Comments on: Between the Cracks: Sly and the Family Stone’s “A Whole New Thing” http://ickmusic.com/2009/01/26/between-the-cracks-sly-and-the-family-stones-a-whole-new-thing/ Sat, 20 Mar 2010 18:29:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Gonzo http://ickmusic.com/2009/01/26/between-the-cracks-sly-and-the-family-stones-a-whole-new-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-44599 Gonzo Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:52:07 +0000 http://ickmusic.com/?p=2470#comment-44599 BB- Glad you found A Whole New Thing and appreciate its greatness! I'll say that all of the albums from A Whole New Thing through Small Talk are great, which is what makes the boxed set such a great investment (although it looks as if it may be out of print). "Life" is a great one too - I'm sure you'll dig it (one of my faves on there is "Chicken" - be sure to check it out!). And of course, RIOT is a classic. I recently read the book on RIOT from the 33 1/3 serious - pretty interesting, quick read that made me appreciate it more fully. I almost bought tickets to see Sly in Minneapolis last year. But I came to the same conclusion as you. I've seen some of the clips on You Tube from recent shows, and they aren't BAD, but they aren't stellar either. It would have been one of those "Well, I'm going because it's Sly, I know it won't be jaw dropping." Good thing I decided against it anyway, because he canceled (go figure!). Lastly, your point re: Outkast and Gnarls Barkley in relation to A Whole New Thing is very interesting - I'll have to keep them in mind next time I spin the album. Peace! -Gonzo BB-

Glad you found A Whole New Thing and appreciate its greatness! I’ll say that all of the albums from A Whole New Thing through Small Talk are great, which is what makes the boxed set such a great investment (although it looks as if it may be out of print). “Life” is a great one too – I’m sure you’ll dig it (one of my faves on there is “Chicken” – be sure to check it out!).

And of course, RIOT is a classic. I recently read the book on RIOT from the 33 1/3 serious – pretty interesting, quick read that made me appreciate it more fully.

I almost bought tickets to see Sly in Minneapolis last year. But I came to the same conclusion as you. I’ve seen some of the clips on You Tube from recent shows, and they aren’t BAD, but they aren’t stellar either. It would have been one of those “Well, I’m going because it’s Sly, I know it won’t be jaw dropping.” Good thing I decided against it anyway, because he canceled (go figure!).

Lastly, your point re: Outkast and Gnarls Barkley in relation to A Whole New Thing is very interesting – I’ll have to keep them in mind next time I spin the album.

Peace!

-Gonzo

]]> By: Belgian Blue http://ickmusic.com/2009/01/26/between-the-cracks-sly-and-the-family-stones-a-whole-new-thing/comment-page-1/#comment-44592 Belgian Blue Mon, 09 Feb 2009 14:34:20 +0000 http://ickmusic.com/?p=2470#comment-44592 As so many of my generation (I'm in my mid-thirties), I discovered Sly and the Family Stone through their amazing Woodstock performance and movie appearance. Funnily the album I subsequently went for (in the early nineties) was 1971 There's A Riot Goin' On, which I've never tired of listening to (in fact, over the past year, it's definitely developed into the main album for me). In retrospect it must have been an subconscious link between Riot's cover image and Hendrix ripping apart the Star Spangled Banner at Woodstock. Or maybe, just maybe, it was the only available album at the time. When the July 2008 gig of Sly at Ghent Blue Note Festival was announced, I was in doubt, but decided against going. It seemed like to much of a nostalgia trip and could only go wrong. I did however end up buying Stand! and although it's tantalizing and has its refreshingly quirky moments, I always seem to go back to the dark, brooding intensity of Riot. Only last Friday, I picked up a secondhand copy of A Whole New Thing. My expectations were low as none of the song titles were familiar, and there was fear of the Early Material Syndrome you mentioned. But just as you were, I was completely blown away. Now I just can't seem to stop listening to it (and the whole new thing keeps ringing, buzzing and swinging in my head anyway). While Riot remains a category on its own, this one at first seems more classifiable, what with all its obvious 60s era soul elements. But in fact, it's jaw-dropping how varied this album is, and how it hasn't dated at all. In my opinion, Stand! hasn't dated as well, and my guess is that Life probably hasn't either (I still haven't listened to that one, but I obviously know the two singles). This stuff is so incredibly fresh! Outkast and Gnarls Barkley come to mind immediately (I won't say in which songs, that's for you to find out). Amazing... As so many of my generation (I’m in my mid-thirties), I discovered Sly and the Family Stone through their amazing Woodstock performance and movie appearance. Funnily the album I subsequently went for (in the early nineties) was 1971 There’s A Riot Goin’ On, which I’ve never tired of listening to (in fact, over the past year, it’s definitely developed into the main album for me). In retrospect it must have been an subconscious link between Riot’s cover image and Hendrix ripping apart the Star Spangled Banner at Woodstock. Or maybe, just maybe, it was the only available album at the time.
When the July 2008 gig of Sly at Ghent Blue Note Festival was announced, I was in doubt, but decided against going. It seemed like to much of a nostalgia trip and could only go wrong.
I did however end up buying Stand! and although it’s tantalizing and has its refreshingly quirky moments, I always seem to go back to the dark, brooding intensity of Riot.
Only last Friday, I picked up a secondhand copy of A Whole New Thing. My expectations were low as none of the song titles were familiar, and there was fear of the Early Material Syndrome you mentioned. But just as you were, I was completely blown away. Now I just can’t seem to stop listening to it (and the whole new thing keeps ringing, buzzing and swinging in my head anyway).
While Riot remains a category on its own, this one at first seems more classifiable, what with all its obvious 60s era soul elements.
But in fact, it’s jaw-dropping how varied this album is, and how it hasn’t dated at all. In my opinion, Stand! hasn’t dated as well, and my guess is that Life probably hasn’t either (I still haven’t listened to that one, but I obviously know the two singles).
This stuff is so incredibly fresh! Outkast and Gnarls Barkley come to mind immediately (I won’t say in which songs, that’s for you to find out). Amazing…

]]>