Dance to the Music (song)

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Dance to the Music is a 1967 hit single by the American soul and funk band Sly and the Family Stone. It was released on Epic Records (and CBS in some markets) on November 17, 1967, with the B-side “Let Me Hear It From You.” Written and produced by Sly Stone, the song later appeared on the band’s 1968 album Dance to the Music and runs about three minutes.

The song helped push Sly and the Family Stone into the pop spotlight. It was their first Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 8, and it popularized a new, adventurous sound often described as psychedelic soul. The track features four co-lead singers from a mixed-race band, with a blend of rock guitar, a funky bassline by Larry Graham, tight drums by Greg Errico, gospel-style organ, and brass by Cynthia Robinson and Jerry Martini. It opens with an energetic shout urging listeners to “get up … and dance to the music,” followed by an a cappella splash before the verses begin. The lyrics are simple and self-referential, introducing band members by name, and it even includes the line “Ride, Sally, Ride,” a nod to Wilson Pickett’s Mustang Sally.

Legacy and influence: Dance to the Music helped define psychedelic soul and inspired many other artists, including The Temptations, whose hit Cloud Nine drew on a similar sound. The song is regarded as one of the era’s most influential tracks and contributed to the rise of funk. It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998, and Rolling Stone later listed it among the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (No. 223).

Certifications: In the United States, the single was certified Gold by the RIAA (500,000 units sold, including streaming equivalents as of certification).

Personnel (brief): Sly Stone (vocals, Hammond organ), Freddie Stone (vocals, guitar), Larry Graham (vocals, bass), Cynthia Robinson (trumpet, ad-libs), Jerry Martini (saxophone, clarinet), Greg Errico (drums). Written and produced by Sly Stone.