Sly and the Family Stone released their first single in 1967 and their final album as a functioning unit in 1974. In between, the band built its sound from funk, soul, gospel and psychedelic rock, rewiring the format of the American pop group by putting Black and white, male and female musicians side by side on stage and on record.

The band’s catalog splits cleanly. The 1968–1970 run produced the hits—dance-floor anthems built for AM radio as well as their exceptional performance at the 1969 Woodstock festival. Then came There’s a Riot Goin’ On in 1971, recorded largely by Sly Stone in a home studio, its sound stripped down, and its lyrics turned inward. The result led to years of packed arena concerts. 

Here are 13 songs that track that arc, from the singles that dominated the charts to the album tracks that reshaped what funk could be.

“Dance to the Music”—Dance to the Music (1968)

The breakthrough single turned the band’s genre-blending approach into an irresistible pop record. Released in late 1967 ahead of their 1968 album, the song literally introduced the band members to the public and became their first Top 10 hit on the Hot 100.

Related: More about that classic title track

“Life”—Life (1968)

A pulsating, harder-edged number that showed there was considerably more muscle beneath the group’s psychedelic-soul surface. Issued in June 1968 as the lead single ahead of the Life album, it cracked the lower reaches of the Hot 100.

“M’Lady”—Life (1968)

Paired with “Life” as a double-sided single, this compact funk workout quickly became a live favorite. Its loose, celebratory feel makes it an especially potent example of the band’s ability to turn groove into pure momentum.

“Everyday People”—Stand! (1969)

A deceptively simple plea for tolerance and equality, it became the group’s first #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the R&B chart. The phrase “different strokes for different folks” helped cement it as one of the era’s defining anthems.

Related: The story behind “Everyday People”

“Sing a Simple Song”—Stand! (1969)

First issued as the B-side to “Everyday People,” this is a full-band showcase disguised as a straightforward funk workout. Four members trade lead vocals while Cynthia Robinson’s vocal interjections add another layer of personality.

“Stand!”—Stand! (1969)

The title track begins as an uplifting mid-tempo anthem before erupting into its famous gospel-influenced coda. That closing section was recorded separately after the original take was deemed insufficiently powerful.

“I Want to Take You Higher”—Stand! (1969)

An expanded reworking of “Higher” from Dance to the Music, this version transforms the track into an ecstatic, communal groove. Originally the B-side of “Stand!,” its explosive performance at Woodstock propelled it into a standalone hit on the charts.

“You Can Make It If You Try”—Stand! (1969)

The album’s closing statement is direct, optimistic and deeply communal. It was initially planned as a standalone single in mid-1969 before the group pivoted to releasing “Hot Fun in the Summertime.”

“Hot Fun in the Summertime”—Non-album single (1969)

Released in July 1969, this sun-drenched hit paired the group’s trademark rhythm section with an unusually lush arrangement featuring strings. It climbed all the way to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

“Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)”—Non-album single (1969)

The deliberately phonetic title matched an equally radical recording, driven by Larry Graham’s pioneering slap-bass technique. Released as a two-sided single alongside “Everybody Is a Star,” it topped both the pop and R&B charts in early 1970.

“Everybody Is a Star”—Non-album single (1969)

The gentler half of that historic double-sided single offers a warm affirmation of individuality and togetherness. It shared the #1 spot on the Hot 100 with “Thank You” and later anchored the group’s 1970 Greatest Hits compilation.

“Family Affair”—There’s a Riot Goin’ On (1971)

Gone was the exuberant optimism of the late ’60s. Built around a primitive drum machine and Sly’s muted electric piano, this sparse, hypnotic recording reflected a darker mood and became the group’s third #1 pop and R&B single.

“If You Want Me to Stay”—Fresh (1973)

The restrained funk of this late-period standout feels intimate rather than celebratory. Released as the lead single from Fresh, it reached #12 on the Hot 100, becoming the group’s final Top 20 pop hit.

Sylvester Stewart was born on March 15, 1943. He published his memoir, Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) in 2023, written with Ben Greenman. [Order it in the U.S. here, in Canada here and in the U.K. here.] Sly died on June 9, 2025, at age 82. His recordings with the Family Stone are available in the U.S. here, in Canada here and in the U.K. here.