Content: 4 stars; Sound Quality: 2 stars = Overall: 3 stars.

This album represents the best work that Sly has done from his "happy", optimistic period before he had a severe attack of pessimism (realism?) shortly after so evident on "There's a Riot Goin' On".  Lots of good singles here that would make it on any best of compilation of the band like "Stand!", "I Want To Take You Higher", "Sing A Simple Song", "Everyday People" and "You Can Make it if You Try".  That's 5 out of the total of 8 tracks from the album!  Other than "Don't Call Me Nigger, Whitey", the other tracks resemble little more than filler and that's especially the case for all 14 minutes of "Sex Machine".  Still, this album is a classic for the impact that it has had for the future of funk music and its influence on music since then cannot be underestimated.  This mini-lp replica sleeve version very faithfully recreates the original lp design down to the inner sleeve and includes a 12-page colour booklet which has an essay by Barney Hoskyns and all the lyrics.  There are 5 bonus tracks as well which are single versions of "Stand!", "I Want To Take You Higher" and "You Can Make it if You Try" and two previously unreleased tracks: "Soul Clappin' II" and "My Brain".  The only disappointment for me of this version of the album is the poor sound quality.  For an album that's supposed to be remastered, you can only presume that the quality of the master tapes have deteriorated so badly that this is the best that they could do which doesn't amount to much sadly.  A shame really; Sly's classic really does deserve better.
Content: 4 stars; Sound Quality: 2 stars = Overall: 3 stars. This album represents the best work that Sly has done from his "happy", optimistic period before he had a severe attack of pessimism (realism? ) shortly after so evident on "There's a Riot Goin' On". Lots of good singles here that would make it on any best of compilation of the band like "Stand! ", "I Want To Take You Higher", "Sing A Simple Song", "Everyday People" and "You Can Make it if You Try". That's 5 out of the total of 8 tracks from the album! Other than "Don't Call Me Nigger, Whitey", the other tracks resemble little more than filler and that's especially the case for all 14 minutes of "Sex Machine". Still, this album is a classic for the impact that it has had for the future of funk music and its influence on music since then cannot be underestimated. This mini-lp replica sleeve version very faithfully recreates the original lp design down to the inner sleeve and includes a 12-page colour booklet which has an essay by Barney Hoskyns and all the lyrics. There are 5 bonus tracks as well which are single versions of "Stand! ", "I Want To Take You Higher" and "You Can Make it if You Try" and two previously unreleased tracks: "Soul Clappin' II" and "My Brain". The only disappointment for me of this version of the album is the poor sound quality. For an album that's supposed to be remastered, you can only presume that the quality of the master tapes have deteriorated so badly that this is the best that they could do which doesn't amount to much sadly. A shame really; Sly's classic really does deserve better.