Sly & the Family Stone: There's a Riot Goin' On (50th anniversary, coloured vinyl) [EPIC/LEGACY]

Why you'll love it

This limited 50th anniversary pressing comes on coloured vinyl in a gatefold jacket. The album topped both the Billboard pop and soul album charts, and "Family Affair" went to No. 1.

This edition

• 50th anniversary edition
• Coloured vinyl
• Limited edition
• Gatefold jacket
• Stereo mix

About the album

After Stand! and a famous Woodstock set, Sly Stone was expected to deliver the next big party record. He went home instead, to the Record Plant in Sausalito and his own studio in Bel Air, and spent the better part of two years building something murkier, slower and far more personal. The working title was Africa Talks to You; he changed it after Marvin Gaye's What's Going On came out six months earlier.

Stone plays and overdubs much of it himself, leaning on a primitive drum machine and a dense, close-up mix that makes every groove feel like it's breathing in your ear. "Family Affair" is the hit, a gentle, rocking lullaby of a funk song, "Runnin' Away" is breezy and bittersweet, and "(You Caught Me) Smilin'" and "Brave & Strong" strut. "Thank You for Talking to Me Africa" slows his earlier hit "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" to a deep, hypnotic crawl.

It entered the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999, and its sound echoes through jazz-funk and hip hop to this day. It also has a title track that runs for zero seconds, still the most confident bit of editing in soul.

Also at Kops: more Sly & the Family Stone on vinyl · browse Classic Soul

Tracklist

Listen

On Epic / Legacy (cat# 19439904351), a reissue of the 1971 album.