In May 1971 Marvin Gaye released a concept album using a song cycle from the perspective of a Vietnam Vet. The album was called 'What's Going On'.
In November the same year Sly Stone was due to put out 'Africa Talks to You' but in response to Marvin Gaye's question 'What's Going On' he changed the album title to 'There's A Riot Goin' On'.
I bought this album when I was in the Australian Army. I think as much as anything I was getting stuff that was slightly off centre and somewhat rebellious, just for the hell of it. Turns out though, I really got to like the music.
Classed as everything from R&B, Soul, Funk, Avant-pop, Avant-soul, it certainly isn't 'mainstream', but it is very strangely addictive.
Some tracks are laid-back, a non-aggressive almost jazz base, lulling you into a false sense of security. Then another track comes along that throws that out of the window and you get rasping vocals, howls, noises that shouldn't exist. In the middle of all that, 'Family Affair' pops up and all of a sudden you have recognition - a radio song - yes it's funk, or whatever label you think it is, but it's familiar and offers some comfort.
To add to the challenges the album can throw at you, the last track on side one is the title track 'There's a Riot Goin' On'. It's silent and is listed as 0 minutes and 0 seconds. In 1997 Sly said it had no running time because he felt there should be no riots. !!
Turn the album over and soon you're listening to '(You Caught Me) Smilin'', which, to steal a quote from Tina Turner for one of her songs ..'starts off nice .. and easy, but ends up nice .. and rough'.
There's my favourite track 'Spaced Cowboy', then another one sometimes played on the radio 'Running Away'.
The last track, 'Thank You For Talking To Me Africa' is a slower reworking of the 1969 song 'Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)' and to my mind is an improvement on the original.
I like this album. It's darker than some other Sly stuff, as I said, it can be challenging, but if you want to reset your mind after too much 'easy listening', sit down with Sly & the Family Stone. As a bonus, the musicians playing on this LP included Billy Preston, Ike Turner and Bobby Womack.
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