Nearly 60 years after it was recorded, a legendary Sly & the Family Stone performance is about to reach fans for the first time. High Moon Records has announced the upcoming July 18 release of “The First Family: Live at Winchester Cathedral 1967,” a live album capturing an early club gig by Sly & the Family Stone at a Bay Area venue in 1967. Taped in the wee hours of March 26, 1967 at the Winchester Cathedral club in Redwood City, California – where the genre-blending band served as house band – the recording is the earliest known live concert of Sly Stone’s groundbreaking group.
For decades, the Winchester Cathedral tapes were a mere rumor among collectors. The show was recorded by the band’s first manager, Rich Romanello, then shelved when Sly & the Family Stone signed with Epic Records later that year. The analog reels sat in storage for 35 years until being rediscovered by archivists in 2002, and have now been painstakingly restored for official release. Portions of the performance even appeared in Questlove’s acclaimed 2025 documentary “Sly Lives!”, highlighting its historical importance. The setlist features the Family Stone’s electrifying early renditions of vintage soul covers and originals – a raw, energetic snapshot of a group on the verge of superstardom just a year before their 1968 breakthrough “Dance to the Music.”
Fans got a sneak peek when a live medley of “I Gotta Go Now/Funky Broadway” from the album hit streaming services this week, showcasing the band’s explosive onstage chemistry. Producer Alex Palao, who oversaw the restoration, says the recordings “showcase a one-of-a-kind outfit already at the peak of its powers, long before it became internationally famous.” Sly Stone’s charisma and command are on full display, with “tighter-than-tight ensemble playing” that clearly foreshadows the revolutionary funk sound the band would soon unleash on the world.
Originally issued in limited quantity on vinyl for Record Store Day earlier this year – and selling out instantly – the Winchester 1967 live recording will now get a wide release on CD, vinyl and digital formats. The album package includes a deluxe booklet with liner notes by Palao and new interviews with Sly Stone and original band members, providing context for this slice of music history. As a bonus, the CD edition adds the group’s rendition of Otis Redding’s “Try a Little Tenderness.” With the album available for pre-order now, at long last devotees of Sly & the Family Stone can hear the raw magic of the band’s early days – a vintage live moment finally stepping into the spotlight after decades in the vault.
