Sly Stone’s memoir came out in 2023 and Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) was voted book of the year by several respected outlets, from music magazine Mojo to the Sunday Times (music book), and it’s not hard to see why.
It reads like the transcription of many long conversations between Stone and his co-writer Ben Greenman, which really suits the tale he has to tell.
It’s particularly timely reading this now, as Stone (born Sylvester Stewart) died just in August this year.
I have to admit I don’t (or, rather, didn’t) know a lot about Sly & the Family Stone apart from a vague familiarity with their biggest singles; “Everyday People”, “Family Affair” and the track that gives its title to this book.
In fact, I probably wouldn’t have bought the book myself: one of my daughters gave it to me, and I’m really glad she did. It’s a great read and an important story.
It’s no exaggeration to say Sly & the Family Stone changed American music, being the first to have hits with a male/female, black/white lineup playing music that mixed R&B, soul and funk (black music) with rock and pop (white music). Throw in some psychedelia and hip hop, and you have a real musical melting pot, but one with a firm direction that came from its leader.
To familiarise myself, I listened to the 35 tracks on The Essential Sly and the Family Stone and it’s not hard to see who they influenced, from Prince and Michael Jackson through Lenny Kravitz and Red Hot Chili Peppers to Beyoncé and Bruno Mars. One hit wonders Wild Cherry probably wouldn’t have scored in 1976 with “Play That Funky Music, White Boy” without Sly paving the way.
Incidentally, the jokey, punny title is by no means an exception. Stone comes across as an erudite man who loves a play on words, and usually very witty ones, delivered ad lib.
The book is structured chronologically with chapter titles taken from songs that quite brilliantly sum up stages of the band’s (and the man’s) career. I also appreciated the detailed discography, including 14 unreleased songs – one of which can be played by scanning a QR code. Another bonus is the very good index.
Although Sly & the Family Stone came about as the melding of Sly’s band Sly and the Stoners with his younger brother’s band Freddie and the Stone Souls, the multi-instrumentalist child musical prodigy Sylvester Stewart became the driving force and, eventually, its only recording member.
The “eventually” was a long road from 1966 to 1987 that involved various Stewart family members, some truly gifted musicians (Larry Graham pretty much invented the slap bass technique), and great swathes of controversy, from fights among band members, a great deal of money earned and lost, and an even greater deal of drugs consumed adding to a reputation for coming to gigs late, cutting them short, or not turning up at all.
A high point was the band’s performance at Woodstock, often cited as one of the best of the festival.
Stone goes through it all with relative candour – albeit understandably defensive at times – and a lot of humour, insight and pride. He’s aware of what a powerful effect his band had on popular music, and he’s a great name dropper.
Ben Greenman has done a great job of turning his conversations with Stone about the songs, players, the industry and society in general into a very readable book.
Recommended.