Sly And The Family Stone - Higher! (2013) [Amazon Exclusive > 5CD Box Set]
Label: Epic Records/Legacy
Cat. # 88697536652, 88883746592
TT: 312:44 minutes

All through the brilliant highs and the murky lows of the late '60s and early '70s, Sly & The Family Stone had the globe dancing to the music. The creativity of the mixed-race, mixed-gender, and mixed-genre band shines in this new 77-track, four-cd box set. This incredible collection showcases the classic hits not just in stereo format, but in the good ol' mono mixes which went missing long ago with the transistor radio, and in unheard early versions, and concert performances. Also included are gems from Sly Stewarts' pre-Family Stone period, studio outtakes, and potent instrumentals from this archetype of jam bands. With 17 previously unreleased tracks, it's a lot more music than you knew was there all remastered to hit the pinnacle of sound. As a special exclusive for Amazon.com, included is a CD of 6 more extremely rare and previously unreleased tracks!


This powerful music is accompanied by a stunningly colorful and evocatively detailed 104-page, 10-inch book of rare photographs, posters, picture sleeves, recording documents, vintage ads, and other memorabilia, along with extensive liner notes by Jeff Kaliss (author of Sly's only authorized biography), track-by-track annotations, and a detailed timeline of Sly and The Family's life and career. The legacy of Sly & The Family Stone persists through four decades of movie and TV soundtracks, commercials, radio playlists, and parties worldwide, and influenced countless makers of rock, funk, jazz, and hip-hop. Here's a chance to take it Higher!

“allmusic.com says: At the peak of their career, Sly & the Family Stone topped the charts with a Greatest Hits album -- in 1970, it was their first LP to crack the Billboard Top 200, peaking at number two; an argument could be made that it was the LP that cemented their stardom -- and over the years, they've been anthologized many times, almost each compilation worthwhile, but they've never been subjected to a comprehensive box set until Legacy's 2013 four-disc set Higher! (A 2007 box called The Collection doesn't count, as it just rounded up the expanded remasters of the group's Epic catalog.) Higher! succeeds because it performs a task many box sets do not: it tells a story. Placing an emphasis on narrative, sometimes achieved through rarities, does mean that there are some omissions here: "Fun," "Don't Call Me Nigger, Whitey," studio versions of "Stand" and "You Can Make It If You Try," "Just Like a Baby," "Babies Making Babies," and the 1975 version of "I Get High on You" are all absent, but as the box plays, they're not missed, as the story that is told is compelling. Higher! takes its time to get to Sly & the Family Stone's streak of hit singles -- the second disc is a quarter finished by the time "Dance to the Music," the group's first genuine hit, surfaces -- but it never drags. If anything, the early material -- including five sides Sly Stone, then performing under his given name Sylvester Stewart, recorded for Autumn in 1964 and 1965, plus the 1967 single for Loadstone, "I Ain't Got Nobody (For Real)"/"I Can't Turn You Loose" -- is instrumental in laying the foundation for what came later, as they reveal Sly's deep roots in R&B, doo wop, pop, and rock & roll, sounds he spliced together when he formed the Family Stone in 1967. Remarkably, the other rarities are equally illuminating, whether it's a clutch of terrific unreleased songs from 1967 (such stellar cuts as "What's That Got to Do with Me" and "Only One Way Out of This Mess" kick off the second disc), scorching live performances from the Isle of Wight in 1970, or the oddity "Small Fries," from the band's alter ego the French Fries, where Sly's sped-up, helium-addled voice is a clear predecessor to Prince's impish mischief. These are grace notes to the band's enormous legacy, a legacy that is clearly on display throughout Higher!, whether it's heard on exuberant hits that are pop staples to this day, rhythms that were heavily sampled during the golden age of hip-hop, or a vibrant blurring of boundaries that still sounds visionary. It's that depth of detail, combined with the masterful sequencing, that makes Higher! such a superb box set: it tells a familiar story in a fresh fashion.”

Disc 1:
01. I Just Learned How To Swim - Sly Stewart
02. Scat Swim - Sly Stewart
03. Buttermilk, Pt. 1 - Sly
04. Dance All Night - Sly & Freddie
05. Temptation Walk - Sly Stone
06. I Ain't Got Nobody (For Real) - Sly And The Family Stone
07. I Can't Turn You Loose - Sly And The Family Stone
08. Higher (Single Master) - Sly And The Family Stone
09. Underdog (Single Master) - Sly And The Family Stone
10. Bad Risk (Single Master) - Sly And The Family Stone
11. Let Me Hear It From You (Single Master) - Sly And The Family Stone
12. Advice - Sly And The Family Stone
13. If This Room Could Talk - Sly And The Family Stone
14. I Cannot Make It - Sly And The Family Stone
15. Trip To Your Heart - Sly And The Family Stone
16. I Hate To Love Her - Sly And The Family Stone
17. Silent Communications - Sly And The Family Stone
18. I Get High On You - Sly And The Family Stone
19. I Remember - Sly And The Family Stone
20. My Woman's Head (Instrumental) - Sly And The Family Stone

Disc 2:
01. What's That Got To Do With Me - Sly And The Family Stone
02. Fortune And Fame - Sly And The Family Stone
03. What Would I Do - Sly And The Family Stone
04. Only One Way Out Of This Mess - Sly And The Family Stone
05. I Know What You Came To Say - Sly And The Family Stone
06. Dance To The Music (Single Master) - Sly And The Family Stone
07. Ride The Rhythm - Sly And The Family Stone
08. Color Me True - Sly And The Family Stone
09. Are You Ready - Sly And The Family Stone
10. Don't Burn Baby - Sly And The Family Stone
11. We Love All - Sly And The Family Stone
12. Danse A La Musique - French Fries
13. Small Fries - French Fries
14. Chicken (Single Master) - Sly And The Family Stone
15. Into My Own Thing - Sly And The Family Stone
16. Life - Sly And The Family Stone
17. Love City - Sly And The Family Stone
18. M'lady - Sly And The Family Stone
19. Dynamite! (featuring Johnny Robinson on Vocals) - Sly And The Family Stone
20. Undercat (Instrumental) - Sly And The Family Stone

Disc 3:
01. Everyday People (Single Master) - Sly And The Family Stone
02. Sing A Simple Song (Single Master) - Sly And The Family Stone
03. I Get High On You (Version Two) - Sly And The Family Stone
04. Wonderful World Of Color (Instrumental) - Sly And The Family Stone
05. Pressure - Sly And The Family Stone
06. I Want To Take You Higher (Single Version) - Sly And The Family Stone
07. Seven More Days - Sly And The Family Stone
08. Feathers (Instrumental) - Sly And The Family Stone
09. Somebody's Watching You - Sly And The Family Stone
10. Sex Machine - Sly And The Family Stone
11. Hot Fun In The Summertime (Single Master) - Sly And The Family Stone
12. Everybody Is A Star (Single Master) - Sly And The Family Stone
13. Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) (Single Master) - Sly And The Family Stone
14. Stand! (Live) - Sly And The Family Stone
15. You Can Make It If You Try (Live) - Sly And The Family Stone
16. Dance To The Music (Live) - Sly And The Family Stone
17. Medley- Music Lover - I Want To Take You Higher - Music Lover (Live) - Sly And The Family Stone

Disc 4:
01. Luv N' Haight (Single Version) - Sly And The Family Stone
02. Family Affair (Single Version) - Sly And The Family Stone
03. Brave & Strong (Single Master) - Sly And The Family Stone
04. Runnin' Away (Single Master) - Sly And The Family Stone
05. (You Caught Me) Smilin' (Single Master) - Sly And The Family Stone
06. Spaced Cowboy - Sly And The Family Stone
07. You're The One (Live) - Sly And The Family Stone
08. In Time - Sly And The Family Stone
09. If You Want Me To Stay (Single Master) - Sly And The Family Stone
10. Frisky (Single Master) - Sly And The Family Stone
11. Skin I'm In - Sly And The Family Stone
12. If It Were Left Up To Me (Single Master) - Sly And The Family Stone
13. Time For Livin' (Single Master) - Sly And The Family Stone
14. Can't Strain My Brain (Single Master) - Sly And The Family Stone
15. Loose Booty - Sly And The Family Stone
16. Le Lo Li (Single Master) - Sly Stone
17. Crossword Puzzle (Single Master) - Sly Stone
18. Family Again - Sly And The Family Stone
19. Hoboken - Sly Stone
20. High - Sly Stone

Disc 5: 'amazon exclusive'
01. Stand! (Long Version) - Sly And The Family Stone
02. TV Medley - Sly And The Family Stone
03. Time For Livin' (Alternate Record Plant Mix) - Sly And The Family Stone
04. Saint James Infirmary (Instrumental - Live) - Sly And The Family Stone
05. Sittin' On My Fanny - Sly And The Family Stone
06. Dust To Dust (Instrumental) - Sly And The Family Stone

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CD1
1. Sly & the Family Stone - I Just Learned How to Swim (By Sly Stewart) (2:31)
2. Sly & the Family Stone - Scat Swim (By Sly Stewart) (2:27)
3. Sly & the Family Stone - Buttermilk (Part One) (By Sly) (2:11)
4. Sly & the Family Stone - Dance All Night (By Sly & Freddie) (2:55)
5. Sly & the Family Stone - Temptation Walk (Part One) (By Sly) (2:25)
6. Sly & the Family Stone - I Ain't Got Nobody (For Real) (2:55)
7. Sly & the Family Stone - I Can't Turn You Loose (3:28)
8. Sly & the Family Stone - Higher (2:54)
9. Sly & the Family Stone - Underdog (3:06)
10. Sly & the Family Stone - Bad Risk (3:05)
11. Sly & the Family Stone - Let Me Hear It from You (3:30)
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 Communication (4:20)
18. Sly & the Family Stone - I Get High On You (Version One) (5:55)
19. Sly & the Family Stone - I Remember (5:25)
20. Sly & the Family Stone - My Woman's Head (Instrumental) (2:46)

CD2
1. Sly & the Family Stone - What's That Got to Do with Me (3:08)
2. Sly & the Family Stone - Fortune and Fame (5:36)
3. Sly & the Family Stone - What Would I Do (4:05)
4. Sly & the Family Stone - Only One Way Out of This Mess (3:52)
5. Sly & the Family Stone - I Know What You Came to Say (5:33)
6. Sly & the Family Stone - Dance to the Music (2:59)
7. Sly & the Family Stone - Ride the Rhythm (2:47)
8. Sly & the Family Stone - Color Me True (3:09)
9. 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 (By the French Fries) (3:05)
13. Sly & the Family Stone - Small Fries (By the French Fries) (2:50)
14. Sly & the Family Stone - Chicken (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 (2:41)
18. Sly & the Family Stone - M'lady (2:45)
19. Sly & the Family Stone - Dynamite (ft Johnny Robinson On Vocals) (2:46)
20. Sly & the Family Stone - Undercat (Instrumental) (3:49)

CD3
1. Sly & the Family Stone - Everyday People (2:21)
2. Sly & the Family Stone - Sing a Simple Song (3:06)
3. Sly & the Family Stone - I Get High On You (Version Two) (4:13)
4. Sly & the Family Stone - Wonderful World of Color (Instrumental) (5:01)
5. Sly & the Family Stone - Pressure (3:45)
6. Sly & the Family Stone - I Want to Take You Higher (3:02)
7. Sly & the Family Stone - Seven More Days (3:25)
8. Sly & the Family Stone - Feathers (Instrumental) (2:30)
9. 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 (2:39)
12. Sly & the Family Stone - Everybody Is a Star (3:03)
13. Sly & the Family Stone - Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) (4:50)
14. Sly & the Family Stone - Stand (Live from the Isle of Wight Festival) (5:08)
15. Sly & the Family Stone - You Can Make It If You Try (Live from the Isle of Wight Festival) (6:02)
16. Sly & the Family Stone - Dance to the Music (Live from the Isle of Wight Festival) (5:01)
17. Sly & the Family Stone - Medley (Live from the Isle of Wight Festival) (6:16)

CD4
1. Sly & the Family Stone - Luv N' Haight (4:03)
2. Sly & the Family Stone - Family Affair (3:05)
3. Sly & the Family Stone - Brave & Strong (3:34)
4. Sly & the Family Stone - Runnin' Away (2:43)
5. Sly & the Family Stone - (You Caught Me) Smilin' (2:54)
6. Sly & the Family Stone - Spaced Cowboy (3:58)
7. Sly & the Family Stone - You're the One (Live from Don Kirshner's Rock Concert) (6:27)
8. Sly & the Family Stone - In Time (5:48)
9. Sly & the Family Stone - If You Want Me to Stay (3:01)
10. Sly & the Family Stone - Frisky (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 (1:59)
13. Sly & the Family Stone - Time for Livin' (3:17)
14. Sly & the Family Stone - Can't Strain My Brain (4:08)
15. Sly & the Family Stone - Loose Booty (3:47)
16. Sly & the Family Stone - Le Lo LI (By Sly Stone) (3:18)
17. Sly & the Family Stone - Crossword Puzzle (By Sly Stone) (2:56)
18. Sly & the Family Stone - Family Again (2:49)
19. Sly & the Family Stone - Hoboken (By Sly Stone) (3:23)
20. Sly & the Family Stone - High (By Sly Stone) (5:11)