There's A Riot Goin' On

WE MAKIN' IT OUT THE RIOT WITH THIS ONE 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️❗❗❗❗❗

“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

Do like the darker, grittier funk aspect of this album, just wish it was more consistent. Especially when you consider Funkadelic's Maggot Brain was released a few months before this, and is vastly superior. 3.5 for me.

I found this one to be incredibly creative throughout, as it clearly is quite original... Maybe the drugs that Sly was doing during this period really opened him up to some innovative ways of thinking about music... Can't say there was a single track that I thought was exceptional - though my fav was probably the last track - "Thank You For Talkin' To Me, Africa" which is sort of a derivative of a track of Sly's from an earlier album... Kind of a nice hypnotic vibe throughout... Based on the originality and uniqueness of the album, combined with the fact that all of the songs contained some goodness (i.e. AKA none of them truly sucked...) I'm gonna give this a solid 3...

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.

I was excited to listen to this album, and was a little disappointed. Almost seemed improvisational at times with both the music arrangement and vocals. Still enjoy the heck out of it. It was one of the first really nice days of spring and I had the top down, listening to fly belt out some tunes …

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.

Tough one to rate. I can appreciate how good the funk parts of this are, and some of the bass lines were really great. But I really didn't like it. Had a hard time finishing it.

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.

My younger self wouldn't have taken the time to listen to this album in it's entirety, but as I get older my musical tastes have expanded and I try to appreciate more musical styles. With that being said, on this record, Sly & The Family Stone have a lot of energy and the funky beats can't be ignored. It's an interesting listen and the songs seem to have a darker edge and not such a "happy go-lucky" sound. A solid album with a lot going on and I'm glad I took the time to listen to.

Ein anspruchsvolles Funk-Album durfte ich anhören. Ging nicht leicht ins Ohr, aber beim mehrmaligem Hören erkannte ich die Größe der Kompositionen. Sehr stark und toll eingespielt.Family affair ist nicht unbedingt der stärkste Song. Unbedingt anhören.

As of today, Thanksgiving 2023, I’ve completed 500 records in this project. Accordingly, a short listing of records I’ve reviewed from the list thus far that I am especially thankful for: The Avalanches - Since I Left You Milton Nascimeto & Lo Borges - Clube Da Esquina Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson - Winter in America Brian Eno - Another Green World Neil Young - On the Beach MC5 - Kick Out the Jams Parliament - Mothership Connection Belle & Sebastian - Tigermilk David Bowie - Station to Station Air - The Virgin Suicides Sonic Youth - Dirty Funkadelic - Maggot Brain As for this record, you can add it right to that list. There’s a Riot Goin’ On is a stone cold classic, start to finish: a document of the dream of the 60’s as it crashes and burns in the early 70’s - a comedown in the literal and metaphorical sense. It’s dense and dark and druggy, funky but downtrodden with an experimental, home recorded/DIY feel. “Riot” should be considered among the greatest albums of all time.

Sly Stone captures the darkness, disillusionment and exhaustion of his era and funnels it all into one truly profound work that has aged beautifully. Funky and gritty and warped, with cryptic and cynical lyrics. But the album never loses its soul in the process, delivering a sound that's equal parts thought provoking and entertaining. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): Family Affair, Luv N' Haight, Just Like a Baby, Poet, Runnin' Away, Thank You for Talkin' to Me Africa, Africa Talks to You 'The Asphalt Jungle, Brave & Strong, Spaced Cowboy, (You Caught Me) Smilin', Time, There's a Riot Goin' On

I was a bit surprised to have enjoyed this album today a bit more than Stand! (which still has my favorite Sly and the Family Stone songs on it). I suppose this one felt more like an album listening experience, and despite some long tracks, I found them compelling rather than boring and I grooved with it.

A little bit of a darker turn for Sly & the Family Stone, but I really liked it and it suited the subject matter.

The best Sly & TFS album. Probably the best album on this list even.

10/10 HOLY SHIT THAT WAS FUCKING AMAZING!

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.

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.

Una vergüenza que no haya escuchado esto antes.

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.

not bad, interesting choice to use electronic drums on some tracks. pretty relaxed and groovy funk

Excellent album! Dark, political lyrics layered on top of some the funkiest beats, with a dash of psychedelic sounds. Really surprised by this one.

Without the historical context of this album I don't think I can fully appreciate its lyrical content and so am left to judge it on it's musical content which is good and notable for the pioneering sound of the early seventies. I'm not someone who buys physical music but if I was I think this would be one to add to a collection as the digital format doesn't seem to do it justice.

3.5/5

Nowhere near as good an album as I expected, given the bands reputation. I really only "particularly liked" Love 'n' Haight. For the rest of the album, I'd listen to it in the background. A mediocre 3

Heard that song Family Affair before loads - no idea it was them, a classic. Rest of album was ok, didn't grab me though

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.

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!

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!

Me: White kid in the 80s, ingesting copious amounts of R.E.M., Talking Heads, and P.I.L. Also Me: White kid in the 80s listening to copious amounts of Sly & the Family Stone, especially Life!, Stand!, and this masterpiece - There's a Riot Goin' On. Me, today, 40 years later: White guy in my 50s, and on a REGULAR basis the opening sounds of this album run through my head. The album has never left me. Sly & the Family Stone changed music at least twice. Their 60s sound was dynamic and revolutionary, performed by a multiethnic band that was quite a rarity in those days (at least in the main). Then with this album, something totally new again. I also remember seeing Sly Stone on TV in the late 80s. He was such a huge figure to me musically, but by this point he had become a much smaller version of himself. The drugs that no doubt fueled this album had shrunken him. Like one that dies giving birth... we are the recipients of something unforgettable, but it took the life of its maker.

Another Sly gem. Much deeper.

Only just noticed the cotton American flag on the cover. Emblematic of the whole thing. I am very smart.

Amazing so far. Sounds brilliant and goes really interesting places. I would like to revisit it for sure. 5

Triumphantly funky, and a solid groove the whole way through. Still deeply sampled today, this album remains one of the all-time greats.

Lots of funk, lots of fun

So cool i love sly & the family stone

Hey kids, drugs are bad, but they sure make funky records. Loved the funk yodelling.

Deliciously funky - such warm fat (phat, I believe) bass and crisp drums, bright brass. Excellent stuff

Love the chilled out funk soul sound of Sly &Family Stone. 👍

A darker & smoother turn for the band but still outstanding. I love it more every time I hear it.

Influential

Always down for some Sly and The Family! Weird art funk. I love weird art funk

smooth and funky.

What a perfect groove.

Awesome.

Funktastic. I regret being so hesitant to call something a 5 at the beginning of this project because I like Mothership Connection more than this but I am not going to penalize this album for my stinginess two albums into this project. Consider this a post-hoc bump for Parliament too! The intro to Just Like a Baby is transcendent and Thank You for Talkin' to Me, Africa is hypnotizing.

rules. love the first track. great name in response to What's Going On. great weirdo yodelling. will be listening again. music: appreciated. (⌐■_■)

Holy smokes is this ever different from the last Sly that popped up here. The production on this album is so weird, it shouldn’t be nearly as rad as it is, but here we are. A while back I read about the last Billie Holiday album, and how the composer/producer said he thought her voice has taken on an Evil character, but not in a bad way. Packed that description away for the right moment, and here it is: this one is evil, and it’s so so good.

The yodeling on Spaced Cowboy is delicious! I skipped some of the instrumentals. Mostly I really enjoyed it!

A nice rediscovery

classic

Ooooo, shit. I’ve listened to this in the past few months, but this hit so good today. The tones, the arrangements, everything. So, so good.

Awesome. Non sequitur yodel number toward the end, respect

So much groove and talent just hanging out there, each in its spot, not flashy, just solid and funky. Love it.

Love that Sly!

Just enough edge in the lyrics to keep the feel of a 'Protest' album (that gained traction throughout the 1960s) while having the free-wheeling funk sensibilities of, essentially, a "fun"-listening album. The resulting dichotomy is fascinating as both a microcosm for larger social issues and movements of the time, but also the sonic evolution of sound as the influence of Motown was actually recognized in Pop and other genres. Although "Motown" itself is an evolving sound with slightly-shifting definitions, it, as well as Rhythm and Blues, formed the backbone of most popular beats and music. Now, however, this influence was more generally acknowledged, but not necessarily widespread. This album fused the 'Protest' anthems of the 'Hippie Movement' with the soulful grooves and dance beats of Motown. The result was an album that defied categorization and defined its own place in music importance, influence, and history.

Hell yea. funk and soul, groove and bop.

Oh yay! This is the album with Family Affair. Starts off hot and funky. I’m sold within the first 30 seconds. You can already hear the influence this had on George Clinton and Gil Scott Heron. It’s a rich tapestry of American soul. And it just gets better from there. This is the kind of album that deserves its place in the pantheon of great recordings. Unique, interesting, relevant, influential and inspiring. It’s both experimental and complete. The band knew exactly who they were and what they wanted. There’s no searching, only quality and delivery. How have I lived so long without listening to this album? What’s the point of life without this excellence? Burn all that whiney, shitty hippie crap. I would rather have this record listed 100 times, than have it stand next to some of the hot garbage that’s on here. How you gonna put Robbie Williams and Cee Lo in the same room as this? This record is so good, I wish I could give others -500 ratings. It’s so good, I want to violently shake the author and make him explain himself. Like, how dare you think half of this list could even come close to this. This is my new favorite album and I’m only halfway through. There needs to be a higher rating than 5 for stuff like this. This is perfect. Not a note out of place. I thought Sly was good before. But now I know that he was so much better than I could have imagined. He does not get a fraction of the praise that is heaped on his contemporaries. Throw Clapton, Dylan, Young and Creedence in the river. This is so much better. Even the yodeling song is better than most music on this list. 100,000/5

Yes. Get you some of this riot goin' on and clean the house.

: )

Great

Absolutely fantastic. One of the things I've learned about myself during this challenge is I love funk & soul. What a delightful album with lots of groove. I listened to it three times it was that good. 4.5 stars.

All the early Sly albums are gold. Righteous Anger Sly possibly even better.

Hell yes.

A really nice, funky album. It’s quite lofi and quirky sounding, sometimes the rhythms feel like they’ll fall apart but they fall into interesting patterns. That makes no sense but I can’t be bothered to rewrite it.

Kinda makes me want to fight the power...funkily

Such brilliance. Man (and the band) are a cultural touchstone and a musical force. 5 stars.

i love Sly and his Sister favorite song Everyday people

I LOVE this, so smooth and just like... a good time

Super bien. Autant j'avais pas aimé le précédent album proposé de Sly & the family Stone, autant celui-ci passe impec. Excellent funk, j'ai beaucoup aimé Family Affair.

Perhaps the greatest funk album that there ever was. Starkly political and groovy as all hell. It's a frankly dense album that I feel unequipped to properly articulate how damn good this album is.

Groundbreaking, fresh as ever

The end of two years of deeply rooting in himself, his thoughts and his addictions. An answer to Marvin Gaye. A complicated messy album that still resonates today.

Excellent

Great album!!!

My third funk album in a row on this list and my favourite of the picks. I lost count of how many songs and sounds on this album I have heard sampled or inspiring other artists. Played on repeat of course

"It's a family affaaai-iiir... It's a family affa-ai-ir..." Damn. What a moody album. The first time I lstened to it, a few years ago, I didn't know what to make of it. With its drum machines, subdued grooves and quite despondent atmosphere, *There's A Riot Going On* is so different from *Stand*... Yet this LP grew on me after several listens. It has a bold mix of sleaze, tenderness and paranoia that makes it one-of-a-kind, and listening to the end result today is probably as intriguing and fascinating as it was in 1971. 31. This here is not my grade for the album, it's me counting the "suns" on that flag. (what an iconic cover). But hey, you already know how many stars I gave to this thing... Next please. Number of albums left to review: 535 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 224 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 108 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 135

Not an album or really even sound of Sly & The Family Stone with which I am familiar, so there wasn’t an immediate groove for me on all the tracks…but it felt special nonetheless. I look forward to more listens.

A lot less catchy than I expected but still a great and compelling album.

Dark, edgy, somewhat menacing, even a touch nihilistic. Yet it's brilliant funk that captures the mood of the early 70s which was chaotic and frightening. Sly was on so many drugs and it shows in the production which you can hear a hiss throughout. Yet it actually adds to the mystique and tone of the album. Damn good!

Great album, funky, full of soul, with deep lyrics. Will definitely listen again Saved tracks: Luv N’ Haight, Just Like A Baby, Family Affair, Thank You For Talkin’ To Me Africa, Do You Know What?

I really love this record. Such a unique and influential sound. The combination of the feel, the textures, the tension, the production is so cool to me. I love Sly’s voice and phrasing and how the grooves feel so organic over the drum machine. Really cool that he did the remake of Thank you ( falettinme be mice elf) was only a year later, with such a different vibe. Sometimes the music doesn’t really go anywhere but to me it feels so good it doesn’t need to and doesn’t want to- I could listen all day.

Powerful, soulful, influential and funky, Sly can party, Sly can riot, Sly can make music to move you to dance and Sly can make music to move you to action. Easy five stars. Music like nobody else could make.

This is an excellent album. Groovy, funky, but also dark and political. Extraordinarily talented musicians, fantastic production, good song writing, a powerful message. Literally, what else can you ask for? I listened to this four or five times before moving on, and I'll definitely be coming back to this one.

I love this album's cozy funk; so cozy it sounds like it was recorded in a closet. Almost every track is a banger, but today I had a delicious laugh at the wonderful ludicrousness of Sly's yodeling on "Spaced Cowboy." I mean, come on. S&TFS, like Kate Bush, Donovan, Prince, Fishbone, Outkast, Wu-Tang, MF DOOM, Sun Ra, etc., don't just make great music. They have a fully developed world with its own rules, ethos, and mythology. Listening to their albums is like visiting another planet. S&TFS were hugely popular and influential, so it's hard to say they are in any sense underrated, but still, I'm going there. If you dig this one, their follow-up, Fresh, is similar and perhaps even better. (If nothing else, just check out track number one, which is one of the most beguiling songs I've ever heard.) But don't sleep on the two previous releases, either, Life and Stand, both of which are awesome from beginning to end. I wish Sly could've kept his shit together to give us more, but I'm thankful for what we got.

Simply stunning

Superb album!

Nice it does not need to be longer just perfect

F U N K

Trop bon, après avoir eu Stand! dans la dernière semaine que j'avais partiellement aimé, malgré que c'est un très bon album, celui-ci est carrémenet un step above. Je recommande pour le funk, guitare, musicalité etc.5

LP

Hazy woozy soulful mellow funk with lots of jammy instrumentals and wah wah. For lovers of Prince & Happy Mondays. Thought this was interesting - The band was the first major American rock group to have a racially integrated, mixed-gender lineup. Read a quote somewhere that James Brown invented funk but Sly moved it to another level, I’d agree with that. It’s a loose baggy LP with fantastic musicianship, the bass in particular is quite something. Lots of jamming the song structures are loose.

cool

Pure class

Funky stuff.

This is for Funk what Velvet Underground first 2 albums were for alternative music, one of favorite albums of all time. Vetter wordt het niet.

Fett!! Mye mer spennende enn jeg hadde trodd

Amazing record. Dark, moody, political, and psychedelic. AFAIK the band was pretty much dissolved at this point. This is basically a Sly Stone solo record. He isolated in his house and had many drug-fueled recording sessions. This band should’ve been way bigger in the 70s than they were.