Small Talk (album)

Infobox Album | Name = Small Talk
Type = Album
Artist = Sly & the Family Stone


Released = July 1974
Recorded = 1974
Genre = Funk/Soul
Length = 40:30
Label = Epic
PE 32930
Producer = Sly Stone
Reviews = *Allmusic Rating|3|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:8jd4vwxva9rk link]
Last album = "Fresh"
(1973)
This album = "Small Talk"
(1974)
Next album = "High on You"
(Sly Stone)
(1975)

"Small Talk" is the seventh album by Sly & the Family Stone, released by Epic/CBS Records in 1974. This album was the final LP to feature the original Family Stone, which broke up in January 1975.

"Small Talk's" singles were "Time For Livin'" (the band's final Top 40 hit) and "Loose Booty", an up-tempo funk track which uses the names of Bible characters Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego as a chant. The track was sampled extensively by the Beastie Boys for the song "Shadrach" on their album "Paul's Boutique".

Pictured on the album cover with Sly are his then-wife Kathleen Silva and his son Sylvester, Jr. Stone and Silva would divorce within months of this album's release, after being wed at a June 5, 1974 Sly & the Family Stone concert at Madison Square Garden.

Besides its standard stereo release, "Small Talk" was also released in quadraphonic sound.

Track listing

"All songs written by Sylvester Stewart, save for "Small Talk", written by Sylvester Stewart and W. Silva. All songs produced and arranged by Sly Stone for Fresh Productions."

ide 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

ide 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 Stone: vocals, organ, guitar, piano, harmonica, and more
* Freddie Stone: background vocals, guitar
* Rose Stone: background vocals, piano, keyboard
* 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): background vocals