If there was ever a competition to find the funkiest funkster in Funkville, then Sly Stone would be in the final funk-off, probably with George Clinton and Bootsy Collins.

Joining them in the semi-finals of that unofficial Funk World Cup would surely be Sly’s own bass player Larry Graham. And this might be his calling card.

Here’s Larry, showcasing his nimble “slap and pop” technique: something so simple that you could try it at home. But would you have the funk that Larry brings to it? Would your thumb be up to the task? No sir, you would not.

More of a jam than a fully-fledged song, and more of a mondegreen than a song title, Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) is a simple groove that would make even the dead start twitching and jerking.

As Craig Charles would say, it’s a party in your ears. And if it doesn’t get you moving your ears are dead.

The vocals are shared around the whole crew of Sly, Rose and guitarist Freddie Stone, trumpeter Cynthia Robinson, sax player Jerry Martini, bassist Larry Graham and even drummer Greg Errico.

Growing up in Texas and moving to San Francisco with revolution in the air in the late Sixties, Sly Stone was the Prince of his day, his band all about integration physically, politically and musically.

Sly & The Family Stone harnessed the social and political agenda of the civil rights movement to a signature sound blending soul, rock, psychedelia, funk and R&B into this infectious fusion.

And they looked as cool as… well, cool as funk.