Anthology

iTunes Review

Sly and the Family Stone embodied the progressive music and politics of the late-60s San Francisco scene. A fully integrated multi-racial and gendered group where each member was given room to independently shine, the Family Stone also managed to keep a tight ship and offer sharp, concise dance numbers that popped on the radio waves. “Dance to the Music,” “Everyday People,” “I Want to Take You Higher,” and “Hot Fun in the Summertime” express an optimism and infectious groove that broke new rhythmic and harmonic ground and paved the way for the emerging funk of the 1970s. Singer and leader Sly Stone would suffer many personal problems in the ensuing decade but not before also offering some warning shots about the stormy days to come. The ominous “Family Affair,” “Thank You for Talkin’ to Me Africa,” and “Babies Making Babies” point towards a sobering worldview that turned the music darker in lockstep with the grim urban realities of the 1970s. While Stone recorded quite a few solid studio albums, his natural gift was the radio single and this collection rounds up his most important material.