Remembering Two Musical Revolutionaries

It is impossible to overstate just how vital both Sly Stone and Brian Wilson were. They were pioneers, musical revolutionaries both, and while their losses this week have led to many a heavy heart across the globe, their magical music will live on forever, enriching lives everywhere. They leave behind the most remarkable legacies.

With music at the very core of what we do, it would be entirely remiss of us to not acknowledge this week's sad news, and to celebrate their incalculable contributions to music. Sadly, both flew too close to the sun and paid heavy prices - but when it really mattered, boy did they fly.

Like many of the 60s and 70s greats, their paths would often cross and Brian and Sly were friends. In the 2021 film Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road Brian reminisces on the times Sly would visit him at his LA home, and recounts how Sly would come over, take cocaine and "fall asleep on the couch".

And so to salute these two giants, we've picked five songs from each - Sly mostly providing the danceable grooves, as he seamlessly flitted between funk, r&b and soul, with Brian's 'pocket symphonies' offering the sort of achingly beautiful romance suited to a walk down the aisle, or perhaps a first dance. Enjoy!

Sly & The Family Stone - Dance to the Music

Kicking us off in rip-roaring fashion is this barnstorming piece of funk. Bursting at the seams with exuberance, it is a floor-filler supreme, and arguably marked the point at which Sly & The Family Stone really began to soar.

The Beach Boys - God Only Knows

Paul McCartney once said "no-one is educated musically 'til they've heard Pet Sounds". 'God Only Knows', the album's centrepiece, is dripping in yearning romance, arguably the definitive love song. Its opening line 'I may not always love you' is astounding, and the song captures perfectly both the strength and fragility of love, underscored by a sublime vocal from Carl Wilson. The sound of many a first dance, despite being utterly undanceable, and with good reason. We recommend a three minute revolving cuddle.

Sly & The Family Stone - Stand

'Stand for the things you know are right, it's the truth that the truth makes them so uptight' - one hell of a line and a line that leaves you in no doubt as to what this is about. 'Stand' - the title track from the band's 4th album - begins as a relatively straightforward soulful rock tune, before exploding into life for a final minute of thrilling gospel-infused funk. A banger!

The Beach Boys - Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)

Simply a miraculously beautiful piece of music, and frankly miles ahead of anything anyone had ever done at that time, around 1965-66. 'Don't Talk' sounds doleful on the surface, but it has a depth of romance and emotion that is almost overwhelming. It could make the hardiest soul cry. Brian sings 'being here with you feels so right / we could live forever tonight / let's not think about tomorrow', and it might just be one of the greatest expressions of love in pop history.

Sly & The Family Stone - Family Affair

With a groove that is absolutely locked in, Family Affair feels so fresh that it could have been released this week. A playful jam taken from their iconic 'There's a Riot Goin' On', Sly's biggest hit is more subdued than their earlier work, a kind of comedown following the more optimistic 'Stand' - but they lose none of their funk.

The Beach Boys - Darlin'

Following on from the expansive sound and emotionally draining efforts poured into Pet Sounds the previous year, The Beach Boys scaled it back with simpler, more r&b flavours in 1967. Brian once again hands lead vocal duties to brother Carl. 'I was living like half a man' leans into the romantic notion that we are incomplete until we find our soulmate. Brian Wilson knew how to feel love alright.

Sly Stone - Crossword Puzzle

It is broadly accepted that Sly & The Family Stone's first six records are the gold standard, before heavy drug use began to tear the band apart, finally dissolving in 1975. 'Crossword Puzzle' is taken from Sly's first solo record, a solo career that was largely unsuccessful. 'Crossword Puzzle', however, is a tight-grooved banger, wiggling its derriere into superfunkytown with heaps of sass. Remarkably, the track is a leftover from the Family Stone's flop record from the previous year. What were they thinking? De La Soul dug it enough to sample it for their track 'Say No Go' from the classic Three Feet High and Rising.

The Beach Boys - Our Sweet Love

This inexplicably lesser-known deepcut is yet another example of Brian Wilson's otherworldly gift for writing love songs of a luminous sadness. As achingly gorgeous and fragile as Brian's peak moments on Pet Sounds, it features another heartbreaking vocal from Carl, supplemented by Brian's cooing 'do do do' backing vocals. Just flat out beautiful.

Sly & The Family Stone - Hot Fun in the Summertime

One of the ultimate summer songs, a timeless classic, that saw Sly dialling back the revolutionary politics for a good old sunshine bop. And what a bop. George Clinton lauded it as "proof that funk could be a pop standard". It's Sly in super easy going mode, basking in the hazy summer glow. No summer wedding garden party should be without it!

The Beach Boys - Good Vibrations

A remarkable feat of songwriting, 'Good Vibrations' is a stone cold masterpiece. Featuring no less than fourteen (14!) key changes, the song is a goldmine of ideas, and a fine example of songwriting, arrangement and production all coming together to realise perfection. Taking seven months to record, 'Good Vibrations' is where arty innovation and glowing sunshine pop comes to meet.

And so the sun has set on two of popular music's greats. A sad week, but lives and music worth celebrating for as long as the human race is around. Here's a Spotify playlist to enjoy just a fraction of their wonderful songs. Thank you for the music!