(The Hit Hammer is where I'm reviewing each #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100. Starting from when the chart started in 1958 and eventually working my way to the present. To see my inspiration and more information about this blog, please CLICK HERE)
Sly & the Family Stone - "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)"
Hit Number 1: February 14, 1970
Stay at Number 1: 2 Weeks
1970 was not the greatest time for Sly Stone. In the fall of 1969, him and the rest of his band moved to the Los Angeles area, and they were all hooked on drugs. These were hardcore drugs too, and Stone became the worst of the whole group. He couldn't go anywhere without taking a violin case with him that contained illegal drugs. He also missed a third of the band's concerts in 1970. He hired gangsters to be his bodyguards, and thought his own bandmates were his enemies at times. It was a train wreck, and while Stone is still alive at the time of me writing this, he never really recovered from it. Yet in the midst of the wreck, the band somehow recorded and released their second #1 hit.
"Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" is an intentional mondegreen, which normally would be spelled as "for letting me be myself again." Along with "Everybody Is a Star" and "Hot Fun in the Summertime," the three songs were intended to be included on an album that was in progress, but it was never completed. (Possibly because of the band's aforementioned drug issues) But the three songs would still be released on the band's Greatest Hits album in 1970. "Hot Fun in the Summertime" was the first of those songs to be released as a single, and it made it to #2 on the Hot 100, ironically in the fall of 1969 instead of the summer time. (It's an 8) Meanwhile, "Thank You" was released as a double A-side with "Everybody Is a Star", and the two songs together became the second double A-side record to hit #1. (The first being the Beatles' "Come Together"/"Something")
"Everybody Is a Star" is a sleepy funk drag, and I've always thought it was one of the band's more lackluster songs. (It's a 3) But the main song that was featured on the release, and the reason why this record even hit #1, was "Thank You". "Thank You" was a little bit of a departure from what Sly & the Family Stone were doing in the past. The band usually did psychedelic soul stompers, with little bits of funk thrown in there to give those songs more flavor. "Thank You" is pure funk. There's nothing psychedelic about it. The band were also known for their songs that dealt with real world issues at the time, just like their previous #1 hit in 1969 with "Everyday People". "Thank You" deals with those a little in the last verse, but it seems to me like the band just scribbled down some words that sounded good together, and they came up with "Thank You". I'm not sure what the point of the mondegreen is, but to each their own.
"Thank You" is a much better song than "Everybody Is a Star", but that doesn't mean it has no flaws. The biggest of those flaws is that it's repetitive as hell. I'm just kind of over the thing 3 minutes into the song. The chorus doesn't shout in your face like "Everyday People", and there isn't anything here that excites me too much. However, there is some good musical production that I have to appreciate. First, that bass line slaps. The horns are undeniably smooth. The band sings together in unison like they're the cool kids on the block, but honestly, anyone can sound cool with a bass line like that. The song isn't anything too special, but as far as a well-oiled funk machine goes, I'd say it does the trick.
After "Thank You", Stone would continue to fight his drug addiction for the rest of the year, but would become sober enough to create one last #1 hit with the Family Stone. In other words, we'll hear from Sly & the Family Stone again in this blog.
GRADE: 6/10
JUST MISSED:
Eddie Holman's Stylistics rip off "Hey There Lonely Girl" peaked at #2 behind "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)". I'm sorry, but Holman's voice really annoys me in this song. It's a 2.
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