Unlike its predecessor, Dance to the Music, Life was not a commercial success, although it has received mostly positive reviews from music critics over the years. Many of its songs, including "M'Lady", "Fun", "Love City", as well as the title track, became popular staples in the Family Stone's live show. A middle ground between the fiery A Whole New Thing and the more commercial Dance to the Music, Life features very little use of studio effects, and is instead more driven by frontman Sly Stone's compositions. Topics for the album's songs include the dating scene ("Dynamite!", "Chicken", "M'Lady"), groupies ("Jane is a Groupee"), and "plastic" (or "fake") people (the Beatlesque "Plastic Jim", which references "Eleanor Rigby" in its chorus). Of particular note is that the Family Stone's main themes of unity and integration are explored here in several songs ("Fun", "Harmony", "Life", and "Love City"). The next Family Stone LP, Stand!, would focus almost exclusively on these topics.
The 24 September issue of Cash Box suggests that the album was issued in a 7" album format (cat Epic 26397). The reviewer said that Sly & the Family Stone had emerged as one of the most popular groups to jukebox audiences across the US. The reviewer said that the group came across better live but the songs on the disc, "Chicken", "Harmony", "Fun", "Into My Own Thing", "Love City" and "M’Lady" should excite spots from coast to coast.[11]
Released in the UK as M'Lady on the Direction label, the album was reviewed by Melody Maker in the UK magazine's 18 January 1969 issue. Reviewer Chris Welch gave it a positive review with emphasis on the appeal being more for those who like discotheque excitement rather than for those who like their pop subtle or progressive. He finished off with, "if you like balling, you won't miss out on this."[12]
It was reviewed in the 8 February 1969 issue of UK magazine Record Mirror. It was given four stars. After mentioning the liner notes by Rosko and how he was in favor of the "all-out attacking music of this violent group", the reviewer said that there was no room for delicacy when Sly & the Family Stone were on the move. The reviewer also said that the group went for the party atmosphere and hammer everything in sight. It may have been a bit strong on the ear for the reviewer, but the dancing value was mentioned.[13]
↑ Hanson, Michael Stephen (2004). People Get Ready: Race, Place and Political Identity in Post-civil Rights Black Popular Music, 1965-1975. UC Berkeley. p.124.
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