LP Review: Dance to the Music
Previous LP: A Whole New Thing (B-)
Next LP: Life (C+)
Released: 1968
LP Charts: #11 R&B, #142 pop
Who knew a little dance song could upend R&B and rock music?
That’s what the title track to Dance to the Music did. With several Family Stone band members getting a turn at the mic as well as brief solo features, “Dance to the Music” (#9 R&B, #8 pop) operated as a paean to everyone in society getting their turn to speak their mind, showcase who they really are, and reveal what they can really do... individually and collectively. Didn’t hurt it was a band that was male and female, Black and White, getting funky on this track.
My kind of message song!
The track even has a bit of emcee hype thanks to Cynthia Robinson, fittingly the band’s trumpeter, shouting that everyone needs to “get on up and dance to the music” during the opening. Later she also does a polite diss imploring that “all the squares go home.” Ain’t no room here for close-minded partypoopers.
The song cemented the idea of psychedelic soul (that also happened to be very radio friendly) leading to countless copycat hits over the next half-decade. The Temptations, the Chi-Lites, and the Dramatics all borrowed the Family Stone’s proclivities for quickly passing lead vocals from one band member to another like a musical popcorn machine. Meanwhile, all of the Jackson 5’s early smashes wouldn’t even be a thinkable without “Dance to the Music”.
“Dance to the Music” is clearly the highlight, but this is a good album not dependent upon that one song… although admittedly this album does depend on the idea behind that one song.
The most obvious example of that is “Dance to the Medley”. Normally I’d be disgusted at such blatant padding, but this 12-minute workout is… well… a workout. “Dance to the Music” is the cliff’s notes version while “Dance to the Medley” is the full book, if you wanted more musical information on how to dance.
“Higher” follows the ethos of the “Dance” tracks, but with a tamer beat. It would later be appropriately amped up and thus transformed into “I Want To Take You Higher” on their Stand! album. Filling out Side One is “I Ain't Got Nobody (For Real)”, which is the only non-dance song thus far, but is still fairly upbeat. And I’m highly suspicious that fellow Bay Area band Santana partially jacked the chorus for their song “No One to Depend On”.
Side Two is generally filled with more funky barnburners (“Ride the Rhythm”, “Are You Ready”, “Don’t Burn Baby”), although Larry Graham’s ballad proclivities are indulged in with “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again”. A good thing too. I really enjoy that song.
My favorite song on this side is “Color Me True”. The drums hit hard on this one (gotta love Greg Errico, funkiest White drummer ever) as the lyrics inquire whether you’re being true and honest to yourself.
ALBUM GRADE: B+
Normally, I would chastise this LP as horribly derivative since so many of its songs follow in the wake of the title track. But this was such a whole new scheme, that all is forgiven. Hell, if I had just established a new musical paradigm, you best believe I would revel in that new bag.
Now on future albums this might get tiresome, but for now the band was running on a pure high. Amazing what positive vibes can do man.
Song Scores
Dance to the Music: 10/10
Higher: 6/10
I Ain't Got Nobody (For Real): 7/10
Dance to the Medley: Music Is Alive/Dance In/Music Lover: 8/10
Ride the Rhythm: 6.5/10
Color Me True: 7/10
Are You Ready: 7.5/10
Don’t Burn Baby: 7/10
I’ll Never Fall in Love Again: 7
Previous LP: A Whole New Thing (B-)
Next LP: Life (C+)