Psychedelic Soul Music

Sly and the Family Stone had achieved notoriety at the 1969 Woodstock festival, where they performed early in the a.m. on August 17th. The people liked their funk-rock sound. The group released “Hot Fun in the Summertime,” which was written and produced by Sly Stone, shortly thereafter. It went to #2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, #6 on Cash Box, and #3 on the R&B Chart. Rolling Stone magazine has it on their list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time.”

The Sly and The Family Stone band originated in San Francisco. They recorded songs in many genres, including funk, psychedelic soul, rock, soul, pop, funk rock, and R&B. Sly Stone, a multi-talented musician, songwriter, and producer, headed this group of family members and friends. They had an integrated, multi-gender lineup. This reflected their philosophy of love, peace, and understand among all peoples. Over the years, there were many membership changes, but on this track were Sly Stone, Rose Stone, Freddie Stone, and Larry Graham on lead and background vocals. For the instrumentation, there were Sly Stone (piano), Freddie Stone (guitar), Larry Graham (bass), Greg Errico (drums), and Jerry Martini (tenor sax), and Cynthia Robinson (trumpet).

Here are the lyrics to “Hot Fun in the Summertime” by Sly and the Family Stone:

End of the spring and here she comes back
Hi, hi, hi, hi, there
Them summer days, those summer days

That’s when I had most of my fun back
High, high, high, high there
Them summer days, those summer days

I cloud nine when I want to
Out of school, yeah
County fair in the country sun
And everything, it’s true, ooh, yeah

Hot fun in the summertime
Hot fun in the summertime
Hot fun in the summertime
Hot fun in the summertime

First of the fall and then she goes back
Bye, bye, bye, bye there
Them summer days, those summer days

Boop, boop, ba, boop, boop when I want to
Out of school, yeah
County fair in the country sun
And everything is cool, ooh yeah

Hot fun in the summertime
Hot fun in the summertime
Hot fun in the summertime

If you are interested in reading about and listening to another song by Sly and the Family Stone, please click here for “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf).”

Check Out The Groove Pad for More 1960s Music

The Pass the Paisley Groove Pad is a resting stop, a place to chill out and listen to the featured song on the stereo. If the mood strikes you, click on the juke box to access and listen to the 50+ free online songs there. The TV has several channels, with selections updated twice a week. Every now and then, Pass the Paisley hosts an all-request of 1960s and 1970s songs for a Be-In at the juke box in the Groove Pad. Keep on truckin’. Hope you enjoyed “Hot Fun in the Summertime” by Sly and The Family Stone.