Life – SLY & THE FAMILY STONE***

Dynamite/Chicken/Plastic Jim/Fun/Into My Own Thing/Harmony/Life/Love City/I’m An Animal/M’lady/Jane Is A Groupee

Life continued the dance-funk sound of Sly & The Family Stone’s two previous albums and added the psychedelic guitar sound in vogue at the time. Sales however were rather poor. (US:195)

“The roots of the group's revolutionary mix of classic R & B with San Francisco's burgeoning acid-rock sound can be heard loud and clear here. With no clear standout tracks, Life is fascinating more for its explorations than its arrivals. The elements are all there - the dynamic ensemble singing, the adventurous arrangements, the hard funk beats and the screaming guitars.”

“Sly was a genius, with exuberance and groove to spare on every track of this album. Even the filler material Chicken and Dynamite are catchy with some interesting production touches, and the better songs are awesome. If you love the alternating lead vocals, fuzz bass, punchy drums, it will only take a few listens before these songs are as classic to you as his best.” ,p. “This is a great album which I suppose is classed as psychedelic soul but in my view is the dawning of funk. Life may have come out in the sixties but it sounds as if it was made yesterday.”

“A major step forward for Sly, bringing a more diverse set of song structures to the successful funk formula he discovered on the preceding Dance To The Music. That's not to say that it all works, but where it does, this is excellent.”

“This is probably the group's best party record simply because it refined the band's established formula and doesn't have any meandering jams, cloying sentimentality, or utter darkness.”

“Third album by this great band, released only a few months after its predecessor, but marking a remarkable development and perfection of their unique style. The band strengthens the rock/psychedelic elements considerably, with the fuzz guitar being much more up-front than on the two previous albums. The definition of funk is basically all here, creating a new musical genre.”