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TOP 1200 CHOICE TRACKS

#598 FAMILY AFFAIR Sly & The Family Stone
R&B and pop music in general is all the more richer thanks to the body of work released by Sly and The Family Stone. This was a fully integrated group consisting of males and females with a funky sound and message that not only meshed funk and R&B with social comment, but had a profound influence on rap, hip hop and soul music. 
Having formed in 1967, the San Franciscan band achieved chart success soon after. Their hits included "Dance to the Music", "Hot Fun in the Summertime" and the US #1s: "Everyday People" and "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)". These were achieved before the end of the 60s. As the world entered a new decade, the group's leader Sylvester "Sly Stone" Stewart's drug addiction worsened. 
Despite this continuing hindrance, 'There's A Riot Goin' On' was issued in 1971 and featured the group's 3rd US Pop and R&B chart topping single, "Family Affair". Stewart penned and produced the song. This was to be the band's sole single to chart during the 70s in Australia.
The years following this hit have seen Stone sink deeper with drug abuse and incarcerated for cocaine possession. In 2006, a group of musicians contributed to an album project which found Stewart producing re-interpretations from his songbook. Artists included Moby, The Roots, Will.I.Am, Janet Jackson, Maroon 5, Isaac Hayes and John Mayer. "Family Affair" was recorded by John Legend with Josh Stone and Van Hunt.

This is a list made up of the songs I enjoy the most, ranked in order of preference: the higher we go, the more I cherish them. Some were released as singles, others as album tracks. Some are obscure; others were worldwide hits or have universal appeal. They aren't always the most famous or popular, but simply a personal choice. I have excluded songs from the last few years in order to get a better idea of a song's lasting impression. I hope you find some new tracks to love, or re-discover some past favourites.
To mark the occasion of reaching the halfway mark for this special countdown, a new song will be added on the hour all day today (in place of this week's Mid Week Bonus).