Editing Sly and the Family Stone (section)

=== ''Fresh'' (1973) and ''Small Talk'' (1974) ===
Despite the loss of the original rhythm section and Sly's escalating cocaine use, the band's next album, ''[[Fresh (Sly and the Family Stone album)|Fresh]]'', was released in 1973. By this time, Sly's sound had become more stripped down, yet more [[syncopation|syncopated]] and rhythmically complex.<ref name="ErlewineFresh">Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r18265|pure_url=yes}} Review for ''Fresh'' by Sly and the Family Stone]. All Music Guide. Retrieved on January 18, 2007.</ref> Sly obsessively overdubbed the [[master recording|masters]], as he had done with ''Riot''.<ref>Selvin, Joel (1998), pp. 164–167.</ref> Although the record received mixed reviews at its release and did not attract the attention enjoyed by the band's earlier work, ''Fresh'' has become recognized as one of the most important funk albums ever made.<ref name="ErlewineFresh" /> Rose Stone sang lead on a gospel-styled [[cover version|cover]] of [[Doris Day]]'s "[[Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Qué Será, Será)|Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)]]", and the single "[[If You Want Me to Stay]]" became a Top 20 hit in the U.S.<ref name="BillboardCharts" /> Its follow-up, ''[[Small Talk (Sly and the Family Stone album)|Small Talk]]'', was released in 1974 to mixed reviews and low sales.<ref>Selvin, Joel (1998), p. 174.</ref><ref>[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p5460/charts-awards/billboard-albums|pure_url=yes}} Sly and the Family Stone: Billboard Singles]. All Media Guide, LLC. (2006). Retrieved on February 4, 2007.</ref> The first ''Small Talk'' single, "Time For Livin'", became the band's final Top 40 hit single. "Loose Booty", the second single, peaked at No. 84.