Questlove Shares Soundtrack for ‘SLY LIVES! (aka the Burden of Black Genius)’ Documentary, Featuring Unheard Sly & The Family Stone Recordings
At long last, Questlove’s highly-anticipated documentary SLY LIVES! (aka the Burden of Black Genius) has been released. The Academy Award-winning director, producer, The Roots bandleader and all-around multi-hyphenate creative’s new film explores the life and legacy of Sly & The Family Stone, charting the legendary funk and fusion outfit’s rise, reign and receding with a broader focus on the trials of success as a Black artist in America.
To accompany the film’s release, ?uestlove and Legacy Recordings have shared the full soundtrack. Compiled by music journalist Jeff Mao and the documentary’s producer Joseph Patel, the 21-song soundtrack features a litany of Sly & The Family Stone’s unforgettable hits, alongside seven previously unreleased alternate versions and three new edits by Questlove and DJ/producer J.PERIOD. Treatments of “Sing A Simple Song,” “Hot Fun in the Summertime,” “Thank You For Talkin’ to Me, Africa” and “Babies Makin’ Babies” are among the unheard archival versions, while Quest and J.PERIOD provided thumping reworks of “Dance to the Music,” “Everyday People” and “Family Affair.”
The official soundtrack for SLY LIVES! (aka the Burden of Black Genius) is available on all digital services now. Fans can pre-order vinyl and CD editions, which are set to release on May 9. SLY LIVES! (aka the Burden of Black Genius) is streaming on Hulu and features insights from André 3000, D’Angelo, Nile Rogers, Chaka Khan, George Clinton, Q-Tip, Clive Davis, Ruth Copeland, and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and more; learn more about the film here, and watch it now here.
Read on for the soundtrack’s full tracklist.
‘SLY LIVES! (aka the Burden of Black Genius)’ Original Motion Picture Soundtrack – Sly & The Family Stone
1. Sing A Simple Song (Alternate Mix) *
2. Underdog
3. Trip to Your Heart (Alternate Mix) *
4. Dance to the Music (J.PERIOD Edit)
5. M’Lady
6. Everyday People (J.PERIOD Edit)
7. Hot Fun in the Summertime (Interlude) *
8. Hot Fun in the Summertime (mono single master)
9. Everybody Is a Star (mono single master)
10. Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)
11. Thank You For Talkin’ to Me, Africa (Alternate Mix) *
12. Family Affair (Questlove Rhythm King Edit)
13. Runnin’ Away (Alternate Mix) *
14. Just Like a Baby
15. Babies Makin’ Babies (Interlude) *
16. If You Want Me to Stay (Alternate Version)
17. Thankful N’ Thoughtful (Alternate Version)
18. Family Affair (Wedding Band Interlude) *
19. Can’t Strain My Brain
20. Stand! (Take 1) *
21. Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be Will, Will Be)
*previously unreleased
