said Small Talk follows mostly in the vein of the band's previous album, Fresh (1973) – "a little mellower, happier, more together maybe. Certainly more so than on Riot – the sniffing self-pity of that period has mercifully gone; a couple of cuts even approach the 'up' feel of [Stone's] early hits." Less impressed was Village Voice critic Robert Christgau, who said, "Although you can hear different, you'd almost think Sly's sense of rhythm had abandoned him, because his first flop is a bellywhopper—its scant interest verbal, its only memorable song a doowop takeoff." Years later in Rolling Stone, he rated the CD reissue somewhat higher, but wrote that the album marked for Stone "the beginning of an end that proceeded through many false comebacks to yesterday, today and tomorrow." Track listing All tracks written by Sylvester "Sly Stone" Stewart, except for "Small Talk", written by Sylvester Stewart and W. Silva. All songs produced and arranged by Sly Stone for Fresh Productions. Side one "Small Talk" – 3:22 "Say You Will" – 3:19 "Mother Beautiful" – 2:01 "Time for Livin'" – 3:17 "Can't Strain My Brain" – 4:09 Side two "Loose Booty" – 3:47 "Holdin' On" – 3:39 "Wishful Thinkin'" – 4:26 "Better Thee Than Me" – 3:35 "Livin' While I'm Livin'" – 2:58 "This is Love" – 2:54 CD bonus tracks Added for 2007 limited edition compact disc reissue: "Crossword Puzzle" (early version) "Time for Livin'" (alternate take) "Loose Booty" (alternate take) "Positive" (previously unreleased instrumental) Personnel Sly and the Family Stone Sly Stone – vocals, organ, guitar, piano, harmonica, and more Freddie Stone – backing vocals, guitar Rose Stone – backing vocals, piano, keyboards Cynthia Robinson – trumpet Jerry Martini – saxophone Pat Rizzo – saxophone Sid Page – violin Rusty Allen – bass guitar Andy Newmark, Bill Lordan – drums Little Sister (Vet Stone, Mary McCreary, Elva Mouton) – backing vocals Additional personnel Karat Faye – engineer Ed Bogas – string arranger Norman Seeff – cover photography John Berg, John Van Hamersveld – design References Further reading External links Sly and the Family Stone - Small Talk (1974) album review by Rob Bowman, credits & releases on AllMusic Sly and the Family Stone - Small Talk (1974) album releases & credits on Discogs.com Sly and the Family Stone - Small Talk (1974) album to be listened as stream on Spotify.com 1974 albums Sly and the Family Stone