Sly & the Family Stone: Thank You (Falletime Be Mice Elf Agin)

Happy Thanksgiving. Today, my last Thanksgiving related song is Sly and the Family Stone’s "Thank you (Falletime Be Mice Elf Agin)." As on Thursdays I feature songs that have a TV connection – today’s song was recently used for a Subway commercial.

The song with the creative title spelling was a double sided hit (with “Everybody is a Star”) was released in December 1960 and both songs charted at #1 in 1970. Both tunes appeared on the “Greatest Hits” LP released on Epic in 1970. In its list of the top 500 songs of all time, Rolling Stone listed this song at number 402.

It has been thought by some to be the first funk recording; however, I am really not certain if it deserves this accolade – I might lean towards some of James Brown’s records that predated this release. There may be others even before Brown that may be considered as “funk.” One thing is certain, bass player Larry Graham created an often Imitated style of playing the bass. His popping attack (which he terms as “thumpin’ and plunkin’) changed the way the instrument has been played ever since.

Not much today, as I hope to get a heavy dose of tryptophan – but not before I hit the caffeine. Have a Happy Thanksgiving and “Thank you (Falletime Be Mice Elf Agin).”