Though it failed to achieve the commercial success of its follow-up, DANCE TO THE MUSIC, Sly & The Family Stone's debut album established a precedent for a new blend of rock, soul, and funk. This was ground zero for a new generation of progressive R&B. Led by the assertive vocals and soulful keyboard work of Sly, the band pumped out energetic, horn-driven grooves that combined the propulsion of Motown with the socially relevant lyrics and hard-edged electricity of late-'60s rock and roll. The opening cut, "Underdog," establishes Sly as a spokesman for the downtrodden, but the booty-shaking groove that carries the song provides the kind of dichotomy between intellectual rage and irresistible funk that was at the heart of the band's finest work.