This is a bit like The Chi-Lites or perhaps The Dramatics; this sort of song was common in about 1970 or so. The backing vocalists provided too many intrusive jarring stops and starts for my taste.
The Lost Generation were from Chicago. "The Sly, Slick, And The Wicked" apparently obtained its inspiration from the title of the film The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly. It reached #30 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Subsequent single releases made the lower reaches of the Billboard R&B chart but didn't make a dent on the pop charts. The Lost Generation broke up in 1974; one of its members, Fred Simon, now sings bass vocals for the Chi-Lites.
Created January 10, 2026.