Sly & the Family Stone - A Whole New Thing [Bonus Tracks]

Issued in 1967, Sly & The Family Stone's debut album, A Whole New Thing, should have shocked the entire country. Its single, "Underdog," was the perfect blend of James Brown-style funk, hard Atlantic-style soul à la Otis Redding, gospel-styled backing vocals, psychedelic rock, and solid, hip vibes exploding out of San Francisco. That it took another album and "formula" for Sylvester Stewart -- former manager of many bands, including The Beau Brummels, and wildly successful disc jockey, songwriter, and arranger -- to pump it up and make it simpler is of no consequence because decades later A Whole New Thing remains just what it says it is; the simple truth is fortified, formulaic radio stations had no way of fitting it into a groove their stations could utilize, despite the fact that the LP was, in itself, pure groove sophistication. Read More