May 11, 2007
One of the things we want News & Views to do is invite you, our audience, into the process of putting together topics and segments.
Next week we'll be talking to members of the legendary rock-&-soul band, Sly and The Family Stone. The group has a new box-set out with re-mastered recordings of its first seven albums.
What we want from you is pretty straightforward: What's your favorite Sly and The Family Stone song? Tell us here, and, if we like what you wrote, we might use it on the air!
"HOT FUN IN THE SUMMERTIME"
Classic Opening, Beautiful melody,great lyrics...just a great, easy laid back tune. It's a "must have" on any get-in-your-car-and-drive- cd...especially if you're driving to a county fair in the country sun.
"EVERYDAY PEOPLE"
Great lyrics letting people know that not one person is better than the next. It also touches on some of the issues that were prevalent in that era
"FAMILY AFFAIR". An incredibly deep, sad, strange and beautiful song. Featuring an overmodulated, weary vocal by Sly and the hook delivered courtesy of his sister Rose, the song truly was a Family Affair... and the band's last #1 hit. The dream of the '60s was over... the sun was rising, and reality was settling in.
My favorite Sly and the Family Stone song is clearly Family Affair. As an African American child who had finished the 7th grade and who wanted to prep himself for high school, I attended a summer school program at Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta, Georgia. I will never forget my experience in this summer English class for a variety of resons. It was unique in that I was the only "seventh grader" in a class full of older high school students. Secondly, I was taught by my first white teacher. She was young full of energy and clearly was what most people would identify as a "hippie". She let us listen to Family Affair. Afterwards, we discussed and wrote a critique of the song and the lyrics. It was a very bold step back in 1971. We even wondered wheather or not she would keep her job. Well, she did. I thank her and I thank Sly and the Family Stone for such a profound and powerful song. Thank you NPR for allowing me an opportunity to share these words.
"THANK YOU"
I love the bass line in this song. It _almost_ makes me want to take the bass guitar that is gathering dust in my closet and finally learn how to play it! Although, I must confess, I'm of the generation that first came to this song through Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation, so I don't know if that undermines my vote for "Thank you"!
I WANANA TAKE YOU HIGHER!! STAND TOO!!
Love Sly and the Family Stone. I used to be an oldies DJ and everytime I spun the Sly it was a party!!! Lots of requests for that too!
THANKFUL N THOUGHTFUL
"The said I was dyin / I didnt wanna go / I kept on feelin / I had to live some more / I had something to tell y'all: / to be thankful & thoughtful...".
A buried treasure about near-death, survival, and gratitude. If you've ever thought it was your time to cross over, but been snatched back, kissed, and sent back to tell the world, you get this "moment of lucidity" song from a Sly & Fam that were struggling with their own deadly demons. Besides some gorgeous horns & and back-up vocals melted over a spare Casio-ish beat, I love the balance in this song. SATFS are known for their party tracks and social message anthems. But this time, its (a rare) personal (look inside a man going through some things). Be grateful. But also, think about what you're happy to have. And "...until then, just kick back and let your light shine...". Thank you, Syl.
"Thanku4lettingmebmyself"
The name said it all. This song was an anthem in the early 70s. The groove was tight and the message was "Right On!". Black radio could use "message songs" like this now.
family affair.
1) can't hear it without thinking of my sister, who's my favorite person. i remember driving around our town together, singing this song together at the top of our lungs when it came on.
2) it's a gorgeous song. super solid groove, melody you're still humming hours later. everything about it is so right that when volume starts to fade toward the end of the track, i think about turning it up just to squeeze a little more out of the song. just beautiful.
Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)
I can remember when the AM Radio DJ's would talk over the open of this song and hit it post....
It's hard to name just one favorite Sly & the Family Stone song, but "If You Want Me To Stay" is one of the top. Larry's bass and Sly's voice are just perfect together. This song been covered by others, but in my heart it's exceptionally unique and mastered only by Sly & Family.
"Everyday People" is my all-time favorite Sly and the Family Stone song. The song captures the sentiments of inclusiveness, acceptance and equality that oought to be the goals of a fair and just society. Sly's lyrics and beat captured the energy and hopefulness of the era.
As a gradeschool child the lyrics to "Everyday People" made skin color sound like the sillyest way to judge people. Now as a management consultant I work from week to week all over the world. I still pack those lyrics whenever I leave home.
Clifton Muhammad
between two: "Everyday people" and "everybody is a Star" neither are b-boy anthems but they get the Omi family up
My favorite Sly and the Family Stone song is a toss up between "thank U for letting me be myself" and "Everyday people." But gun to my head I'll choose the former by a smidge since I always strive to be an original and not a copy of someone else.
Has to be two, for two different reasons: "Thank You" etc, was the song that got everybody out on the floor. It was always party time when that was played. But when things calmed down and they played slow drags, you always hoped the Really Cute Brother was the one who held out his hand in invitation when Hot Fun was on the (yes, youngsters!) turntable. Looking forward to blasting both from my car's CD player when the boxed set is released.
"My only weapon is my pen,I'm a songwriter"....that quote from the song with those lyrics, for which I can't give you the title is a favorite of mind
Previously, it was "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)"... that song is just hot power funk, with all the brother-man empowerment riding on the rhythm.
Recently, it's "I Want To Take You Higher"... Tina Turner opened her Twenty-Four Seven tour with this song, and it has rejuvenated my love for the live performance, and the power that results when a performer and music unite on stage.
"Just Like A Baby"
As a diehard Sly & the Family Stone FANATIC, I choose "Just Like a Baby" from the album "There's a Riot Going On". This is not one of his more widely known tunes like "Everyday People" or "Hot Fun in the Summertime", but this song is the epitomy of funk. With only a few lines of lyrics, it's mostly Sly whining and cooing like the funkadelic soul brother he is.
PLEASE play this song on the air, Farai!! People need more Sly Stone than "Family Affair".
Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)
I remember seeing Sly & the Family Stone on the Ed Sullivan show when I was growing up and realizing they were the first integrated band I had ever seen.
I worked at an ad agency in the late 80s and early 90s. We used to put in long hours, and I can remember firing up my boom box around 5:15 every Friday and playing Thank You at full throttle. It's the essence of funk. Thumping bass, staccato horns, enigmatic lyrics... What a great song!
Sly and the Family Stone recorded some of the most innovative and lyrically aware songs of the times and to pick a favorite is indeed diffcult. However... "Thank U" is popular music history. It's the point where R&B,Rock and Serious Funk came together with devastating impact. I remember hearing that opening guitar and bass riff on the radio while driving home from work back in Cleveland,Ohio. When the rest of band kicked in and Sly started laying into the lyrics, I immediately pulled over to the curb and shut off the engine. Damn!... What was that?!
IF YOU WANT ME TO STAY
it's a beautiful song...
How bout, THANK YOU 4 LET ME SING A SIMPLE SONG!
Only one Sly song is really tough, too many super arrangements and somewhere somehow lyrics that speak to everyday people!
WHAT SONG DO THESE LYRICS BELONG " IF YOU TAKE THE TRAIN WITH ME CROSS TOWN THROUGH THE MISERY" AND IF YOU HAVE TO GO TO BED WITH SOMETHING ELSE THAT MUST BE FEED SUPPOSE YOU DID IT ALL YOUR LIFE DO YOU THINK THAT YOU WOULD MIND ?
I can't help quoting sentence from Sly, 'Dying young is hard to take -- selling out is harder'.
About my favourite song, I would say There's a riot goin' on, full album, Remember who you are, If you want me to stay, and In time (listen to the Maceo Parker's cover).
Thank you for lettin' me be myself, agaaaain.
Keep Funkin'
simple...
"STAND" which should be somebody's campaign theme hint...of course since a certain person is not making sense these days maybe not....
sort of in line with Robert Marley & da Wailers "Redemption Song"
Everybody is a Star captured my 14 y.o. attention--It was the B side of the TYFLMBMEA 45. I just loved it! In fact, I thought many times of changing my name to Star--not to ego trip, but because of what the lyrics essentially say: you can be what you want to be. Golden for a 14 y.o. girl in 1969.
"If you want me to stay". I too, really like the Bass, (Larry Graham) and Sly's vocals. I've listened to Sly and the Family Stone for 40 years now and I know that it keeps me young. I even have a picture of Larry Graham hanging in my office. Dig it.
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