There's A Riot Goin' On
Sly & The Family Stone
1971
Album Summary
There's a Riot Goin' On (sometimes referred to as Riot) is the fifth studio album by American funk and soul band Sly and the Family Stone. It was recorded from 1970 to 1971 at Record Plant Studios in Sausalito, California and released later that year on November 1 by Epic Records. The recording was dominated by band frontman Sly Stone during a period of elevated drug use and intra-group tension. With the album, Sly and the Family Stone departed from the optimistic psychedelic soul of their previous music and explored a darker, more challenging sound, employing edgy funk rhythms, primitive drum machines, extensive overdubbing, and a dense mix. Conceptually and lyrically, There's a Riot Goin' On embraced apathy, pessimism, and disillusionment with both Stone's fame and 1960s counterculture amid a turbulent political climate in the United States at the turn of the 1970s, influenced by the decline of the civil rights movement and the rise of the Black Power movement. The album's title was originally planned to be Africa Talks to You, but it changed in response to Marvin Gaye's album What's Going On (1971), released six months before Riot.A commercial success, There's a Riot Goin' On topped the Billboard Pop Album and Soul Album charts, while its lead single "Family Affair" reached number-one on the Pop Singles chart. The album was eventually certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales of at least one million copies in the US. Originally released to mixed reviews, the album has since been praised as one of the greatest and most influential recordings of all time, having impacted the funk, jazz-funk, and hip hop genres in particular. It ranks frequently and highly in many publications' best-album lists, including Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time", on which it placed 99th in 2003 and 82nd in 2020.
Wikipedia“There’s a Riot Goin’ On” by Sly and the Family Stone (1971) Never heard this album, but very familiar with SFS through radio airplay and their “Greatest Hits” album of 1970. This album is very good music qua music. Listen to the LYRICS. Deeply introspective personal reflection plus insightful social commentary without being hortatory. This album represents a development from the popular funk of the early SFS. Excellent, beautiful, soulful funk, executed by extraordinarily talented musicians and vocalists, but much more serious than their previous work (although there’s some great comic relief in “Spaced Cowboy “, where we’re treated to a funked-up country piece complete with Sly Stone yodeling the chorus. Yodeling. I shit you not). Experimental musical sounds and recording technique—very well crafted (although there’s an annoying level of tape hiss due to overdubbing—one of the shortcomings of analog). This is a good demonstration of the art of the studio album. Meant to be listened to without distractions. Not party music. Bass bends and guitar wah unsurpassed. Especially on “Africa Talks to You”. Trumpet and sax understated, but effective coloring. The title track “There’s a Riot Goin’ On” is four seconds of silence. This is so profound for 1971. There were many riots in America 1966-1970. But in May 1970, National Guard troops fired on demonstrators at Kent State University, killing four. Fewer riots after that. The years 1971-1976 were a relatively quiet time for civil unrest in America. Not that there wasn’t anything to riot over. It’s hard to imagine a Daft Punk without SFS funk (listen to “Family Affair” and compare to “Get Lucky”). But SFS is heavier and more evocative. Elaborate vocal stylings, but lacking the endearing ‘silliness’ of their earlier work. “Thank You for Talking to Me, Africa” is a dark reset of their earlier hit “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)", which itself features a pastiche of titles of their previous hits. Sort of an SFS diary entry that reviews previous entries, with a more mature perspective. Africa begins to talk to SFS, and they (and we) are listening. Throughout the album, the lyrics reflect deep levels of meaning, expressing the emerging self awareness of Black America. I’m no expert on this, but it seems that this album should have been a huge influence on young urban artists who would go on to produce the hip hop genre. Here SFS grows into an assertive voice, instead of a merely entertaining voice. Sorry I didn’t listen to this when I was young. Very glad I listened to it before I die. 4/5
Funky, dark, and ahead of its time. It’s at once dense and really loose and free. I feel like I need to go back andre-listen a few more times to really be able to assess it — but I’m sure I will. Favourite track: Family Affair
So I know I've listened to this before but not recently, maybe the other times I wasn't paying real close attention because I never noticed that the "title track" was just four seconds of silence. I was prepared to go on here and warn other Spotify listeners in the U.S. about the track being missing. I'm glad I did a little research because that would have been embarrassing. Anyway, great druggy funk album, one of the best I've heard, five stars.
Oh man, I think I just fell in love... It's funny cause I've listened to this album before and enjoyed it and everything, but for some reason, listening to it tonight, this album just absolutely knocked me out. Maybe it's because we're now two years into a global pandemic, in a time of increased social unrest/polarization, and quite possibly on the brink of World War III, but this album is really speaking to me right now (in a way it didn't a few years ago when I listened to it last). There is so much I love about this album but the thing that impresses me most is probably its casualness and playfulness. It's so loose and laid back that it somehow comes back around to coming across as cocky and confident to me. Like the genius just rolls out of him so naturally and effortlessly regardless of his mood. He doesn't have to be "on" to express the truth. Some real honesty here. And that's the other thing I really appreciate about this album: that it captures these states of mind that are not often put into songs, especially at the time it came out. Really shows you that funk isn't all just feel good party jams and I appreciate that. Another thing that I appreciate is the incorporation of the drum machines. Not only is this album an absolute pillar of funk, but it's the album that pretty much single handedly legitimized the use of drum machines in popular music - so I have to give my thanks for that. All that and the mysteriously murky mix give the album a very distinct sound which, to my ear, keeps it a surprisingly fresh and intriguing listen after all these years.
Sly & The Family Stone were one of the more formative bands for me as a bassplayer. I used to pick apart their basslines along with Parliment Funkadelic, Graham Central Station, Mandrill, War and more. They were instrumental in me understanding the idea of "the pocket" as a player. That said, this is NOT Sly's best album by a long shot. It's rough and unfocused. While the great musicianship that one would expect is still on display, the vocals show the strain of a completely drug-addled frontman. The result is a chaotic, fragmented mess of an album. Great band, not such a great album, sadly.
Heard that song Family Affair before loads - no idea it was them, a classic. Rest of album was ok, didn't grab me though
I don't think I have the full context of musical history to appreciate what was new and exciting about this group or album, however I did enjoy it.
I couldn’t get into it, first song was very energetic but after that I’m not sure why the songs felt like background music nothing really grabbed my attention. On to the next one!
Background music. Couldn't get into it - probably something to listen to again when I'm in a funkier mood. Also, I hate talking about "production and mixing" because it makes me look like this emoji -> 🤓, but the production on the Spotify version is kind of outdated I think - a remaster would be nice!
A post-Summer of Love wake up call, I can hear so much of 90's hip-hop in Sly's funky beats. A dark detour from what I normally associate with the band's sound, I really need to listen to this one more.
This album is one of the absolute greatest albums of all time, maybe top 50 material. This album changed my life before I ever listened to it. Virtually everything I love about music has some Sly in it in some way or another. Timeless. TIMELESS. Groove. Sex appeal. Funk. Slap bass. VOCALS. Guitars. Melody. Harmony. This album has everything I want in an album.
Cynicism, defeat, despair and excessive drug taking never sounded so soulfully funky and appealing.
Such a great record. As someone like me who isn't well versed in many of the classics, it's a treat to hear some many of the original sounds that are so we'll sampled in today's music. Obviously Sly & Co. have had such an impactful effect on so many of my favorite artists.
I never knew how much I'd love funk until 1001 albums so I'm grateful for that. I really dig how comparatively dark and contemplative this album is to the other funk I've heard too. Adding it to the "need on vinyl" list.
Funky as hell and I really liked it. Got me into the genre and I am digging the fuck out of it.
Laid-back, slow, druggy groove, tired-vocal sounding but also very funky. Heavy bass mix, crawling, sketchy guitar. One album where you hear its influence on a lot of later 70's funk. Some legendary musicians- Billy Preston, Bobby Womack, Ike Turner. There was a lot of the recording of this album on The Apple TV 1971 music documentary: heavy drug use - Sly unbelievably would record over previously recorded songs, The Dick Cavett interview. Regardless, some incredible music - "Family Affair", "Runnin' Away."
An absolute favorite that grooves the entire album. It’s funky and soulful and has inspired so much of the music that I love listening to today. Had multiple songs I liked for future listening.
It's amazing that such an album exists. Darkly cynical, the grooves a hynpotic and yet you rarely feel at ease.
Marvin Gaye had asked "What's Goin' On"; a few months later, he had his answer. With a few exceptions, this is perhaps the murkiest, most drug-addled, most fucked up form of pop music in the 70s. No depth of hell would or could equate to whatever hell Sly Stone had conjured up from thin air (or whatever air that involved drugs). A defining statement that also became the beginning of the end, There's a Riot Goin' On is Sly's masterpiece.
Dark but the yodeling seals it for me. The quietest and probably the best funk/soul project I've heard. Not get-up-and-dance music, but mandatory-relisten music.
Made for a fun, funky time getting ready and cleaning up the house. I forgot how much I missed this kind of funk until I heard it again.
What a hot mess! How can someone come up with such brilliance while being totally fucked up? Spaced Cowboy is now my new favourite song of all time. Country funk is even more fun than country rap. This was already a five star album, but the last three songs belong in the stratosphere. I always thought that Parliament/Funkadelic had released the weirdest, and best, funk. But this is next level greatness. I could happily listen to the bass by itself.
This is arguably the strongest lineup the Family Stone has featured, including but not limited to such big names as Bobby Womack, Ike Turner and Larry Graham. The sound of this album hangs in the air, like a cloud of weed smoke on a hot, humid evening. It oozes soul. It massages your nerve endings. It'll sweep you away into it's abstract vision of a concrete jungle, down alleyways filled with stoners, mothers with infants, children playing, couples making out, hustlers hustling, and all the while demand nothing but a slight bop of your head along the journey.
The greatest weakness of this album is that the tracks cut too short. Doesn't matter how long the tracks are: 3 minutes, 5 minutes, 9 minutes... I wish they would go longer. After a 20 month break from their masterpiece Stand, they come back this dark, murky funk sound in the followup of the socially conscious What's Going On by Marvin Gaye. It's not a very accessible sound, with unconventional song structures that leave the audience wondering where the payoff is. That's partly why I feel all the songs are too short; even though that's not the case, you know there could be more to it. But it's one of those albums where it's about the journey and not the destination, and you start seeing the insanity behind the music. They're all talented musicians, and Sly gives a performance that I argue even beats James Brown. It makes for a great psychedelic experience. It's deep and complex, with instruments (and vocalists) controlled yet also seemingly doing their own thing. They abuse the overdubs and mixing so much that it can be a very fun and entrancing experience, fitting the genre so well that I wish more psychedelic funk bands existed and followed in their example. There are so many parts of the music to focus on. The intro track "Luv N Haight" is probably the best example of this, with the music almost feeling surreal how chaotic it sounds, instruments overlapping each other and the vocalists randomly coming in and out as if they think they're the spotlight. "Just Like a Baby" is one of the groovier tracks with such a pleasing, dark controlled sound to it. Everyone knows the pop hit "Family Affair", has some great solos and engages with the audience to sing along. By "Africa Talks to You", you're comfortable enough to can sit back and experience the music and pick out something new and strange every time. All the tracks are amazing, but it doesn't feel that way until you pay attention to each of them and see how uniquely strange they all are. We all have our personal favorites, like "You Caught Me Smilin" or "Runnin Away" (love the horns and cymbals!), but deep cuts like "Space Cowboy" and "Time" place me in different surreal settings, like a country yodeler in a sea of funkiness. The high vocal compression and rhythmic bass slapping and drum machine certainly contribute to the psychedelic trance. It's a really fitting closer to end with an extended darker version of their hit "Thank You."
5.0 + I don't know exactly how, but this record seems to just slink into a groove that grips you for its entire 47 minute run. I get an uncanny feeling in my chest that I'm listening to a band that somehow plugged into a transcendent higher power. The only other record in memory that gives me a similar impression is "Astral Weeks." As an aside, while I was listening my two small boys (2 and 4) came into the room at around the midway point and proceeded to dance through the album's entire second half.
Had no idea who the band was so based on the cover thought it would be rap(again). I was pleasantly surprised by very funky soul album. Loved it. I don’t think there’s any misses here! Favourite songs: Just Like A Baby, Family Affair, Thank You For Talkin’ To Me Africa
Another strong 4. Verry groovy, a couple 5-8 minute jams on here. Standout Tracks: Just Like a Baby, Africa Talks to You, Time, Thank You For Talkin' to Me, Africa
I can't say I'm too huge a fan of the production on this, but the songs are great. I know Sly/The Family for more the upbeat songs, but this definitely has a darker edge. Favorite tracks: "Africa Talks to You", "Family Affair", "Smilin'"
If any album was need to show that the happy go lucky, love to all 60's were well and truly dead and buried it is this dark, funky, dirty, muddy album. Mixed to be almost unintelligible at times, this album ushers in the 70's predicting the tough times ahead. Brilliant.
Not quite the level of Stand! A view that might change with repeated listens, other than the two obvious standouts a lot of this just hopped along in the background.
I've listened to a bunch of Sly in the past, but probably never a full album in its entirety. Brought me back to my days of trying to play bass like Flea from the RHCP and all Flea's influences, including Sly and the Family Stone.
Best funky. Hier wil ik meer van horen! Die bekende plaat over familie juist erg gezapig.
Not bad until the yodelling. First few songs were pretty good and ‘family affair’ is a classic.
Geiler scheiß was ist das links, rechts liberal taugt auf jedenfall. Nur die Flagge auf dem Cover turnt mich komplett ab und macht mir Angst.
Larry Graham Jr inventor of the slap bass! Poet has a nice vibe to it and Africa Talks is a great track. Feels somewhat less upbeat than his earlier hits but super funky. Sounds like they may be using some type of drum machine which I'm not a fan of. Great album though.
Solid album. This album was made during a period of tension within the band and escalating drug use. This album is more moody than joyful, and represents a change in direction for the band. Within a few years the rhythm section would be replaced.
This album feels very gentle, that's all that I could say about it. Soul, RnB, a bit of rock - everything comes down to a nice mix.
Now this is tasty, something you can really bop your head to for a while. It is a high four, as I have trouble imagining putting it on as often as a five would suggest.
Who knew funk, nihilism, and a dash of yodeling would end up as such a winning combination?
I liked this one. Had a lot of songs I'd already heard before, but never consciously new were by them or from this album.
Now this was the sort of thing I was hoping for from this generator, something that fills in some of the large gaps, something I probably should have listened to by now. With that drumming, fat bass and the wah guitar, you know within 20 seconds that it's going to be a classic, even before anyone sings. The female vocals are what makes it. Some songs are better than others, I lost a bit of interest in the middle but pretty good overall.
Pretty good. I was expecting it to make me feel like the whitest man alive, but it didn't. So either I'm woke or I'm turning black. I really really really hope I'm not woke.
Good tunnnneezzz. Can't decide between 4 and 5. Favorite track is probably Thank You for Talkin' to Me, Africa
This put me in a pretty good mood. Helped create a chill & relaxed atmosphere, while maintaining an insane amount of musical energy.
This album played a role in my pre adolescent burgeoning live for music. My older sister had their greatest hits album and I played it over and over again. Came to There's a Riot Going On much later and again every song is excellent. Not exactly overflowing with hits still the feel of the album makes it a classic. 4.5 🌟
I never thought I needed yodelling funk in my life, and after listening to Spaced Cowboy by Sly and the Family Stone, I realise that I was totally correct. The rest of the album, thankfully, is much better.
absent the historical context, this is a great record with one too many instances of an adult man making baby sounds.
2/18/2022 Today's Album: "There's A Riot Goin' On" by Sly & The Family Stone - Score: This is an incredibly groovy and bass heavy album that captures a lot of great African intrumentation, tunes, and melodies. The bass and guitar playing throughout the album is incredibly impressive and the production really brings everything to life with different percussive and funky hits appear throughout the mix. The performances are next level. These songs are extremely expressive and just about every track has a very strong aspect to it. The vocals are really great and in some instances they are brought really forward in the mix and sound really cool, like on the track Family Affair. I feel a lot of R&B and soul influence as well, with some production choices that indicate a more nuanced understanding of Black music from across a few generations. There isn't too much to say about this album outside of that. It sounds absolutely fantastic, super warm, and very very expressive. Give it a listen if you like funk, African percussion, soul, rock, or honestly just want something groovy to have on in the background. 8.5/10 Grooooovy Highlights: Just Like a Baby, Poet, Family Affair, Africa Talks to You ("The Asphalt Jungle"), Spaced Cowboy, Runnin' Away, "Thank You for Talkin' to Me, Africa", Spaced Cowboy, My Gorilla Is My Butler - Instrumental
Oh, shit yes! This is some funky stuff as I recall. Much darker and introspective than “Stand!” which is probably Sly Stone’s magnum opus- I actually prefer “There’s a Riot Goin On” because it has an edge. This is some seriously funky stuff. The lineup on this album is absolutely spectacular, it’s like a 1970s “Who’s Who” of funk legends.
2/27/22 I think this album would be great study music. For me, it feels like background kinda music, but I’m going to give it a four because I would intentionally play it again. I also really liked the use of the trumpets. Lead singer has a very groovy voice. Favorite song: Family Affair
An unholy and totally groovy mess. Sounds like late night sessions, alternately mellow and angry and despairing. 3.8
This LP is definitely murkier and less punchy than "Stand!". It has that greasy sound that Exile on Main Street had, like they all got high and started jamming, though that's not possible here since the instruments were recorded separately. There's a free-form jazz influence, lots of keyboard solos and some real plucky bass playing. I guess I can presume that's Larry Graham, though Sly plays every instrument at one point or another. The longer jams I could do without and it would be a lower mark from me, if not that Family Affair is such a unique song. There was nothing before or after that sounded anything like it. In fact, Sly and the Family Stone have never sounded anything like it - maybe because he had guest musicians brought in. "Running Away" is another song that sounds nothing like the rest of the LP with it's sixties Burt B-type trumpet line that I like. "Spaced Cowboy" is cute.
First time listening to a Sly album, this one is very good, so much funk and grove but also so dark. This album has clearly been sampled a lot and inspired so much of the hip-hop music that was to follow so many years later. A great dark funk album
I had never heard an album so funky and groovy, but at the same time so smooth and executed with restraint. A very nice discovery for me and I hope to find this one on vinyl.
Well, I've listened to Stand! a few times and liked it a lot, but I was surprised to see how this one is different, especially considering it only came out two years after it. Riot is much more hypnotic than Stand!, it's also more serious. I'm used to hear funk that's uplifting and optimistic, but this one's feel cynical, and that gives the album an emotional depth that I've rarely heard in that genre before. This is a unique album that is fully deserving its spot in this list.
I enjoyed this, but it is bleak and loose. There are some pop gems on there and some very dark stuff too - it feels like 50 years on it's very relevant all over again, as the civil rights gains of previous years are once again under threat and the world seems scary again. It's not going to be on heavy rotation for me - it's a 5 for important and a 3 for enjoyable here! Also, there is one dreadful track of yodelling. Don't do drugs, kids.
El funk en la seva forma més punyent. No basant-se només en la forma i el concepte, com Clinton i Funkadelic i tants d'altres en els anys que havien de venir, sinó prioritzant les cançons, i les lletres, acompanyant-les d'uns ritmes endiablats o seductors com poques vegades més s'ha igualat en el génere
I never like this as much as I think I should. It always ends up a bit low energy for my taste. Still a solid album. 8/10
That is just some good shit right there. Soulful, funky, groovy,, and even some quality yodeling! Neat.
There is some really good music here, a little too funky for me to listen to regularly, but it's very good. Some meaningful music.
A real fun soul funk album. Plus has the best and possibly only yodelling funk song ever written in it.
Love the sound of Sly & The Family Stone. Love the commentary in their songs even more.
Very good early 70s funk album dripping with late 60s influence. My favorite track by far is the closer - Thank You For Talkin’ to Me, Africa. Such a fucking groove on that one!
Good, but not really my cup of tea. Dont think ill come back to it. Family Affair is pretty great though
I’ve tried so many times to get into it, but I just can’t. I love funk, I love things inspired by this record; I just do not love this record.
this kinda goes hard wtf? british boyband rock but a little harder than the beatles and a little bit \"drier\" if that makes any sense, like someone wrung the beatles out and their hair got greasier and they stopped wearing matching suits. thats just the energy i'm getting i have no idea if this is actually what they look like. it's also giving me sing street/the cure energy. interesting. really like her actually. best described as \"pirate rock\" i think lmao
Pretty generically fine to listen to, nothing caught my ear, but provided good inoffensive background tunes.
Weirdly flat production really brings this down. It’s also not nearly as fun as I remember it, all feels very subdued.
Hmm, there were a few on here that I enjoyed but I have to say some of them merged together. I thought I liked funk but perhaps I only have a limited capacity for it. It was a bit of a schlep towards the end.
WARUM SCHON WIEDER SO VIEL INSTRUMENTAL. Bezahlts die Sänger richtig, dann liefern die auch auf jedem Track. Zefix. Klar auch nochmal 3 Songs ohne Voice Tonspur auf die Scheibe geschmiert. Warum nicht. Nun zum Album an sich: ist halt da wa. Ob ichs gehört haben MUSS, da stelle ich mal ein Fragezeichen dahinter. Ich habs jedenfalls gehört. Was ist der Witz an "There's a Riot Going on"? 4 Sekunden Stille? Große Kunst. Endlich wird mal die Fresse gehalten. Auf Spaced Cowboy wird einfach Gejodelt?! Müssen geile Drogen damals gewesen sein. Mit Afrika wird viel gespochen und sich dann nochmal recht ausführlich auf 7:16 dafür bedankt. Isch koi schlechte Musik ned würd ich sagen. Aber hat mich jetzt nix ergriffen und in seinen Bann gezogen. Let's leave it like that. Werd's nimmer hören. War heute aber auch ned im Mood für diese Musik. Daher 3*
Veldig kult med litt funk. Mange kule grooves, bra bassing, mye kult å lese om dette albumet. Tror likevel ikke det er noe jeg har så lyst å høre på igjen. Klarer ikke forklare hva det er, men tror jeg bare mistet interessen halvveis gjennom. Får gi det en 3
Primera presa de contacte amb Sly Stone. Aquest és el darrer disc de la seva època daurada, on donen bona mostra de la seva base funk amb una clara obertura a tota classe de gèneres, des del rock fins al disco (aquí hi ha la primera cançó de la història amb una caixa de ritmes). Variat, inspirat, amb cançons inconformistes, amb bones progressions i una cuidada producció. M'ha agradat per la barreja de sonoritats i estils, però que alhora sona cohesionada. Interessant.
Vaikeita valintoja. Osa biiseistä oli menevää kamaa, mutta osa oli semmosta semikamaa. 2-3 tähteä, Arvotaan 3, jos Brian oli 2.
Feeling a strong 6-7 on this one - solid grooves, shoutout the bot. saxophone go brrrrrrr
De eerste helft van het album vond ik nogal chaotisch. Maar na een tijdje beviel het me wel
It's as if 'running away' and 'family affair' are by a different band. The rest of the album never gets close to that level. Some nice grooves, but too slow and ponderous - it needs an injection of energy.
Ik vond het in het begin nogal veel filler en niet echt iets speciaals maar de laatste nummers gingen hard en hebben wel wat goed gemaakt. you caught me smilin , space cowboy en vooral running away ga ik zeker en vast vaker beluisteren.
Nota: 3/5 Hi sento en James Brown i en Prince. Àlbum funk que acaba massa distorsionat. Les últimes pistes se'm fan llargues i repetitives.
A bit patchy and a little too smooth for my tastes. Not as raw and funky as my favourite Sly & The Family Stone.
Enjoyed it, more mellow than I expected from Sly. On the fence on whether I would give it a second listen.
A paranoid and soupy stew. Difficult to decipher, this isn't a favourite, though there are a couple of moments which stand out. Production is *very* strange.
i’ve heard of them and I know if you songs by them so I was excited when I first saw this was the album however it was honestly really bored nothing was wrong with it but I just don’t remember any specific part and I didn’t really like it
Eh. Instrumentals were kinda boring. Songs that weren't instrumentals were rather forgettable. It was fine for background if I'm in a funky mood but definitely wasn't my favorite.
Track 01 - 3/5 Track 02 - 3.25/5 Track 03 - 3/5 Track 04 - 3.5/5 Track 05 - 3.25/5 Track 06 - 2.75/5 Track 07 - 3/5 Track 08 - 3/5 Track 09 - 3.5/5 Track 10 - 3.25/5 Track 11 - 2.5/5 Track 12 - 3/5 Track 13 - 2.5/5 Track 14 - 3/5 Track 15 - 2.75/5 Track 16 - 2.75/5 Overall: 3/5 Album Art: 3.25/5