I’ve been thinking a lot about 1968 lately. I never thought I would live through such a time again…but here we are. Thanks for reminding me how important Sly’s music was then and now. Power to the people!
Wow, I had never seen that Love City performance. Thanks for posting it. Excellent writing about Sly and all of his talents. Everyday People is an all-time favorite, and as I wrote yesterday, Stand is the song that has really been important to me this past week.
In 1973 I attended my first concert at age 15. It was Sly and the Family Stone, who I knew very little about. I went only because of best friend at the time claimed she knew a way to get into the venue without a ticket. I was intrigued and we did get in free, and found the stage through back doors and tunnels. It was exciting, made even more exciting when ( after the show),we went to the nicest hotel in downtown omaha at the time because rumor was it tha band was staying there. We saw them , and followed them, into the hotel, and were even invited to their post concert party! Oh to be 16 in the 70s again! We stayed a little while, feeling excited but a bit out place being the only white people among a very friendly bunch of band members and their entourage. We also partied under similar circumstances with Grand Funk railroad and 3 Dog Night at this same motel, but those stories ( one being not so G rated), are for another day. Thanks for bringing me back to my earliest Sly memories.
Wow — I thought you were going to saw that he didn't show up for the concert, since he had a real reputation for that by then. So glad that he actually did, and that you got to not only see the band but hang out with them!
A few thoughts? Quite a few I would say. Important ones about SStone and his musical genius and more serious and highly important ones about today and what we are facing. 1968 was a year of music and tumult. 2025 even more so. I hope those of the several generations that are younger than I am will see and speak as you are doing through your particular lens. Proud to be related to you!!!
I was taking a pause break on the "Sly Lives" doc, going back to those times for so many years was a rush of joy, and it still is, but now also so damn sad as that optimism is so far away in the rear view mirror these days - I needed to pause! It was then I caught up with this, best pause break ever!
Great piece, Dan! And that Love City performance is indeed amazing.
I’ve been thinking a lot about 1968 lately. I never thought I would live through such a time again…but here we are. Thanks for reminding me how important Sly’s music was then and now. Power to the people!
Great read. Great reminder and remembrance. Thank you
Wow, I had never seen that Love City performance. Thanks for posting it. Excellent writing about Sly and all of his talents. Everyday People is an all-time favorite, and as I wrote yesterday, Stand is the song that has really been important to me this past week.
Great minds think alike, John! ✊🏼🇺🇸
The "midget/giant" couplet hits hard now.
In 1973 I attended my first concert at age 15. It was Sly and the Family Stone, who I knew very little about. I went only because of best friend at the time claimed she knew a way to get into the venue without a ticket. I was intrigued and we did get in free, and found the stage through back doors and tunnels. It was exciting, made even more exciting when ( after the show),we went to the nicest hotel in downtown omaha at the time because rumor was it tha band was staying there. We saw them , and followed them, into the hotel, and were even invited to their post concert party! Oh to be 16 in the 70s again! We stayed a little while, feeling excited but a bit out place being the only white people among a very friendly bunch of band members and their entourage. We also partied under similar circumstances with Grand Funk railroad and 3 Dog Night at this same motel, but those stories ( one being not so G rated), are for another day. Thanks for bringing me back to my earliest Sly memories.
Wow — I thought you were going to saw that he didn't show up for the concert, since he had a real reputation for that by then. So glad that he actually did, and that you got to not only see the band but hang out with them!
Nice write up
A few thoughts? Quite a few I would say. Important ones about SStone and his musical genius and more serious and highly important ones about today and what we are facing. 1968 was a year of music and tumult. 2025 even more so. I hope those of the several generations that are younger than I am will see and speak as you are doing through your particular lens. Proud to be related to you!!!
Thank you, Toni! 🙏🏼
Check out In Time from Fresh. Great drums from Andy Newmark.
Oh yeah - Fresh is my favorite Sly LP! Supposedly Miles Davis made his band at the time listen to “In Time” on repeat…
I was taking a pause break on the "Sly Lives" doc, going back to those times for so many years was a rush of joy, and it still is, but now also so damn sad as that optimism is so far away in the rear view mirror these days - I needed to pause! It was then I caught up with this, best pause break ever!