Sly & The Family Stone Tear Through “I Can’t Turn You Loose”

Written By: Big C

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Breathless, blistering, and way ahead of its time. Sly & The Family Stone weren’t waiting for the world to catch up—and on I Can’t Turn You Loose, they didn’t hold anything back. Originally a hit from Otis Redding, the iconic 1967 cover offers a furious, funk-laced take on the classic, recorded live in a smoke-filled California club before anyone outside the Bay had a clue what was coming. Built on driving drums, bold horns, and Sly’s unmistakable command, this version of “I Can’t Turn You Loose” is a declaration. Pushing past the Stax original’s urgency, The Family Stone let loose with blistering energy, wild precision, and a groove that refuses to be contained. Drummer Greg Errico said:

I think it was one of the early ones in development, and you're trying different things out. That song just happened to be there at that time.

Captured during a residency at Winchester Cathedral, the track marks the band’s earliest known live recording, finally released via High Moon Records as part of The First Family: Live at Winchester Cathedral 1967. The release comes with a meticulously restored audio from a once-forgotten analog tape, now revitalized with modern mastering and packed into a deluxe package featuring rare photos, interviews with all original members, and liner notes from producer Alec Palao. Paired with a brand-new official music video for “I Can’t Turn You Loose,” and stream the single now to experience the raw brilliance of a band on the brink of revolution.

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