{"id":168060,"date":"2025-06-19T12:09:29","date_gmt":"2025-06-19T16:09:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/2025\/06\/19\/why-sly-stones-1969-was-an-all-time-pop-star-peak\/"},"modified":"2025-06-19T12:09:29","modified_gmt":"2025-06-19T16:09:29","slug":"why-sly-stones-1969-was-an-all-time-pop-star-peak","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cyberlego.com\/web\/2025\/06\/19\/why-sly-stones-1969-was-an-all-time-pop-star-peak\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Sly Stone\u2019s 1969 Was an All-Time Pop Star\u00a0Peak"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n

\n\t\u201cElvis Presley. Bob Dylan. Lennon & McCartney. And now SLY STONE. The new leader.\u201d <\/p>\n

\n
\n

\n

\t\t\t\t\tRelated\t\t<\/p>\n<\/h3><\/div>\n

\n

\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Sly<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
\n

\n

\t\t\t\t\tSly & the Family Stone\u2019s 10 Best Songs (Staff\u00a0Picks)\t\t<\/p>\n<\/h3><\/div>\n

\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

\n\tSo proclaimed an ad that ran in Billboard<\/em> in April of 1969, essentially proclaiming that it was Sly Stone\u2019s turn to take over as the leading voice in all of popular music. And given the run that he was in the midst of with his band the Family Stone<\/a>, it was hard to find fault with the implication: The group had just scored its first No. 1 single, was about to release its first full-length masterpiece, and had a whole host of classic singles still to release and iconic concerts still to play before the year was up.<\/p>\n

\n\tOn this week\u2019s Vintage Pop Stardom episode of the\u00a0Greatest Pop Stars podcast<\/a>, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by\u00a0Billboard<\/em>\u00a0executive digital director, east coast Joe Lynch, to talk about the greatest year by one of pop and rock\u2019s brightest-burning superstars. We talk about everything that led up to the Sly & the Family Stone\u2019s career-making year of 1969 \u2014 which ultimately resulted in the classic LP Stand<\/em>, two bookending No. 1 hits in \u201cEveryday People\u201d<\/a> and \u201cThank You Falettin Me Be Mice Elf Agin\u201d<\/a> and culture-defining gigs at Woodstock and the Harlem Cultural Festival \u2014 as well as why Sly\u2019s star burned out so much quicker that we might\u2019ve hoped for.<\/p>\n

\n\tAmong the most urgent questions discussed during the episode: Which should be considered the canonical Sly & The Family Stone LP, Stand!<\/em> or There\u2019s a Riot Goin\u2019 On<\/em>? How did \u201cEveryday People\u201d get away with a one-note bass line? Can the Family Stone really be held fiscally responsible for their fans causing $2,000 worth of damages in scraped chair paint? Who else in pop history can claim to be the simultaneous level of artistic genius, dynamic performer and culture-moving figure as Sly Stone was at his absolute peak \u2014 and how did we possibly go the last 50 years without really seeing him anywhere near that level again?<\/p>\n