Sly And The Family Stone - Higher! [2013] (5 x CDs) R.I.P. SLY STONE

R.I.P.

SLY STONE

Sly And The Family Stone - Higher! [2013] (5 x CDs)

Sly Stone was more than a musician; he was a movement. His music didn’t just play; it changed things. It lifted spirits, broke barriers, and made people feel seen. With Sly and the Family Stone, he created a sound that was joyous, defiant, and deeply human. He taught us that funk wasn’t just a groove, it was a way of life, a force that could unite people across race, gender, and background. His songs weren’t just hits; they were anthems of change, of love, of celebration. Though he’s gone, his music will never fade. It will keep inspiring, keep moving, keep reminding us to live higher. Thank you, Sly. You truly took us there. Thank you, Sly, for everything (B)

Sylvester Stewart (March 15, 1943 - June 9, 2025), better known by his stage name Sly Stone, was an American musician, songwriter, and record producer who was most famous for his role as frontman for Sly and the Family Stone, playing a critical role in the development of funk with his pioneering fusion of soul, rock, psychedelia, and gospel in the 1960s and 1970s. AllMusic stated that "James Brown may have invented funk, but Sly Stone perfected it," and credited him with "creating a series of euphoric yet politically charged records that proved a massive influence on artists of all musical and cultural backgrounds. Crawdaddy! has credited him as the founder of the "progressive soul" movement.

Born in Denton, Texas and raised in the Bay Area city of Vallejo in Northern California, Stone mastered several instruments at an early age and performed gospel music as a child with his siblings (and future bandmates) Freddie and Rose. In the mid-1960s, he worked as both a record producer for Autumn Records and a disc jockey for San Francisco radio station KDIA. In 1966, Stone and his brother Freddie joined their bands together to form Sly and the Family Stone, a racially integrated, mixed-gender act. The group would score hits including "Dance to the Music" (1968), "Everyday People" (1968), "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" (1969), "I Want to Take You Higher" (1969) "Family Affair" (1971) and "If You Want Me to Stay" (1973) and acclaimed albums including Stand! (1969), There's a Riot Goin' On (1971) and Fresh (1973).

By the mid-1970s, Stone's drug use and erratic behavior effectively ended the group, leaving him to record several unsuccessful solo albums. He toured or collaborated with artists such as Parliament-Funkadelic, Bobby Womack, and Jesse Johnson. In 1993, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the group. He took part in a Sly and the Family Stone tribute at the 2006 Grammy Awards, his first live performance since 1987. He released the autobiography Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) in 2023. Stone died in June 2025 amid family and friends from pre-existing medical conditions. (Wikipedia)

Sly and the Family Stone’s Higher! is a trip through time, it’s a five-disc odyssey through the band’s history, uncovering the layers of Sly Stone’s groundbreaking artistry. This isn’t just a collection of hits; it’s a sonic narrative, threading together early recordings, alternate mixes, live performances, and previously unreleased gems. Sly Stone was never just a musician; he was a sonic architect, shaping funk, soul, and rock in ways that still reverberate today.

One of the most compelling aspects of Higher! is how it traces Sly’s evolution. The first disc reaches back to his early solo recordings, before the formation of the Family Stone, with tracks like I Just Learned to Swim and Scat Swim. These songs reveal the seeds of his genre-blending genius, even before he revolutionized funk and soul.

From there, the set unfolds chronologically, diving deep into the band’s psychedelic funk explosion, offering alternate mono mixes of classics like Dance to the Music, Everyday People, and Hot Fun in the Summertime. Hearing these songs in their rawer forms is a reminder of how meticulously layered Sly’s production was, crafting grooves that still feel fresh decades later.

Then there are the live performances, disc five, in particular, showcases the electric energy of the band on stage, including a fiery rendition of I Can’t Turn You Loose. Sly was a mastermind in the studio, but onstage, the band was something else entirely: tight, explosive, and unpredictable.

Beyond the music, Higher! reminds us that Sly and the Family Stone weren’t just about sound—they were about breaking boundaries. Their integrated lineup, featuring men and women, Black and white musicians, was radical at the time and influenced generations to come. That spirit of unity seeped into their music, making their grooves more than just catchy.

You can hear Sly’s fingerprints all over music history. The cultural impact is undeniable. You can trace Sly’s fingerprints all over funk, soul, and even hip-hop. Artists like Prince and George Clinton pulled straight from his playbook, and his grooves have been sampled by everyone from the Beastie Boys to Dr. Dre. and countless hip-hop producers who continue to sample his work. (B)

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Track lists

CD1

01 Sly & The Family Stone - I Just Learned How to Swim 2:31

02 Sly & The Family Stone - Scat Swim 2:27

03 Sly & The Family Stone - Buttermilk (Part One) 2:11

04 Sly & The Family Stone - Dance All Night 2:55

05 Sly & The Family Stone - Temptation Walk 2:25

06 Sly & The Family Stone - I Ain't Got Nobody (For Real) 2:55

07 Sly & The Family Stone - I Can't Turn You Loose 3:28

08 Sly & The Family Stone - Higher [Single Master] 2:54

09 Sly & The Family Stone - Underdog [Single Master] 3:06

10 Sly & The Family Stone - Bad Risk [Single Master] 3:05

11 Sly & The Family Stone - Let Me Hear it from You [Single Master] 3:31

12 Sly & The Family Stone - Advice 2:22

13 Sly & The Family Stone - If This Room Could Talk 3:12

14 Sly & The Family Stone - I Cannot Make It 3:16

15 Sly & The Family Stone - Trip to Your Heart 2:33

16 Sly & The Family Stone - I Hate to Love Her 3:32

17 Sly & The Family Stone - Silent Communications 4:20

18 Sly & The Family Stone - I Get High on You 5:55

19 Sly & The Family Stone - I Remember 5:26

20 Sly & The Family Stone - My Woman's Head [Instrumental] 2:46

CD2

01 Sly & The Family Stone - What's That Got to Do with Me 3:08

02 Sly & The Family Stone - Fortune and Fame 5:36

03 Sly & The Family Stone - What Would I Do 4:05

04 Sly & The Family Stone - Only One Way Out of This Mess 3:52

05 Sly & The Family Stone - I Know What You Came to Say 5:33

06 Sly & The Family Stone - Dance to the Music [Single Master] 2:59

07 Sly & The Family Stone - Ride the Rhythm 2:47

08 Sly & The Family Stone - Color Me True 3:09

09 Sly & The Family Stone - Are You Ready 2:50

10 Sly & The Family Stone - Don't Burn Baby 3:13

11 Sly & The Family Stone - We Love All 4:32

12 Sly & The Family Stone - Danse a la Musique 3:05

13 Sly & The Family Stone - Small Fries 2:50

14 Sly & The Family Stone - Chicken [Single Master] 2:13

15 Sly & The Family Stone - Into My Own Thing 2:14

16 Sly & The Family Stone - Life 3:00

17 Sly & The Family Stone - Love City 2:42

18 Sly & The Family Stone - M'lady 2:45

19 Sly & The Family Stone - Dynamite! [Stereo] 2:46

20 Sly & The Family Stone - Undercat [Instrumental] 3:49

CD3

01 Sly & The Family Stone - Everyday People [Single Master] 2:21

02 Sly & The Family Stone - Sing a Simple Song [Single Master] 3:06

03 Sly & The Family Stone - I Get High on You [Version Two] 4:13

04 Sly & The Family Stone - Wonderful World of Color [Instrumental] 5:01

05 Sly & The Family Stone - Pressure 3:45

06 Sly & The Family Stone - I Want to Take You Higher [Single Version] 3:02

07 Sly & The Family Stone - Seven More Days 3:25

08 Sly & The Family Stone - Feathers [Instrumental] 2:30

09 Sly & The Family Stone - Somebody's Watching You 3:20

10 Sly & The Family Stone - Sex Machine 13:47

11 Sly & The Family Stone - Hot Fun in the Summertime [Single Master] 2:39

12 Sly & The Family Stone - Everybody is a Star [Single Master] 3:03

13 Sly & The Family Stone - Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) [Single Master] 4:50

14 Sly & The Family Stone - Stand! [Live] 5:08

15 Sly & The Family Stone - You Can Make it If You Try [Live] 6:02

16 Sly & The Family Stone - Dance to the Music [Live] 5:01

17 Sly & The Family Stone - Medley: Music Lover/ I Want to Take You Higher/ Music Lover [Live] 6:16

CD4

01 Sly & The Family Stone - Luv N' Haight [Single Version] 4:03

02 Sly & The Family Stone - Family Affair [Single Version] 3:05

03 Sly & The Family Stone - Brave & Strong [Single Master] 3:35

04 Sly & The Family Stone - Runnin' Away [Single Master] 2:43

05 Sly & The Family Stone - (You Caught Me) Smilin' [Single Master] 2:55

06 Sly & The Family Stone - Spaced Cowboy 3:58

07 Sly & The Family Stone - You're the One [Live] 6:27

08 Sly & The Family Stone - In Time 5:48

09 Sly & The Family Stone - If You Want Me to Stay [Single Master] 3:01

10 Sly & The Family Stone - Frisky [Single Master] 3:12

11 Sly & The Family Stone - Skin I'm In 2:55

12 Sly & The Family Stone - If it Were Left Up to Me [Single Master] 1:59

13 Sly & The Family Stone - Time for Livin' [Single Master] 3:17

14 Sly & The Family Stone - Can't Strain My Brain [Single Master] 4:08

15 Sly & The Family Stone - Loose Booty 3:47

16 Sly & The Family Stone - Le Lo LI [Single Master] 3:18

17 Sly & The Family Stone - Crossword Puzzle [Single Master] 2:56

18 Sly & The Family Stone - Family Again 2:49

19 Sly & The Family Stone - Hoboken 3:23

20 Sly & The Family Stone - High 5:11

CD5

01 Sly & The Family Stone - Stand! [Long Version] 4:13

02 Sly & The Family Stone - TV Medley: Sing a Simple Song/ Hot Fun in the Summertime / Sex Machine/ I Want to Take You Higher 7:35

03 Sly & The Family Stone - Time for Livin' [Alternate Record Plant Mix] 3:56

04 Sly & The Family Stone - Saint James Infirmary [Instrumental (Live)] 7:43

05 Sly & The Family Stone - Sittin' on My Fanny 4:13

06 Sly & The Family Stone - Dust to Dust [Instrumental] 2:30

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Music weaves itself into the fabric of our emotions, dances through the corridors of memory, and whispers to the soul of who we are. Sharing these stories deepens the connection, turning the experience into something timeless and profound.

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