Sly & The Family Stone, Everyday People | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 23^rd edition of Throwback Vibez (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Everyday People” by Sly & The Family Stone. 

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome. In the 23^rd edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2024), we recollect and reflect on, “Everyday People”, performed by Sly & The Family Stone.

“I am everyday people, yeah, yeah.” INDEED! “Everyday People” is iconic.  It was a massive success for the legendary, interracial, funk/soul collective, Sly & The Family Stone. Notably, this brief, two-and-a-half minute gem spent four weeks at no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1969. This marked the first of three no. 1 pop hits by Sly Stone (Sylvester Stewart) and company.  In addition to topping the charts, “Everyday People” was certified gold by the RIAA. Furthermore, its parent album, Stand, was eventually certified platinum (1986 to be precise).  This big-time song was written and produced by Sly Stone.

Although Sly Stone and company kept things short on “Everyday People,” it sticks just like super glue!  The musical backdrop is stellar, setting the tone for funk music through and through.  What makes it so funky? It’s the guitars (Freddie Stone and Sly), the keyboards (Rose Stone and Sly), the bass line (Larry Graham), the drums (Greg Errico) – everything! Also, what about them biting horns? The late Cynthia Robinson on trumpet and Jerry Martini on sax? Awesomeness! Furthermore, the vocals are sweet, particularly the most dynamic, gritty moments by Sly.  Of course, the chorus, in all its simplicity, is huge. Still, the verse and bridge sections yield their own share of excellence, highlighting the social consciousness vibes of the music at that time.  “There is a blue one who can’t accept the green one / For living with a fat one, trying to be a skinny one,” The Family Stone sings, continuing, “And different strokes for different folks / And so on and so on and scooby dooby doo-bee.”  To reiterate, “Everyday People” is iconic – a classic that speaks for itself.

🎙 Sly & The Family Stone • 💿 Stand • 🏷 Sony Music Entertainment • 🗓 1969

Sly & The Family Stone, Everyday People: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 23 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Sony Music Entertainment; OpenClipart-Vectors, Speedy McVroom via  Pixabay]