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There's a Riot Goin' On is the fifth studio album by American band Sly and the Family Stone. It was recorded during 1970 and 1971 at Record Plant Studios in Sausalito, California and released on November 20, 1971, by Epic Records. There's a Riot Goin' On embraced a darker and more challenging sound than the optimistic psychedelic soul style of the group's previous records. There's a Riot Goin' On entered the Billboard Pop Album and Soul Album charts at number one upon its release, while the album's lead single, «Family Affair» (1971), topped the Pop Singles chart. By 2001, it had sold one million copies and been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Received with ambivalence upon its release, the album is now praised as one of the greatest and most influential recordings of all-time, and ranked at or near the top of many publications' «best album» lists. In 2003 it was ranked number 99 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. The album departed from the optimistic psychedelic soul sound of the group's 1960s records, instead embracing a darker sound featuring dark instrumentation. Stone reworked 1969's «Thank You» single as a slower, closing track, «Thank You For Talking to Me Africa» which, according to Allmusic's Matthew Greenwald was a blues and gospel influenced examination of urban tension and the end of the 1960s, «perhaps the most frightening recording from the dawn of the 1970s, capturing all of the drama, ennui, and hedonism of the decade to come with almost a clairvoyant feel». There's a Riot Goin' On was met with a divided reaction from fans and music critics, who were not used to the album's production and lyrical content. The album achieved commercial success with two hit singles and debuting at number-one on the Billboard Pop Albums and Soul Albums chart. It later came to be viewed by critics as one of the greatest and most influential albums. «What's certain is that Riot is unlike any of Sly & the Family Stone's other albums, stripped of the effervescence that flowed through even such politically aware records as Stand! This is idealism soured, as hope is slowly replaced by cynicism, joy by skepticism, enthusiasm by weariness, sex by pornography, thrills by narcotics. Joy isn't entirely gone - it creeps through the cracks every once and awhile and, more disturbing, Sly revels in his stoned decadence. What makes Riot so remarkable is that it's hard not to get drawn in with him, as you're seduced by the narcotic grooves, seductive vocals slurs, leering electric pianos, and crawling guitars. As the themes surface, it's hard not to nod in agreement, but it's a junkie nod, induced by the comforting coma of the music. And damn if this music isn't funk at its deepest and most impenetrable - this is dense music, nearly impenetrable, but not from its deep grooves, but its utter weariness». (From AllMusic Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine) Riot's songs have been extensively covered and sampled. The introspective, yet political lyrics, the hard and dirty funk grooves, the inspirational, yet depressing songs would come to influence not only peers like Marvin Gaye and James Brown, but two generations of rappers and funkateers who paid homage to Sly's vision by making his samples and beats an essential backbone of their own innovations. Sly and the Family Stone - There's a Riot Goin' On [1971] (Full Album) Tracklist: All songs written, produced and arranged by Sylvester Stewart for Stone Flower Productions. Side one: 1. Luv N' Haight - 4:01 2. Just Like a Baby - 5:12 3. Poet - 3:01 4. Family Affair - 3:06 5. Africa Talks to You «The Asphalt Jungle» - 8:45 6. There's a Riot Goin' On (timed at 0:04 on compact disc) - 0:00 Side two: 7. Brave & Strong - 3:28 8. (You Caught Me) Smilin' - 2:53 9. Time - 3:03 10. Spaced Cowboy - 3:57 11. Runnin' Away - 2:51 12. Thank You for Talkin' to Me Africa - 7:14 2007 compact disc reissue bonus tracks 13. Runnin' Away (mono mix single version) 2:44 14. My Gorilla Is My Butler (instrumental) 3:11 15. Do You Know What? (instrumental) 7:16 16. That's Pretty Clean (instrumental) 4:12 Musicians: Larry Graham: bass, backing vocals, Greg Errico: drums, Bobby Womack: guitar, Freddie Stone: guitar, Ike Turner: guitar, Sly Stone: arrangements, drums, drum programming, keyboard programming, synthesizers, guitar, bass, keyboards, vocals, Billy Preston: keyboards, Jerry Martini: tenor saxophone, Cynthia Robinson: trumpet, Rose Stone: vocals, keyboards, Little Sister: backing vocals Released: November 20, 1971, Recorded: 1970–71 Studio: The Record Plant in Sausalito, California Length: 47:33 Label: Epic Producer: Sly Stone DISCLAIMER: I do not make any profit from this video. No copyright infringement intended. All rights belong to the respective artists and the record companies. It is uploaded for educational and promotional purposes only. I do not own, nor claim to own anything contained in this video.

• published: 13 Jun 2017
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