A rare live recording of Sly & the Family Stone from 1967 — the earliest known concert tape of the iconic funk and soul pioneers — is set for its first official release. Titled The First Family: Live at Winchester Cathedral 1967, the album will arrive on July 18 via High Moon Records.
Captured during the band’s residency at the Winchester Cathedral club in Redwood City, California, the set was recorded in the early hours of March 26, 1967, by the group’s first manager, Rich Romanello. The band had not yet reached national fame and had only recently begun performing as a unit. At the time, they were still months away from signing with Epic Records and releasing hits like “Dance to the Music,” “Stand!,” and “Everyday People.”
After the band signed with Epic later in 1967, the original analog tapes were shelved by Romanello and remained untouched for decades. They were rediscovered in 2002 by band archivists Edwin and Arno Konings, who, along with producer Alec Palao, worked to restore the recordings.
The upcoming release offers a snapshot of Sly & the Family Stone in their formative stage. The tracklist features a mix of early originals from their debut album A Whole New Thing and covers of soul classics by artists like Otis Redding and the Four Tops. The CD edition will include a bonus track: Redding’s “Try A Little Tenderness.”
The release follows growing renewed interest in the group, boosted by Sly Lives (aka The Burden of Black Genius), a recent documentary on Sly Stone directed by Questlove.
“The Winchester Cathedral recordings showcase a one-of-a-kind outfit that was already at the peak of its powers, long before it became internationally famous,” said Palao. “Sly is fully in command, while the unique arrangements and tighter-than-tight ensemble playing point clearly to the road ahead.”
Available on both CD and vinyl, the release includes a deluxe booklet with rare photos and liner notes featuring interviews with Sly Stone and the original band members.
Tracklist:
- I Ain’t Got Nobody
- Skate Now
- Show Me
- What Is Soul?
- I Can’t Turn You Loose
- Try A Little Tenderness (CD only bonus track)
- Baby I Need Your Loving
- Pucker Up Buttercup
- Saint James Infirmary
- I Gotta Go Now (Up On The Floor) / Funky Broadway
The First Family: Live at Winchester Cathedral 1967 will be widely available starting July 18.
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