Sly and the Family Stone - There’s a Riot Goin’ On
It's a listener pick! On this episode we look at one of the most influential musical groups of the twentieth century - Sly and the Family Stone, and their 1970 LP There's a Riot Going On.
By 1970, Sly Stone and his band had already had a huge impact on modern music. It was a mixed-race and mixed-gender band that spoke of love and harmony among all people. Hits like "Everyday People," "Dance to the Music," and "Stand" had gained the band crossover success and spawned numerous copy cats. However, by the time work had begun on There's a Riot Going On, the band was beginning to splinter. Sly was under increasing pressure by militant groups like the Black Panthers to make his music more "black" and he began to find solace in drugs and isolation.
Forgoing the usual input from his band, Sly wrote, arranged, and recorded most of There's a Riot Going On himself. He brought in outside musicians, such as Billy Preston and Ike Turner to give the songs added dimension. The resulting LP was the big bang for the fledgling genre of funk and an album that is consistently regarded as one of the best and most influential albums ever made.
Recommended on this episode: SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius).
THINGS WE DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE
Sly and the Family Stone, circa 1969.
Pictured (L to R): Greg Errico, Rose Stone, Sly Stone, Cynthia Robinson, Freddie Stone, Jerry Martini, and LArry Graham.
When Sly was eight years old, he and three of his siblings recorded a 78 rpm gospel single for local release as the Stewart Four. Here is a picture of the Stewart Four with their mother, Alpha Stewart accompanying them on piano.
While in high school, Sly was a member of a popular local band, Viscaynes. Unusual for the time, the band an integrated lineup.
In 1964, Sly began working as disc jockey at an R&B radio station in San Francisco, KSOL. He soon began to incorporate white artists, especially British Invasion bands like the Beatles, the Animals, and the Rolling Stones)into the station’s soul music format. His eclectic musical tastes made him on of the most popular DJs in the area.
Here is a simply remarkable performance from Sly and the Family Stone from on The Ed Sullivan Show. This was their debut on the show, and their diverse lineup, wild fashion, and energy stood out from the show’s usual acts. Just watch the crowd’s reaction to the performance.
Here is Sly and the Family Stone performing “Higher and Higher” and Woodstock in 1969.
Here is pone of the last pictures taken of Sly Stone before his death in June in 2025.
