Released July 1974 (1974-07) Length 40:30 Release date 1974 Label Epic/Sony Records | Recorded 1974 Artist Sly & the Family Stone Producer Sly Stone Genres Funk, Soul music | |
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Small Talk
(1974) High on You
(Sly Stone)
(1975) Similar Sly Stone albums, Funk albums | ||
Sly the family stone mother beautiful
Small Talk is the seventh album by Sly and the Family Stone, released by Epic/CBS Records in 1974. This album was the final LP to feature the original Family Stone, which broke up in January 1975.
Contents
- Sly the family stone mother beautiful
- Sly and the family stone small talk
- Music and lyrics
- Artwork
- Track listing
- Side one
- Side two
- CD bonus tracks
- Personnel
- Songs
- References
Small Talk's singles were "Time For Livin'" (the band's final Top 40 hit) and "Loose Booty", an up-tempo funk track which uses the names of Bible characters Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego as a chant. Pictured on the album cover with Sly in a photograph by Norman Seeff are his then-wife Kathleen Silva and his son Sylvester, Jr.
In addition to its standard stereo release, Small Talk was also released in quadraphonic sound.
Beastie Boys sampled the words Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego on the track Shadrach which came out on the album Paul's Boutique in 1989. Beastie Boys covered Time For Livin which was released on the album Check Your Head in 1992 along with a live music video.
Sly and the family stone small talk
Music and lyrics
The album is more mellow and restful than earlier efforts, critic Alex Stimmel observes. prominence of strings distinguishes the album from earlier recordings by the band, and violin player Sid Page is credited as a band member. According to critic Alex Stimmer, the string section is used to "cushion the mood, augment vocal lines, create melodies, or sting riffs once reserved for horns." Stimmer writes that this aspect of the music shows Sly Stone as "the producer-genius that he was." Other than that, the album has a spare sound in comparison to the band's earlier records. More than half the tracks include studio chatter, which according to Stimmel makes for "an air of spontaneity from the sessions, as if the tape was just rolling and the band was finally having a good time again." In addition to the single releases, other hard funk counterpoints to the mellow tunes are "Can't Strain My Brain" and "Better Thee Than Me".
Some lyrics reflect the familial love, Sly Stone having been recently married, yet the message music characteristic of the '60s hits returns for the last time in the "raucous, vengeful 'Time For Livin".
Artwork
The cover of the album showed a picture of Sly, his wife Kathleen Silva, and baby Sly, Jr. On 5 June 1974 the pair were married onstage at Madison Square Garden, the marriage lasting five months.
Track listing
All songs written by Sylvester Stewart, save for "Small Talk", written by Sylvester Stewart and W. Silva. All songs produced and arranged by Sly Stone for Fresh Productions.
Side one
- "Small Talk" – 3:22
- "Say You Will" – 3:19
- "Mother Beautiful" – 2:01
- "Time For Livin'" – 3:17
- "Can't Strain My Brain" – 4:09
Side two
- "Loose Booty" – 3:47
- "Holdin' On" – 3:39
- "Wishful Thinkin'" – 4:26
- "Better Thee Than Me" – 3:35
- "Livin' While I'm Livin'" – 2:58
- "This is Love" – 2:54
CD bonus tracks
Added for 2007 limited edition compact disc reissue:
Personnel
Songs
1Small Talk3:23
2Say You Will3:20
3Mother Beautiful2:01