Sly

In reggae, all roads lead to the “Riddim Twins”, Sly & Robbie. They’ve been revered as style-defining icons for years, and together and individually have a massive influence on the genre. They are also renowned for their willingness to shatter boundaries and experiment with sounds. Over the past decades, they have never been shy of leaping over into other genres – for instance, their timeless, super-tight production work for Grace Jones…!

In reggae, all roads lead to the “Riddim Twins”, Sly & Robbie. They’ve been revered as style-defining icons for years, and together and individually have a massive influence on the genre. They are also renowned for their willingness to shatter boundaries and experiment with sounds. Over the past decades, they have never been shy of leaping over into other genres – for instance, their timeless, super-tight production work for Grace Jones…!

Their entire output in upgraded sound from the correct master sources, including recently discovered tapes and unissued demos, with a booklet jammed with illustrations from the group’s personal archives and a 9,000-word essay based on input from all the members, including commentary from Sly himself. Truly the last word on Sly Stone’s first phase. A digipak release.

The Rise & Fall of Loverboy is one of those odd albums whose musical styles and themes seem to vary wildly from track to track … Paradoxically, it is this feature that ties everything together. One never knows where Sir Sly are headed. [Frontman] Jacobs has turned over a new lead. He looks to other people's music for his salvation and then filters it through his own experiences to see what matters.

Ace finally present a sequel to the much-loved, decade-old compilation of Sly Stone's pre-fame productions, "Precious Stone: Sly Stone In The Studio 1963-65". "Listen To The Voices: Sly Stone In The Studio 1965-70" carries on a chronological path, covering not only the earliest recordings of the Family Stone but also the various outside productions this remarkable musician dabbled in, whilst simultaneously topping the charts with his inimitable blend of rock, soul and funk in the late 1960s. The package includes all the singles written and produced by Sly under his Stone Flower Productions umbrella. The material by Joe Hicks, 6IX and Little Sister (featuring Sly's sisters Vaetta and Tiny) is in the same idiosyncratic style that made the Family Stone a household name.

In the roaring 70s Red Hills Road in St Andrew played host to an endless number of night clubs and was the acknowledged hip strip for city Kingston. In fact, two of Jamaica’s musical legends trace their genesis to Red Hills Road and the clubs with unforgettable names, which were the hub for live bands.

Heard Ya Missed Me, Well I'm Back is the eighth album by American funk/soul/rock band Sly and the Family Stone, released by Epic/CBS Records in 1976. This album is an effort to return the idea of the "Family Stone" band to singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Sly Stone's work, after his previous album, High on You, was released without the Family Stone name. However, the original Family Stone had broken up in 1975, and a new Family Stone was assembled for this album: the only holdover is stalwart Family Stone trumpetist Cynthia Robinson. Vet Stone and Elva Mouton, both formerly members of Family Stone backing band Little Sister, are credited as providing "additional background vocals".

Sly & Robbie may well be the most prolific recording artists ever. One staggering estimate is that they have played on or produced some 200,000 songs. Sly & Robbie are reggae's longest lasting production team. The rhythm section of drummer Lowell Dunbar (nicknamed Sly after Sly Stone, one of his favorite musicians) and bass guitarist Robert Shakespeare started working together in the mid 1970s, after having established themselves separately on the Jamaican music scene.