What makes Stand! by Sly and the Family Stone notable?

Stand! is notable for its powerful anthems that became rallying cries during the civil rights movement. The title track reached No. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart and helped solidify Sly and the Family Stone as a major force in popular music. Released in 1969, Stand! was Sly and the Family Stone's fourth studio album and followed their breakthrough record, Dance to the Music. At this point in their career, the band was solidifying their role as pioneers of funk and soul music while addressing significant social issues through their lyrics and sound.

How many songs are on Stand!?

Stand! has 2 tracks, running approximately 6 minutes.

Stand!

Sly and the Family Stone · 1969

6 min · 2 tracks · funk

A vibrant fusion of funk, rock, and soul that ignites the spirit of social change and collective empowerment.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Stand! — The title track serves as a powerful anthem advocating for personal empowerment and social justice, making it a defining moment in both the album and the era.
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I Want to Take You Higher — This track exemplifies the band's psychedelic influences while delivering an infectious energy that captures the spirit of the late 1960s counterculture.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

81 /100

Summit

Higher than 100% of albums we've rated

Stand! showcases innovative compositions and vibrant arrangements that define its era.

What we noticed

The album opens with a title track that features a call-and-response structure, immediately engaging the listener.
Tracks like 'I Want to Take You Higher' and 'Everyday People' employ layered vocal harmonies and dynamic instrumentation, creating a rich soundscape.
The sequencing alternates between high-energy anthems and more reflective pieces, maintaining momentum while allowing for moments of introspection.

Composition 25% of the score: 8/10
Craft 20% of the score: 9/10
Durability 25% of the score: 8/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 9/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 8/10

Defined its genre or moment. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Stand! 3:06
2 I Want to Take You Higher 2:55

What to play next

Listen next

Stand!

1969

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Life

1968

Full Sly and the Family Stone discography Artists like Sly and the Family Stone

funk pop rock

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata