Reviews

Early works from Sly. Rare issue on the U.S. Sculpture label from 1970, with many early singles during 1964-67 in San Francisco, pulls together a mixture of pre-Sly & the Family Stone efforts. Sly used many electronic gadgets including clavinet and essential drum breaks and organ on the cut "Rock Dirge".

In terms of quality the ten tracks cover a wide spectrum, ranging from the surprisingly good "Take My Advice" and the unique Broadway-meets-rock "Life of Future & Fame" to the interesting 1950s flavored instrumental "Hi Love", a cover of Herbie Hancock's "Watermelon Man'' and the raw demo "Rock Dirge".

Sly's spoken work cover of "Deck Of Cards", " I Ain't Got Nobody" was eventually released as the first Sly & the Family Stone single.

-by dj fanis