This Is Book’s Music

It may be a Sly Stone song most of the world hasn’t heard about, but diehard fans will know it well. An artist named Moot Booxlé is someone who does, and decided to cover it and make it available to listen. You can stream or download right now.

As for the song, it was a song Sly Stone recorded around the time he was doing There’s A Riot Going On. He did all of the instrumental backing and gave it to his sister so she could release it with her group, Lilttle Sister. The song was then released by Sly himself on a short-lived label Atlantic Records gave to him called Stone Flower Records, while he was signed to Epic. Depending on what version you believe, Atlantic was happy to give him a side label as a means for him to get more music out, as Sly was still recording There’s A Riot Going On. Not only did he end up releasing an incredible album, but a string of singles on Stone Flower that did not get the full recognition it deserved.

Producer Andy Zax has said he helped compile a CD that would explore the works of Stone Flower for Rhino Records. That was about two to three years ago, and that project remains in hiatus. No word on if it will be released as a Rhino Handmade project, something on Sundazed, or if it’s to be released at all. Songs on Stone Flower have made it on compilations over the years, but there’s more music than what was once believed. (UPDATE: Zax wrote to me after originally posting this and said that this will eventually be released as a 2CD set, but still no set release date.)

Nonetheless, the fact that a small core of fans care about Stone Flower shows an appreciation for Sly Stone and the songs he wrote and released. Moot Booxlé shows that when it’s done right, it’s simply done right. Take a listen. For information on the recording and production of this cover, click here.