1968
DANCE TO THE MUSIC * SLY & THE FAMILY STONE * COLUMBIA 8369 * UK
Although Sly Stone's (born Sylvester Stewart 1944) recording career goes back to his childhood when he played drums on some family records, known as The Stewart Four, his first recording under his own steam was Buttermilk an instrumental for the Autumn label of Philadelphia, who he also recorded a version of Temptation Walk for. His First group, formed in 1966, were known as The Stoners, which later became Sly and the Family Stone, they released I Ain't Got Nobody for Loadstone a San Francisco independent.
Released in the US on Epic 10256 on 17th November 1967, and in the UK on the 8th March 1968. Dance To The Music was their second for the major label Epic and was an instant success both in the US and UK. The Columbia UK issue (above) differs from the slightly latter Direction issue (below) by having the longer, vocalised bass, intro (why this was cut from the Direction release I don't know) and was the version that those in the know would always talk about in that spring of 1968. Dance To The Music was also his first British release.
The second issue of Dance To The Music released shortly after the Columbia issue but without the long intro.
MUSIC SHEET TO DANCE TO THE MUSIC