Sly Stone (1971) Spaced Cowboy - LOST70sGEMS

The Sly Stone and The Family Stone 1971 opus There's a Riot Goin' On was considered their peak and true highlight of how the socially conscious music of the 60s could transition into the funk soul and disco of the 70s without losing it's edge. However what was once considered the most forward thinking and progressive of the 60s soon found themselves settling on that formula rather than changing it up and this would soon see them fall foul of critics. The songs would get tighter and more melodic as the record goes along and yet the vocals become wilder too.  Brave & Strong is a great example of their unhinged jams, vocals wail, guitars clank, basses pickin, horns stack and rhythms churn; but nothing can beat Sly's patented croaked wail full of power and electricity, passion, sexuality and defiance. The band could be soothing and calming, smooth and slippery as ever then heavy and packin  a lot of punch and syncopated wallop; truly a magical ensemble. 


You Caught Me Smiling starts with an oriental ambient guitar line before sliding into a dapper groove, the honeyed backing vocals like a sea of cool while Sly's vocal like on Family Affair are filtered through a tinny microphone filter. Horns perk up a little here with some more rhythms to play such as a sustained rasp and the guitar is mixed nice and high.
Their tight in the pocket groove abilities kick off Spaced Cowboy with a little African rhtymm and some funked out trebly bass  creeping in the mix while some wah wahed organ whines and washes in spurts like before while Sly proves why he is the most creative and inventive performer of all time with some amateur mountain yodelling  strangely working with the funky wah wah beat in a obscure idea, think raw laurel and hardy as a harmonica solo full of soul enters chiming with the wah wah and panting drums .

Possibly saving best for last is seven minute album closer, Thank You For Talking To Me Africa, some James Brown guitar straddles a robotic bass part.  They reference their own hit Thankyouforlettimiceself  as guitar notes zing and some hazy gospel twang and a very hypnotic effect while Larry Graham's bass line keeps poppin.