Back In The Day, Pt. 1...Sly & The Family Stone, Live In London!
Sly & co. Doing It Up, October 1970
Continuing to celebrate my 60 years as a soulful scribe - and increasingly using my Substack platform to do so - I find myself in a state of surprise at just how much I’ve written over these six decades.
In particular, when I take a look at my early work for Britain’s “Blues & Soul” before I became a full-time (paid) contributor to the magazine and went to live in New York in 1975, I’m amazed.
In the early ‘70s, the leading US proponents of R&B/soul music and funk were starting to make headway in the UK. Live performances were real ‘events’ for us soul music lovers since artists and groups and traveling across the Atlantic was an undertaking.
For a number of US headliners - who often played for primarily Black audiences at home - coming to Britain and Europe was more than just another ‘gig’.
Performing mostly in front of ‘white’ audiences provided ‘evidence’ of the universal nature of the music that artists like James Brown, Aretha Franklin, the Motown groups and the new wave of funk masters were creating, originally birthed at its roots from a fusion of gospel, jazz and blues.
This vibrant, dynamic and exciting art form know as ‘rhythm & blues’ and morphing into ‘soul music’ had an appeal that transcended race, creed, colour and nationality.
Which brings me, conveniently, to present the first of two ‘live’ concert reviews of which, to be honest, I have no ‘conscious’ memory!
After all, we’re talking about 1970 (when I was a relatively young pup, aged 22!) and while I can remember a whole lot, the details of these shows thankfully lives in the reviews!
Sly & The Family Stone: Lyceum Ballroom, London, 9 October 1970
“THE APPEARANCE in London of the much-heralded exponents and instigators of psychedelic soul – only their second ever British date; the first being at the Isle of Wight in August, under ridiculous conditions at 7 am on a Sunday morning in freezing cold weather! – was little publicised and, in consequence, it seemed that only a handful would turn up to show their enthusiasm for the group's music. If you consider 2,500 a handful, then your expectations would have been fulfilled!
In fact, the group drew a capacity crowd at London's Lyceum and proved why they have had several million sellers in the States and why they ought to be at least as popular here. It can only be the strange reluctance of the dear old BBC to play 'Thank You', 'Hot Fun In The Summertime' and 'Everyday People' that has prevented them from being the chart toppers they deserve to have been.
The tension mounted in the audience as they patiently awaited the long-overdue appearance of the group but all was forgotten when the Family finally made it on stage. Without a single word of introduction, the group – Sly, brother Freddie and sister Yvette (replacing Rose, who apparently missed the plane), Greg Errico, Larry Graham and Cynthia Robinson – trouped on stage and went straight into the familiar 'M'Lady', followed by the enthralling 'Thank You'.
By this time, the crowd was close on being uncontrollable and everybody was on his or her feet. Then, into 'Stand', 'Dance To The Music', 'Everyday People', which came over even better than on record; and 'You Can Make It If You Try', which was, for me, the highlight. They completed what seemed an all too short set with 'I Want To Take You Higher' with Sly badgering everybody to give the peace sign and shout "Higher" with him, as he did so successfully at both Woodstock and the Isle Of Wight.
And, it wasn't just the sound – the group were visually stunning, clad in all colours of the rainbow. Perhaps the only fault was the P.A. system, which made it close on impossible to hear what the group were singing unless you were standing directly in front of them, which then made it difficult for others to hear! But it obviously didn't matter because everyone had a ball and were demanding more long after the Family had left the stage, obviously exhausted from their devastating performance. All that's left is to say: Sly & the Family Stone – RIGHT ON!”
“Back In The Day, Pt. 2” will follow soon - James Brown at The Royal Albert Hall, March 1971.
As my Substack subscribers continue to grow and show ‘appreciation’ when possible (upgrading to paid subscriptions for a small fee!), I’m happy to keep posting as much archival material as I can!
Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)!
David N.
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