This week I’m throwing a double shot of Throwback Thursday Jams to honor the passing this week of two legends who pioneered funk, soul and rock in immeasurable ways. Sly Stone and Brian Wilson. Geniuses not only in their respective genres, but fearless innovators who molded the future of music latched onto and made further imperative through future icons like Prince and Radiohead.

Get yourself revved up in remembrance by this popping live rendition of “I Want to Take You Higher” by Sly and the Family Stone. By live, I mean live, no synching, played there in the studio, with Sly and Rose Stone literally taking it to Ed Sullivan’s gleeful, clapping audience. This clip alone stands as a celebration of the man’s life and music and his mission to flower power the masses with social-minded, rump shaking funk.

Though “I Get Around” is my favorite Beach Boys song and they have scores of breezy, jumpy numbers which were staples for decades, I chose to tip my hat to Brian Wilson with his fervent and melancholic “God Only Knows,” perhaps his greatest singular masterpiece. From the Pet Sounds album, which has rightfully ascended to a place of prominence in history, an album once vilified by some. If you know the legend, Wilson felt a quiet competition with The Beatles, with whom he was friends. Upon hearing their masters for Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band, Wilson was that devastated by their game-changing art, he was compelled to experiment in similar fashion with Pet Sounds.

Rest in power, Sly and Brian.

–Ray Van Horn, Jr.