If You Want Me To Stay by Sly and the Family Stone
“If You Want Me to Stay” is a funk song by the American band Sly and the Family Stone, released in 1973. The song was written and produced by lead singer Sylvester “Sly Stone” Stewart, and features a distinctive bassline played by Larry Graham.
The song’s lyrics deal with the idea of staying in a relationship, but only if certain conditions are met. The catchy chorus features the repeated refrain “If you want me to stay, I’ll be around today, to be available for you to see.”
The song was a commercial and critical success for Sly and the Family Stone, reaching #12 on the US R&B chart and #17 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It has since become one of the band’s most popular and enduring songs, and has been covered by numerous artists over the years.
Sly and the Family Stone were known for their pioneering fusion of funk, soul, rock, and psychedelic music, and are widely regarded as one of the most innovative and influential bands of the 1960s and 70s. Their music addressed social and political issues of the time, and their multi-racial, multi-gender lineup was groundbreaking for its inclusivity and diversity.
Sly and the Family Stone was an American band that was active from the late 1960s to the mid-1970s. The band was led by singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Sylvester “Sly Stone” Stewart, and was known for their unique blend of soul, funk, rock, and psychedelic music.
Sly and the Family Stone’s music was notable for its socially conscious lyrics and its groundbreaking fusion of different musical genres, as well as its emphasis on racial and gender diversity. The band’s lineup included men and women of different races, and their music often tackled themes related to civil rights and social justice.
Some of the band’s most famous songs include “Dance to the Music,” “Everyday People,” “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin),” and “Family Affair.” These songs and others helped to establish Sly and the Family Stone as one of the most innovative and influential bands of the 1960s and 1970s.
Despite their success, the band faced internal conflicts and drug problems, which ultimately led to their breakup in the mid-1970s. However, their music has continued to influence and inspire musicians across different genres, and they have been recognized as a major influence on funk, soul, and hip-hop music.
