Sly & The Family Stone - Loose Booty & Higher (Live - 1975)

[themaxxxman1]

Sly Stone is one of the baddest musical artists ever,directly from the school of Ray Charles, and still had his own bag.truly one of a  kind then and now

[ImaniHekima]

Great video - and there are some excellent comments here...makes a nice change for Youtube.

[UrantiaMansion]

Funkdogg--you and I are cool...I don't mind sharing important info with you or anyone else who cares to be enlightened...There are things I don't know that I hope you'll also enlighten me as well. I'm always in a learning mode and there are plenty of things I can learn from you as well. One is a walking zombie of arrogance when they think they know it all--and I hoped we all learned from Sly about both the positive and the negative...Peace and stay in touch my brother!

[UrantiaMansion]

There is no original Minneapolis funk because the history of the city is a Scandanavian and German descent dominated culture as it remains today. They were also late in getting the black trends that were normal for the other urban areas of the United States. Therefore they had to borrow and modify what was out there as far as black funk and R&B to come up with a more watered-down version dressed up with the pimp swagger and porno to over-compensate...They study and copy pretty good...

[UrantiaMansion]

For those of you wondering in regards to Larry Graham and Sly--the big breakup occurred when Sly was in his pitbull gansta phase being self-centered and arrogant with the cocaine streaming 24/7 in his system clouding his good judgement--put a hit on Larry making him flee town in fear...He is now on Prince's permanent payroll in the Twin Cities doing double duties as a Jehovah's Witness minister and sometimes playing with the band...

[UrantiaMansion]

But getting back to Sly which is more important than my ramblings with Funkdogg--when Sly started allowing gangsters, drug dealers, hustlers into his domain--it did not take long for his rapid decline to where he is today whereby being so incapacitated with the cocaine that built the gansta rap empire and enriched the hood--he is now a pathetic shell of the artist he once was and will never be same. He is not going to be with us too much longer. I challenge you today in the drug trade to stop...

[Gspotkemps]

@UrantiaMansion Sly has been dead for a long time man

[Leiashack]

No more commercials! No more commercials! No more commercials! No more commercials! No more commercials! No more commercials! No more commercials!

[TheNorthernSoulKing]

How do they do that with the guitar that sound its hard to describe. Always wanted to know. My generation of crap music really needs to go intime. They probably dont even know what a guitar is.

[Qhuit8]

@TheNorthernSoulKing

I think you're talking about the Wah wah pedal :)

[TheNorthernSoulKing]

@Qhuit8 You need that pedal to make that sound

[lilfunker86]

that was when teeth were teeth!! respect the funk though

[MegaGum1]

Cynthia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MalLackey]

The best bit is every one looks so happy to be doing what they love, not like most the bands these days.

[MultiGuarddog]

shadrak  meshack abidnago those names are from the bible. Who would have thought Sly was so religious .

[laurierken]

Fucking..... TIGHT. This shit just *pops*. Prince can't hold a candle to Sly. He tries though.

[bigdaddy45able]

Where's the sax player Jerry Martini?.

[karengriffinsac]

@bigdaddy45able 2:28 -2:33

[bigdaddy45able]

@karengriffinsac Thank you,good clip.

[funkmetwice]

anyone notice that both sly stone and bootsy collins wear the star of david necklaces around this time (mid-late 70's)? hmmm....? just curious

[UrantiaMansion]

@funkmetwice Bootsy with James really did not have a look--so when free of the J.B.s--he modeled his look after Sly and Jimi...The glasses are real prescriptions by the way because he needs them...It's too bad about his accident awhile back because he can't do a whole show without a back-up bassist and digital tracks...

[gittahfiend]

There is NO FONK like SLY FONK !!!!

[dockaiser]

Probably da funkiest shit ya get.

Nothing tops these guys

[Anointed7]

Sly one the greatest creators of music of all time. REal music that does not exist any more. His own victim of his own success drugs and not believing in his music.

You need to create in season or out of season. ty~e

[exnewsanchor]

@ 2:02 Dawn Silva pre Parlament/Funkadelic and Brides of Funkenstein

[mackmccann]

yep, this performance was a couple years after Larry left to go do his own thang

[UrantiaMansion]

@mackmccann He didn't leave--he was forced out because Sly put a hit on him which is why they don't communicate to this day...Most of the last album they did together "There's A Riot Goin' On" was done by Sly, Billy Preston, and Bobby Womack. Larry was only on one track and you can tell when Sly is playing the bass nad he's using the drum machine prominently...

[twitards247]

|Is it just me, or is this an uninspired Sly, this is not their tighest set, no disrespect, just saying, pretty sloppy.

[UrantiaMansion]

@twitards247 You are right because I saw them in the late 60's in Chicago at the Aragon Theatre with Graham and they sounded one hundred per cent tighter than this...this was the beginning of the end of just getting thru the performances so he could do more coke. It was Loose Booty for real talking about himself and his loose standards...I met Rusty a couple of times and while being a nice person--he's no Larry Graham...

[abayomi000]

I think Graham was gone by '75 pretty sure this isn't him...

[hossfly55]

@abayomi000 That's Rusty Allen on bass.

[dvhlarson]

larry graham would improve just about any band that plays music

[phoenixdawn34]

that hat is so pimp!

[tomitstube]

amazing. they were so tight. funkiest band ever!

[swerve19]

You'd have to tie me down to keep me from boogiein if i were at that concert.

[winpointmedia]

Anything with Sly is great but I'll take the original lineup any day. This version lacks the edge the earlier band had with Larry Graham on the bass and Sly's hammond sound.

[CyWebb]

well said, early Sly is money

[MUN7001]

this is more deep funk sound , i read, he wasnt even down with the heavy guitar sound anymore

[KojiRecords]

Although this footage is rare and good, I prefer the original vinyl lp version, "Loose Booty" was totally off the hook and rocked any needle that cut into those hot Family Stone grooves. I remember the kids in the neighborhood doing a dance specifically to this song. This TV performance here is good but totally lacks the punch of the Sly & The Family Stone performance. Only those that have heard the original understand the comparisons posted about this. A million thanks for posting!

[lilsandtown]

i agree loose booty was the shit and we also had our own dance. this version is to fast and the instruments on the record are bumpin and has that "i got to dance,that's my jam" affect. old school was and still is the best

[mjc1169]

Rusty Allen is on bass. He was Larry Graham's understudy and handpicked by Larry to replace him when he left. I think the mix on this recording has something to do with sound that might be effecting, as you put it, the "edge". To see Rusty really laying it down, refer to the old Don Kirshner's rock concert footage of "I'm the One, You're the One" and catch the absolutely appropraite bass grooves.

[billyshitcheese]

wow! can never get enough of sly.

[Shaomaike]

Thank you for the heavy sounds!! The mix is off but when they kick into "I Want to Take You Higher" who cares. Interesting to see a violinist. My ear always knew the "Loose Booty" recorded track had a violin but my brain didn't realize it until now. Helen Reddy doing the intro, I never would have guessed it was her.

[klauszik]

damn, larry graham's really missing in there

[gumbypiz]

I can only agree with others here, as much as I will always be a diehard fan of Prince and the great, GREAT Mr. James Brown (RIP James), and the funk mastery of George Clinton/Parliament/Funkadelic.­..there will NEVER be anyone or anything quite like Sly & The Family Stone. I can only wish to think such an artist or band would ever come to be in our lifetime with such talent, soul, funk and artistry. Music like this makes my heart sing...

[clairemartin6773]

@gumbypiz honey prince aint got nothin on george and sly

[hossfly55]

@clairemartin6773 Prince COPIED syl, little richard , and Jimi

[mrlee192]

@hossfly55 No, he combined, those influences and a hell of alot more. Thats why Prince is a legend, just like the rest of them.

[UrantiaMansion]

@gumbypiz I totally agree--unfortunately since we allowed and continue to allow to let that greatest R&B era of the 70's and its artist's--even in concept to expire and be usurped by the two turn-tables and a mike mentality Jay-Z, Lil' Wayne, Drake, auto-tuning addictions, lip-syncing and a host of hundreds of very unadventurous and unoriginal R&B sound-alikes who continue to dominate the playlists. There is very little desire to be dynamic and original so we have Pro-Tools produced mediocrity..

[UrantiaMansion]

@gumbypiz By the way--Jay-Z, Lil' Wayne, Drake, 50 Cents, Nikki Minaj, Eminim with their exaggerated sense of self and artistry and the host of thousands of sound-alikes as far as R&B will never be equal to Sly, Bootsy, Stevie, EWF, Chaka, Bobby Womack, Johnny Taylor, Al Green etc...Rap as an art will never equal an artist who can truly compose real songs using real instruments. As "hardworking" as Jay-Z and Hip-Hop claims to be--they are still not COMPLETE artists because rap was never real art

[Funkdogg]

@UrantiaMansion why is rap not art? and poetry is? you only name the most commercial rappers. i love 60s 70s and 80s music. but real mc-ing is art to me.and their are rappers with bands. like the roots. and beatboxing is also making music. and thanks to hip-hop many of these older artist get noticed. if it was not for nwa i would never listen to bootsy collins and george clinton curtis mayfield and more.

[UrantiaMansion]

@Funkdogg I could have named most of the rap family tree known and unknown...Because most of these individuals came out of a deep criminal background crime was and is their original art...One cannot ride the back of a pit bull and not fall off and get eaten up...NWA has nothing to do with a talent such as a healthy Sly Stone, or Bootsy Collins and they will never touch Stevie...They are not artists, but criminals--many with very lucrative major recording contracts who still choose darkness...

[Funkdogg]

@UrantiaMansion that's your opinion. to me rapping is a form of art.

and you can not know what the artist do in private. some may look like the nicest people but are maybe worse than some rappers. i don't really look at criminal or not. i just enjoy music of any genre

[UrantiaMansion]

@Funkdogg I'm a producer myself Funkdogg speaking from the inside of the industry--not as a consumer or a fan. I'm basically pointing out the scale of arrests, prison records, murders of each other, police records--need I mention labels such as Death Row whose current president John Payne witnessing the beatdowns of the artists and Tupac and Biggie? What does this have to do with artists like Stevie Wonder or Bootsy Collins? Stop condoning criminals in our communities--they are not artists...

[UrantiaMansion]

@Funkdogg I was on the scene in the early 70's when Slyvia's Sugarhill Records was started with funds from the Cuban drug cartel when rappers were more about partying and having a good time than having beefs. I'm sure you have also seen that cable series "Beef" which further emphasises my point not to mention the dramatic rise in black-on-black crime since the NWA era. Even Dr. Dre and Snoop had beatdowns. R&B also has lot's of drama like Roger Troutman--but not on the same scale...Peace!

[UrantiaMansion]

@Funkdogg And you did not quite understand me that I did not say there are not good rappers out there that at least have skills equal to a good R&B singer. There are plenty. I was pointing out that even if these rappers that you favor are truly up to par--many times they mis-use their gifts by not having their attention on developing their art even further--but instead on the real Rick Ross model of operating a drug cartel while maintaining a recording contract. You cannot serve two masters...

[Funkdogg]

@UrantiaMansion some of them do it only for the money while others also do it for the love of music.

[UrantiaMansion]

@Funkdogg I agree with you totally Funkdogg--that is the true definition of an artist--doing it for the love of the art, while yet taking care of your business with your royalties, contracts, and licensing to make sure your kingdom is intact...I wasn't implying to be in poverty and being exploited...By the way though she is no longer ruling the charts--I really liked the Missy Elliott/Timbalin collabs and if Nelly and Mystikal could get the right material and producer--they could be hot again!

[Funkdogg]

@UrantiaMansion after reading all reply's it's obvious that you know what you are talking about. i see there is much i don't know about what's going on in the industry. it's very interesting to read the things you write

[UrantiaMansion]

@UrantiaMansion Matter of fact Funkdogg--are you a talented rapper that's equal to the greats in your genre? And do you have any connection to WideAwakw/Death Row? And if not--would you be willing want to go thru all the past drama Death Row generated in the name of having a recording career as an artist? Why didn't Kanye or Drake choose--even Lil' Wayne (though Cash Money has their own drama) run to get signed with that label? Gansta Rap is a voice for criminals--not free black people...

[UrantiaMansion]

@UrantiaMansion I also challenge you Funkdog to name a current rapper who can command the stage and at the same time be hitting as hard for two hours like Michael Jackson, Stevie, Prince, or James Brown--even from his Payback days when he was in his forties still spinning the mike and doing dancing and splits with a real band doing real singing all at once...And I'm not just talking about rappers that have sales, but actual arrangements and songs with melodic hooks...

[UrantiaMansion]

@Funkdogg So Funkdogg when rappers can play the bass and totally master the funk like Bootsy or Zap, or write classics like Stevie Wonder, or command the stage like James or Michael--even Prince and Roger (you and I know most rapper's including Drake and Jay Z don't have much stage presence that's comparable to these artists--wave your-hand-in-the-air and walking back and forth is NOT a show) T-shirts, jeans, and gym shoes is not show biz for the Live Nation type of venues. But I respect you!

[marcloaf]

Damn,Freddie and Rustee look all kinds of glammed up with the long hair .

[MerMiazAurora]

Wish i was born in the late 50's..Sly's f*cking Da Man..but todays King Of Funk Will always be The Prince..

[Eyemallfunkedup]

Rustee is a damn good bass player, but he can't sing worth a s***. Love you Rustee.

PEACE

[BigJacqo817]

sylvester lettin it all hang down, u dig?

[rockjohnson80]

Sly's hat is pimped out.

[BRIfuckingANA]

this is S*hit out of control!!

[kingofdaundaworld]

Sly was errything that prince was not, Like I know prince is a great artist Im a fan, but as a fan you wanna' see spontaneous stuff, and if your that great then satisfy your fans,being a prince fan is like being in a disfunctional relationship, just doesnt give you 100% of what you need, Sly's however is off the chain, and gives you errything you wanted an more, bang the piano, guitars, killer ad libs on the vocals, always new arrangements, and a catalog that blended so well..

[canadianroot]

the problem is that prince is arrogant, and you won't find any clips of him here on youtube. he's an EXCELLENT musician, in his defense. a hugely underrated guitarist. but he isolates himself and is distant.

you are right, imho, sly is beyond compare.

in a league all of his own.

a true genius.

thankfully, no one will replace him.

no one can.

[kingofdaundaworld]

Yeah, and this aint even his "better" performances, see the Mother beautifull, if you want me to stay, and his rehersal stuff from the 70's stuff on here, seen Prince, like I said about twice,terribel timing though since he was in a heated legal battle with warner, but whats that got to do with the music, you ask? Apparently a whole hell of alot, the set was short an crappy,(hit and run tour) "crowd pleasers" like Red corvette, Purple rain, and bunch of his other mediocre stuff that where hit...

[mackmccann]

@ canadianroot:

youtube + Prince = dickhead

[UrantiaMansion]

@kingofdaundaworld I agree--see some of my comments about Minneapolis--Prince is very programmed down to the tiniest move--and other than Brown and Stevie--he copied most of his funk and groove concept from Sly and of course while being supremely talented, he is not as spontaneous as his mentors in addition to Eden Prarie where he lives being very isolated and on the outskirts of town. Brown, Clinton, Stevie, and Sly liked to be in the center of the nightlife and people all the time...

[hangover71]

nutten like loose bootie

[cidedwards31a]

Helen Reddy was all over the tv from'73 to '75.. made you sick of her and John Denver..Sly was on tv a lot back then too but that was another matter, you never knew what he was gonna do.'75 .I wonder if Sly ever got mad at Rusty Allen for dropping out on his vocal lines.Rusty later played with Robin Trower,Dawn Silva and Lynn Mabry later became Funkadelics. After this Sly would drop from the scene and return with a bogus album in '76

[tacommanche]

although Sly did Graham wrong (and gave him a BIG career boost!) the 'Small Talk' album with 'Looes Booty' is my favorite Sly & the Family Stone LP.

[LargeLad100]

Cool Song.. But one question that thing that introduces the song, Post-Op or Pre-Op

[kellydjelly]

PRE=BEFORE POST=AFTER

[PimpsofJoytime]

dam thats fonky

[loosestudios]

Larry Graham and Sly were no longer on friendly terms, and Graham was fired in early 1972 and replaced with Rusty Allen. The band's later releases, Fresh (1973) and Small Talk (1974), featured even less of the band and more of Sly. The band's shaky reputation for not showing up at concerts caused promoters to avoid booking them, and after a disastrous engagement at the Radio City Music Hall in January 1975, The Family Stone broke apart completely.

[UrantiaMansion]

@loosestudios You are right on evrything with one clarification--he was eventually fired after not wanting to return when Sly put a hit on him and don't forget Sly's favorite pitbull that almost beheaded his own son requiring over two hundred stitches to repair which led to Sly's ultimate breakup among other things with his wife. Larry did not originally want to leave--he was forced out by threats on his life and family...

[tzolkin2013]

Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego

[faintimage]

Yes, Helen Reddy. The show was Dick Clark's 2nd Annual Awards Show. 1974 or 75. That was me on violin.

[tomitstube]

Very cool, you jammed with Sly and the Family Stone. A little confused... the info says this is 1975, but I read Sly and the FS broke up in Jan. 1975. Was this a one time thing? I'll bet Clark had a backup band in case Sly didn't show, which had become his reputation. Ultimately this led to an inablilty to get booked and susequently make money. C'mon man, dish. I love Sly's music, is it all true? You can tell me privately if you want. Peace.

[USBP464]

@faintimage Go on with your bad self. It must have been awesome participating in such a time of musical creativity and funk!

[gryffynda]

Sht Sly, you were the mostest ...

[kingofdaundaworld]

Only in a George Clinton Dream, could Parliament funk like Sly, and that speaks volumes...

[ddesign63]

you must be "OUT OF YOUR TREE" to say that. Have you done your HOMEWORK? Check more George out. FInd the live joints with Bootsy. Maybe his tempo is slower in most cases but you should listen and re-think it a bit. PEACE

[s4ujxm]

@kingofdaundaworld George said himself that Sly was one of his favorite artist if not his favorite. True artist pay much respect to each other without having to compare themselves. They draw energy from each other not drain energy. George respects Sly to the utmost. I say do the same for many of these artist's mentioned above. Thank God we have some many great artist's from this era to listen to. Each bringing a different flavor for us to enjoy!

[kingofdaundaworld]

No one Performs like Sly, I could be biased but really it dont matter which band he had with or w/out Larry, phenom,and he only got better contrary to belief...

[ocdrumboy1]

dang, trumpet player is a hottie.

[anitalenor]

He's playing in San Jose, Ca. 7-7-7 francopresentscom cu there! ..ooops!$15.00 arena green park accx frm HP pav.

[dockaiser]

thankx 4 the hint, only problem is I-m frm germoney

[anitalenor]

oh boy!Well I'll let ya know how it went.

[maccadese]

Hey, bobalu10:

For real??!!!??

[maccadese]

Shadrach, Meshach, etc. were Biblical characters... I still don't know how they work into the Loose Booty theme, though... Maybe The Beastie Boys know...

[ATOM09]

LMAO, no I think that cocaine had him trippin on that song, "Marcadese."

[abayomi000]

this may sound crazy, In the bible, if I remeber correctly, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego where trown into a fire but came out unscathed... in the song, maybe he the fire is a metaphor for lust in himself and he is hoping god will see him through safely or it just sounded cool as a chant while they were stoned.

[pekoe67]

S,M and A were thrown into a furnace by the king of Babylon for refusing to worship a false idol.

God protected them.

Sly is saying "stay strong, don't give in, don't bow down. God is on your side."

Ask any Rastafarian or any conscious outcast where Babylon is and they'll tell you it's gone global.

The fact that the message is in a song called 'Loose Booty' proves the adage about the ass following the mind to freedom.

[Alexltavares]

I think you are right on with that analysis.

[GreenManalishiUSA]

This is amazing. Sly and Family just ooze funk. How many people in whitebread suburbia knew what "Loose Booty" meant in 1975?

[johnnybacardi]

I can think of one...

[lvanhalen]

prince did it and still is i beleive also he hangs with larry graham from the family stone and the song poet from riot going on is killer

[amazingeddie]

Trying to figure out the "message" in this one...

[Tall58]

THE BEST! I music that hit this kids ears. In this kids life. TY! For all of your music! HONEST!

It helped. During tuff times.

[PhuckHue]

why is Rose all the way on the right. she should have been right next to Sly

[mostmost1]

Sly blinged out and HIGH, where they think todays youth got it from?

[bobalu10]

sad that Sly sold all his song royalties...

[funkdivaucanttouch]

They look empty or is it just me? They aren't the same and by then the group was done. Why did Sly leave the stage early, that ain't right.

[Tchalla77]

Heyyy, this is truly sump'n else!Thought my eyes were at first deceiving me, but that really is keyboard maestro Bobby Lyle on piano, during his pre-Wayne Henderson @ Home Production days!? Funny, how no-one really followed Sly's lead with the multi-gender make-up of the Family Stone.A truly groundbreaking pioneer!

[johnnybacardi]

>>Funny, how no-one really followed Sly's lead with the multi-gender make-up of the Family Stone.<<

Well, there <i>was</i> Prince...

[Tchalla77]

Yeah, suppose you got me johnnybacardi, though ya great dimunitive Purple One was just a Rick James wannabe when he first started, hence the wholly understandable omission. Have a nice day!

[8biminiroad]

The whole ParliafunkadelicThang was multi gendered and multi racial. Sly was GC's greatest influence.

[8biminiroad]

In fact I think Dawn Silva, who went on the be one of Clinton's original Brides of Funkenstein is seen singing background in this clip.

[kapdrums]

Not that there's anything wrong with that but i DONT remember any white folks in P.Funk...But,maybe i'm wrong...

[8biminiroad]

Ron Brykowski guitar, guitarist John Hickey, keyboardist Doug Duffy (featured on One Nation Under a Groove), percussionist Larry Frantangelo (latin-notice I said multi-racial not just black & white), David Chong Spradley (asian). Hell, Bob Babbitt played bass on Mommy What's A Funkadelic.

So there are quite a few different colors in P-Funk and it's just a beautiful thang. GC just wants One Nation.

[kapdrums]

Respect!;)

[BigJacqo817]

who is GC?

geesus christ?

[8biminiroad]

The Maggot Overlord, Uncle Jam, Star Child, Dr. Funkenstein, the long haired sucka!

AKA George Clinton (GC)

[spadge321]

oh this is so fucking awesome !!!

tiny / salford

[urkingod]

Lets go back to the 70s~!!!

[BigHRD2]

people wore that then lol

[dockaiser]

I wanna be in that band !!

[Vigilante2000]

man, was this guy high 24/7 tragic genius forreal

[anitalenor]

Me too! Let's do it!

[markusmachado]

Man, those were fun times!

[ameshkin69]

"two double-espressos and a Red Bull "

Are you kidding me? More like the 2 pounds of COKE which he was addicted to and taking 24/7

[halo1razorhead]

You have a low tolerance for sarcasm, apparently.

[iketheman]

fantastic stuff!

[HarposJukeJoint]

Just for clarification - this song is "I Want to Take You Higher" from the album "Stand!" The band also had a song named "Higher" from "Dance to the Music", which is also great. HAIL SLY!

[continentalpong]

Sly's just jittery from the two double-espressos and a Red Bull he had right before they went on.

[macyou]

Man I wish I had some old school videos! You guys who put this up here, y'all are the shit! Oh thats a good thing by the way.

[swaganeer]

Nothing loose about this. Tight funk!

[HarposJukeJoint]

Is that Helen Reddy introducing them?

[mwhite36]

I believe it is.

[bigbenhillman07]

that is Helen Ready giving the introduction... looks like some kind of award show. anyone know what this is from?