If you had the choice between getting the complete catalog of Stevie Wonder or the complete catalog of Sly & the Family Stone, which would you chose? Which catalog is better?

ChickenLittle said:

That's a tough one,but I gotta go with Stevie.I'm actually in the process of getting every Stevie album that he released (I don't have any of his 60s albums).

i would definitely have to take stevie over sly... stevie remained consistent for a longer time than sly did IMO.

--gm--

Why can't I have both!!! Okay...Stevie...no Sly...no Stevie...no Sly...okay...Stevie...no Sly...Stevie...Sly...Stevie...Sly...okay for real...Stevie.

ChickenLittle said:

So I'm running into my house, it's on fire, I can only grab one catalog before I make it out alive, and you're asking me which catalog I'm reaching for? Such unfairness.

Both Sly and Stevie are very underrated when it comes to who the masses try to force-feed us at their expense. Both mean a lot to me, both added so much to the vocabulary of music in general, both are all-timers, both are giants, both are huge inspirations for this site's namesake.

I think Sly could have taken his music even further than he did (which was pretty far already), but personal demons overcame him, short-circuiting his career. I'm glad he's still among the living. OVERALL Stevie's music has more of a personal impact to me, and he was more consistent. In his prime he dropped masterpiece after masterpiece on the world, like it was effortless. I could go on and on, but...thank God I only have to choose in cyberspace. Sly's catalog would be left behind in favor of the most gifted artist to come from the Motown label.

I'm sorry Sly, but the more I think about this, the easier it would be for me to quickly pick Stevie.
[This message was edited Mon Jun 2 18:09:34 PDT 2003 by Supernova]

Supernova said:

Yes, the choice was a little unfair.

Your response was well thought-out and convincing. Everyone seems to be in agreement. So STEVIE it is

bofuvum

What do you mean, "OR???"

Stevie Wonder because I'm more familiar with his work and plus he's just incredible and he wrote my favorite song in the world "Lately".

Obviously the scales r loaded 2 Stevie BUT his catalogue though broader is more uneven, imho, than SLy's, so... but OTOH... and then again... Oh, f it!

I'll be the odd one and pick Sly.

If you're a Prince fan, you will see that Sly and the Family Stone has had a bigger impact on Prince than Stevie Wonder.

The whole concept of Prince and the Revolution is based on Sly and the Family Stone. Sly revolutionized the idea of a multiracial band with male and female members and Prince picked up on that.

Also, some of Stevie's music is easy to "date." You can tell immediately by the type of instruments used whether the song is one of Stevie's 60s song or a 70s song.

With Sly, the music is not dated. The classic Sly songs are bass heavy thumping funk that sounds just as great today as it did 30 years ago.

Stevie.

Mr.Wonder for sure.

Sueme said:

But just because a song sounds "dated" as you say, that doesn't mean it's not still great when you listen to it now.

I'd go with Sly, cuz even though Stevie has some albums that kick my ass completely, he also has been responsible for a LOT of saccharine-sweet cheesy stuff, especially in the '80s (which I say more power to him, cuz it made him the cash)...meanwhile, I think everything Sly and the Family Stone did was pretty captivating, and as I haven't heard all the albums but have never DISliked a Sly song, I'd be more prone to go in that direction.

minneapolisgenius said:

That's true. Stevie's music is still great, but Sly's music is classic because its timeless. He was ahead of his time. Listen to Stevie's song I Was Made To Love Her, then listen to Sly's song I Want To Take You Higher.

Both songs were recorded in the 60s, but Stevie's song sounds like a 60s Motown song, while Sly's song could have been recorded at any time during the modern rock era.

Sueme said:

To imply Stevie's music isn't as classic and timeless as anyone else's catalog is fruitless. He could have retired after SITKOL in 1976 and his Mount Rushmore status would still be untouched. Stevie's own musical vision didn't truly start til he got full creative control from label head Barry Gordy in 1971. For any artist that started 30-40 years ago you can find songs that sound dated, Sly included. And dated doesn't always equal inferior. Some of the Beatles music being dated never stopped anyone from proclaiming that Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band is "the greatest album of all time," and that album is completely of its time. There are myriad examples of this with many artists.