Stand!

FUNK!! Love it!

Funk is a genre I've got into since starting this. So found this to be great.

"There's a midget standing tall..." this line took me by surprise 😂 this is from the first song of the album. Overall, amazing album! Would listen to the album again. The guitar solos really pop and the combo of lyrical songs versus instrumental only songs are a nice combination that isn't abrupt to the ears.

Decent. I was hoping for a bit more funk, but what can you do?

So repetitive

More Funk! More Soul! Always makes my mornings when I can walk the dog and jam out to music like Sly & The Family Stone.

Stand! - 5/5 Don't Call Me Nigger, Whitey - 5/5 I Want to Take You Higher - 5/5 Somebody's Watching You - 5/5 Sing a Simple Song - 5/5 Everyday People - 4/5 Sex Machine - 3/5 You Can Make It If You Try - 5/5 Average score: 4.6/5 2nd track lyrics are craaaazy (i get it tho) anyway, this is nearly perfect. definitely worthy of making the 1001 albums list

Just like the old days

Really cool sound I hadn't really heard before.

Opened my mind to older music. There is something about the sound that transcends its age to make it timeless. The blending of funk and soul is beautiful, unlike anything I've heard before.

It was okay. 60s Funk has a lot to offer, and I feel like I've just overall heard better come out of the same period. Points for making a long instrumental track that sounds pretty good, though. I feel like they should've either leaned into the lyrics or the funk a little more. Instead they shot for both and couldn't do both well enough for either to be great outside of a handful of tracks.

I can't put my finger on it, but there is a whole vibe around the music on this album that unsettles me somehow. It could be something to do with the appearance of Sparky the talking wah-wah on several of the tracks, or something else... I don't know. In any case, I can't see me revisiting the album anytime soon, and even the massive "Everyday People" leaves me feeling a little strange.

I can imagine this being good at the time, but this is mostly (funky) filler. Awkward at times blasting a certain song at work

This is a good album. I'm going to give it 3 stars.

Not for me

Now THIS I dig. Excellent songs front to back with great playing. Great grooves and vocals. Had me dancing in my office chair. RIP Sly Stone.

Good stuff

This album made me realize that not all 3 star ratings are equal… Sometimes I feel like an album that has 3 stars would be better suited with 2.5 or a 3.5 but obviously that can’t be done here so I stick with 3 “Stand!” is one of those albums that I think deserves a 3.5 The title track is the stand out song as it features the highlight of the album; an electric transition (with around 51 seconds to go) into an incredibly groovy beat that had me head bopping the second it started Sing a Simple Song was very close to being put in the “Favorites” category (an all-around fun track) but just missed the mark The rest of the album was enjoyable and it’s one of the better listening experiences I’ve had recently It’s hard to listen to an album like this and not have a good time Favorites: Stand! Honorable Mentions: Sing a Simple Song

Sex machine does NOT need to be that long but it’s a cool bluesy album

I have always been down with Sly since at least like 2010-2011. He always had a unique and refreshing positive spin on communal uplift. The classic image of a family band turned beacons of hope in the summer of love. Stand is nothing short of great funk music, adds some texture and psychedelic flavor to it. But still manages to create pop music. We lost Sly this year, I watched the doc and how important he was to his community and his family. Despite substance abuse he was able heal wounds and repair bonds and constantly reminds me that self improvement and healing through music will always exsist.

Cover 6 Good album although I drifted when it became just instrumental, even though it was fun and interesting. Overall, I only truly enjoyed a couple of songs.

I fucking love funk and soul, but I just have no idea why Sly & The Family Stone are so popular. Maybe you had to be there. Poor mastering, even for 1960's 8-track novice recording, boring music, rescued only slightly by the progressive lyrics - the absence of which would've surely seen this album disappear into obscurity.

This album is genius. Happy joyful music with a positive message.

So funky. Iconic. Track 2 is something.

Sly is a colossus as far as the development of black music and funk in particular goes! This is of its time but also quite timeless if that makes sense? Anyway it’s a damn fine album.

fun stuff

Sex machine instrumental 13 minutos

Great instrumental layering that create some beautifully thumping funk tunes. Feel like this one will only get better with time for me.

Pretty good but not my cup o tea

Fun but also soulful and emotional. Great sound and message.

A bright and full album from a band just as capable with simple pop songs as they are with long instrumental freak-outs. I liked it! Best song: Everyday People

Sly and the Family Stone shattered so many musical and social constraints — fusing musical forms and cultures to demonstrate what their lyrics say: the forms are not real and all people are real people. Their social and musical influence is immense. The music is often, but not always, great, too. Some of the tracks are among the best pop has to offer. Some are forgettable (not bad, just not as surprising and delightful as the hits). This is a 4.

bass

Really enjoyed this. Nice mix of vocal and extended instrumental solos - I was particularly pleased with the drum solo. Great mix of moods, but I was done with the style by the end of the album - a whole evening would be a bit full on.

Something a bit different, not too bad, but I doubt I'll listen to it again

Very much enjoyed, a solid 4 star compared to some of the weaker 4 stars so far. Would listen again and enjoyed most of the songs on the album. Particular shout out to the near 14 minute long Sex Machine.

Some big songs on there, but also filler Familiarity: 3 – Know some songs Songs I would actively choose to listen to: 2 - Little What can I remember the next day?: 2 - Little Best song: Sing a Simple Song

Not bad

Enjoyed some of it but the crazy edited voice was not it for me

This could be a Stevie Wonder album. Don't Call Me Nigger, Whitey probably felt to parents in 1969 like gangsta rap felt to my dad in 1989, but just repeating shocking lyrics is like that song on the Limp Bizkit album where Fred Durst says "fuck" 1,000 times. I like some funk. I don't love this though. Somebody's Watching You sounds like a song from Sesame Street, and not in a good way. A lot of this album has been sampled, especially Sing a Simple Song. And Everyday People is a Toyota commercial. There are not many 13 minute songs that work. Sex Machine is definitely not one of them. It may, however, be the soundtrack to Fritz the Cat.

Prrtty generic bops, not very memorable

Top,

Shady as a lady in a moustache…somebody’s watching you. The higher the price the nicer the nice. Boy the 60s were groovy. This was a real joy and had me smiling in places. Who doesn’t love the bass backup singer? And anything that repeats “my lady”…well, simpler times for sure. The instrumentals - sex machine and soul clapping - were especially enjoyable. I will be back. 4/5.

I had never heard of the artist or album before. I have not really listened to music like this before, nor a whole album. It was enjoyable. I can see how this may have been a watershed moment or landmark album for its time and went on to influence lots of artists in the 70s and beyond. It's a good piece, the tracks all flow well together. There wasn't a standout track for me. I don't think I would seek it out to listen to again.

Old soul/funk, easy listen, social statements about racism. However, extensive intrumental interludes bloats the playlist, especially at the end. Good window in contemporary's feelings and worldview, but hardly holds up in 2020s. +Somebody's watching you +Everyday people

Played the Greatest Hits to death (literally, the tape broke) . . . and never heard song #2 until Jane's/Ice-T performed at Lollapalooza. What a weird album, in the best sense.

I might be too arab for this. But that's some good soul.

Critical in merging funk and soul with psychedelic rock. If there’s one thing this band does right, it’s find a nice groove (that bass thump is killer). They’re all in the pocket, regardless if a lighter pop song or a deep dirty psych funk. And they do indeed vary between a hippie positivity and cynical darkness. There are a few classic songs, but a good portion of the album doesn’t stand out to me. I’m typically a fan of long jams, but Sex Machine doesn’t have enough to keep it interesting for 13 min. A good listen and valuable album nonetheless, but overall respect Sky’s ideas more than I care to revisit the album.

Excellent soul and funk album with some memorable songs. My favorite track is "Sing a Simple Song". "Everyday People" is a song I remember hearing when I was a child. People need to heed the message these days. Always a classic.

Enjoyed the instrumentals but the falsetto was a little grating

Obviously a classic and important album in the history of soul and funk. If "Everyday People" doesn't get you moving you may need to restart yourself.

Sly and the Family Stone were pioneers—one of the first major racially integrated, mixed-gender bands, blending soul, funk, rock, and psychedelia into something nobody else was doing in the late ’60s. Stand! is often held up as their masterpiece, packed with big hits like “Everyday People” and “I Want to Take You Higher,” the kind of songs that practically radiate good vibes and Woodstock-era optimism. And yet, I just can’t fully connect with them. Musically, I admire what they do, but the vocals never quite hit my ears right—something about the delivery just doesn’t land. Their poppier hits feel a bit too squeaky-clean for me, while the funkier deep cuts aren't clean enought. It’s an odd mismatch where I like the idea of the band more than the listening experience. I don’t dislike Stand!, but it’s one of those albums I respect more than I revisit.

Ganske politisk ladet. Ikke bare festmusikk fra denne gjengen, som jeg trodde det var først og fremst. Albumet i lengste laget, 58 min langt. Begynner protesterende og politisk, blir mer rytmisk etter hvert. Litt langdrygt for min smak.

Sick nasty groove

The vocalist was fantastic. The messages in the songs were clear, the mixing was great, the music was fantastic. Fantastic. I'm still very uncomfortable with the n-word in songs, but outside of that I liked this album.

This was groovy, I quite enjoyed listening to it, but can't recall any of the tracks a few days later.

Groovy music to dance to, not so much sit down and listening music. Fantastic instrumentation though, that guitar almost has a voice.

Sly puts the funk in funky and the groove in groovy! This one was a lot of head bobbing fun!!

Gøyalt nok, om enn ikke nokka æ hadde hørt på av mæsjøl, men på ingen måte fornærmanes (kanskje bortsett fra uhorvelig lange «Sex Machine» som heller ikke føltes særlig sexy).

didn't quite connect with me

I always liked this album. I have a copy in my collection. I do like most of the songs on the slbum

Absolute Fire. I feel like some songs went on too long though. Looking at you Sex Machine.

So many great songs on this album! There are also a couple "meh" ones, which keep it from the 5-star rating. Great overall, though! Protip: Don't choose the second song on the album if you're out doing karaoke night.

I grew up listening to Sly and his cutting edge music. When he first hit the scene there had been nothing like him before. Borrowing from funk, rock and a big band sound, he created a genre all his own. Shaped the future of music in so many ways. I love the album Stand. It rocks until the last two songs which I think via the instrumental moves us away from the rapid pulse and protest of the earlier songs. For this reason, I am rating this one a 4.

am asc un pic da nu i wow

4.0

*** Too much Soul to me. Anyway, it‘s ok

The song sex machine is offensive for being 13 minutes long despite just being an instrumental loop with charlie brown adult vocals for parts of it, rest of the album is good

This was funky and fun and very enjoyable. I really liked this but maybe wouldn’t listen to it again.

This is mostly a fun, groovy listen. The band has an fun energy and funk rhythms that carry the album, and tracks like “I Want to Take You Higher” and “Everyday People” are clear highlights. That said, some of the lyrics leave a lot to be desired. They can get pretty repetitive and don’t always match the quality of the music itself. Still, the overall vibe makes it an enjoyable listen.

Ich bin mir bei dem Album nicht ganz sicher. Der vibe bei manchen Liedern war ganz entspannt, andere fande ich wiederum nervig. Ich mag es eigentlich garnicht wenn in einem Lied die ganze Zeit der gleiche Satz gesagt wird. Das war hier sehr oft der Fall. Für mich ist es vergleichbar mit dem Album "3+3" von den Isley Brothers, weshalb ich hier auch 2/5 geben würde. Am liebsten würde ich 2.5 geben aber das geht ja nicht.

The whole Funk, and nothing but the Funk.

Loud, funky, angry, fun, groovy. All you need really isn’t it 4.5/5 Stand!out Track: You Can Make It If You Try

Pretty bonkers this was 1969, so influential, such an important bit of music. 4.3/5.

Everyday people is an all time great.

SEX MACHINE, STAND, EVERYDAY PEOPLE Funk - e! Listened to (in spirit) by the lake in Bois de Boulogne after a dental visit where basically everything that could have gone wrong did! But who cares! We got the music!

Oli ihan kiva ku kuuntelin jo eilen tai toissapäivänä

Classic shit right here, timeless music!

✨tropical✨

fantastic politisch wichtig funkt hard

Nunca tinha parado pra ouvir direito e me senti um otário perdendo parte da história da black music

If I ever had to introduce someone to funk, it would be with this record. This is the quintessential Sly and the Family Stone album, and the album that wrote the handbook for funk. "Stand", "Sing a Simple Song", "Everyday People", "You Can Make It if You Try" are all standouts from one of the essential funk records. R.I.P. Sly, you are missed.

First listen. Funky as.

A feel-good listen, high-energy and irresistibly groovy. Momentum dipped slightly in the middle, but vibrant and fun overall.

3 / 10 - I found myself getting quite bored, I could see myself potentially liking this album but it didn’t happen

Some decent tracks in here

Sliding in a score for 4

Great soul and funk record. It feels easy to listen to, and it's very enjoyable. Very good.

Best listened to loudly on a turntable

Great album! Love the mix of fun, upbeat, feel good songs AND social commentary. I Want to Take You Higher was a favorite

I mean, what can you say, this album is perfect. So catchy, so raw, so fun, so danceable, performances are perfect, sexy, political, this album is pretty much everything music can be. It’s so good.

Too funky for me!

Ah nope, not for me…. But no judgement. Just nothing for me. It’s way too „acoustic“ for me… too not-rocky or not-electricy. Where my synthies at :(

3.75 grooves baby

made me really happy

Buen sonido, tan guapas las canciones pero creo que sex machine es excesivamente larga. 6/10

Memories baby!

This is what listening to the peak of a genre is like. Just such a great listen from an all-time great band. RIP Sly Stone.

spoko

Top hits here but my ch sounds dated after 56 years

This is a great album, I thought I knew a lot, great blues and rock. Really enjoyed it more than I was expecting to.

3 or 4. Some bops. Generally like.

Some good songs on here but I probably wouldn't listen to this album again.

I love Sly & The Family Stone, and Sly Stone himself was a true genius and instrumental virtuoso in the true sense of the words. This album is also excellent. I love the opening title track, I did not like “Don’t Call Me N*****, Whitey” I found that it went on too long and was very repetitive. However “I Want To Take You Higher”, “Somebody’s Watching You” and “Sing A Simple Song” were all three excellent. “Everyday People” is one of the most famous songs on the record and is fantastic. “Sex Machine” is cool but goes in far far too long. And I absolutely loved “You Can Make It If You Try” despite its minor faults the record is great.

Stand! by Sly & The Family Stone was a really enjoyable listen. The album strikes a great balance between funk, pop, and psychedelic rock, blending genres in a way that feels both fresh and timeless. The lyrics are thoughtful and purposeful, often carrying a strong social consciousness. I particularly enjoyed Everyday People—a standout track with a powerful message about unity and acceptance. There are so many great songs on this album. From a musical standpoint, tracks like Soul Clappin’ and My Brain showcase the band’s funky instrumental flair. Lyrically, Somebody’s Watching You and Sex Machine stood out for their depth and creativity. Favorite Songs: I Want to Take You Higher and Everyday People are definite highlights. Least Favorite Song: Honestly, there isn’t a bad track on this album. Album Artwork: A cool, vibrant cover that fits the spirit of the music perfectly.

It's just rock I guess. Second track threw me off.

This album was great and put me in a great mood. Would definitely listen to this again. Standout tracks: Stand!, Somebody's Watching You

180/1089 - This was kinda really bad. Lots of filler. I'd give it 1 star if it wasn't important to the development of progressive soul music but I decided to respect the history and can see why it was different given historical context.

Gibt Highlights aber auch einige Tiefpunkte. Wilder Mix aus genres (natürlich grundlegend Funk) und Techniken aber hinsichtlich text und Gesang nix besonderes. 3/5

Good

Loved it while listening in company. Will come back to it

Funky and easy to listen to. Enjoyed it, but didn't transport me to planet funk :(

I really like it!

Dug this. Some great funky/soul rock (and dare I say bluesy at times) that will put some pep into your step.

This s*** got me movin

I usually like them but overall this album was meh for me

Pretty nice!

Yes! This is HOT stuff. Favourite tracks: Stand!, I Want to Take You Higher, Everyday People, You Can Make It If You Try.

Pretty good!

Mix of Funk, Soul, R&B, Psychedelic...great album.

Good not great. I like a few of the other Family Stone albums a bit more. Self titled track is the best.

A masterclass in soul and funk, this album has a jubilant energy that is infectious. Wails, screeches, and screams pan in the mix over grooving bass lines, and jam tracks manage to sustain the groove. Different strokes maybe for different folks, but everyone can find something to love on this record!

Has its moments

Absolute cracker of an album spoiled by one song. And not because of the title or the lyrics - after all this was the 1960s. No this one song was all-round bilge. Where the hell did it come from? How can a guy write and record such a bunch of good tunes and then shit this one out? I'd have given the album a 5 otherwise.

Incredible funk and soul album. What I like most about this album is how it mixes some great pop tunes with longer funk rock jams like Don't Call Me and Sex Machine. The ending run is especially great, with the 5/5 song Everyday People giving way to the disgusting (in a good way!) extended jam of Sex Machine. Just when you think the album has nothing left to offer besides that guitar and harmonica it hits you with one last solid pop song as a parting gift. Throw in some social commentary and this still holds up as a hard hitting album over 50 years later.

Nice solid album with great songs! Nice extra Homage to Sly Stone today 4/5 #Musicsky #albumsky #musicchallenge

-i first became aware of this album a couple of weeks ago when Sly Stone died. listening to it now i can 100% understand the hype and impact… it’s really not like anything else i’ve heard from this time period -there were definitely a few songs i could go without but damn, i’d like to listen to this again soon. absolutely love the rhythms and vocals -Favorites are I Want to Take You Higher, Somebody’s Watching You, and Sing a Simple Song

Some fun songs but a bit uneven

Fuckin banger of an album. These guys cooked. Straight off the bat, the first song Stand! is great. I noticed a lot of their songs go crazy at the end, which I always love. The funk is real. Sorta weird that spotify puts some tracks twice despite being identical, but that's fine. Sex Machine goes crazy (although I think kevin showed me it before so I might be biased), they got the grapefruit method bass and I'm all here for it. I Want To Take You Higher also stood out. I'm only not rating it a 5 because I don't think this is the kind of thing I'll be listening to over and over again like some of my favourite albums. The 5 is reserved for those next-level SSS tier albums that are beyond great.

I truly loved the album and would like to hear more from them

Funky, poppy, and most importantly, fun. Sly brought the people together!

Really cool, funky album. I actually liked this one a lot more than the last Sly & the Family Stone album I listened to last.

Maybe the sound balance in my car isn’t optimized for this album but it just sounded flat. I feel bad for being bored by this and will definitely give it another listen on better speakers one day.

This was exactly the kind of thing I needed to start an overcast Monday. This was fun and an easy listen, while still feeling a little edgy (see track two). Plenty of hits on this one, so I’m sure a lot of white people bought this and got a little bit of a surprise when they dropped the needle. Ya love to see it. This isn’t a genre I spend a lot of time with, but if I had this record, I think I’d play it semi-regularly.

I had an old basketball coach who said he was front row at a Sly and the Family Stone concert and he had a terrible time because he had to hold the stage up so it wouldn’t collapse the entire time. That has nothing to do with this review and that’s 15 seconds you are never getting back. Though I will say, as I listen to this record, I would imagine S&TFS put on a great show, presuming you weren’t stuck holding up a stage the whole time. As for this album, I liked it. Stand is a high energy opener, good tune. The second song? Uhhh yeah, not touching that with a 39.5 foot pole. As this album progressed, I really liked a lot of the sonic elements, with different instruments or singers in different spots, and the overall sound of certain songs bouncing around from ear to ear. Everyday People is a genuinely great song. Short but powerful. Of course, that’s followed by the longest song on the album, Sex Machine, which was an ok jam but it just goes on too long. This is one of the lowlights, though those were few on the record. All in all, a good record and worth the time.

Never really listened to any black rock from the 60s besides this, so it was a fun experience

I can see why this was popular in the time it was released. I think you'll like it more than I did. I prefer Earth, Wind and Fire.

a funky album ! enjoyed “I Want to Take You Higher” and “Somebody’s Watching You”

Bra gung

Pretty good mix of pure instrumental songs and more "pop"-y songs. The solos are a bop and the vocals are great. Favourite Song: You Can Make It If You Try

three very talented musicians distract anthony keidis from children

point3.

Fun album, definitely has it's standouts vs. other songs you could take or leave. Highlights: Everyday People, I Want to Take You Higher. Stand!

Turns out I really like Funk and Soul! Fun album Fav songs: I want to take you higher, Everyday People, Sex machine

it was a good album W

Psychadelic funk done in a pretty cool way. I am a stickler for long songs, so Sex Machine was probably my favorite track. Solid all around but nothing too incredible. 5/10

Not quite. 1 great song

Brotha

A lot of noise and not a great amount of substance.

if any record had the singles "Stand", "I Want to Take You Higher" and "Everyday People"... it would be a first ballot hall of famer... but when you add "Don't Call Me Nigger, Whitey"... which sounds racist, but, the next line in the song is "don't call me whitey, nigger"... totally nailing the "war" of words that the "man" uses to divide us... The Family Stone... were black... and white... male... and female... "Sing a Simple Song" and "You Can Make it if You Try" are both stand out... This Album... is a Five STAR extravaganza... Five STARS...

A lot of Funk going on here but not the best the genre I’ve heard. Still a solid album

Muy bueno

Great! Very political and funky

Not exactly my type of music, but I enjoyed some of the more funky songs!

This was very funky and nice. Could be a 3 but I feel happy so it's a 4.

Favored song: "Sex Machine".

From now on, whenever someone brings up the song Sex Machine (which does not happen!), I can be a twit and mansplain how Sly and the Family Stone released a song called Sex Machine *before* James Brown and claim that it's far superior (which it's not!).

The Cliff’s Notes of the 60s … just a perfect encapsulation of great art coming out of tumultuous times. Pressure makes diamonds.

so on and so on and scooby dooby dooby

At least I was a little familiar with Sly and the Family Stone before frontman Sly Stone's passing earlier this month. They were such an eclectic group, combining elements of funk, soul, and psychedelia to create socially charged music that had bounce and audible impact. One of the best examples to illustrate their sound is this album here. Stand is stacked to the brim with grooving call-and-response tunes with direct lyricism empowering individuals. The title track, "Everyday People", "Sing a Simple Song", "I Want to Take You Higher", "You Can Make It If You Try", all these songs oozed with attitude and positive energy as Sly and his siblings sang with such conviction. There are moments where the social commentary became more confrontational such as on "Don't Call Me N-----, Whitey" and "Somebody's Watching You", but those tracks felt complimentary with the overall empowerment vibe of this record. Even the 13-minute instrumental jam "Sex Machine" with individual band member solos felt at home here, giving everyone a platform to showcase their skills and lift themselves. Stand is a classic record that proved to be a breakthrough for Sly and the Family Stone, a poignant album that epitomized mutual support for each other, against the odds. Rest in Power, Sly.

Belongs in the discussion with other top names of the 60s. The longer jam on Sex Machine isn't something I'd usually go for, but it was actually quite fun and I enjoyed all the playing around with talk box & wah pedal. Every song was great! Solid 8/10

Noe ålreit, noe rot. Helt middels.

Unusual Music for me. Simple Song I knew from a sample from Mc Bomber :-)

- slaps pretty damn hard, 3-4/5 so far - "sex machine" kinda goes crazy

At the best this band grooves like a moose, but there are some lazy moments especially on the B-side (the over 13 mins of Sex machine jamming). Solid grooving though...

I was expecting a lot more from this album, but it just didn’t deliver. Overall, it felt a bit dull and boring, although a few songs did stand out.

Awesome mix of funk and motowney r'n'b, good vibes and catchy grooves. The album has some tracks that do not keep me hooked in, especially the slow ballad-ish stuff, but this was how it had to be at the time. Another band I'll need to do a deep dive into at some point.

pretty funky. had to be controversial back in the day

Funk! Denk mn eerste funk album hier. En moet zeggen, tot nu toe niet echt typische funk naar mijn idee, maar vibe zeker! Ik mag het niet meezingen, maar 'Don't call me n****r, whitey' is echt een banger. ''Sing a simple song" is wel echt lekker funky Begin van 'Everyday People' deed mij heel erg denken aan de intro van Islands in the Stream. Licht teleurgesteld dat het geen cover was. Heerlijke solo's wel in 'Sex Machine' Al met al, lekker funky album, waar je gewoon erg blij van wordt. 4 reten.

Hell yeah, rad album! Slightly dated language in a spot or two (and I don't mean the second track)

Muy buen sonido, interesante mezcla de funk con otros estilos.

This is Sly & the Family Stone’s best album in my opinion. Several big hits and lots of funky tunes.

"Family Stone" is a weird compound word order, right? It's giving Sloop John. It's giving court martial. You get the picture. Anyway, this album isn't my genre of choice, but I do know it is a classic (at least according to the metric of "I listened to the best 500 songs as decided by Rolling Stone in high school and a few of these were definitely on there"). It is wild to see the n-word just in a title, uncensoredly (by the by, supposedly the euphemism "n-word" didn't come about until 1995!!! and now we've got r, b, c, f, gay f, simply all kinds of -words.) I like that there are multiple vocal-and-instrumentalists. I feel like 'Everyday People' would be a song I liked if only it weren't in a commercial I saw 50x/day at a critical period. Still, "I am no better and neither are you" is a linguistically interesting line. For that matter, so is "and they know what you're sayin' makes sense at all"! Did they not have negative polarity items in the 1960s? Non-NPI highlight: the line "games are to be played with toys, et cetera".

Funky goodness

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.

Slightly groovy, but also a tad forgettable.

Não é um estilo de música que eu procuro ouvir, no entanto gostei bastante de quatro músicas.

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

RIP

A few good tracks, rest mostly filler at best.

very good!

Love it

Funky joy

I enjoyed three songs on this (Stand!, Everyday People, and You Can Make It If You Try). Some of the others went on too long for my taste. I appreciate the lyrics and social justice aspects of this and can certainly see why it's important and on the list.

Det svänger katten, men är knappast musik jag lyssnar på. Passar på fest, till dans ... Trea.

I'm sorry sir I know you just died but I don't like it. It has that late 60s thing I just don't vibe with

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

Thanks for the music, Sly. RIP.

This came 2 days after Sly passed away. Fitting.

What a coincidence to recieve this album the day after Sly Stone passed away. This album is a cumulation of everything that made 60's music great while simoultaniously predicting what a lot of the 70's would sound like. The album is filled with great songs and there are some incredibly hard grooves on here.

Love the 70’s funk music. RIP Sly who only passed away yesterday.

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

5. One bad track. The rest are classic funky psychedelia/jams

Funky but still a wats to go.

Sly Stone passed away today. A few hours prior to finding out, I was happy to receive Stand!, one of my favorite records ever, from the generator. What a day for the algorithm to drop this one. For me, Stand! is the Family Stone’s best and most reliably awesome record. You can hear the future of (especially) black music coursing through the veins of Stand! This is a monumental work when tracing back music’s lineage. Regarding the funky arrangements and slick, waiting-to-be-sampled rhythms,.. albums simply don’t get much more proto-hip-hop than this. From there, Stand! stands mightily on the legs of psychedelia, sociology, and vocal arrangements that make your headphones feel as if they’re about to cave in on themselves. May one of 20th Century music’s most seismically impactful contributors rest peacefully. One of the funkiest to ever do it.

Classic material

Incredibly charged-up, diverse performances with social messaging abound. The second track is just bounding with creativity, is that a talk box, an electric guitar, or just a man’s voice filtered through a bunch of saturation?? Or the emphatic delivery of the “do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do” female vocal in “Sing a Simple Song”. Such beautiful, lively expressions with some much random inflection in the first few songs, all for that to come together in a tight pop hit in “Everyday People”. It feels like they made this song and placed it halfway through the track list just to show that they could also do a mass-appealing hit. “Sex Machine” is all I need to hear to declare that this album follows no rules other than pure expressionism. I’m just really impressed at the long drawn out ideas or what seems to be a lack thereof sometimes, just playing like crazy on the fly.

I'd say 3.5 for me

Important

it was fine. i got REALLY sick of whatever was making that "bow bow bow bow" sound tho

listening to this album on the exact day sly stone passed away is uncanny... what a weird feeling. this is a solid album with high highs and low lows, the lowest of which is probably the nearly 14-minute-long track, sex machine, which spends a very long time saying nothing at all. but i'll definitely groove to the two bigger songs any day. favorites: i want to take you higher, everyday people

For me disappointing. I started this challenge to find some classic gems I had missed along the way. This was an album I was happy to have avoided. A lot of repetitive patterns and similar energy to every song. A lot going on and everyone competing for space. Some nice moments, most of which have no doubt been sampled since! Overall feels like a live band who love to improvise trying ti make a record.

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.

On the plus side, this is a progressive, visionary and forward-thinking record. The vocal and instrumental arrangements are innovative and interesting. Standout tracks include "I Want To Take You Higher", "Everyday People" and the album's title track. On the minus side, there's *way* too much repetitive jamming, the worst offender being "Sex Machine", a 13-minute track that takes up an entire third of the record and left me wondering how to pull the plug.

Fucking banger lad

Bit ott

I came for the funk, stayed for the soul, and… politely excused myself during “Sex Machine.” “Soul Clappin’” and “I Want to Take You Higher” are everything I wanted. “Everyday People” remains timeless, blending social commentary with a melody so catchy it could solve a minor conflict. But the 13-minute sprawl of “Sex Machine” dragged the vibe from *get down* to *lie down*. I’m gonna need a nap, but not a cigarette, after that one.

- 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

3 stars Very funky but not as good as I remember. I think I prefer another album. Would listen to again.

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.

Good album

It's a jam.

Such a good blend of psych rock, soul and funk, there were great more pop-orientated songs like Stand! And everyday people and more longer songs like sex machine which is such a great instrumental with nice bass. The guitar throughout the album is amazing as well, I’ve never heard a guitar sound like that, literally sounds like it’s talking sometimes, I can’t tell if they’re doing that guitar against the throat trick or just playing it like that somehow but it’s really cool nonetheless. There were no weak songs on here, the only I didn’t add to my liked songs was the second one but only because that’s the type of song I wouldn’t really listen to other than for the album experience, still a good song though with great guitar and a strong message (maybe too long for what it is though). There wasn’t also an interesting addition of harmonica on here as well. The two bonus tracks not on the original album are great as well. Overall, I was gonna give this a 4 but after consideration I see no reason why this doesn’t deserve a 5 (9/10)

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.

Superb album. Very pleased this turned up if for 'everybody people' alone. The song contains so many different hooks it is a work of a genius. Funky 5 from me.

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!

Bs. Didn’t listen.

Stand! is a funky and energetic album that tries to do it all at once – political message, sing-alongs, celebration, and protest stirred together in one colorful mix. Musically, it's undoubtedly important and groundbreaking, but as a listener today, it can feel over-the-top and forced. The album loses me in its insistent tone, where the energy often drowns out the nuances. Tracks like “Somebody’s Watching You” and “I Want to Take You Higher” stand out with strong grooves and a more focused atmosphere, but the rest of the record doesn’t resonate with me. I enjoy funk, but this is too much Like it’s shouting when I’d rather it spoke. Perhaps it hits deeper if you have a stronger connection to the album’s themes. For me, it ends up feeling more like a historical footnote... important, but not personally engaging. 3/5

If someone got this album on their list and thought great, here's more of that 60s funk sound. Or oh god, another old R&B album. Or even, I hate soul, it's just wailing. Well honey you're in luck. Because this album is THE original soundboard for every funk, r&b, soul, rock, and psychadelia album made since 1969. They Were Not Only The First But They Were Also The Best. This album strikes awe and terror into the heart of musicians around the world because Nothing You Create will come even close to the spontaneity, the joy, the musicianship, the creativity of Stand! Everyone threw up their hands and sampled the shit out of this album because they knew it would elevate everything it touched. Larry Graham took this and ran to Graham Central Station took the funk train all the way to the end of the line. George Clinton listened, nodded, then got on his Mothership and flew into the centre of the sun. You're lucky to hear this before you die!

Fun bops, leaning more towards 4 than 3 but I'm not sure I would seek this out independently

Classic fun

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

Funk and soul tends to be very hit or miss for me, but this one definitely hit! "Sex Machine" was a weak point, but the rest of the album was a pretty fun, funky time.

God damn this album is funky

Fun, funky, a couple outdated songs if yanno what I mean. But overall good time

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

Very funky, 60s civil rights vibe. Stand is the best song probably. The sex one is too long

Eh. While some of the songs are cool, this isn't one you have to listen to. More Vietnam War draft doging music, but from a black guy this time.

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

Amazing but possibly not their best

Woodstock! Sex Machine leuk!

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.

This is an album that's less than the sum of its parts. Everyday People and Stand! are all-time bangers but the rest of this album is pretty underwhelming.

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

Super funky. Lots of great, classic tunes that stand the test of time. Some of the songs would rate around a 4.5, but all in all it rounds up to 5/5.

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.

Mehhhh

Perfect from start to finish. Even the long jam Sex Machine was fun to listen to.

Jusk ok, nothing special.

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

talvez nao o melhor album deles? gostei ok

Oh

There's a midget standing tall. 5/5

3.2 2x

Not really my thing

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.

I wish I liked this one just a bit more! I like funk, but nothing about this particular album really stood out to me.

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.

It was fine. Good, even. Very funky. Unquestionably influential in the 70s, and I can’t help but imagine people dancing to this in that era when listening. I’m not sure it’s aged particularly well outside of that era, though. No song really stood out in my mind except the 13-minute long Sex Machine, which really overstayed its welcome.

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.

Like okay!!

was not that interesting to listing to

Not bad. Not my thing. Liked sex machine though. Good music

Fun, clever, found myself dancing along

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

no

Best

Funky, kinda boring though

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.

"I love the beats. Most songs were a lot of fun. I knew the ""Everyday people"" song already. "

Groovy but maybe not mainstream enough for me. The version I listened to had very much LP sound quality so maybe that affected my listening experience. Also nearly jumped out of my seat when I heard the N word, HARD R, multiple times in a song

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.

I'm curious to know when the average Sly & The Family Stone listens to their music. Is this "driving in a car down the highway" music? Getting drunk with your friends and singing along music? I can't get into funk/soul and would just like to know how best to enjoy it.

Hmmm. This is good soul. If we hadn't already had some funkadelic and other similar stuff, it'd probably be more exciting to me. But as it is, it's some seriously funky soul that I quite like. But I guess I just don't see it standing out from a lot of other motown and soul, so it gets a 3.5 from me. The big standout hit doesnt do as much for me as for others, so I'll round it down.

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

Half of this album was really fun, and I kind of got lost on the other half.

This gave me a funky afternoon. Glad the windows weren’t open when track 2 came on.

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

Second track is gonna kill at the karaoke

Not bad, not really my genre so got a bit bored. Some good moments, enjoyed parts of You can make it if you try, and Somebody's watching you. Had to skip Sex Machine after about 7 mins as the bass line riff got boring.

Short tracks are great

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

Þetta var fínt og eflaust betra en ég upplifði það sem. Of mikið wah wah rúnk fyrir minn smekk. Fallegu lögin geggjuð og skrítnu lögin skrítin. Solid þristur.

Ágætt.

Uinspirerande

I had a lot of fun listening to this and there are a lot of great instrumental parts but I feel like the first song was the only one with a chorus that was punchy enough to stick with me on a first listen. I get the feeling I would enjoy this a lot more over time but alas I must move on.

I really wanted to enjoy this one but I feel like this might have the laziest production ever. It sounds completely flat and missing all the power that the band had. It’s funky as fuck but it sounds like it’s in a garbage can. And “Sex Machine” might be the most pointless track I’ve ever heard on an album.

fuzz bass to die for

I liked this album. While a lot of it felt a bit overdone and corny at some points, there were some really cool parts as well (when I couldn't tell for 3/4 of a song whether or not it was a person or an instrument.) Overall it felt like I was in a scene in Crooklyn for most of the album, and I have no problems with that. 3.25

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

"Everyday People" is quite o.k. but the rest of the album is not really my jam. 2,5

3.5 stars

One of those albums that I only love one song from. Cool album generally.

Eh?

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!