Saw it last night and it shined on some important subjects that I already knew and everybody else here has mentioned.

I noticed that they didn't have Freddie, Rose, Vet or any of Little Sister talking, which is understandable if they declined. No David Kaparlik ( but David Froleich speaking about Sly learning about music theory was good) and yea I wished that they talked about his recording techniques and being ahead of his time with certain things ( drum/rhythm machines, Larry Graham's bass influence,etc) or elaborated more on those that replaced Gregg and Larry and were added to the band but I guess that's a little too in depth and not important to TV One. Regardless I enjoyed the show and wish Sly and Family the best.

My 2 cents:

If there was ever an Unsung that needed 2 hours (besides the one on G. Clinton), this was the one. As everyone has said, there's a lot that wasn't touched on at all. Without rehashing what's already been posted, I'll add that I would have liked to have seen more regarding: Sly's stint with P-Funk, the various reunion attempts of the last 25 years, the Hall of Fame induction, and what happened to his catalogue (how it ended up in Michael Jackson's hands). Lastly, there seem to be lots of "interesting" stories about him from '70-'72 in terms of the decadence and wild living- I would have liked to have heard more of those.

Either way, I'm simply glad that they got what they got from Sly on tape before it's too late. There were some real gems in there last night, including his airchecks from when he was a DJ. Wished Larry, Freddie and Rose, B. Womack, G. Clinton, and Bootsy would have been included in the interviews on last night, but having Sly (and Clive Davis) was good enough. Until last night, I had never heard the story about his son and the pitbull, I've never heard from Cynthia's own lips about the love affair, and I've never heard any of Sly's "new" material that others claim to have heard over the years.

Consider me "Thankful and Thoughtful" for what I saw last night. For the record, Fresh is still my all time fav Sly album.

Jboogiee said:

Mong said:

Did they mention about Sly sleeping with Larry Graham? Probably not.

I never heard nothing like that but in Choclate's book (former Graham Central Station member & Larry's ex) she does mention how Larry was sleeping with Guitarist Freddie Stone's wife. They do bash him hard.

He also was poking Rose Stone

Not sure if she was still married to that Banks dude

HuMpThAnG said:

Cynthia said that's her man

Didn't she though!!!

In my opinion, she answered that age-old question of "why" and "how" a woman can stick by a man's many indiscretions. I liked how she said that she couldn't say with confidence that she was his woman, but he was HER man. That along with the lyrics to SOS Band's song 'Just Be Good to Me' and mystery solved.

I paused it on Larry's picture when they first talked about his involvement in the group. Hell, he looks more like he would be related to Damon Winans then Drake. Drake must look like his mother's side of the family.

Anyway, I watched the episode and felt it was tragic...mostly because of the lasting effect of heavy drug use. Sly was a promising youth, but isn't that always the story.

I wanna watch this for the strength of Sly's words alone, given that he seldom gets interviewed. However, its beyond me how folks @ TVOne decided that he and the word "unsung" somehow belong in the same universe together, WTF? Sly is FAR from "unsung". The man's legacy and influence was as crucial as Jimi Hendrix, if not more(IMO).

That being said, I'll have to tone down my assumotions to enjoy watching this special.

BTW, that "For The Record" book emphasized more on the assholery of Sly, Larry & Bubba more than the music itself too. If you guys gonna read it thinking you'll get the documented process of the "Fresh" & "Riot" recordings, you're in for a rude awakening. It is an enjoyable book, once you block out the author's condescending views about his subject though.

mimi02 said:

I paused it on Larry's picture when they first talked about his involvement in the group. Hell, he looks more like he would be related to Damon Winans then Drake. Drake must look like his mother's side of the family.

Anyway, I watched the episode and felt it was tragic...mostly because of the lasting effect of heavy drug use. Sly was a promising youth, but isn't that always the story.

Gotta feeling that Sly was way out there, long before the drugs

HuMpThAnG said:

mimi02 said:

I paused it on Larry's picture when they first talked about his involvement in the group. Hell, he looks more like he would be related to Damon Winans then Drake. Drake must look like his mother's side of the family.

Anyway, I watched the episode and felt it was tragic...mostly because of the lasting effect of heavy drug use. Sly was a promising youth, but isn't that always the story.

Gotta feeling that Sly was way out there, long before the drugs

Sly was probably naturally like that. Even when I saw vintage Sly, the way he acted during performances pre-hard drugs, he STILL acts like that!

Timmy84 said:

HuMpThAnG said:

Gotta feeling that Sly was way out there, long before the drugs

Sly was probably naturally like that. Even when I saw vintage Sly, the way he acted during performances pre-hard drugs, he STILL acts like that!

He always lived in his own world--probably why he has always preferred living in an RV.

purplethunder3121 said:

Timmy84 said:

Sly was probably naturally like that. Even when I saw vintage Sly, the way he acted during performances pre-hard drugs, he STILL acts like that!

He always lived in his own world--probably why he has always preferred living in an RV.

Yeah that ain't drugs, sober people sometimes choose decisions like that. Sly has pretty much been a noncomformist.

Timmy84 said:

purplethunder3121 said:

He always lived in his own world--probably why he has always preferred living in an RV.

Yeah that ain't drugs, sober people sometimes choose decisions like that. Sly has pretty much been a noncomformist.

my guess

Jboogiee said:

silkman said:

Jboogiee said:

I never heard nothing like that but in Choclate's book (former Graham Central Station member & Larry's ex) she does mention how Larry was sleeping with Guitarist Freddie Stone's wife. They do bash him hard.

Ummmmmm, i'm gonna need the name of that book, by Chocolate. Thank you. Sidenote,I use to love that woman's voice, she was serious business. Didn't know her and Larry were involved(not surprised, either).

Excerpts from her book stated that he use to beat her too

[img:$uid]http://ts1.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=4936515766322248&id=4c04011ef03bb6b5caf11ee06f60d544[/img:$uid]

Recorded it last night and watched it earlier. Great docu but it should have been longer.

I have a feeling that this will be the only docu to come to light. Those other 2 that were supposed to be released in 2009 and 2010 must be in the vaults. I'm not holding my breath.

Sly and Larry (supposedly) sleeping together really doesn't surprise me. Sly has talked about his bi-experiments in the past and realized it wasn't for him.

SPYZFAN1 said:

Recorded it last night and watched it earlier. Great docu but it should have been longer.

I have a feeling that this will be the only docu to come to light. Those other 2 that were supposed to be released in 2009 and 2010 must be in the vaults. I'm not holding my breath.

Sly and Larry (supposedly) sleeping together really doesn't surprise me. Sly has talked about his bi-experiments in the past and realized it wasn't for him.

dang!! when did all of this happen???

SPYZFAN1 said:

Recorded it last night and watched it earlier. Great docu but it should have been longer.

I have a feeling that this will be the only docu to come to light. Those other 2 that were supposed to be released in 2009 and 2010 must be in the vaults. I'm not holding my breath.

Sly and Larry (supposedly) sleeping together really doesn't surprise me. Sly has talked about his bi-experiments in the past and realized it wasn't for him.

Fascinating stuff...

HuMpThAnG said:

Does anyone remember this book by Carlos Santana's ex-wife?

[img:$uid]http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51iqRAjOu6L.jpg[/img:$uid]

Juicy stories about her relationship with Sly, which lasted four years. Some crazy, horrid stories (from abortions to suicide attempts).

[Edited 6/26/12 16:27pm]

silverchild said:

Does anyone remember this book by Carlos Santana's ex-wife?

[img:$uid]http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51iqRAjOu6L.jpg[/img:$uid]

Juicy stories about her relationship with Sly, which lasted four years. Some crazy, horrid stories (from abortions to suicide attempts).

[Edited 6/26/12 16:27pm]

Another one to check out. What's she been up to since the divorce?

purplethunder3121 said:

silverchild said:

Does anyone remember this book by Carlos Santana's ex-wife?

[img:$uid]http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51iqRAjOu6L.jpg[/img:$uid]

Juicy stories about her relationship with Sly, which lasted four years. Some crazy, horrid stories (from abortions to suicide attempts).

[Edited 6/26/12 16:27pm]

Another one to check out. What's she been up to since the divorce?

Since they divorced back in 2007, she is still an author and is devoted to humanitarian work. She is such a giving and kind spirit, just as much as Carlos is. Weird that their marriage ended after 30+ years though. Seemed like she finally found a sense of peace when they kindled, after years of craziness and turbulence. She has been through hell and back....

HuMpThAnG said:

Jboogiee said:

Mong said: I never heard nothing like that but in Choclate's book (former Graham Central Station member & Larry's ex) she does mention how Larry was sleeping with Guitarist Freddie Stone's wife. They do bash him hard.

He also was poking Rose Stone

Not sure if she was still married to that Banks dude

That's what I heard too.

I also recall somebody posting here that he was stealing drugs from Sly too. They said when Sly found out about all the stuff LG was doing, he went after him with a gun and LG had to escape by jumping from the hotel window. I can't remember who posted that info.

Those mugs were being gangsta's back then

Anyway, it was a good episode but not nearly long enough to cover his remarkable story.

I especially enjoyed learning about his education, his work in the studio and his deejay days. Too bad the drug abuse has practically disabled him.

silverchild said:

Does anyone remember this book by Carlos Santana's ex-wife?

[img:$uid]http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51iqRAjOu6L.jpg[/img:$uid]

Juicy stories about her relationship with Sly, which lasted four years. Some crazy, horrid stories (from abortions to suicide attempts).

[Edited 6/26/12 16:27pm]

I have that book....she went thru hell with Sly!

The thing that was a revelation to me was that he got Cynthia pregnant while he was with his first wife and how she got territorial after the wedding, I thought it was taboo to sleep with your bandmates. Just imagining the amount of stuff he was alleged to have done, Sly didn't look so tore up from the drugs but they did take their toll in the way he spoke. I agree with most here that He needed an extra hour or more to really go in depth about his problems but I guess they got as much as he was willing to give in those sessions.

babynoz said:

HuMpThAnG said:

He also was poking Rose Stone

Not sure if she was still married to that Banks dude

That's what I heard too.

I also recall somebody posting here that he was stealing drugs from Sly too. They said when Sly found out about all the stuff LG was doing, he went after him with a gun and LG had to escape by jumping from the hotel window. I can't remember who posted that info.

So that's the real reason Larry left the Family Stone.

dang it i missed it, i know a lot of people were debating whether sly and the family stone are unsung or not

one person on another forum gave an great expalnation about the meaning of an artist who is unsung

"I think people misunderstand why these artist are UnSung; the intro says unrecognized(many of these people have never been recognized), uncompromised(many would not compromise just to sell records), unparalleled (many of these artist are to this day without equal), unsung (many remain unappreciated). Just my opinion."

HAPPYPERSON said:

dang it i missed it, i know a lot of people were debating whether sly and the family stone are unsung or not

one person on another forum gave an great expalnation about the meaning of an artist who is unsung

"I think people misunderstand why these artist are UnSung; the intro says unrecognized(many of these people have never been recognized), uncompromised(many would not compromise just to sell records), unparalleled (many of these artist are to this day without equal), unsung (many remain unappreciated). Just my opinion."

Excellent point, but I will still make an argument that the stature of a band such as Sly & The Family Stone doesn't deserve to be in a cast of groups or musicians that are "unrecognized" or "unsung." They are definitely unparalleled in the sense that they collectively reinvented the entire musical landscape. These guys got inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, for Godsakes. Played at an memorable landmark concert event called Woodstock. They made a remarkable impact on the pop scene across the Atlantic and then some. Understandably, Sly may not always be uttered in the same lineage of greats such as Stevie, Marvin, or Curtis, but he is definitely recognized as one of the mighty prophets and inventors of not only Black popular music, but American music. I challenge the folks at TV One to do an Unsung episode on Shuggie Otis...hmmm!

I feel the same way about other artists they've covered, specifically The O'Jays, Teddy Pendergrass, and George Clinton. It just so happens that their luck and impact was far more greater and fortunate.