Driving home on a beautiful summer day, the radio played a song that instantly brought a smile. It was “Hot Fun In The Summertime” by Sly and the Family Stone, a true classic from 1969. There’s something about Sly Stone’s music that’s just pure joy, and this track is the perfect embodiment of summer vibes. Listening to that infectious chorus, a few musical echoes started to ring in my mind, connecting this iconic tune to some surprising places in rock history.
It wasn’t long before the first connection popped up: Led Zeppelin’s “Fool in the Rain” from their 1979 album, In Through the Out Door. Listen to them back to back, and the similarity is undeniable. Could it be just coincidence? It’s hard to believe that those legendary English rockers hadn’t spent some time grooving to Sly and the Family Stone by the late ’70s.
The musical journey didn’t stop there. As “Hot Fun In The Summertime” continued to play, another song surfaced in my memory bank: Genesis’ “Misunderstanding” from their 1980 album Duke. Again, the resemblance is striking. Here were more English musicians, this time fronted by a drummer, Phil Collins, seemingly drawing inspiration from a band with a distinctly funky American sound, possibly even filtered through the influence of Led Zeppelin’s own interpretation. The coincidences were piling up.
But the most direct link comes from Toto’s “Hold the Line,” also released in 1979 on their self-titled debut album Toto. This connection isn’t just a matter of similar rhythm; it’s been confirmed by the source itself. Jeff Porcaro, Toto’s renowned drummer, explicitly stated his inspiration:
That was me trying to play like Sly Stone’s original drummer, Greg Errico, who played drums on “Hot Fun In The Summertime.” The hi-hat is doing triplets, the snare drum is playing 2 and 4 backbeats, and the bass drum is on 1 and the & of 2. That 8th note on the second beat is an 8th-note triplet feel, pushed. When we did the tune, I said, “Gee, this is going to be a heavy four-on-the-floor rocker, but we want a Sly groove.” The triplet groove of the tune was David’s writing. It was taking the Sly groove and meshing it with a harder rock caveman approach. – Modern Drummer Magazine, 1988
Porcaro’s quote makes it clear: the “Sly groove” of “Hot Fun In The Summertime,” pioneered by Greg Errico, was a deliberate influence on “Hold the Line.” Given that Genesis were contemporaries of Toto, and the studio musician scene is tightly knit, it’s highly plausible they were also aware of Toto’s sound and, by extension, Sly Stone’s original groove.
There’s no accusation of outright plagiarism here. Musical inspiration is a complex web, and artists often build upon the foundations laid by their predecessors. But listening to these songs side-by-side, it becomes clear that Sly and the Family Stone’s “Hot Fun In The Summertime” left an indelible mark on the musical landscape, its infectious groove resonating through generations of artists. It’s a reminder of Sly Stone’s innovative genius and the enduring power of a truly great summer anthem.
