Not So Simple Songs: Ace Records Compiles Sly Stone Covers

A timely new collection will pay tribute to the work of Sly & The Family Stone through a diverse group of covers and rarely-heard singles written and produced by the group’s iconic frontman for others.

Everybody is a Star – The Sly Stone Songbook is the latest entry in Ace Records’ Songwriter Series, chronicling some of the greatest modern songwriters of the last century. Naturally, the man born Sylvester Stewart is a prime candidate for such an overview. His mix of R&B, funk, pop and rock music sounded like nothing else in the late ’60s and early ’70s, nor did Sly & The Family Stone look like most bands on the scene: the pointedly integrated San Francisco combo (featuring Stone, his siblings Freddie on guitar and Rose on keyboards, bassist Larry Graham, drummer Greg Errico and the horn section of saxophonist Jerry Martini and trumpeter Cynthia Robinson) shattered color and gender norms at a divided period for America. Stone’s history, influence and significant late-career challenges will be looked at in-depth in Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius), a new documentary from The Roots’ drummer Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson. (The film recently premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and will bow on Hulu and Disney+ later this month.)

Ace’s new collection is a mix worthy of Stone’s eclectic spirit, split into three mixed groups. There are contemporary covers, most released in the wake of the group’s celebrated performance at the Woodstock Music & Art Fair in 1969; recorded by the likes of The Jackson 5, Ike & Tina Turner, The Three Degrees and The Five Stairsteps. You’ll also hear a smattering of unique covers long after Sly’s legend was carved, from U.K. groups like The Raincoats and Magazine, a rare take on “Family Affair” by Iggy Pop recorded in 1985 but not realized until 35 years later, and even an acoustic rendition of “Everyday People” during one of Jeff Buckley’s first Columbia Records sessions. Finally, you’ll hear plenty of songs with deeper Stone connections: Stone Flower signees 6IX and Joe Hicks, Sly’s sister and bandmate Rose (who released one album for Motown in 1976 under the name Rose Banks), and even the band themselves, with a rare demo called “Man Does Not Live,” first released on Ace’s 2010 album Listen to the Voices: Sly Stone in the Studio 1965-70.

Available February 28 with liner notes by Alec Palao, Everybody is a Star – The Sly Stone Songbook looks to be a vivacious tribute to an American original. You can pre-order it at the link below; as an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Everybody is a Star – The Sly Stone Songbook (Ace Records CDTOP 1656 (U.K.), 2025) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Life and Death in G & A (Live) – Joe Hicks
If You Want Me to Stay – Eric Benét
I Want to Take You Higher – Ike & Tina Turner & The Ikettes
Everyday People – Jeff Buckley
Don’t Call Me Nigger, Whitey – Gene Harris
Everybody is a Star – The Five Stairsteps
Friends – Bobby Freeman
Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) – Magazine
Open Up and Get Richer – The Magnificent Men
Somebody’s Watching You – Al Jarreau
Man Does Not Live (Demo) – Sly & The Family Stone
Le Lo Li – Diana Ross
Runnin’ Away – The Raincoats
Sing a Simple Song – The Hearts of Soul
I’ll Never Fall in Love Again – John Lee’s Groundhogs
I’m Just Like You – 6IX
I Get High on You – Rose Banks
Family Affair – Iggy Pop
Nite People Make It – George & Teddy & The Condors
You’re the One – The Three Degrees
Hot Fun in the Summertime – David T. Walker
Stand – The Jackson 5

Track 1 from Stone Flower single 45-9003, 1970
Track 2 from True to Myself – Warner Bros. 46270, 1996
Track 3 from Come Together – Liberty LST-763, 1970
Track 4 from You and I – Columbia/Legacy 88875 17586-2, 2016
Track 5 from AstralSignal – Blue Note BN-LA313-G, 1974
Track 6 from Stairsteps – Buddah BDS-5079, 1971
Track 7 from Autumn Records single 9, 1965
Track 8 from Play – Virgin V-2184 (U.K.), 1980
Track 9 from Better Than a Ten Cent Movie – Mercury SR 61252, 1970
Track 10 from Glow – Reprise MS 2248, 1976
Track 11 from Listen to the Voices: Sly Stone in the Studio 1965-70 – Ace Records CDCHD 1255 (U.K.), 2010
Track 12 from Diana Ross (Expanded Edition) – Hip-o Select/Motown B0016209-02, 2010
Track 13 from Odyshape – Rough Trade ROUGH 13 (U.K.), 1981
Track 14 from The Hearts of Soul – Park/Boek en Plaat K 136/0 (NL), 1970
Track 15 from Planet single 45-104, 1966
Track 16 from Stone Flower single 45-9002, 1970
Track 17 from Rose – Motown M6-845 S1, 1976
Track 18 from self-released digital single (no cat. #), 2020
Track 19 from Philips single 40364, 1966
Track 20 from Maybe – Roulette SR-42050, 1970
Track 21 from David T. Walker – Ode SP 77011, 1971
Track 22 from Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5 – Motown MS-700, 1969

Mike Duquette

Mike Duquette (Founder) was fascinated with catalog music ever since he was a teenager. A 2009 graduate of Seton Hall University with a B.A. in journalism, Mike paired his profession with his passion through The Second Disc, one of the first sites to focus on all reissue labels great and small. His passion for reissues turned into a career, having written at and worked for all three major catalogue music labels and contributing to Allmusic, Billboard, Discogs, City Pages and Ultimate Classic Rock. He's penned liner notes for Verve, Chess, Mondo and Soul Music Records.

Born and raised in New Jersey, Mike lives in Astoria, Queens with his wife, a cat named Ravioli, twin daughters and a large yet tasteful collection of music.