It's no secret that I'm a big fan of sly. But this song has stayed in my head longer than anything I can remember. What a stroke of genius.

Love this song. I listen to it in times when I have had to walk away from manipulative people I loved.

Can you start a "Family Affair" appreciation thread next?

One of my favorites by Sly, along with the entire "Fresh" album.
[Edited 1/6/05 11:32am]

Aw, fuck yeah.

An excellent example of how Sly used his voice as an instrument. At times in this song, his voice sounds like a slapping bass guitar, at other times he sounds like a horn.

This song rocks my boots.

FunkMistress said:

...what she said!
/peace Manki

So strange that this thread is started. I had a really crazy dream last night, and this song was the background music for it. I was playing dominoes to it.

manki said:

minneapolisgenius said:

Did you win?

The Red Hot Chili Peppers did a great version of that. But Sly's is the BOMB!

One of the best intros in music history.
Listen to that bass guitar.

namepeace said:

Sure why not

but anyway back to this song. I think I remember someone mentioning on this board that there were alternate mixes of various "Fresh" songs circulating. Does anyone know if there are and what they sound like

jacktheimprovident said:

.
Yes,it's a bit different.Especially the intro.More guitars,less piano.
Different mix.
/peace Manki

I fucking LOVE this song.

Seeing as how Sly was an influence of Prince's, it sounds to me like the Camille vocal style was borrowed from this song.

jacktheimprovident said:

This is why I love prince.org, so much love for old skool songs. Sly was the MAN and a HUGE influence on Prince(IMO, more than Hendrix).

OMG! Same thing I said about "Family Affair."

meow85 said:

That's exactly what I thought when I first listened to Fresh. It sounded SO much like Prince, particularly Camille era Prince that it gave me goosebumps. Although I think I've seen Camille's ancestors in other places too, like the sped up voice Stevie uses on the chorus of Maybe Your Baby. In fact, the other day I thought to myself that John Lennon's voice on Lucy in the sky with Diamonds sounds like Camille too.

jacktheimprovident said:

I think part of Prince's genius is that he can borrow from so many sources without making it seem like stealing.

This song is fucking brilliant. Sly was in genius overload mode on this track.

FunkMistress said:

No.

Great song, one of loads on 'Fresh', my fave Sly album. Sly has to be the prime influence on Prince in so many ways. Especially P's '86-'87 music - this era has loads of Sly-like songs.

It partly explains why Prince is so close to Larry Graham (whatever some may think of him. I personally dig Larry musically but not religiously). For Prince, Larry is a direct link with Sly (however Sly and Larry ended up).

What a shame that P released that terrible version of 'If You Want Me to Stay', 'sung' by Musiq on the ONAL album. I always skip that one!

the whole "Fresh" album is dope. Especially "In Time".

this was the first song ol' boy performed at the very first paisley party i went to. it was cool to...odd thing about it is that i was listenin to the radio as i was gettin ready to head out to paisley that night, and sly's chit came on!

uPtoWnNY said:

Sly's influence is all over "The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker"
[Edited 1/7/05 21:06pm]

meow85 said:

Check out "Maybe Your Baby" from Stevie Wonder's Talking Book. The backing vocals on that also might have influenced "Camille"

namepeace said:

, finally someone else who noticed that

jacktheimprovident said:

I dig that song immensely.

Is it any wonder that P plays that song live?

I would have given anything to have heard P and Stevie do that song together live several years ago.