Probably the first most listeners ever heard from Sly & the Family Stone was this spectacular late-1968 hit. Opening with a blistering, jazzy fanfare, the first unique touch was a wordless, a cappella (except for tambourine) passage that is indeed one of the greatest aural hooks of the day. Like Brian Wilson, Sly Stone had an incredible ability to draw listeners in with brief passages. The other sections of the song are hard-driving soul breakdowns, immaculately performed. Adding instruments and introducing the bandmembers recall classic soul revues. The lyrics are almost an order and call to arms to the now integrated rock and soul audience. All of this in three minutes. A "stone" classic.
Sly & the Family Stone
Dance To The Music
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Song Review by Matthew Greenwald
Appears On
| Year | Artist/Album | Label | Time | AllMusic Rating | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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1968 | Legacy | 3:00 | ||||
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1979 | Epic | 6:47 | ||||
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1981 | Epic | 2:57 | ||||
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1987 |
Various Artists
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Special Marker | 3:00 | |||
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1989 |
Various Artists
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Time / Life Music | 3:00 | |||
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1989 |
Various Artists
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Columbia | 2:58 | |||
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1991 |
Various Artists
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Rhino | 2:57 | |||
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1991 |
Various Artists
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Rhino | ||||
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1991 |
Various Artists
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Rhino | ||||
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1991 |
Various Artists
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DCC Compact Classics | 2:57 | |||
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1993 |
Various Artists
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Columbia | 3:00 | |||
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1994 |
Various Artists
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MCI | 2:57 | |||
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1994 |
Various Artists
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Tommy Boy | 2:55 | |||
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1995 | Epic | 2:59 | ||||
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1996 |
Various Artists
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SCREAM | 2:58 | |||
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1998 |
Various Artists
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Rhino | 2:57 | |||
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1998 |
Various Artists
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Alphabet City | 2:48 | |||
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1998 |
Various Artists
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Alphabet City | 2:45 | |||
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1998 |
Various Artists
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Atlantic | ||||
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1998 |
Various Artists
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Sony Music Distribution | 2:59 | |||
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2000 |
Various Artists
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Legacy Rock Artifacts Series / Sony Music Distribution | 2:56 | |||
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2000 |
Various Artists
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Atlantic | 3:00 | |||
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2000 | Sony Music Distribution | 2:59 | ||||
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2001 |
Various Artists
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Alphabet City | 2:52 | |||
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2001 |
Various Artists
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Alphabet City Sports Records / Alphabet City | 2:53 | |||
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2001 |
Various Artists
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Alphabet City Sports Records / Alphabet City | 2:54 | |||
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2001 |
Various Artists
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Alphabet City Sports Records / Alphabet City | 2:43 | |||
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2001 |
Various Artists
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Alphabet City Sports Records / Alphabet City | 2:52 | |||
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2001 |
Various Artists
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Alphabet City Sports Records / Alphabet City | 2:55 | |||
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2001 |
Various Artists
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Alphabet City Sports Records / Alphabet City | 2:53 | |||
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2001 |
Various Artists
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Alphabet City Sports Records / Alphabet City | 2:45 | |||
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2001 |
Various Artists
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Alphabet City Sports Records / Alphabet City | 2:50 | |||
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2001 |
Various Artists
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Alphabet City Sports Records / Alphabet City | 2:54 | |||
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2001 |
Various Artists
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Alphabet City Sports Records / Alphabet City | 2:51 | |||
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2002 | Legacy / Sony Music Distribution | 3:00 | ||||
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2002 |
Various Artists
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Platinum Disc | 3:01 | |||
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2003 | Strut | 9:23 | ||||
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2003 |
Various Artists
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BMG UK & Ireland | 2:49 | |||
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2003 |
Various Artists
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Sony Music Distribution | 2:58 | |||
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2004 |
Various Artists
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Columbia | 2:57 | |||
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2005 |
Various Artists
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541 | 0:59 | |||
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2005 | Hear Music | 3:00 | ||||
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2007 |
Various Artists
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EMI Music Distribution | 2:59 | |||
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2008 |
Original Soundtrack
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New Line Records | 3:00 | |||
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2008 |
Various Artists
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Madacy | 3:01 | |||
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2010 | Epic / Legacy | 3:00 | ||||
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2010 |
Various Artists
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Sony Music Entertainment | 3:02 | |||
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Various Artists
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Crimson | 3:00 | ||||
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Various Artists
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Columbia | 2:58 | ||||
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Various Artists
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Time / Life Music | 3:00 |
