I Want to Take You Higher

Recorded by Sly & The Family Stone during the sessions for Stand! with the group's integrated lineup under the direction of Sly Stone. The track was cut in California and featured the band's signature combination of rock, soul and rhythmic ensemble interplay. Released in 1969, the song became one of the group's defining statements and gained enormous visibility through their performance at Woodstock. Its escalating groove and audience-participation structure helped establish the band as one of the era's most influential live acts. The track remains a cornerstone of popular music and has been widely sampled, covered and performed. Its chant-driven arrangement and explosive energy influenced generations of funk, rock, hip-hop and dance artists.