Sly & The Family Stone – Fresh (Orange Vinyl)

Fresh marks Sly & the Family Stone’s sixth studio album, released in 1973, and represents an artful evolution of their dense, overdub-laden funk into something lighter, more rhythmically vibrant, and accessible. Sly Stone continued his experimental approach—overdubbing, remixing, and manipulating his vocals and grooves—to create a fresh, syncopated sound that retains deep funk roots while introducing a polished, groove-centered production. The album produced the enduring hit “If You Want Me to Stay,” showcased a gospel-tinged rendition of “Que Sera, Sera,” and featured standout tracks like “In Time,” “Frisky,” and “Thankful ‘n’ Thoughtful,” reinforcing the album’s reputation for spirited artistry and dynamic variety. Over time, Fresh has secured its place among the most influential funk albums of the era, noted for its inventive textures and emotional resonance.

As a piece of Sly Stone’s creative legacy, Fresh serves as a compelling bridge between the raw intensity of There’s a Riot Goin’ On and the poignancy of his later work. It shines with rhythmically complex arrangements, soulful energy, and introspective lyricism—delivering both danceable vitality and emotional depth. Though it followed a darker predecessor, Rarely feeling weighed down, Fresh rejuvenated the band’s sound with clarity and drive, leaving a lasting mark on funk and beyond.

Reviews

“Masterpiece, in its own sense, and on its own terms, and a growing step for Sly — out of the murky and dangerous milieu that infused Riot and into a greater perspective on his own capacity to make music a positive form of communication.” – Rolling Stone

“Coming to terms with himself as rock star” on what he called “an album that is among the richest from 1973, if not all time.” – Creem

“Quite worthy of the founder of progressive soul, offering plenty of ass-shaking rhythms for the present and reason for optimism about the future.” – Crawdaddy!

“Fresh heralded a shift in the history of recording, where the rhythm instruments, particularly the bass drum and bass, suddenly became the important instruments in the mix.” – Brian Eno