I Want to Take You Higher: The Life and Times of Sly & the Family Stone

Sylvester Stewart (a.k.a. Sly Stone) has long been one of music's most reclusive geniuses, and Jeff Kaliss scored a major coup by working his way into Sly's sheltered inner circle. Thus we have the first-ever authoritative biography of Sly & the Family Stone, built upon recent interviews with the man himself, as well as fairly in-depth research into period sources. The early parts of the book provide some insight into the inspirations that made Sly a truly unique originator who is credited with directly inspiring several different genres of modern music. Kaliss also does a fine job catching up with all the band members in the present day. But this book is somewhat lacking in its coverage of the Family Stone's years of greatest success, with a rushed and awkward sense of pacing. Kaliss attempts to explain how the band's sunny brilliance turned into brooding inconsistency due to drugs and infighting, but doesn't quite truly illuminate the struggles faced by the band. Kaliss was apparently unable to decide between historical coverage of the entire Family Stone band or a basic biography of Sylvester Stewart, vacillating unevenly between the two and leaving many key band members unfairly under-represented (such as bassist Larry Graham). Both of the above problems are exemplified by an offhand reference (pg. 125) to the fact that Sly fathered a child with longtime bandmate Cynthia Robinson, a tidbit that Kaliss tosses off with no analysis of band relations or the relevance of events on anyone but Sly. Kaliss also fumbles in a few places in making thin postmodern-ish connections between the Family Stone's music and the modern genres it influenced. So this biography feels rather thin and undeveloped, but it still sheds a lot of light on one of the most mysterious geniuses in American music history. Fans of Sly & the Family Stone will be generally well-informed by this book, as will historically-minded lovers of influential American music. [~doomsdayer520~]

Sly and the Family Stone have left their mark on rock, funk and pop music - and their biography I WANT TO TAKE YOU HIGHER follows the highs and lows of the group, which moved from local to global fame and back - undermined by drugs. With cooperation from Sly himself as well as band members and friends, Jeff Kaliss provides the first in-depth, insider's account of Sly and the Family Stone, and is a pick for any library strong in modern music history. Diane C. Donovan California Bookwatch

Given the impact Sly Stone had on pop music in the 1960s and after, it's amazing more books haven't been written on the life and times of America's first master of funk. Jeff Kaliss takes a comprehensive look at the man - and the group - that gave us 'Stand,' 'Hot Fun in the Summertime,' 'Everyday People,' 'Thank You (Falettineme Be Mice Elf Agin' and other pop classics. Kaliss has done a marvelous job of researching his subject and I WANT TO TAKE YOU HIGHER is a must-read for all Sly Stone/Sixties rock music fans. No Sixties group could touch Sly and the Family Stone for catchy, infectious songs that jumped off the vinyl and got their listeners up and shaking their tailfeathers. Yet Sly's songs weren't just empty-headed dance tunes for, wrapped up in those funky beats, were sincere, heartfelt calls for brotherhood and understanding. Tragically, the joy and magic and fun generated by the Family Stone's creation and initial success fell victim to drugs. Original group members left and Sly launched into a roller-coaster, drug-fueled ride that turned this tremendous talent into a reclusive Howard Hughes clone. I WANT TO TAKE YOU HIGHER is a fairly slim volume - only 210 pages long - but Kaliss' in-depth research, which included interviews with original group members and even the man himself(!) produced an insightful, informative tale. While Kaliss doesn't shy away from warts-and-all exposure, his tone is even-handed and sympathetic. The book's emphasis is on Sly and Company. After all, its sub-title is 'The Life and Times of Sly and the Family Stone.' So, while Kaliss discusses the group's musical output, he doesn't devote a great deal of space to that. Personally I would have liked a bit more on the music. And I would have loved it if Kaliss had dropped his laidback sensibilities and thrown in a "This song is Bitchin!!!!!" comment or two when discussing the songs! Reading I WANT TO TAKE YOU HIGHER leaves one with mixed emotions. The music of Sly and the Family Stone touched so many people then and now, it's sad to read of the behind-the-scene turmoil and the toll drugs took on the man and his friends. They certainly took us higher for a time and, for that, we can be grateful. And grateful to for Jeff Kaliss' wonderful book. Highly recommended.