Product Description

Sly and the Family Stone created the blueprint for funk's direction in the late '60s; a sound dense, sophisticated, andcomplex on one hand, spacious and rhythmically elemental onthe other, a style that seemed loose and open, yet demandedmusical precision. In the early '70s, Sly left behind the churning, up-tempo anthems to brotherhood and positive thinking to develop a darker, more introspective sound that focused ever more intently on the subtle interaction of rhythmic elements. The result, as heard on 1971's THERE'S A RIOT GOIN'ON and 1973's FRESH, proved Sly's artistic apex.
Though lesser known than RIOT, and featuring cleaner, brighter production values, FRESH is no less astonishing than its predecessor. The first five tracks alone, including the shifting pulse of "In Time", the almost religious "Thankful N' Thoughtful", and the unendingly listenable "If You Want Me To Stay",are enough to make this disc a classic. Add to these the bubbling groove of "Babies Makin' Babies" and a definitive cover of "Que Sera, Sera", and FRESH becomes a document of meticulously constructed, high-minded soul music at its finest. Don't be misled by the corny, dated cover photo--this is oneof the greatest funk albums ever.

Track Listing

1. In Time
2. If You Want Me To Stay
3. Let Me Have It All
4. Frisky
5. Thankful 'n' Thoughtful
6. Skin I'm In
7. Don't Know (Satisfaction)
8. Keep On Dancing
9. Que Sera Sera (Whatever Will Be Will Be)
10. If It Were Left Up To Me
11. Babies Makin' Babies

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #84983 in Music
• Released on: 1996-09-09
• Number of discs: 1

Customer Reviews

Two versions
There was a mix up with the masters and as a result the version issued in the UK was made up of the rough versions, the finished versions only appear on the US issue (catalogue no. EK 32134). For the fan both versions are worth getting.

Possibly their best.
Although "There's A Riot.." is often lauded as their best, I think that this one is over-looked.
Are fans aware that two cuts of this album were released? There was no plan behind this: just a random occurence.
There used to be a Sly site that explained how to distinguish between the two, from the code on the sleeves. It no longer exists, but the version that I prefer (and unwittingly found in a record library) is the better one. I think that it is the rarer one. Sparser sound ; more echo / reverb; no backing vocals on "Let Me Have It All"; and a better sounding: "If You Want Me To Stay." Only the absence of Larry Graham is the weak point.

Great funk album
This is one of the greatest funk albums ever. Just as long as you skip the last three tunes, this is all you need for a good time. Guaranteed to put you in a good mood.