I just bought "Fresh" by Sly & the Family Stone and . . .

So when I hear it know it's like someone set the studio to "generic funk" and Fresh was cranked out

What strikes me is that despite the fact that hundreds of nominally similar-sounding albums have been made since, Fresh still sounds like the best jazz-funk album ever. It sounds like what the Headhunters were going for when Mike Clark was in the band, except more thought-out, darker and with amazing vocals instead of keyboard jams.

sly's catalog desperately desperately needs some serious remastering/deluxe edition treatment. Riot is still in that lame packaging (at least in the US)...and they left the title track off the cd!

and anyone know what happened to that live set that was supposed to come out a couple years ago? did sly personally nix it?

ive never been more otm

I've never heard any of the records after Fresh.

The fact that Sony hasn't reissued them inside the US is a fucking joke.

this is not a mistake. There *is* no title track - the tracklisting is intentionally misleading.

absurd

but if you're using these as paragons of funkiness, i think you've got more problems than i do.

enlighten us then funky messiah

absurd

OK OK. That's a little absurd. I got a little carried away with my love for Fresh :-)

Yeah, for real. If Fresh isn't a paragon of funkiness, I don't know what is. Whether you like the album or not...you have to admit it's about as funky as it gets.

this sounds exactly like my copy which, i guess, is the UK pressing. i can't imagine it sounding any more stripped down, etc.

i can't take 'dance to the music' out of my CD player... this album is so great! i don't care about how 'cynical' it was in concept and education, 'dance to the medley' is so exhilarating. the absolute to Fresh, but to be honest, they're my two favourite Sly LPs (have 'stand' on LP, but 'sex machine' bores me silly, and i *hate 'stoned cowboy' so much that it ruins Riot for me if i don't skip in time)

It's sad that he's just an old nut now. I don't understand the underwhelming response of many people to this record. It's not perfect, but most of it's great, starting from the first track; weak, quavering guitar that's almost confusing until you find how it ties with the rest— the crisp horns, the organ, all with his impeccably timed singing, and yes, procrati

natin'…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Mld7eSaydI

Some people swear by it, but apart from "Que Sera Sera" I can't feel any affection or awe for Fresh at all.

Fromwhat I've heard the cover of Que Sera Sera was a riposte to a rumour that Sly had been having an affair with Doris Day. Assume the allegations were unfounded but it makes a good backstory.
Much like Tim Buckley working as Sly's chauffeur in the downtime between Starsailor & Greetings From L.A.
Or that Blue Afternoon by Buckley was largely written as material to offer to Marlene Deitrich, back when Burt bacharach was her musical director.

I don't understand the underwhelming response of many people to this record.

its generally accepted as the 2nd best 70s sly album after riot isnt it?

"Que Sera Sera" gives me chills!

― mcd (mcd), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 17:20 (5 years ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

this is my favourite sly album, i think. as mentioned above, i grew up on the UK CD, and I still prefer those versions - more ghostly, more stripped back.