Dance to the Music

Dance to the Music came about because Clive Davis wanted something more pop-friendly after the poor sales of A Whole New Thing. Sly devised a formula that still carried his ideas about peace, brotherhood and anti-racism, with each lead singer in the band sharing the vocals, either together or in turns, plus scat singing and solos for each instrumentalist. The band itself did not think highly of the record while making it.

The album includes the first Epic single, "Higher", later reworked as "I Want to Take You Higher", and a rerecording of "I Ain't Got Nobody", from the band's one release on Loadstone Records. Side one closes with a medley of "Music Is Alive", "Dance In" and "Music Lover". Exceptions to the formula include the more sober "Color Me True", Sly's solo number "Don't Burn Baby" and a slow ballad, "I'll Never Fall in Love Again", sung by Larry Graham.

The formula sold records and spread through the industry. By the end of 1968 the Temptations had gone psychedelic, and the Impressions and the Four Tops followed within two years.