Fresh

by Sly & the Family Stone

Overview

Fresh expands and brightens the slow grooves of There's a Riot Goin' On, turning them, for the most part, into friendly, welcoming rhythms. There are still traces of the narcotic haze of Riot, particularly on the brilliant, crawling inversion of "Que Sera, Sera," yet this never feels like an invitation into a junkie's lair. Still, this isn't necessarily lighter than Riot -- in fact, his social commentary is more explicit, and while the music doesn't telegraph his resignation the way Riot did, it comes from the same source. So, Fresh winds up more varied, musically and lyrically, which may not make it as unified, but it does result in more traditional funk that certainly is appealing in its own right. Besides, this isn't conventional funk -- it's eccentric, where even concise catchy tunes like "If You Want Me to Stay" seem as elastic as the opener, "In Time." That's the album's ultimate charm -- it finds Sly precisely at the point where he's balancing funk and pop, about to fall into the brink, but creating an utterly individual album that wound up being his last masterwork and one of the great funk albums of its era. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	04/24/2007
Label:	Epic / Legacy
UPC:	0886972695525

Tracks

1. In Time
2. If You Want Me To Stay
3. Let Me Have It All
4. Fristy
5. Thankful N' Thoughtful
6. Skin I'm In
7. I Don't Know (Satisfaction)
8. Keep On Dancin'
9. Que Sera Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)
10. If It Were Left Up To Me
11. Babies Makin' Babies
12. Let Me Have It All [Alternate Mix]
13. Frisky [Alternate Mix]
14. Skin I'm In [Alternate Mix]
15. Keep On Dancin' [Alternate Mix]
16. Babies Makin' Babies [Alternate Version]

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Sly & the Family Stone   Primary Artist
Andy Newmark   Drums
Jerry Martini   Saxophone
Cynthia Robinson   Trumpet
Pat Rizzo   Saxophone
Freddie Stone   Guitar
Little Sister   Vocals (Background)
Rose Stone   Piano,Vocals
Rusty Allen   Bass

Technical Credits

Sylvester Stewart   Audio Production,Composer,Producer
Willie Greer   Engineer
Richard Tilles   Engineer
Toure   Liner Notes
Jim Cummins   Photography
Bob Gratts   Engineer
Lisa Buckler   Project Director
Glenn Stone   Executive Producer
Richard Avedon   Photography
Bro Fred   Producer
Hamp Banks   Producer
Urve Kuusik   Photography
Paul Perlow   Cover Design
John Berg   Cover Design
Steve Paley   Photography
Jim Marshall   Photography
Don Hunstein   Photography
Bill Scruggs   Engineer
James Green   Engineer
Paul Kantner   Composer
Steven Berkowitz   A&R
Bob Irwin   Reissue Producer
Chris Hinshaw   Engineer
Don Puluse   Engineer
Jerry Goldstein   Executive Producer
Roy Segal   Engineer
Ray Evans   Composer
Mike Fusaro   Engineer
Tom Flye   Engineer
Rob Carter   Design,Art Direction
Vic Anesini   Mastering
Jay Livingston   Composer
Marty Balin   Composer
George Engfer   Engineer