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Dance to the Music
R&B / Soul · 1968

Dance to the Music

Sly & the Family Stone

A kaleidoscopic explosion of communal vocals and proto-funk rhythms. It's the sound of 1968 optimism filtered through fuzzed-out soul and brassy pop hooks.

1968 · First Record

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Dance to the Music is the sound of a revolution that invites everyone to the party. Unlike the later, murkier output of the Family Stone, this 1968 record is drenched in sunlight and the electric buzz of possibility. It feels like a crowded room where every person is shouting a different but harmonious truth. The music is characterized by a relentless, driving optimism that uses the grit of fuzz-tone guitars and the punch of Larry Graham's bass to ground its lofty ideals of peace and togetherness.

Moments Worth Listening For
The sudden drop into Larry Graham's deep baritone during the title track's vocal introductions.
The way the horns mimic the vocal scatting in 'Dance to the Music', blurring the line between voice and instrument.
The frantic, polyrhythmic breakdown in 'Music is Alive' where the whole band seems to collide in a joyful mess.
Reviews
BBC Music
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Where This Album DepartsEach spoke is a trait. The orange shape shows where this album pulls away from — or holds to — the rest of the artist’s catalogue. Tap for more.

How does Dance to the Music sound next to the rest of Sly & the Family Stone's catalogue?

Party Celebration+2.2σ

The writing leans far further into party celebration than the rest of the catalogue.

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