Throughout his almost 50-year career, funk pioneer Sly Stone has overcome plenty: rock stardom, drug addiction, legal battles, racial tensions, band turmoil, and the 1970′s, just to name a few. After taking a three decade hiatus — his last album being 1982′s solo effort, Ain’t But The One Way — Stone, along with his backing band The Family Stone, returns with the aptly titled, I’m Back! Family & Friends, on August 16th (via Cleopatra Records). The long awaited follow-up includes three previously unreleased songs and reworkings of past hits, many featuring some of Stone’s famous friends.

The album’s first cut is a remix of Stone’s breakout single, “Dance To The Music”, which pairs the legend alongside acclaimed keyboardist Ray Manzarek (of The Doors). Other familiar faces include Heart frontwoman Ann Wilson, guitarist Jeff Beck, and fellow funk rocker Bootsy Collins, all contributing to alternate versions of prior releases like “Everyday People” and “Hot Fun In The Summertime”. For those of you looking to soundtrack the late night, however, I’m Back will also include three club mixes on the CD version.

The album’s tracklist is posted below, as is the original version of “Dance To The Music”. So good.

“Dance To The Music”

I’m Back! Family and Friends Tracklist:
01. Dance To The Music (feat. Ray Manzarek)
02. Everyday People (feat. Ann Wilson)
03. Family Affair
04. Stand! (feat. Carmine Appice & Ernie Watts)
05. Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) (feat. Johnny Winter)
06. (I Want To Take You) Higher (feat. Jeff Beck)
07. Hot Fun In The Summertime (feat. Bootsy Collins)
08. Dance To The Music
09. Plain Jane
10. His Eye Is On The Sparrow
11. Get Away