A Whole New Thing (Sly and the Family Stone album)

A Whole New Thing is the debut studio album by the American rock, funk, and soul band Sly and the Family Stone, released in 1967 on Epic Records. While not initially a commercial success, failing to chart in the Billboard Top 200, it is considered a foundational album in the development of the band's signature sound, blending elements of soul, rock, R&B, and funk.

The album showcases the band's innovative and multicultural lineup, a rarity at the time, and their collective songwriting abilities. It features several original compositions, primarily written or co-written by Sly Stone. The tracks explore themes of love, social commentary, and celebration, often incorporating psychedelic influences.

A Whole New Thing is notable for its raw and energetic production, which contrasts with the more polished sound of their later, more commercially successful albums. It demonstrates the band's early experimentation with unconventional song structures and instrumental arrangements. Songs like "I Ain't Got Nobody (For Real)" and the title track, "A Whole New Thing," are considered precursors to the funk sound that Sly and the Family Stone would later perfect.

While overshadowed by the band's later hits, A Whole New Thing is appreciated by music historians and fans as an important and influential album that laid the groundwork for Sly and the Family Stone's groundbreaking contributions to popular music.