lunes, 17 de diciembre de 2018

Sly & The Family Stone - "The Incredible and Unpredictable". (Unreleased 1970 album).



After the publication of "Stand!" in May 1969, the record company Epic told Sly Stone that there was sufficient footage to get a couple more albums, given the quality of many of the recordings that he had left unpublished,

Sly Stone began to select material for a new album at the same time that composed and recorded new songs like: "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)"; "Hot fun in the summertime" or "Everybody Is a Star".

But this work never was released, why?. The project, was composed of a double album with unreleased material, outtakes from the last works with something new, but already published in a couple of singles, during the months of August and November.Bit.ly/sls760b on Sides A,B and C. Meanwhile on last side, it would be included a selection of the best moments of Sly and The Family Stone in Woodstock. at least this was what was wanted at first.  

Side A: (19:42)

1.Soul Clapping I. (2:38)
2.Preassure. (3:45)
3.Hot Fun In The Summertime. (3:03)
4.Wonderful World Of Color.(Rmx-3). (2:19) (*)
5.Everybody Is A Star.(Edit). (3:06)
6.Thank You.(Edit). (4:50)
(Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)

Side B: (19:20)

1.Seven More Days. (3:25)
2.I Can´t Turn You Loose. (3:34)
3.What Would I Do. (4:07)
4.Only One Way Out Of This Mess. (3:53)
5.Silent Communications. (4:18)

Side C: (19:46) 

1.The Incredible and Unpredictable. (8:22) (*)
2.Fortune & Fame. (5:35)
3.What´s That Got to Do with Me.(Rmx-1) (2:20) (*)
4.Soul Clapping II. (3:27)
(A.k.a: Soul Clappin´(reprise)

Side D: (22:26) 

Live at Isle Of Wight Festival.
(August 29.1970)

1.Stand! / You Can Make It If You Try. (11:08)
2.Medley: Dance To The Music / Music Lover  
              / I Want To Take You Higher. (11:17)

(*) Possibly unreleased. 

Planned to be published in the fall of 1969, before Christmas, was delayed to early next year by different reasons: Epic did not want it to interfere with the enormous success that these two singles had achieved, or at least that was what was said although the reality was different, because Atlantic Records did not authorize material recorded in this festival to be published independently outside the triple album that was being prepared with the soundtrack that was going to accompany the documentary film.

Besides Sly was also involved in other projects like: the Joe Hicks single, "I'm Goin' Home" b/w "Home Sweet Home - Part II", which was written and produced by Sly, and released on the latter's Stone Flower label. Little Sister "You're the One" release on Sly's "Stone Flower" label too or The 1969 A&M Abaco Dream single "Life and Death in G & A".

In late February Sly went back to the double album of “The Family”. Now  called: "The Incredible and Unpredictable", with new versions of some songs, but without abandoning the original idea of ​​a double lp with one of its sides recorded live and less after agreeing to appear at the Isle of Wight Festival that year.

In October of 1970,"The Incredible and Unpredictable" double Lp was ready, but never was published.Epic considers better made his own version of the double album  and reducing it to one,Bit.ly/SLSD70 something that displeased to Sly Stone. He got mad and disavowed its publication and forgot definitely this project and got into the composition, recording and realization of his next studio album: “There's a Riot Goin' On”. Epic released a “Greatest Hits” in November, archiving both versions of "The Incredible and Unpredictable".Here I include the two versions,  decide which one you like the most. Sly or Epic. 

Side A: (18:51) 

1.Soul Clapping I. (2:38)
2.Preassure. (3:45)
3.Hot Fun In The Summertime. (3:03)
4.Everybody Is A Star. (3:17) (*)
   (Full length version)
5.Thank You. (6:07) (*)
   (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)
    (Full length version) 

Side B: (18:56) 

1.The Incredible and Unpredictable. (8:22) (*)
2.Fortune & Fame. (5:33)
3.What´s That Got to Do with Me.(Rmx-2). (2:10) (*)
4.Soul Clapping II. (Edit). (2:50) (*)
(A.k.a: Soul Clappin´(reprise) 
(*) Possibly unreleased.

Here you have a double reconstruction of what could have been and never was.
An extraordinary work, maybe it, could be the best of Sly & The Family Stone.

You will not say that I´m not generous.
Anyway, enjoy it!.