On a bit of a Sly and the Family Stone bender of late, one of our favourite songs by the ’60s band is Everyday People. With its themes of unity and societal peace, it feels just as relevant as when it launched in late 1968.
This review is a celebration of it, the band, and the message behind a 2 minute 22 second number that just ask politely that we all get along.
Just Get Along, Please, With Help From Everyday People
This launched as a single in November 1968 and combines rock, pop, and psychedelic soul (the band’s trademark mix). It went straight to No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, staying there in late 1968 through to early 1969.
Written and produced by Sly Stone, the band’s charismatic multi-instrumentalist frontman, it’s a cutback and simplistic plea for equality and peace. Quite a bit different to band’s more funky and psychedelic numbers, such as A Simple Song.
The way the lyrics are written is quite simplistic, almost naïve. This was peak hippy era, but also a time of incredible civil unrest in America. The result is the way Stone explains his vision is charming and
Sometimes I’m right and I can be wrong,
My own beliefs are in my song,
The butcher, the banker, the drummer and then,
Makes no difference what group I’m in.I am everyday people.
A clever touch are the bridging section that bring in Stone’s sister Rose and Cynthia Robinson (also the band’s trumpet player and hypewoman), who cover off some common petty bickering people engage in.
There is a blue one who can’t accept,
The green one for living with,
A fat one tryin’ to be a skinny one,
Different strokes for different folks,
And so on and so on and scooby-dooby-dooby,We got to live together.
Back in 1968, you have to remember how progressive this was. One of the first major integrated bands. Sly Stone structured a group of multi-race and gender musicians. Including TWO WOMEN… who take over the bridging sections! We can just imagine the Conservative tutting over that one.
Live, this look a little bit like this (taken from Questlove’s brilliant Summer of Soul documentary). Rose Stone used to wear a brightly wig for the band’s live performances.
It’s a very catchy song with a message of unity and happiness. Sly Stone, at this stage of his life (see Questlove’s other documentary Sly Lives! for more on what happened to him) was an upbeat soul. Happy-go-lucky in his genius.
His youthful energy and upbeat outlook all came across in his uplifting music.
That was part of the band’s appeal and why the single went to No. 1 in the US. It was then included on the May 1969 album Stand! that was a big hit for the group (and considered their best album).
Away from that, bassist and baritone singer Larry Graham claimed this was the first song to include the first use of the slap bass technique (striking a thumb over a string so it hits the fret for a clunk noise). It became popular in funk not soon after. That’s what Mr. Graham claims, at least, but who are we to disagree?
His deep baritone signing range is bloody rad, by the way.
As is everyone’s on this most excellent song. The usual focus for the band, moving from one singer to the next, working well as a unit, making a timeless classic. Thank you kindly.
Live Versions of Everyday People (big up Harlem)
Everyday People has a big moment in the Summer of Soul documentary, really lifting an already fantastic time of it with a brilliant performance by the band. It’s brought to life in vivid colour for the documentary, so very much indeed recommended viewing.
It’s that performance from Summer of Soul that really put us onto the band.
The band was very busy in 1969, soon after the Harlem Cultural Festival performing at Woodstock. There’s also this recording of them, but we couldn’t find information for what this show was.
Then there’s this from The Ed Sullivan Show on 29th December 1968.
Again, everyone very dressed in psychedelic fashion. They blast thought a shorter version of Everyday People, then mosey on into Dance to the Music. which was another big hit for the band. And you get to hear Sly Stone’s brother Freddie singing (also possessing an amazing voice), along with Larry Graham’s deep baritone.
We’re not sure why, but Rose Stone always wore either a blonde or silver wig for the live performances. Are guess? Perhaps to keep in with the psychedelic image of the band, as they did dress in bright and flamboyant colours.
Just to note, too, on the legacy of the song… someone called Cher did a cover of it with American rapper Future. That was in 2017, but TikTok rediscovered it in 2025 and it went viral (as the kids say). We had a listen to it and found it so godawful as a noise we’re not including it here.
However, Rolling Stone magazine did rank Everyday People as the 145th greatest song of all time in 2004 (as part of a big bumper 500 Greatest Songs of All Time issue).
They bumped it up to 109th for the 2021 list. Bonus!
