Slippery Sly kept us waiting thirty minutes before he appeared on stage. I can't remember now if it was raining or not, as I have heard it was at Woodstock when he took to the stage at midnight. His band of crack musicians (none of the original members, save Cynthia Robinson on the trumpet) played some great versions of his songs, from the opening intrumental version of "In Time" to an inspired, gospel-tinged "Hot Fun In The Summertime".
Sly was missing during all of this. By the time they played "Somebody's Watching You" I wondered if he would make it at all. When he finally apeared there was a ripple of excitment amongst those of us who still cared, and the whiff of bemusement from those who were just confused. Sly looked almost crippled, the angle of his head at a permenant slant, which meant his close up was an awesome spectacle on the big screen. Collar up and sunglasses, and I was thinking is that really him? However, he really performed on "sing a simple song", coming downstage and attacking the vocals in a rush that was funny and visably worrying for his felow bandmates. I recognised the grin, and realise in hindsight, I was really enjoying this. He blew kisses to the band and his sister who looked concerned during his movements downstage. The best moment was a heartfelt "If You Want Me To Stay" that was unmistakably Sly!! Then he announced "I need a pee, I'll be right back" and was gone. The band carried on without him as they had done before, and then he was back for "Want to take you Higher", "Stand" and that was it. 15 minutes tops (including the break). There were boos and no encore, no "Family Affair". Sly's breif appearence was dramatic and strange, but unforgetable for this stoner.
