Play That Funky Music

Frontman Rob Parissi wanted to write a hit song, and his plan was to copy from the best. He read Billboard magazine, which charts the hit songs. When it arrived each week, he would pick out a song or two to copy, making it just different enough to avoid getting sued....

Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)

Sly Stone’s funky masterpiece went straight to number one on the charts in 1970. In retrospect, the groove maintained by bassist Larry Graham and drummer Gregg Errico seems like a logical extension of what James Brown had been doing for a few years, with the...