Blogcritics Comments on Sly Stone

Comment by PhattaDatta

Fri, 24 Mar 2006 20:28:31 EST

Hi, I am with Phattadatta.com, Sly Stone's new official website. Just trying to get the word out to Sly fans of his new site. Hope you don't mind the post, otherwise please check out Sly Stone's Official Site! thank you

Comment by Frank's Voice

Wed, 14 Dec 2005 09:16:02 EST

GREAT Blog Mr. Olsen. I've read much recently on Sly's new site that he's returning. Maybe he has if you count producing the recent CD entitled Diff'rent Strokes, it's strong, which features among other musicians/performers, Isaac Hayes and Chuck D covering "Sing a Simple Song" and Steven Tyler doing MUCH justice to an inspired "I Want To Take You Higher". Can you tell me if Sly participated on the CD vocally or instrumentally in addition to the samples? Thanks again for providing this great forum to discuss and continue to enjoy this man, his group and their contributions past, present and future. I really look forward to what the future holds for The Family.

Comment by kaoke

Tue, 15 Nov 2005 11:42:45 EST

Hi Iam presently living in Africa and of all my stay in the United States i failed to see sly and the family stone perform live. Please could you recommend taped performances of the band that i could purchase? Regards oke

Comment by Eric Olsen

Mon, 7 Nov 2005 07:46:59 EST

wow Julene, 8 shows, pretty amazing - I am unaware of a list of Sly's live shows, but I will keep an eye out. PLease let us know if you find anything!

Comment by Julene Weaver

Mon, 7 Nov 2005 00:46:41 EST

Is there a list anywhere of all the concerts Sly and the Family Stone performed? I went to eight of his concerts, including the one where he got married, all in NY. I've been trying to find their schedule if it is posted anywhere. There is a schedule for Jimi Hendrix, please tell me there is one and the place I can find it. I look forward to hearing back. I used to clap my hands bloody at Sly's concerts, nothing like them! Thanks

Comment by Eric Olsen

Mon, 8 Aug 2005 14:58:49 EDT

"hiiiigh, high high high, yeah"

Comment by Kevin

Mon, 8 Aug 2005 14:29:58 EDT

Sly and The Family Stone "Hot fun in the Summertime" unbelievable it was no lie he did Open up the roof and let in the lighting.

Comment by Eric Olsen

Fri, 5 Aug 2005 18:03:02 EDT

thanks Ken, but from which list is Jimi missing?

Comment by ken m

Fri, 5 Aug 2005 17:45:43 EDT

man, when i read the words "noble red trumpet" a smile unfolded across my mind. thanx for that, and a good review. surprised to see one james marshall MIA on yer list, but there's no axe to grind ;-)

Comment by Eric Olsen

Thu, 16 Dec 2004 18:48:49 EST

thanks SiSi, very much appreciated, sounds like you've done very well! It's remarkable how many people we have heard from on this post and others who have nothing but the best wishes for Mr. Stewart and still hold out hope for his future. Where there's life there's hope.

Comment by Arcelious "SiSi" Daniels

Thu, 16 Dec 2004 17:35:35 EST

Hey Eric and Dawn, This was a refreshing bio on Sly and the Family Stone. I happened to be fortunate enough to have played with Sly during one of his comeback attempts as a guitarist in 1980. The opportunity to have worked with such an Icon first hand was awesome to say the least. I wish I could thank him for his willingness to allow my Band to Tour with him. I'm now a Film editor at Savannah College of Art and Design, and M.F.A. candidate in Film School. I am considering doing a Biopic on Sly and my experiences sometime in the future. Keep up the good work. Syl (not Sly), if you read this, SiSi here, from Savannah, GA. Hihowru!! I love you, and hope you find freedom, happiness and joy. You can Recover!

Comment by Eric Olsen

Tue, 24 Aug 2004 07:11:33 EDT

thanks Ken! sounds amazing - I wish I could have seen them in their full glory.

Comment by Ken

Mon, 23 Aug 2004 22:53:48 EDT

I saw the band at the New Orleans track & field stadium in 1969. I played for a living back then and our band heard rumors about how incredible their show was. It took about 100 of New Orlean's finest to keep the crowd off the stage. The band ate us alive..we didn't stop talking about it for years....hey wait...I'm still talking about it. They were HOT!!! Ken

Comment by Eric Olsen

Sat, 1 May 2004 19:11:14 EDT

Excellent point HW - that ability to transcend borders is why I rate him/them as highly as I do.

Comment by HW Saxton Jr.

Sat, 1 May 2004 14:00:52 EDT

I think that one of Sly's greatest coups was bringing the "FONK" to white America without sacrificing musical integrity or sanitizing it.His music was also a great common denominator.Growing up in So.Cal, ALL my friends dug Sly.Black,White,Asian Hispanic and so on,we could always agree on Sly when we were partying.

Comment by Eric Olsen

Sat, 1 May 2004 12:19:08 EDT

You have excellent taste Nick, but I don't see the band reuniting behind Sly, who is just too damaged it appears. I wouldn't call them the great band ever, but they are still not fully appreciated by most, as evidenced by the reaction when I picked them as the 10th greatest band.

Comment by Nick Graveline

Sat, 1 May 2004 01:55:56 EDT

Sly & the Family Stone is the greatest band ever to grace the world of music. i'm only a freshman in high school, and I had never heard anything by them beyond what the radio played. My uncle lent me their greatest hits, and i couldn't believe what i was missing. Their Essential cd is amazing. If The Family could reunite with Sly as the frontman, then maybe my generation could experience the musical genius that has been missing for too long.

Comment by Eric Olsen

Sat, 3 Apr 2004 20:34:09 EST

I agree, Hope, thanks.

Comment by Hope

Sat, 3 Apr 2004 20:25:16 EST

One of the greatstes of all times.

Comment by Eric Olsen

Thu, 1 Apr 2004 08:53:45 EST

Thanks HW, I'm glad we generally agree on this. I was debating JB but finally I decided there was more than one James Brown band, that they kind of mutated over time, and that Sly was much closer to the "rock" theme musically and conceptually than James, who was very clearly in the R&B revue tradition.

Comment by HW Saxton Jr.

Thu, 1 Apr 2004 00:10:30 EST

Eric,I really dig Sly & The Family Stone too.I think that you may be going out on a limb a little by their inclusion on your Top Ten list of the Greatest R'n'R artistes of all time but I'm with you on your decision 100 percent. I would've liked to have seen Mr. James Brown & The JB's on your list as well as Sly.I feel they have definitely got more of a claim to the throne than does,let's say U2). Only time will bear me out on this I suppose. The body of music left behind by Sly and his group not withstanding,I really do think that Sly's greatest accomplishment may be his making Funk,R and B and Soul music readily accessible.By way of some radio friendly(AM & FM)tunes,a racially mixed ensemble and very highly energized live performances,a lot of people who wouldn't normally listen to those genres did. Sly's mixing of (alongside those of War, Santana, Charles Wright & The 103rd St. Watts Rhythm Band,Tower Of Power & other multi-racial groups of the day)Pop,Rock, Soul and Funk helped to lay down the foundations for Prince, Michael Jackson (post J5) and The Red Hot Chili Peppers to name but a few artistes whose music reflects the influence of Mr. Sylvester Stone. It's too bad the drugs and his personal problems got the best of him, depriving the world of his many talents. We still have his musical legacy though and IMHO that's what counts in the big picture.

Comment by Eric Olsen

Wed, 31 Mar 2004 19:18:32 EST

Maybe he will see this - I do not know how to contact him.

Comment by griff

Wed, 31 Mar 2004 17:39:42 EST

Let Sly know that we stll love him and his music and thanks for giving many a happy high. Can I email Sly?

Comment by Nikisha

Thu, 18 Mar 2004 23:44:41 EST

can someone please tell me the name on this particular album cover if you recognize it. I have a pic, but I cant make out the words. I will email it to anyone if you think you can help. Thanks a lot!

Comment by Eric Olsen

Mon, 15 Mar 2004 13:44:15 EST

yes he is