In contrast to the Beach Boys, Sly and the Family Stone were often reduced to a singles act but produced at least two classic albums, Stand! and There's a Riot Goin' On. Their superstar-making performance at Woodstock, below, is the rare 60s performance that's as good as advertised, and it becomes clear that some of those earlier singles, like "M'Lady" here, are poorly served by the studio format. And this is to say nothing of "Hot Fun In the Summertime", still a personal favorite, and "Thank You". Even in the 70s, as Sly's ability to consistently turn out music declines, his albums are full of good-to-great music (another personal favorite: "If You Want Me to Stay").
Not unlike Brian Wilson, drug problems and mental health problems curtailed the most active phase of his career, but there's still a wide catalogue to pull from.
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