"Small Talk" is the seventh studio album by American rock band Sly and the Family Stone. Released on July 1974 by Epic Records, it marked a stylized departure from the band's previous, highly successful funk sound and the beginning of its gradual decline in popularity. The tracks in the album incorporate a more relaxed and laidback style compared to the band's previous works, reflecting a change in the musical landscape.
The band's line-up during this album included Sly Stone, Rose Stone, Cynthia Robinson, Jerry Martini, Pat Rizzo, Freddie Stone, and Rusty Allen, who was the new bassist replacing Larry Graham. The album boasts of tracks like "Time for Livin'," which was one of the successful songs off the album, reaching the Top 40 charts. "Loose Booty," another popular track, has since been sampled by a multitude of artists over the decades.
Although "Small Talk" was certified gold shortly after its release, it did not replicate the success of the band's preceding albums. It also received mixed reviews, with some critics observing a slump in Sly and the Family Stone's creativity. Despite this, the album remains a unique part of the band's discography. It captures a pivotal period for the band, where they were trying to adapt to changing musical trends while also dealing with internal issues.
