![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/af003fd14c8b1ee1662254e1ce35a23e.jpg)
Sly Stone's upcoming record features guest stars galore. © Denis Balibouse/Reuters/Corbis
Sly Stone will serve no album before its time. Obviously - it's been 29 years since his last release. Though there have been hints of a new disc in the past, nothing has materialized... until now. On 16 August, Stone will finally - finally! - issue a brand-new recording.
Well... almost. I'm Back! Family And Friends is indeed a "new" album, but most of its 11 tracks are reworkings of Sly And The Family Stone's classic hits. Not to say that there aren't surprises to be had. The Rock And Roll Hall Of Famer and funk legend welcomes a pile-on of superstar guests on a majority of the cuts, including Jeff Beck, Johnny Winter, Bootsy Collins and Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek, among others.
Check out a brief audio clip of (I Want To Take You) Higher featuring Jeff Beck.
Tracklisting for Sly Stone's I'm Back! Family And Friends
1. Dance To The Music featuring Ray Manzarek
2. Everyday People featuring Ann Wilson
3. Family Affair
4. Stand! featuring Carmine Appice and Ernie Watts
5. Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) featuring Johnny Winter
6. (I Want To Take You) Higher featuring Jeff Beck
7. Hot Fun In The Summertime featuring Bootsy Collins
8. Dance To The Music
9. Plain Jane
10. His Eye Is On The Sparrow
11. Get Away
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Joe is a freelance journalist who has, over the past few decades, interviewed hundreds of guitarists for Guitar World, Guitar Player, MusicRadar and Classic Rock. He is also a former editor of Guitar World, contributing writer for Guitar Aficionado and VP of A&R for Island Records. He’s an enthusiastic guitarist, but he’s nowhere near the likes of the people he interviews. Surprisingly, his skills are more suited to the drums. If you need a drummer for your Beatles tribute band, look him up.
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