Reviews

http://youcangetwithdiss.blogspot.com/2009/04/sly-stone-spaced-out-sly-1977.html

In 1975, SLY STONE released an incredible solo album titled HIGH ON YOU, that featured some truly memorable tracks... The musical style on that record was right on par with the stuff he was doing while still the frontman for SLY & THE FAMILY STONE... Two years later, came the collection SPACED-OUT SLY... Judging by the title and cover, one would expect an album comprised of far-out sci-fi Funk jams... Instead, it features most of the early 1960's Doo-Wop singles recorded by SLY and a vocal group he sang with called THE VISCAYNES...

The opening track titled "Somebody Come and Help Me" sets the tone for the entire listen, so if you aren't digging on this track, you might not feel the rest of this album... But if you're generally a fan of classic 50's & 60's Doo Wop, this record should right up your alley... Already being a fan of SLY STONE's more popular recordings makes this a fun listen, venturing back in time to bare witness to this man's musical roots... I really can't find much information about this release online, but I scored the vinyl while working the record store gig... Before we parted ways, I made sure to burn this LP to CD... So, here it tis...

Somebody Come and Help Me
A Long Time Alone
You've Forgotten Me
Yellow Moon
You're My Only Love
Heavenly Angel
Uncle Sam Needs You
Eight Reasons Why I Love You
Mama Told Me
Without Success
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http://madshoes.wordpress.com/2010/11/26/sly-stone-spaced-out-sly-1977/

James Brown may have invented funk, but Sly Stone perfected it; his alchemical fusion of soul, rock, gospel, and psychedelia rejected stylistic boundaries as much as his explosive backing band the Family Stone ignored racial and gender restrictions, creating a series of euphoric yet politically charged records that proved a massive influence on artists of all musical and cultural backgrounds. Sylvester “Sly Stone” Stewart was born March 15, 1943, in Denton, TX, and raised primarily in Vallejo, CA, where he sang with his family’s gospel group. After singing lead with a doo wop group called the Viscaynes, at 16 he recorded the local hit “Long Time Gone,” concurrently spinning records for Bay Area radio station KSOL. After studying trumpet, composition, and theory at Vallejo Junior College, in 1964 Stewart signed to local label Autumn Records, where he cut a series of solo singles in addition to serving as a house producer; there he helmed Bobby Freeman‘s national chart smash “C’mon and Swim” as well as sessions by the Beau Brummels, the Mojo Men, and the Great Society.

In 1966, Stewart formed the group Sly & the Stoners, while his younger brother Freddie led his own band, Freddie & the Stone Souls; soon the siblings merged the two acts, and with bassist Larry Graham, trumpeter Cynthia Robinson, saxophonist Jerry Martini, and drummer Greg Errico, Sly & the Family Stone were born. After issuing their debut single, “I Ain’t Got Nobody,” on the local Loadstone imprint, the group signed to Epic to release their 1967 debut LP, A Whole New Thing; Dance to the Music followed in 1968, and generated a Top Ten hit with the title cut. Later that year, Sly & the Family Stone topped both the pop and R&B charts with the two-sided smash “Everyday People” b/w “Sing a Simple Song”; and with the classic Stand!, the band’s music became increasingly politicized on standouts like the hit title track and “Don’t Call Me Nigger, Whitey.” As the group’s chief vocalist, songwriter, and producer, Stone pushed the envelope further with each successive release; and with the 1970 chart-topper “Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin,” he essentially created the sonic blueprint for the funk and disco that dominated the decade to follow via a percussive groove propelled by Graham‘s pop-and-slap bassline.

However, as the utopian ideals of the 1960s gave way to the paranoia and corruption of the 1970s, the celebratory sound that once epitomized Sly & the Family Stone gave way to the bleakly unsettling There’s a Riot Goin’ On, a dark, militant masterpiece that yielded the hits “Family Affair” and “Running Away.” Stone‘s grim world view was due in no small part to his increasing narcotics problem, and he became notorious for arriving late to live gigs or missing shows altogether. Released in 1973, Fresh was Sly & the Family Stone‘s last truly great album, and after issuing Small Talk the band unraveled, with 1975's High on You credited to Stone alone. As his drug problems and legal battles became public knowledge, efforts like 1976's Heard Ya Missed Me, Well I’m Back and 1979's Back on the Right Track attracted little interest, as did a subsequent tour with George Clinton & the P-Funk All-Stars and a 1983 comeback effort, Ain’t But the One Way. After a 1987 single, “Eek-a-Bo-Static,” failed to even chart, Stone instead made headlines for a cocaine bust that led to his incarceration. Despite Sly & the Family Stone being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, Stone failed to make a substantial comeback in the ’90s. AMG.

In 1975, SLY STONE released an incredible solo album titled HIGH ON YOU, that featured some truly memorable tracks… The musical style on that record was right on par with the stuff he was doing while still the frontman for SLY & THE FAMILY STONE… Two years later, came the collection SPACED-OUT SLY… Judging by the title and cover, one would expect an album comprised of far-out sci-fi Funk jams… Instead, it features most of the early 1960's Doo-Wop singles recorded by SLY and a vocal group he sang with called THE VISCAYNES…

The opening track titled “Somebody Come and Help Me” sets the tone for the entire listen, so if you aren’t digging on this track, you might not feel the rest of this album… But if you’re generally a fan of classic 50's & 60's Doo Wop, this record should right up your alley… Already being a fan of SLY STONE‘s more popular recordings makes this a fun listen, venturing back in time to bare witness to this man’s musical roots… I really can’t find much information about this release online, but I scored the vinyl while working the record store gig. youcangetwithdiss.blogspot.com
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sly_Stone_discography

Solo singles

1961: "A Long Time Alone" / "I'm Just A Fool" (Luke Records)
Released under the name "Danny (Sly) Stewart" (on Luke 1008; comp.: Geo. Motola - R. Page)
1962: "Help Me With My Broken Heart" / "Long Time Alone"² (G&P Records)

The Viscaynes
1961: "Yellow Moon" / "Uncle Sam Needs You (My Friend)" (VPM Records)
VPM 1006. "Yellow Moon" comp.: Geo. Motola - R. Page. Record was first misprinted as The Biscaynes. This was a mistake because the band has always used the name VISCAYNES.
1961: "Yellow Moon" / "Heavenly Angel" (VPM Records)
1976: "Oh What A Nite" / "You've Forgotten Me" (Subarro Records)
Subarro 489. A leftover George Motola production, "Oh What A Nite" (a remake of the Dells' 1956 hit), b/w "You've Forgotten Me" was credited "Sly Stone & the Biscaynes" when issued in 1976.