A Whole New Thing (Sly and the Family Stone album) explained

A Whole New Thing
Type:	Album
Artist:	Sly and the Family Stone
Cover:	Sly-wholenewthing-1967origi.jpg
Released:	October 1967 1970 (re-release)
Recorded:	June–September 1967
Genre:	Psychedelic funk^[1] psychedelic soul^[2]
Length:	38:01
Label:	Epic
Producer:	Sly Stone
Next Title:	Dance to the Music
Next Year:	1968

A Whole New Thing is the debut album by funk/soul band Sly and the Family Stone, released in 1967 on Epic/CBS Records. The album was released to mixed criticism and failed to make an impact from a commercial standpoint and did not chart. CBS Records executive Clive Davis prevailed upon band leader Sly Stone to create a more commercial album; the result was the album Dance to the Music. Unlike later Sly and the Family Stone albums, A Whole New Thing was recorded live in the studio instead of being overdubbed and featured less of a pop feel than later releases such as Dance to the Music and Stand!. The lead vocals are shared between Sly Stone, Freddie Stone, and Larry Graham; Rose Stone would not join the band until they began work on Dance to the Music.

Track listing

All tracks written, arranged and produced by Sly Stone for Stone Flower Productions.

Side one

1. "Underdog" – 3:59
2. "If This Room Could Talk" – 3:00
3. "Run, Run, Run" – 3:14
4. "Turn Me Loose" – 1:52
5. "Let Me Hear It from You" – 3:35
6. "Advice" – 2:22

Side two

1. "I Cannot Make It" – 3:20
2. "Trip to Your Heart" – 3:43
3. "I Hate to Love Her" – 3:30
4. "Bad Risk" – 3:04
5. "That Kind of Person" – 4:25
6. "Dog" – 3:10

CD bonus tracks

• 1995 CD reissue:
  • "What Would I Do"
• 2007 CD limited edition reissue:
  • "Underdog" (mono B-side version) [3:04]
  • "Let Me Hear It From You" (mono B-side version) [3:28]
  • "Only One Way Out of This Mess" [3:51]
  • "What Would I Do" [4:05]
  • "You Better Help Yourself" (instrumental version) [4:19]

Personnel

Sly and the Family Stone

• Sly Stone – vocals, organ, guitar, piano, celeste, harmonica, and more
• Freddie Stone – vocals, guitar
• Larry Graham – vocals, bass guitar
• Cynthia Robinson – trumpet, vocal ad-libs
• Jerry Martini – saxophone
• Greg Errico – drums
• Little Sister (Vet Stone, Mary McCreary, Elva Mouton) – background vocals

Notes and References

1. Web site: Ed. Masley. Sgt. Pepper and beyond: A look back at 20 great albums released in 1967. . May 30, 2017. ...Sly Stone and his musical Family laying the foundation for the whole new thing the title promised with a psychedelic spin on classic funk and soul.. November 3, 2023.
2. Web site: Ed. Masley. Sgt. Pepper and beyond: A look back at 20 great albums released in 1967. . May 30, 2017. ...Sly Stone and his musical Family laying the foundation for the whole new thing the title promised with a psychedelic spin on classic funk and soul.. November 3, 2023.