This is my last Woodstock Experience review. While I enjoyed listening to all the other four sets, Sly’s set surpasses any of them, and there is more than one reason why. First and foremost Sly & The Family Stone know how to party! If you have never heard or possessed their fourth album “Stand”, that is another reason for you to check out this compilation. More importantly, the Woodstock disc is a proof of their ability to interact with the audience. Even though Sly and his band took the stage at an early hour of the second Woodstock day (3:30 on Sunday morning), you can hear the festival attendees sing along enthusiastically during Sly’s entire performance, and you can almost picture them dancing to the basslines, beats, and horns.
 
The transitions from one song to the next flow very well. For instance, the change from the most well-known song “Everyday People”, a great unity song, to “Dance To The Music” is so uninterrupted and smooth that it feels like people were able to keep singing and dancing. The band occasionally changes tempo from slow to fast, then goes back to slow, and this technique makes the songs sound like a journey.There is only one small setback for this great live album. Every so often you may have a little trouble hearing the backup singers, but this is really a very minor issue.
 
Each song has addictive and catchy tunes, but Sly fires up the crowd even further with “I Want To Take You Higher”. Although this is not a DVD, it is easy to imagine their eccentric appearance. Co-producer Michael Lang said it best: “They were the most colorfully dressed act on the bill and they came dressed to party”.  The festival attendees were certainly entertained by Sly & The Family Stone’s music and stage performance.
 
I find some answers in the Woodstock Experience series as to why we are still talking about this festival. Many songs not only reflect the time period, but there are also messages in the lyrics that we all can appreciate and be inspired. There is no need to be philosophical, political or religious to enjoy this Woodstock music, and you will definitely feel spiritual joy and energy from it. Among the five Woodstock Experience sets, I think that the Sly & The Family Stone CDs seem to include all the elements (peace, love and music) that became a defining moment of the Woodstock generation. I feel that this set is not just music, but also a piece of pop culture history. I had a fun time listening to it, and hope you will too.