The way Miles Davis related the story was that he realized in the mid sixties that at his concerts the audiences were getting a bit older and long in the tooth. He couldn’t figure out why he wasn’t getting the younger crowd (along with their money), and it hit him right between the eyes when he saw Sly and the Family Stone at a concert, playing that funky music. Right then, Davis realized that he needed to plug into the amps, get some rock rhythms into the mix and add some psychedelics to his sound if he wanted the next generation of kids to listen to his trumpet. So, he did, and that’s how we got In a Silent Way, Bitches Brew, and all the rest.
This four disc retrospective of Sylvester Stewart, who eventually became Sly of the famed funk rock group, is quite different from previous “Best Of” packages that have been released of the artist. Instead of simply rehashing old 60s hits (of which there are MANY), this box/book set gives you the artistic vision and mind set of the artist, from obscure and fledging days up through and including the peak and slow descent. Yes, there are key hits missing such as “You Can Make it If You Try,” but what you get in its stead are songs he did in 64/65 with the group Autumn as well as the single for Loadstone that included a poppish “I Can’t Turn You Loose.” These early tunes show the initial ingredients of soul, funk, pop and doo wop that eventually coalesced into his chart topping band. You can feel the band trying to find the stride, mixing vocals and horns hear and there, coming real close to the right mix with “Underdog” and then clicking on all cylinders on the celebratory “Dance to the Music.” They try some experiments as well with “Small Fries” and then reach their peak and style with the anthem “M’Lady.”
Along with well known pieces like “Everyday People,” “I Want to Take You Higher” and “Hot Fun in the Summertime,” there are a ton of previously unreleased songs from ’67 that make you wonder why they haven’t been available before. “What’s That Got to Do With Me” and “Only One Way Out of This Mess” have aged amazingly well, actually pointing to music not only performed by Miles, but eventually leading up to (or is it descending down to ) the likes of Prince. There’s a fascinating book included with some wonderful vintage photos of musicians and album/singles covers as well as an analysis of the songs, personnel and times of Sly Stewart’s rise and fall. Important music from an unheralded musical paradigm shifter.
Sony Legacy
www.sonylegacy.com