I used to have the CD version of There's A Riot Going On, but it got damaged. The CD sounded so muddy and thin. CDs up to that point, sounded thin because it was the 90's- the birth of the CD Revolution. Anyway, I couldn't hear Sly's clavinet, the horns, and the drums were so light. I have heard so many rumors about this album and why it sounds like it sounds now. I heard that Sly mixed it so much that it just sounded light and unclear. I also heard that he or someone at Epic produced the album that way because of the concept of the album. Can anyone explain this to me? By far, the clearest source of this album is on The Essential Sly & the Family Stone, Anthology, and the vinyl edition of this album.

Cuz his record co never bothered to release a remastered copy, that's why

I think that's one of the beauties of this album which gives it its dark edge. Listening to it with headphones, I hear all of those things that are somewhat buried in the mix.

gooeythehamster said:

America really had a problem with the cover....

Uncut magazine did a special on Sly Stones Riot, they said it sounds so muddy becuase he would invite females in to record vocals and promise them they would be on the album to get laid, and then erase the tapes later. I bullshit you not that's not even half the story of riot, he even was trying to get Larry Graham hurt or possibly killed at one point, I wish I still had this issue. The title of the album is supposed to be a answer to Marvin Gayes Whats Going On?

'cuz mud is where it's at.

gooeythehamster said:

I don't think that's true - I own a high-quality vinyl copy of Riot and it doesn't sound appreciably different from the current cd release.

This is a drug album (I think it was David Marsh who once said that every groove on this album screams "junky"), and the sound reflects that. it was recorded to make the listener feel dislocated and off-center.

Also, this album was recorded coming right out of the sixties, and there was still a lot of mixing board lunacy going on in those days. Producers would do things such as completely dropping the bottom end of a track to get a unique or trippy sound.
[This message was edited Sun Jul 4 11:23:30 2004 by flipwilson]

Meloh9 said:

This is going to be a field day for SOME of us...

I think it's a strange album of the 21st century!!!!

Supernova said:

Let's be real.....

flipwilson said:

Wow. And i am even inclined to believe you. I havent listened to my vinyl for aaages.

But I used to work in a Virgin Megastore and there was just no copy on cd that would sound at least a bit decent...

silverchild said:

You must be new to my posts, I'm always real about music. If it's muddy it's meant to be that way. Every piece of music isn't meant to be pristinely polished, and cleanly produced. The Stones' Exile On Main Street, Prince's Dirty Mind, Led Zeppelin II, etc. - these albums along with Riot have always been considered muddy and/or demo-ish by most fans and critics. They're also considered some of the best albums of all time simply because of the attitude and passionate execution behind them.

Unless the album is an anthology or greatest hits compilation, there is an atmosphere a lot of producers try to project on a recording that is in conjunction with the material being recorded. Mud isn't always necessary, nor is it for everybody, but mud has its place, ya see. Plus, Sly was just damn loaded a lot at that time.

silverchild said:

I hate the cover of the album. Especially the CD cover...the back..oh god, what the hell was that?

But there's lots O rekids that need different covers.

Supernova said:

Excellent points(as always ) ... but dont you think the album would benefit from a re-master? I know the trax from it that were included on "Essential" definitely sound better , without losing much of the muddy ambiance.

MrTation said:

Gracias.


Oh, yeahhhh!! Don't misunderstand me, it's not that the sound can't be remastered and still retain some of its "muddiness"...some music is just meant to be grungy. But sonically a lot of these things can be updated without sacrificing that grunge. A lot of Prince's old albums on cd need it badly too.

silverchild said:

i've read somewhere (can't remember where) the domestic and import cd versions of the record were remastered differently. Somehow, the european import has the better sound quality and better cover (flag).


import
http://www.amazon.com/exe...47-2323215

domestic
http://www.amazon.com/exe...ce&s=music

Instead of buying the domestic version, i spent more money to get the better quality import
[This message was edited Sun Jul 4 14:06:14 2004 by Scrapluv]
[This message was edited Sun Jul 4 14:07:49 2004 by Scrapluv]

Supernova said:

"Dirty Mind" IS a demo...
But the reason "There's A Riot Going On" is so shitty sounding, at least what I've heard, was that Sly indeed had women come over and record some background vocals, get laid, erase the layer and do it all over again... But we'll know soon enough when those dutch twin dudes get their book out...

Neversin.

Neversin said:

Yes, I'm aware of that.


Translation: loaded.

Scrapluv said:

Does it have the original photos and liner notes? That's the digipak version right?

CookieMonster said:

It's true. I own the original vinyl copy of Riot and it sounds virtually the same as the CD.

Supernova said:

I'd only buy a remastered version if that's what they did, as I looooove the overall sound of this album, and I think it's been hugely influential. Sonically, I've always felt the 'grunge' helps convey a sense of the emotional and social turmoil in which it was conceived.

I read somewhere, that when they were making it, Sly really constrained the musicians in terms of how far they could vary the grooves, fearing that he'd loose his focus. All these elements, including the emotional rawness of it, are central to what the piece represents for me: someone desperately trying to centre themself with upheaval all around them - desperately seeking hope in the midst of chaos.

While we're on the subject, does anyone know where I can get the lyrics to "Africa Talks To You"? (The downside of the muddiness is I could never quite work them all out!)

flipwilson said:

Mission accomplished. After I hear this gem, I feel like I've been on skid row.