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5 of 5 found the following review helpful:
 Whatchoo talkin' about, Willis? Apr 23, 2009
Let's get this out of the way first - Sly and the Family Stone are one of the greatest bands of all time. A band that, sadly, I didn't "discover" by myself, but more through getting into Prince, who it was written in a few books was inspired by them.
So, Curious George that I am, I went out and bought a few Sly Stone records, not really expecting much. From the opening bars of "I Want to Take You Higher" I was hooked, with "Everybody is a Star" I was floored by its simple, understated beauty, and by "Stand" I was damn-near having a heart attack. If everyone could discover this band in that way, the world would be a better place.
Because, tragically, some people will "discover" Sly & The Family Stone through this wretched record. Similar to the earlier Michael Jackson abomination, where two ton pop turds like Will.I.Am and Fergie helped destroy the Thriller album with a bunch of updated (read: ruined) versions of MJ's songs.
But, wait, maybe I'm being too quick to judge. After all, Prince is an obvious Sly fan, maybe guys like him and Stevie Wonder and MJ could help bring the music to a new audience? Oh, wait, better idea - let's get Moby, Joss Stone, Maroon 5 and (surprise surprise) Will.I.Am instead. Awesome.
While it would be unfair to not mention the welcome appearance of the likes of Steven Tyler, Chuck D and Isaac Hayes, they are outweighed by the sheer number of "what the hell are they even DOING here?" guest vocals. Wait till you hear Will.I.Am rapping over "Dance to the Music" - if you haven't ripped a chunk of your hair out after 20 seconds, you may want to ponder if you actually have a soul.
I refuse to believe, especially in today's climate where music has never BEEN more accessible, that this is the best way to get a new audience into a band. I just don't buy that. I read about this group, walked into a store, bought the record and it blew my mind. That's how it works. I didn't read about a band, walk into a store and look for watered down production line "tributes" that sound like any other sampled piece of MTV garbage out there.
The REAL music is out there, and more to the point, its remastered and repackaged to look and sound better than ever before. In short - no-one needs this record. But everyone needs to own at least one Sly Stone record. Sly Stone is a recluse now, but in his day he was a funny, passionate, defiant (check out "Don't Call Me Ni**er, Whitey" - that's still powerful stuff) - and as mad as a bag full of Hatters. And he made some of the greatest music of all time.
Discover that. Forget this.
 Original Sly Stone reinvented Oct 25, 2008
If you are a purist who can't stand old music being reinterpreted stay away. If you are open minded to some some fresh air being blown into some classic tracks than you willl love this disc. I fall into the later category, as I love the original stuff but like the new stuff for what it is, a different take on some classic r&b. It reminds me somewhat of Bob Marley: Chant Down Babylon where classic Bob Marley songs are reinterpreted by the likes of Lauryn Hill and other hip-hop artists. Some would think this blasphemous but not me. Less I digress, back to the music at hand. There is enough of the original tracks to get you into the old school groove but really the new interpretations are more contemporary and just as funky. Sly Stone's music had street sensabilities, a blending of music that brought distinct cultures(black and white) together, rock and funk as one. Here a third element is thrown in, hip-hop. Hip-hop serves the same purpose as it adds additional ingredients to create a synthesis of music. This disc is very cool or as some like to say, kewl. Like the language I just used to describe the music, anyway you say it,it means the same thing, cool is kewl.Chuck D's version of "Sing a Simple Song " is just as funky, maybe even more so than the original. Nappy Roots hip-hop stylings on "Don't Call Me Nigger Whitey" is even fresher that the original, more revolutionary and outrageous than Sly's original, the only problem is the song is too short at 1:43 but the message is as clear now as then. Other outstanding tracks are The Roots version of "Star". It begins with with some old school vinyl scratches and pops that leads into the the familiar chorus of everybody is a star, as the 2Pacesque rap fires street poetry like an AK-47. Sweet. The clasic "Everyday People" is reinterpreted by Maroon 5 and hardly deviates from the original resulting in familiar territory unscared. Electronica genius, Moby, gets into the act by infusing "Love City" with music that mixes well with the original snippets, the result is an amalgam of music that remains funky. You gotta love will.i.am's (clever spelling)version of the quintessential Sly Stone tune "Dance to the Music." There is just enough of the old song to remind you of what was and plenty of will.i.am rocking the mic to let you know what is. If this doesn't rock or shock you than how about Steven Tyler giving you his best "I Want to Take You Higher"(boom shaq-a-laq-a, boom-shaq-a-laq-a)? The old mixes with the new to perfection, a little rock,a little funk and a whole lotta Sly Stone soul. I love this disc. Old school meets new school for a great party album. Buy it for a special treat.
2 of 3 found the following review helpful:
"Indifferent Works by Different Jerks" Nov 08, 2006
I can totally see a logical link between Big Boi and The Roots, and the original material (and it's not a racial one), but most of the other artists involved seem to fall into the following categories:
-Fake Soul / Plastic Soul: Joss Stone, a TV talent show winner; Maroon 5, airbrushed, pitch corrected, charisma-free purveyors of bland fake-funky pop. Josh Stone is here in an attempt to sell more of her records, whilst Maroon 5 are here in order to sell this record.
-Out of date musicians who haven't done anything reasonably worthwhile in years: See Isaac Hayes, Stephen Tyler (who has never done anything worth a damn), and Moby. They are presumably featured here because their names are easily recognised and may add some form of credibility (and may push up sales).
Basically, this album is a totally wasted opportunity: an ill-concieved and poorly excecuted sales exercise, and an appaling testimony to the lack of recognition of Sly Stone's awesome talent and legacy to music.
I can name a thousand bands who could have contributed something truly different and worthwhile to this collection. "Thank You Rhythm Nation 1814"? What the hell?
If you are even slightly interested in Sly Stone, go and buy either the 2 disc 'Essential' from a few years back, or the 'Greatest Hits' from the early 70's, or any of the inspirational and unbeatable albums he released between 'A Whole New Thing' and 'High On You'.
Sly Stone has inspired countless musicians from an enormous range of styles and backgrounds. To present a narrow range of pop singers performing shabby, unimaginative versions of his greatest hits is both disrespectful and despicable.
The recent tribute to Prince "If I was Prince" was patchy, but it was worth a thousand of these.
0 of 2 found the following review helpful:
 Dance To The Music By Sly & The Family Stone is my all-time favorite song Jul 17, 2006
Sly & The Family Stone aren't dead, so this isn't a tribute cd.
Isn't not "muzik" and it's not "covers". The original songs
Are mixed into the new parts a la' Natalie Cole/ Nat "King" Cole style.
Sure people who like Sly & The Family Stone should have the originals
(c'mon buy another copy for your pod player) but these remixes are
a refreshing spin on the original songs.
Surely these artists aren't on this cd
trying to jumpstart dead careers! Big Boi (Outkast) on 'Runnin' Away', a paring of Buddy Guy with John Mayer on 'You Can Make It If You Try', a duo of Steven Tyler and Robert Randolph (& The Family Band) 'I Want To Take You Higher', John Legend, Joss Stone & Van Hunt 'Family Affair', and a
Mash-Up (DJ Reset) (mashup;two diff. songs `mashed-up' together) Thank You from Sly & The Family Stone
And Janet Jackson 1814 (Rhythm Nation) are a way to put artists together to work on something while giving some love to a band that inspires so many.
The title of the CD beckons one to realize that it's Different Folks that make the gesture
so nice. The `flower power' pun isn't lost on me.
For people who like `remixes' and `redos' like Different Strokes For Different Folks, check out Motown Remixed (on Motown Records), What Is Hip? Remixed (Warner Bros.). I bought this because I love Sly & The Family Stone. Dance To The Music by Sly & The Family Stone is
my all time favorite song forever.
6 of 8 found the following review helpful:
Who The He11 Would Want to Waste Their Time And Money On This [...]? May 25, 2006
"Tribute" my arse! This CD is an absolute disgrace. Will.i.am, Joss Stone, John Legend, Moron 5, and the rest of those fools (except Isaac Hayes) will never ever in their lifetime possess the talent, imagination, originality, and musicianship of Sly & The Family Stone. Sly's classic songs were blatantly butchered by these new so-called artists who brought nothing new to the table and were only interested in making an extra dollar. If this was a real tribute, then the songs would've sounded close to the original. If Sly was such an influence to these artists, I fail to hear it these days on FM radio. Do NOT get this CD at all- you hear me? And if you can't appreciate real music, then I see no reason for you not getting this catastrophe of a tribute. Other than that, skip this trash at all possible costs and get the original songs by Sly that are perfect the way they are and do not need "reworking" or an "extra twist".
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