffs, especially the guitar solo at the end All of the songs are really enjoyable!

Yes, well, that's a great album. Sex machine is really too long and some of the tracks are a bit too poppy, but this is clearly a great and influential piece of music.

Fun, but might be a bit too intense for me right now. Very reminiscent of the 60's post Vietnam era music that this album came from.

A really fun album, The title track and Everyday people were my favourites, something that I would be happy to revisit in the future. 4 Stars.

Cool funk bits, nice psychey sections, and a thirteen minute jam? What's not to like?

solid.

With Freddie Stone on the mic, Jerry Martini on the saxophone, Greg Ericco on the drums, and Larry Graham on the bass. The group stands out for their camaraderie and able to flow with each other.

С этой музыкой еще надо разбираться, буду ещё слушать.

Very groovy, close to a high 3, but I'll nudge it up to a 4 for groovy-ness

This is just a party start to finish. I wish I had a chance to see this band live in their hay day.

Groovy

I liked listening to this, good for a roadtrip perhaps!? Love a funky rock moment for some good highway driving.

Classic for a reason. Somehow kept missing track 2 and will need to go back.

This was great. So many tracks sampled in future hip-hop tracks. Loved it.

Great stuff!

The level of creative originality is incredible.

Ouff god damn that's a stanky guitarr bweeeoom,wheeee on the organ chikachikachika hell yeah munspel go off hella funky jag är bara 3 låtar in haha Jamen jaja jaha jasså det var detta det har jag ju hört förut. It's so groovy

Beautiful funk/soul/rock.

Overall nice project - enjoyed the funky sounds that popped up throughout!

Almost a perfect record. IMO "Sex Machine" lasts too long and kind of loses the energetic vibe of the whole album. A masterclass in funk nonetheless

I’ve never heard someone make a guitar sing like this album has. The instrumentation is insane and it’s easily one of the more dynamic rock/funk albums I’ve ever heard. inject those instrumental breaks into me fr

Great. Fantastic commentary and fantastic music. In 11th grade a guy tried to bully me for liking these guys, which is absolutely insane lol.

This is #day228 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... here we are again with another psychedelic funky gem from the late '60s. I might have said it before, but I'll do it again: everything that has to do with Woodstock and that era is oh so appealing to me—it’s just such a special moment in time... Stand! is full of wild experimentation, wah-wahs, and historical significance. I mean, just take a look at a song title like Don't Call Me Nigga, Whitey, and it’s 1969 outside. The energy coming through this record is immense, as is the vibe. And, yeah, Sex Machine may well give you an eargasm. This is a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day229.

Too funky

I rate Everyday People a 4 star because Ive listened to this before and I kinda of liked it. I rate Stand! a 4 star because Ive listened to this before and I kinda of liked it but its not for me. I rate I wanna take you highera 4 star because Ive listened to this before and I kinda of liked it but its not for me.

Do you want to listen to some music that has a nice beat? Well in Everyday People you can! I rate this song a ⭐⭐⭐. I kind of recommend this song. Do you want to listen to some music that has a lot of guitar? Well in Stan! You can! I rate this song a ⭐⭐⭐⭐. I recommend this song. Do you want to listen to some music that has a lot of guitar? Well in I Want To Take You Higher you can! I rate this song a ⭐⭐⭐. I kind of recommend this song.

I dont realy like the beat but i like what he is saying . the second song was good but i dont realy like the beat . i like the harmonica in the song . i recomend this album

I think the cover is interesting. I like that this band is very diverse. "Everyday People" was great. I liked how the lyrics talked about diversity. "I want to take you higher" was good. The harmonica was really good. I would recommend this album.

I really like this song becuase how jazzy it is and the beats and drums and its kinda awsome becuase its all mixed up into one song with singers and other intrumenst Stand! i really like this song becuase its has choir! i really like the other singers in the background and it makes this song a 4.5 and the album is 4.5 too i wanna take you higher song i like but not too much its a fast paced song with the harmanica is pretty good in the song and i will give this album a 5 starsss

When this was good, it was really good. But a few tracks, like the 14-minute-long Sex Machine killed some of the positive momentum.

One of my favorite Sly albums, capturing a trail blazing band at their peak. Their Woodstock performance a few months later is one of my favorites and makes a great companion to this.

Seems fitting to finally get a Sly & The Family Stone album not longer after Questlove's "Sly Lives!" tribute got released (in February 2025). I'm not sure I've ever heard a full album by the band, certainly not this one, so everything but the two iconic singles ("Sing a simple song" and "Everyday people") are new to me. A few of the tracks seemed pretty flat (the title track especially--strange to read that was a hit single--but also the strangely uneven "Somebody's watching you" and the overly long and rambling "Sex machine"), but overall it's pretty entertaining, and pretty wild to have such an explicit song title as "Don't call me n****, whitey" (with a fairly strong song to match its title and a crazy amount of wah-wah going on); the version of this song by Ice-T, Body Count and Jane's Addiction at the 1991 Lollapalooza doesn't really add much musically to this song but is a great and uncomfortable performance. The centerpieces of the album are clearly those fantastic singles, with honorable mention to "I want to take you higher". There have been so many great covers of those songs, yet the originals hold up to all of them extremely well, and they make this album a classic. (My favorite "Sing a simple song" cover/adaptation is the one by D'Angelo/Chuck D/Isaac Hayes, well worth checking out on the tribute album "Different Strokes by Different Folks", which also has a fun and faithful cover of "Everyday people" by Maroon 5.)

Really really enjoyed it. Great album to sit and chill and work to. Had me dancing at certain points too! Not my usual got to album but I loved it!

Good funky album. Song about racial tension was entertaining

Funky! Smooth as hell as well.

A bit disappointed after hearing some of their other albums years ago. There are superb tracks like Sex Machine, but the consistency in quality of tracks is lesser than I expected. Groovy shit nevertheless!

What's not to love about Sly and the Family? Glad to see the recognition he and the band has been getting as of late thanks to Questlove. Fun, danceable album with some pretty heavy themes. And the 14min Sex Machine is epic, of course.

Great album. Sounds more essential to me than their other record on the list. Favorite song: everyday people.

Very good album, funky 4/5

Good. They were the finish line band at a R&R marathon about 10 years ago.

I enjoyed it quite a bit. You could hear a lot of the themes that served as the transition between pop, funk, jazz, blues, etc. It's not my favorite albums of it's kind. But still worth a listen.

4/5 actually really enjoyed this

exactly what I expect from this kind of album. well-done mix of soul and funk

Very terrific and timely, for a few reasons. Mainly what I meant was that a little birdie just told me there was a documentary about Sly Stone. List, have you been reading my texts?

The Sly Stone doc comes out, I watch it, I listen to Sly and the Family Stone all weekend, I even think to myself while preparing dinner yesterday “Wouldn’t it be funny if we got a Sly album tomorrow?” And we did. I do wonder if they pushed a Sly album to everyone that hadn’t listened to them all yet just because of the doc. Some really good stuff on here. This is a group I always look for when I’m record shopping.

funky asf

p good !!

I always heard this band named as one of the pioneers of funk. But I never really heard them before. This is fun music, great grooves. The song Stand is my favorite so far. Apparently some of the songs from this album are very popular. But not where I come from. All the songs were new to me. Let's just say that in the early 70s my country wasn't in any shape to receive optimistic music. It was probably banned too. Isn't this the kind of music that later derived into "jam music"? the ones where they just play on a groove and each instrument solo for a long time?. It sounds like that to me.

Fiiire. Short and sweet, with enough funk and rock and lovely songwriting to keep me happy.

Another great 60’s album. Somebody’s watching you a 60’s song about consumerism?

Great old funk.

This is a fucking fun album. I don't have a huge amount to say about it, but Sly and the Family Stone brought some excellent early funk to the 70s scene 4/5

Yes

pretty good stuff

Wauw, dit album was iets hoor! Stand is een soort funky protest song, en dan nummer 2... Dit is een soort funky protest album? Een soort van als je sex zou willen hebben maar ook Public Enemy wilt luisteren. En dan is dit volgens mij nog ouder dan PE ook! Ja dit is gewoon keiharde funk, met nog eens een boodschap er in ook. Keihard, en natuurlijk fijn dat het 7e nummer voor mij zo bekend is, een 13 minuten durende funky jazzy interlude. Perfect man! Enige reden dat het niet 5 sterren krijgt is toch omdat sommige stukken helemaal doodvallen en minder hard funken dan ik toch wel van een 5 sterren funk album verwacht. Maar een absoluut verdiende 4 sterren! FAVO: Stand, Everyday People, Sex Machine, You can make it if you try

It was pleasant

Was enjoying the vibe but nothing outstanding until Sex Machine started! 13.46 worthy minutes

A pretty good album, I liked Stand! and You Can Make It If You Try.

Thundercat, RHCP etc. wouldn’t exist without Sly.

This funk I can get behind.

Loved this, super funky and energetic. Favourite tracks: Stand!, I Want to Take You Higher & Sex Machine. Will definitely be revisiting. 4/5

Stand! is an album i actually really enjoyed. I felt that the first Sly & The Family Stone album i listened to (There's A Riot Goin' On) was good but a little boring as the album could get really samey. This one is a lot better because it does not feel nearly as samey and still had all the cool elements that album did. The songs actually were pretty cool sounding with all the things they did and the lyrics could be a fairly mixed bag ranging from pretty smart to pretty dumb. There were only a few parts i could consider annoying but none of them were ever enough to detract from my enjoyment of this album. Best Song: Sing a Simple Song Worst Song: Sex Machine

This is the second Sly and The Family Stone albums I've gotten and it's pretty consistent with the last album. It's pretty solid throughout with a lot of great songs. The second song was a little jarring to hear and felt a out of place on the album. Otherwise just another great addition to the list.

Funky and soulful, fun listen.

Just an incredible display of psychedelic soul and funk, with only a slight problem with album flow. Anyone that likes funk will love this.

it’s kind of messy and too long but I simply do not care it’s soooo god damn funky!

3.5*

Amazing album. A great mix of funk, psychedelia rock, soul... just outstanding. Everyday People is by far the best song on this album, but don't sleep on Stand, and I Want To Take You Higher. 4.25/5 which goes to a 4. Sex Machine is a bit too long and boring.

Not entirely sure it needed all ofthe 13 minute song, and this is from a Godspeed fan. Opening song was good - actually it’s amazing, but the next few didn’t really grab me until the singles. I’m glad I listened to it, but I didn’t love most of it.

fun.

Early funk from the late 1960's. It is not that I necessarily love all the songs on this album, but it certainly oozes fun and creativity (particularly loved the almost 14' of Sex Machine and the groove of I Want to Take you Higher). Excellent musicianship too.

31/01/25 The album grew on me the more I got into it.

This is probably Sly and the Family Stone’s greatest album, combining heartfelt soul, funk and gospel with some searing social commentary. The transition from the first track ‘Stand!’ into ‘Don’t Call Me N****r, Whitey’ is shocking, and justifiably so, especially to a comfortably off, middle class white man like myself. Apart from this, the highlights are the drum break on the instrumental Sex Machine and the joyous Everyday People.

Really entertaining funk/soul/pop, and not just fun (track 2 is something). Perfect to brighten the day.

It was good, but it didn’t strike me in the same way that the other albums have so far. I can enjoy some of these songs but others kind of lose me in the later parts of the album.

This was awesome. This album was full of life great lyrics and a guitar that was singing from front to back. I'll add this album to my personal library!

Unique

this was pretty interesting. very funky and lively. I'm not sure I would choose this over any of the other soul we've heard so far (some of it reminded me of James Brown and I kinda wished I was just listening to James Brown). but this definitely has a different kind of melodic flair that I did enjoy. Fav tracks: Everyday People, My Brain (Zig-Zag)

The best songs of Sly & the Family Stone are great and the others are just okay. All in all 4 stars or B+ for this album.

Gostei desse álbum. Soul, psicodelic, funk, já me ganha. Mas esse eu gostei bastante de Stand!, Don't Call Me N*****, Whitey e Somebody's Watching You. Além de Sex Machine, claro!

I really liked this. There are the two big hits and the long instrumental that I liked. Nothing bad here.

Some of the greatest funky shit of all time on here. The switch up in Stand! is pure magic. Instant head bobbing. However, I'm going to be harsh here. There is 13 minute jam that doesn't do much for me. Without that, this would be 5 stars.

Pretty cool stuff

A great combination of funk and civic duty

Some pretty catchy songs, not bad

Faultless funk. Bollocks blues.

Sztosik funk. Mega pozytywna płytka, a jednocześnie bardzo skillowa, ciekawa technicznie/technologicznie (cały czas nie wiem, czy pewne dźwięki to była bardzo ciekawa technika grania na gitarze, czy głos wokalisty przepuszczony przez milion efektów). Plus mega postępowe treści, znak czasów pokolenia dzieci kwiatów i końca walki o koniec segregacji rasowej w Stanach. Bardzo mi się to podobało. Teksty super, muzyka bardzo fajna, ogólnie mega dobre doświadczenie.

nice fav track: You Can Make It If You Try - Somebody's Watching You

At least three all-time classic songs on this album, including the title track and "Everyday People." Though much of the rest feels like funkadelic filler, those tracks alone make this a great album.

Almost lost me during the 14 minute blues song but overall really good.

Great jam! This is really good funk. Love the base, the harmonies, the soul!

это реально вайб слушая такую музыку и проникаясь такими людьми вот прям хочется жить

приколдэс четкий хз круто

A near perfect album. I really enjoyed this. Political dance music maybe?

Does Sex Machine have to be so goddamn long when we could bump Everyday People up a few minutes? Apparently the band thought it does. That track aside, the album was good. Aside from the obvious classic, title track, I Want to Take You Higher and Somebody's Watching You are my favourites. 3.5/5 rounded up

There is not enough funk music in the world to satisfy how much I love funk music. Not my favorite Sly album (Fresh is my personal favorite) but still a fantastic album from one of the best in the genre.

Good album! It's funny, I recently was shown the Jane's Addiction + Body Count cover of "Don't Call Me Whitey...", which is a performance that hasn't really aged well. Didn't realize it was a Sly cover until this album popped up on the list.

Classic. A-

Some great jams! Honestly one of the few albums in this project so far that I felt was too short.

Love Everyday People

This album is great! Funky, sexy, socially conscious. Great messages paired with some clear A+ musicians. Their impact on the music that came after this apparent.

This is really fuun. I love this era

Great record! Features a lot of the hits you’d expect from this band. Super fun, a bit thoughtful, funky as shit.

Knew a couple songs, but most of this album was totally new to me. So funky, so soulful, so enjoyable. I don't listen to funk on a regular basis but this is an album I'd come back to.

Отличная музыка, заряжает

Really nice mix of genres with some banger tunes

I love this. Such a great album and one that has influenced so much music since. Great mix of funk, soul, rock, psychedelia that not many others have been able to achieve. I love the extended jams on this record, it makes me wish I could have seen them play this live back when it was new. I bet that would have been quite an experience. There are a couple of slow spots for me on this one, but even those are better than average. I'm always blown away by the musicianship on these types of records. Being able to sound so relaxed but so tight at the same time, just incredible. This one is right on the line of a 4 and 5 for me and I'm having a hard time deciding. I think that on the whole it's fantastic, but the slow spots do take me out just a bit. I think I'd call this one like 4.5/5 but will round down because I think it needs just something a little more to call it a 5.

A powerful album which is still relevant today. It features some of the catchiest jingles, as well as excellent singing, and good vibes. Favorite Song: "Everyday People"

8/10. Revolutionary album. It was ahead of its time. This album's second track is very...interesting. It's a nice and groovy album!!! :)

Groovy album. I enjoy this version of I Want to Take You Higher. The title track is a favorite, as well. Great 60's album that gets a 4 from me.

Powerful and influential funk!

This shit jams! What a killer hook in the song Stand. I liked this one more than I thought I would. The horn section and drumming was great and just an overall great sounding funky band.

A magnificent mixture of funk and soul. "Sex Machine" is awsome! 4.5 stars

Everyday people is so fun.

A great album that I really enjoyed. This belongs on this list definitely.

A key funk album - if only for the lyric "There's a midget standing tall." The feeling of the end of the 60's struggling under the weight of expectation and racial tensions are always simmering here; even under the songs of love and understanding - and that's what makes it true. Best Tracks: Stand! I Want To Take You Higher; Sing a Simple Song

Overall a ok album The lyrics looked alright, and generally seemed good. the music felt like a 60s or 70s song, so that was good. generally a alright album

have you ever heard a song that kinda reminds you of a movie that's what this album everyday people i think that this album was pretty good I liked the instruments because they sounded cool and the singer was pretty good I liked his singing and his voice fit the instrument I think this album was good and I recommend listening to it

One of a few brief forays into a joyous, jovial yet biting Family Stone, this is one of the more impactful albums that came of the late Sixties and most of the blueprint that soul and funk offered in the eventual decade can be traced to this album. Indispensable.

The guitars feel like they're -singing- in this album, it's great! Definitely feels like it's a short but sweet deal of an album - Sex Machine feels like a wonderful jam session.

This is great funk, the extended jam sessions had me looking up tabs to play along. The social comentary gives it an edge that cuts still today.

veryy groooovy some good, great songs. i did enjoy it, probably a high 3, but ill give it a four

Good album. Funky and fun. Listened off and on, but still enjoyed it. Standouts: Stand!, Sing a Simple Song, Sex Machine, and You Can Make It If You Try.

Just a really solid album start to finish. Many of these songs were already hits I was familiar with, but the rest were just as good. As a massive jazz fan (and Phish-head) I was not at all turned off by the 13 minute jam that was Sex Machine. Plus, I don't know enough about the history of music to write this with confidence, but it seems like this was very influential with the funk movement and hits social justice issues to boot. All in all, super enjoyable, perhaps revolutionary, but maybe not quite a masterpiece.

Funky and smooth. Feels very 60s, but that’s not necessarily a detriment, and you can sense the influence this album has had and continues to have on American music.

A bit of filler bit overall a great example of the music of the era.

Love the positive energy.

Probably the best funk album on this list. A rightful classic.

This would’ve been a 5 star but my God Sex Machine drags. Way too long a song and completely killed my interest. Take that away and it’s an amazing album.

good

That's some good funk. Right outta the gate swinging with the lyrics too. Vibes all around.

liking the first track already. The third track is pretty good - it's very vibey and interesting :) Fourth is another banger - another contender for favourite track. All bangers oh my gosh. Sex Machine is 14 minutes???? I gotta say - the wobbly guitar for 14 minutes isn't really my jam. Update: Okay, it gets a bit better. okay no it's back again 🧍🏻‍♀️ The drums at the end really piss me off 😭 like stop already- that's the one guy who kept clapping after the applause

Ik vergeet nooit die scene uit 'Summer of Soul', de fantastische muziekdoc van Questlove over het 'vergeten' festival in Harlem. Tussen al die progressieve en visionaire zwarte artiesten dook daar opeens Sly Stone op, in zijn purperen, satijnen jasje en bijkleurende buitenaardse zonnebril. Als uit een tijdmachine, een proto-Prince, ruim tien jaar voordat Prince écht Prince werd. En dat is al een artiest die we allemaal zien als oneindig vooruitstrevend in doen en laten. Sly & The Family Stone zal ook altijd 'ahead of the curve' zijn, en hoe zij funk revolutioneerde, na het stokje van James Brown te hebben overgenomen, is een geheel hoofdstuk in het canon der Amerikaanse muziek waard. Als funk ensemble stuwden ze funk en psychedelic soul naar grote hoogten, en brachten ze wit en zwart Amerika samen. Dit deden ze door op een luchtige, grappige en aanstekelijke manier hele serieuze thema's te bespreken. En dat onder een laag funk, R&B en - de roots van Sly Stone - psychedelic rock. Die laatste smaak maakte het ook voor vele witte luisteraars een onweerstaanbare cocktail. Het collectief bracht dit met zoveel energie en tomeloze inventiviteitsdrang, dat het de scene volledig op z'n kop gooiden. Groepen als Kool & The Gang, en mijn favoriet P-Funk, ademden Sly & The Family Stone. Maar waar de eerste het gooide op de dansbaarheid, en de tweede op spiritualiteit en psychedelia, waren ze beiden nooit zo politiek-geladen als Sly & The Family Stone. Op deze plaat hoor je wat de band perfectioneerde op hun opvolgende studio album, 'There's a Riot Goin' On'. Het zijn lichthartige, bijna cartooneske, songs over civil rights en andere welbekende issues in 60s USA. De quirky melodielijntjes in 'You Can Make It If You Try' (waanzinnig gesampeld door Jungle Brothers in 'Because I Got It Like That') en 'Stand!' staan voor mij symbool voor de charme van Sly & The Family Stone, en waarom ik het eigenlijk altijd bestempel als circus funk. Op één of andere manier doet het me denken aan het circus, don't know why. Het is de kracht van het ensemble om lastige thema's bespreekbaar te maken bij alle lagen van de bevolking, doormiddel van deze kolderieke deuntjes. 'Everyday People' nadert wat dat betreft perfectie. Het beurt op, altijd maar weer, maar de anti-discriminatie lyrics zijn echt in your face. En het mooie is, het is zo'n waanzinnig catchy nummer dat iedereen ze meezingt. Over boodschappen gesproken die blijven hangen. Een popsong uit het boekje, wat mij betreft. Maar los van die speelse protestsongs kunnen ze nog iets anders heel goed; gewoon smerig hard funken. Opener en titelsong 'Stand!' is voor mij het ultieme hoogtepunt, en dan in het speciaal dat moment dat die aandoenlijke intro omslaat in een epische groove. Die is zo raak, en zo funky, dat je na één nummer al onder de douche kan springen. 'I Want To Take You Higher' is de andere song waarin de groep laat zien dat ook al zijn de tijden zwaar, dat het niet betekent dat je geen plezier mag hebben. Steek niet je kop in het zand voor de problemen die er zijn, maar je mag je best focussen op de mooie dingen in het leven. Zoiets. En een funk collectief zou een funk collectief niet zijn als ze niet ook nog even 14 minuten zouden gaan jammen. Het had van mij op dit album niet perse gehoeven, omdat de rest al zo gevarieerd is, maar het hoort er bij. Dit is wat mij betreft hun beste plaat, terwijl de meesten zullen zeggen dat dat 'There's a Riot Goin' On Is'. Maar wat ik vooral denk is dat ze samen perfect zijn, en elkaar aanvullen waar de andere een steekje laat vallen. De ene (deze) iets meer pure funk, de andere meer R&B, maar beiden zeer doeltreffend in het communiceren van urgente onderwerpen. Losstaand hebben ze hun mindere momenten, en zijn ze daardoor niet perfect, maar als duo naderen ze de staat van volmaaktheid. 8,5/10 Highlights: Stand! I Want to Take You Higher Everyday People You Can Make It If You Try

I enjoyed it a lot

This album has such a great message but it's still just pure fun to listen to. I put it on after Sly Stone passed away the other day (June 2025) and I couldn't help but dance. Thank you so much for making this, man.

Fun album! Just dragged on a little too long.

Liked it.

A funk pervasive Instruments strained to the brink In manifesto

Boisterous, funky and interesting. I liked this one!

From what I understand these guys were huge before I was listening to music, late 60's-early 70's. I knew the opening track (I Want To Take You Higher) from the radio and tv commercials, same with "Everybody Is A Star". Then you mix in absolute classics like "Everyday People" & "Hot Fun In The Summertime" & "Thank You..." that still get airplay today, plus fan favorites "Stand!", "You Can Make It If You Try" and "Dance To The Music" and you have a classic record that holds up well this many years later. This is half of their Greatest Hits album! My one big takeaway is that the music is positive & uplifting, they aren't focusing on the recent dark times (Vietnam, 70's politics, racial inequality) but rather how people can make a difference if they want to, change is possible & everyone deserves to be happy. I see the merit in making this a Top 1001 album - still has mojo, hit songs people know 50 yrs later, positivity and influence.

It was good

Never really been a soul/funk fan, so my expectations weren't high, but there's something about Stand! and the high energy and genuine funkiness of Sly & The Family Stone had me liking and for the most part, loving this album. What a way to brighten up a cold and windy day!

++: Stand!, Dont Call Me Nigger, Whitey, Sing a Simple Song, Sex Machine, You Can Make It If You Try +: I Want to Take You Higher, Somebody's Watching You, Everyday People 8,8/10

3.5 pyöristyy ylöspäin, vaikkei ihan suosikkifunkkimeininkiä olekaan.

These guys are almost too cool for me to even say anything about. Almost a perfect soul/ funk album if it weren’t for the absolute struggle that was sex machine.

Really fun. I should listen to more funk.

7/10- good stuff!

There’s a formula here, but it’s a good formula. Super iconic and easy to listen to; a little wild how, other than the two longer “jam” pieces, every song here is a classic. Can’t say that about many albums!

funky, packed with great, deep, songs, fabulous hooks and "listen to the voices!"

Grooving Funk. Songs that make you want to move…stellar Sly.

Trop stylé

Highlights: I Want to Take You Higher, Sex Machine, Stand! In a nutshell: lifting me higher and higher. Social commentary and soul funk jams never sounded so much fun. Rest in power Sly. Overall: 8/10

The ease of sliding between pop, R&B, soul, and funk is always impressive.

Very standard for these guys. Good grooves.

Funky and feel-good music with amazing grooves

Some solid funky music. Although I can't lie, the second track made me slightly uncomfortable and makes me hesitant to through it on in front of other people or children.

One of those albums that didn't quite gel on first listen but I had the chance of being on train journeys so listened to it a few times and it grew on me.

Love it. I Want To Take You Higher, Sing A Simple Song, Everyday People and Sex Machine are brilliant songs. Rest is great too 4/5

Stand! 4 Don't Call Me Nigger, Whitey 3.6 I Want to Take You Higher 3.8 Somebody's Watching You 3.4 Sing a Simple Song 4.1 Everyday People 4 Sex Machine 3.7 You Can Make It If You Try 3.8 Score: 3.8

Funky, fun, consistent mood throughout. Def coming back to it sometime.

This album had just about everything. I was skeptical because funk is not my genre but there was a lot more than funk to be found here. The blueprint to some incredible rock n roll songs that would come later. So pleasantly surprised

Love it, Sex Machine is juicy

Hell yea! These guys fucking rock. Truly never listened to any of their songs all the way through and album. This album is pretty solid.

now, THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!! I had already heard some things by Sly & The Family Stone separately on the Soul & Funk playlists I listen to, but I had never listened to an entire album before. It was something that had been on my list for a long time and it was a pleasant surprise to be able to experience this iconic musical group!

This album just oozes sexy funk vibes. It's not the sort of thing I'd usually listen to regularly but they do it SO well, I'm definitely glad I've now discovered it.

Very groovy and fun. I would come back to most of this album, but maybe not every single track.

This was a pleasant shock to the system, I think I would have given it a five but was not feeling "Sex Machine" at all. That second track certainly is something.

I want to take you higher has that drop I have definitely heard before. Funky! Good listen. 4 stars

Definitely was catching a groove on this one, especially during Sex Machine. Soft 4 here, but I'd be happy to get more Sly on this list.

This is the type of music that I will always get up for. This album took a while for me to get hooked on but it started getting real funky and nice after a few songs. Sex Machine was an awesome instrumental. The second song I could never add to a playlist in case it came up randomly at a party.

Sly & The Family Stone fucks hard. My first real introduction to them was Jim James curated superjam at Bonnaroo where he played a number of songs off this album. Haven't listened to it all the way through though. Damn that key change in Stand! rules. Had some serious jams on this one. Really loved I Want To Take You Higher, Everyday People, and Sex Machine in particular. funky, groovy, jammy.

Sly's music just oozes funk, and is perfect for listening on a hot, sticky summer day. Love the 13-min groove/jam "Sex Machine", especially the drum breakdown at the end.

Boom chackalacka boom chackalacka

yeah this is a hot take but its better than there's a riot going on how does he make his instruments sound like a voice on the second track sex machine has the funny wobbly sound too

A great mix of funk and soul, some just instrumental, some with lyrics - Everyday People is a classic

I've heard Sly & The Family Stone songs before of course and have enjoyed them, but it was the first time listening to a whole album. It's impressive, funky, fun and danceable. There is so much joy and creativity here. "Stand You've been sitting much too long There's a permanent crease in your right and wrong"

Enjoyed this album. Trend setters for a new genre (or two) and catchy and energetic.

Maybe the greatest funk album ever

First track is merely very good before immediately churning out a series of tracks that have been looping in my head since listening (and relistening to them several times). This project is starting on a concerningly good foot…

Not being American, I’ve not been as exposed to the music from this album as I’m sure a lot of people have been. I recognised I Want To Take You Higher, and had listened to Everyday People after a recent Todd In The Shadows video, but outside of that I was going in completely blind, and I enjoyed it, but there’s something I can’t quite place my finger on that’s holding me back from loving it

Wow I loved this record! Some amazing psych/soul/funk. There was some fun pop and also some awesome jammy sections. I loved all the sounds and instruments going on with all their different effects. The highlight for me might have been the lead guitar. It seriously had so much voice to it!

What an incredible record. It was this year, that I've started dabbling in Sly Stone. Mainly, as been trying to expand my universe on psych R&B. I've listened to a few of his later records and mostly singles, so I hadn't dug into this record yet. So freakin good. I love the unity and peace message of "Stand!" and "Sing a Simple Song." I like how raw the "Don't Call Me...." is. The songs that's blow my mind though are "Everyday People" into "Sex Machine." What a killer 16 minutes. Everyday just gets you pumped. It love, its unity. And then Sex Machine just blows me away. The wah wahs, the organ, the brass but especially the drums!! Wow. Really impressed with this record. I'll definitely revisit.

Pretty good! Joyful, combative and constant energy. No individual stand-out songs but very much enjoyed it. 4/4.5

and then everyone wanted to be this funky could i write poetry to this? n

Sounds like very calm alt-J

Major discovery from this project is Sly & The Family Stone. Love it!

Sly & Family Stone at their peak in my opinion. Would give it 5 stars but the long Sex Machine tune took it down a notch for me unfortunately. Still a classic album.

One of the best band to integrate pop, funk, dance and social integrity

Groovy. I knew a couple of these tracks (I Want to Take You Higher, Everyday People) and had seen their Woodstock set but don’t think I’d ever listened to this album straight through. The groove is infectious. I’ve been dancing around all morning making my breakfast. Love those horns. This feels like funk perfected. There’s definitely some misses for me though (Somebody’s Watching You). And sure there’s some social commentary here, but let’s be honest, it’s not the album to seek out for lyrical content (“scooby dooby dooby” is literally a lyric), but the vibes are on point. If not for the few misses, it would be a 5 for sure. 4/5 Highlights: Don’t Call Me Nigger, Whitey I Want to Take You Higher Sing a Simple Song Sex Machine - one of the hardest grooves I’ve ever heard

Amazing album!! So groovy and pointed and every song goes hard… I was gonna shout out my favs but it would have just devolved into me naming all of them!

exteremly funky and epic... loved it!

Oh, I like some Sly. 'Everyday People'? OMG. 'Stand'? You should. Not all killer though. A few very good songs and a few near misses. Rounding up for visionary funkiness and social commentary. Four stars. Boom laka laka!

Fantastic soul/psychedelic/funk, made by the Prince of the 1960s and his amazing band. Not quite a perfect album--track 2 isn't that interesting from a 21st century perspective--but damn close. If this album grabbed you in any way, check out Sly and the Family Stone's performances at Woodstock and in the Questlove film, "Summer of Soul."

i want to take you higher sex machine somebodys watching you

Definitely some vocabulary being used that would feel out of place in today's music (well except for in rap lyrics I guess?). It's easy for me to say "wow a whole track about the "N" word, this makes me uncomfortable", so I'm trying to think more about the substance beyond that and honestly there's not too much for me to enjoy in the song anyway. The guitar parts are fun at least. "Somebody's Watching You" has a really bad case of pan-imbalance. That spanky 100% left ear guitar track feels so distant from the rest of the band, with the drumset fully in the right ear. It feels like they split the band and had some people record in Studio A, and some in Studio B. Oh no- at this point in the record I just put on headphones and realized how the tracks are hard panned. Damn. One of my biggest gripes from this time period of music. "Everyday People" is such an impressive piece of music, and listening to it is like reuniting with an old friend. My mom loved this kind of music and when I was growing up this sort of sound was always on the car radio or on the record player in the basement. I am left unimpressed by the depth of the album. I want more tracks like "Everyday People", but it really stands so far ahead of the rest. That's kind of become a trend with this list where there's a lot of albums that have one really great track on it- and that's it. It's tough here as it's a short little 2 and a half minute track too. "I Want To Take You Higher" to me is the only one that comes close but it feels like it's missing some of that special sauce that makes "Everyday People" so great.

Very cool. Sly is the man. Everyday People unfortunately has been ruined for me by interminable Toyota ads (here in NZ) in my youth.

Pretty good record. Sounds kind of soul with some rock aspects of rock and the end product is very welcome.

Stand and I Want To Take You Higher are good. Everyday People is a big hit. Sex Machine is a surprise 13 minute song, for which i will dock a star

Gotta come back to it, not a genre I'm familiar with Had a listen on a Friday morning in the car before work

A classic. Not bad.

This album turned out to be way more upbeat and exciting than I was expecting. I’ve never really had a chance to dive deep into old funk albums, but this one definitely had a huge influence on where music is today. I recognized so many elements that have been sampled in more modern music. This album also highlights just how influential music from the 60s was, showcasing the creativity and originality that defined that era.

Je vais être direct, parce qu'on n'est pas là pour enfiler des perles : cet album est une décharge d'énergie pure, un shoot d'optimisme si puissant que t'as l'impression que le soleil va percer à travers ton plafond, même si tu l'écoutes à trois heures du matin dans une cave humide. On est à des années-lumière du rock'n'roll crasseux ou du blues plaintif. Ici, c'est la couleur, la joie, le groove érigé en putain de religion. Sly Stone, ce génie excentrique, n'a pas juste créé un groupe. Il a assemblé une utopie. Des noirs, des blancs, des hommes, des femmes… Sur scène, ça ne ressemblait à rien de connu. C'était l'Amérique qu'on voyait dans les rêves les plus barrés des hippies, une sorte de commune musicale où la seule loi était celle du funk. Et "Stand!" est le manifeste de cette nation arc-en-ciel. Dès les premières notes, on est happé. Pas le temps de réfléchir, ton corps a déjà compris avant ton cerveau. La section rythmique, bordel… On parle souvent de la basse slap de Larry Graham, et à juste titre, c'est une révolution à elle toute seule, un tremblement de terre qui a redéfini le rôle de l'instrument pour les décennies à venir. Mais c'est tout l'ensemble qui est une machine de guerre. Les cuivres claquent comme des coups de fouet, les guitares wah-wah découpent l'air, les orgues te transportent directement à la messe, version psychédélique sous acide. L'album est un enchaînement de tubes en puissance, de slogans qui te rentrent dans le crâne pour ne plus jamais en sortir. "Stand!", "I Want to Take You Higher", "Everyday People"… C'est simple, direct, presque enfantin dans la formulation, mais d'une efficacité redoutable. Le message est martelé : levez-vous, soyez fiers, aimez-vous les uns les autres ! C'est le son d'une époque qui croyait encore sincèrement qu'on pouvait changer le monde avec une bonne ligne de basse et un refrain scandé à l'unisson. Et pendant 40 minutes, on y croit avec eux. On a envie de sortir dans la rue, de prendre son voisin par l'épaule, qu'il soit banquier ou punk à chien, et de lui chanter "scooby dooby doo-bee". Alors, pourquoi seulement 4 sur 5 ? Parce que cet optimisme forcené, cette joie de vivre inébranlable, a aussi ses limites. C'est un album solaire, presque aveuglant. Ça manque peut-être un peu d'ombre, de complexité, de cette fêlure qui rend les plus grandes oeuvres si profondément humaines. C'est la bande-son parfaite d'un Woodstock idéalisé, mais ça ignore un peu le "bad trip" qui guette au coin du bois, et qui allait salement définir la décennie suivante. Sur la longueur, l'énergie est telle qu'elle frôle parfois l'épuisement. C'est une fête non-stop, et comme dans toute bonne fête, il y a un moment où on a juste envie de s'asseoir cinq minutes dans un coin avec sa bière pour reprendre son souffle. Ce répit, "Stand!" ne te l'offre que très rarement. La deuxième moitié de l'album, avec des titres comme "Sex Machine" (rien à voir avec James Brown, c'est une jam instrumentale) ou le long "You Can Make It If You Try", s'étire un peu plus, perdant l'efficacité pop des premiers morceaux pour s'aventurer dans des délires plus psychédéliques qui, avouons-le, ont un peu moins bien vieilli. C'est là que le bât blesse légèrement. L'album est tellement ancré dans son époque, dans cette bulle d'euphorie de 1969, qu'il sonne parfois comme une capsule temporelle. Une capsule temporelle absolument géniale, mais une capsule quand même. Il n'a pas tout à fait l'intemporalité crasse d'un Beggars Banquet des Stones ou la noirceur abyssale d'un album du Velvet. Mais ne boudons pas notre plaisir. "Stand!" est un disque essentiel. Un monument de funk, une pierre angulaire de la musique populaire. Sans lui, pas de Prince, pas de P-Funk, et une bonne partie du hip-hop aurait une gueule bien différente. C'est une injection de bonne humeur, un cours d'histoire, et une leçon de groove tout-en-un. C'est un album qui te fait du bien, tout simplement. Il ne te retourne peut-être pas l'âme, il ne te plonge pas dans des abîmes de réflexion sur la condition humaine, mais il te donne une pêche d'enfer et te rappelle qu'à une époque, la musique avait encore l'ambition, aussi naïve soit-elle, de nous rassembler. Et rien que pour ça, ça valait bien le détour. Un très, très bon 4 sur 5.

Everyday People was played everywhere as a kid but I still think its an amazing song. There were so many good tracks - fun songs, early funk rock and man that usage of the wah pedal was killer. Excellent album!

good but not that good

Classic funk with purpose. The original bom-chicka-bom-bom. If I had a record player, this would be one of my picks to listen to on vinyl. 4.0

I've heard a lot about Sly & the Family Stone but never really listened to them. The mock-harmonica was really great. And didn't Larry Graham invent slap bass?! It's a good album, but probably more impactful at the time. I didn't know "Everyday People" popularized the expression "different strokes for different folks" (per wiki). Also didn't realize it has no chord changes. 3.9

Kind of hilarious that the unity anthem “Everyday People” is on the same album as “Don’t call me nigger, Whitey”. These guys are just the coolest motherfuckers 3.8

4.0 Lots of classic songs that relatively still stand up. It stood out in 1969, the best draft class of music. P.s. I don't think shawns-music1 listened to the 2nd line of “Don’t call me nigger, Whitey”.

Pretty good album! My favorite tracks were "I Want To Take You Higher" and "Sex Machine."

This record was played a lot on cassette on boomboxes at my first job. I don't think I ever listened to it on nice speakers in a room that wasn't a warehouse floor. It's a banger for sure. Not my kind of music at all. But holy hell does it rip.

Um dos álbuns que mais parecem estar em ressonância com o zeitgeist de seu lançamento que eu já escutei. Soul, funk, psicodelia, tudo isso enquanto cantam letras sobre direitos civis, igualdade entre raças e tudo mais que o movimento Hippie carregava consigo naqueles tempos de Woodstock e de Harlem Cultural Festival. Incrível e ainda dançante até hoje, mais um disco muito bom para sair naquele ano mágico de 69.

I was eight years old when this album dropped. I remember waiting for the radio station to play “Everyday People” or “I want to take you Higher”. Lots of big hair and protest songs back then. I really didn’t understand what was going on with the Vietnam War, I just knew my big sister’s friends were getting drafted and she was sad.

Not my thing

Solid album, a number of classics on here, good listen overall, if short.

pretty damn good throughout. wish the long one was cooler but still good

Funky, psychedelic, socially critical and very strong. Excellent album!

Everyday people having the phrase Scooby-dooby-dooby and still being a banger is frankly so impressive. 3.5/5

Good stuff.

This album has "got da funk".

Stand! // Somebody’s Watching You // Sing a Simple Song // Everyday People // Sex Machine //

Delightful funk, Sly’s band were amazing and their music would inspire plenty of future samples and musicians.

Boy the hits on this album are a class above. Generally fun - never expected to hear a song with “midget” in the lyric. What a band. What a joy. You’ll probably never see a group this big and tight touring anymore. The economics of music have reduced this kind of stuff to samples, and mores the pity. Still, an absolute classic.

What a great album!!!

The art cover really sounds like the first track and I would bet the rest of the album, so far an interesting soundscape. Vibing a lot more with the second track The name-sake single is clearly a stand-out

Some absolute classics here

i'm not super familiar with soul or funk, but this was mostly enjoyable for me. i did not enjoy the second track or sex machine- i listened to the whole 13+ minutes of that song and some sections were good but i didnt end up actually enjoying it as a whole. however this album has made me have a greater interest in checking out more funk, as i'm probably not much of a soul listener but i like funk especially for rollerskating music.

Very cool

The random album generator smiled on me today. Funky, chunky, hell yeah. I only knew their hits before this. I liked those. I liked this, too.

Exuberant, and I would argue this and James Brown get funkier than say funkadelic, just by virtue of the tightness. Some folks still aren't listening to everyday people and it shows. Sex machine mebbe a little long.

Just missing out on the 5 stars. With some absolute classics. With some dubious lyrics “as shady as a lady with a moustache l”!

Fun and swanky album. They do a good job of keeping each song feels fresh and different.

Socially conscious and great beats

OH YES

Soul Music. Saw them in concert early 1970's. Good stuff

classic album. for me it gets a tad boring at points but it still is a great listen

Not usually my thing, but this was pretty cool

Funky and fun!

Stand! I’m a big fan of Sly and the Family Stone, although I think they are one of those bands that, because they were so influential and ground breaking, the slightly inconsistent nature of their 3 classic albums gets a bit glossed over. After Booker T & the MGs one of the first multiracial bands, as well as being multi gender, and they were pretty much the first to take soul into a psychedelic direction, bringing in rock influences and laying the template for funk. Stand! Is a great opener, despite the midget lyric. I like the build with each chorus, and the breakdown at the end. Don’t Call Me is a bit dated, but makes sense in the context of them being a racially integrated band in the mid- late 60s. I Want To Take You Higher rightfully endures as classic, essentially laying the template for funk. Great groove, bass and guitar. Somebody’s Watching you is one of the weaker track, only really held together by Larry Grahams bass. Sing a Simple Song gets things back on track, the organ and horn interplay is great, very tight. Everyday People, another classic. Love the ‘We’ve got to live together’ delivery. The message might be a bit simplistic but in the context of the times and the band themselves it’s does have some weight to it still. Sex Machine is a funny one, I love Cynthia’s drumming and the groove is excellent, but it doesn’t really go anywhere over the course of a long 13 minutes. You Can Make it If you Try feels a bit of a throwback to their previous album and, although a good song, it feels a bit lightweight in comparison to some of the other songs on here. A a couple of decent tracks, a couple of weaker ones and then 3 stone cold classics in Stand!, IWTTYH and Everyday People lands this as a solid 4, especially in the context of the ethos of band themselves, the time it was made and the influences it would have in the years after. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A wonderful album. It really seems like a precursor of Prince, and overall mid-70's works (though released in 1969). I think the album contains really audacious moments and I definitely will be checking some other albums by this band. The reason why I haven't put it 5 stars, is because the nearly 14-minute track "Sex Machine" makes the album lack of cohesion and fun.

Wow! Simply put this is an album for music lovers by music lovers. Oozed heart and soul, and definitely deserves to be on this list.

Yes! Love this band's energy when they bring it on songs like Take You Higher and Sing a Simple Song. Everyday People, Stand!, You Can Make it if You Try... all groovy greats. Music with a message.

Super groovy and funky. Love when the guitar talks. I’m a fan.

FUNKY!

Funk & Soul

"Stand!" is a pivotal album by Sly & The Family Stone, released in 1969. It's a landmark in the history of funk, soul, and rock music, blending social consciousness with infectious grooves and innovative production techniques. Here's an in-depth review focusing on lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, along with its pros and cons. **Lyrics:** The lyrics of "Stand!" are a potent mix of social commentary, empowerment, and calls for unity. Songs like the title track "Stand!" and "Everyday People" advocate for racial harmony and equality, while tracks like "Sing a Simple Song" and "I Want to Take You Higher" celebrate the joy of music and community. Sly Stone's lyrics are often simple yet profound, conveying complex ideas with directness and sincerity. They resonate with audiences, addressing issues of the time while remaining relevant today. **Music:** Musically, "Stand!" is a tour de force. Sly & The Family Stone's fusion of funk, soul, rock, and psychedelic influences creates a sound that is both timeless and groundbreaking. The album features infectious grooves, dynamic horn arrangements, and soulful vocals that draw listeners in and compel them to move. Tracks like "Everyday People" and "You Can Make It If You Try" showcase the band's tight instrumentation and irresistible hooks, while the experimental "Sex Machine" pushes the boundaries of conventional song structure. Each song on the album stands out for its unique musicality and infectious energy. **Production:** The production of "Stand!" is innovative and ahead of its time. Sly Stone, along with engineer Rudy Van Gelder, crafted a sound that was both raw and polished, capturing the spontaneity of the band's live performances while incorporating studio experimentation. The use of overdubs, tape manipulation, and unconventional recording techniques gives the album a dynamic and immersive quality. The production enhances the impact of the music, drawing listeners deeper into the groove and amplifying the emotional resonance of the lyrics. **Themes:** Thematically, "Stand!" is a reflection of the turbulent times in which it was created. The album addresses issues of race, identity, and social justice with honesty and urgency. Songs like "Don't Call Me Nigger, Whitey" and "Somebody's Watching You" confront the realities of systemic oppression and surveillance, while tracks like "Everyday People" and "Stand!" offer messages of hope and solidarity. The album's themes of unity and empowerment resonate with listeners of all backgrounds, making it a timeless and universal work of art. **Influence:** The influence of "Stand!" on subsequent generations of musicians cannot be overstated. The album's groundbreaking blend of funk, soul, and rock laid the groundwork for the development of hip-hop, R&B, and modern pop music. Artists ranging from Prince to Public Enemy have cited Sly & The Family Stone as a major influence on their work, praising the band's innovative sound and socially conscious lyrics. "Stand!" continues to inspire and resonate with audiences around the world, cementing its place as a classic of 20th-century music. **Pros:** 1. **Innovative Fusion:** Sly & The Family Stone's fusion of funk, soul, rock, and psychedelic influences creates a sound that is both groundbreaking and timeless. 2. **Social Consciousness:** The album's socially conscious lyrics address issues of race, identity, and social justice with honesty and urgency. 3. **Infectious Grooves:** The album's infectious grooves and dynamic horn arrangements draw listeners in and compel them to move, making it a joy to listen to from start to finish. 4. **Timelessness:** The themes and music of "Stand!" remain relevant and resonant decades after its release, ensuring its place as a classic of 20th-century music. **Cons:** 1. **Limited Diversity:** While the album's message of unity and empowerment is powerful, its predominantly male perspective may limit its appeal to some listeners. 2. **Short Length:** With only 8 tracks, some listeners may find the album's relatively short length to be a drawback, craving more of Sly & The Family Stone's infectious grooves and socially conscious lyrics. In conclusion, "Stand!" is a landmark album that showcases Sly & The Family Stone at the height of their creative powers. Its innovative fusion of funk, soul, and rock, socially conscious lyrics, and infectious grooves continue to inspire and resonate with audiences around the world. While it may have its limitations, its enduring influence and timeless appeal make it a classic of 20th-century music that deserves to be celebrated and appreciated for generations to come.