Praise that coke-addicted nut/genius Sly.

Timmy84 said:

Yeah,..this whole ablum to me is great though. In some ways, I love this period of Sly, early 70's period, better than the earlier stuff. I love that period too but overall, I relate better to THIS period of Sly. I've never done drugs but obviously there is a "darkness" in me that where Sly was at, I can relate to, without me ever being "high" perse.

blackguitaristz said:

Yeah even sober people can dig it. Personally I can relate to "Time" especially when Sly sings at the end "Time, they say is the answer, but I don't believe 'em!"

i always thought this was a Sly Stone solo effort.

and that goes for the albums that came afterwards..

other than Rose, you didn't hear any vocals from the other members anymore


great album still

funkpill said:

Yeah Sly & Rose were the only ones on the album. Sly & Rose did all the vocals on all the tracks I believe. Sly was basically multi-layering on "Thank You for Takin' Me to Africa" singing with Rose on the verses and choruses and then ad-libbing alongside the verses.

funkpill said:

Yeah well, THAT'S pretty much what I was trying to say. This album IS essentially a Sly solo album, just like "Fresh" is. Epic wasn't ready to release it with just Sly's name on it so they stuck "and the Family Stone" on the cover. Many of the cats from the Family Stone had bounced be it Sly was trying to off Larry Graham and the drummer, Greg Errico, wasn't comfortable being around all of these "black heavies" as he called them that was around Sly at that time. My man Bobby Womack played on some of this album but goes uncredited. Bobby was recording his fantastic album "Understanding" around the same time as "Riot". Word is that Sly is also playing on some of the "Understanding" album as well. All I know is that I have literally ADORED these two albums, along with Sly's "Fresh" my whole life.
[Edited 8/6/09 0:52am]

Been listening to this disc a lot lately. Pretty much fits my mood these days.

This LP was Sly's "S.O.T.T." back then. Like B stated, there was a bad, evil vibe at the mansion when this LP was recorded. Sly and Larry even had hitmen out on each other. Violence, sex, heavy drugs, kidnapping, deciet, paranoia and parties really fueled "Riot".

Miles (who supposedly played keys uncredited), Ike Turner, Herbie Hancock and Richard Pryor were constant studio visitors while Sly recorded. He overdubbed and erased parts so many times that you can hear how thin the tapes were. They were worn out.

I think on this cut (Baby), Sly and Bobby are harmonizing. I never heard a Fender Telecaster sound so f%cked up. Way beyond the blues. Sly is really crying out on this LP.

The "Riot" boxset outtake james (with Sly alone) are slammin'. There needs to be a book or a VH-1 special on "Riot" alone. One of the greatest headphone joints ever made.

One of the greatest headphone joints ever made.




well said...

SPYZFAN1 said:

Yeah I noticed Bobby was all over "Riot"! Don't forget Billy Preston too.

Graham and the rest of em' were on the album also


But Sly kept erasing their parts


Graham stated one time that "you should really heard how it sound in the begin'n"

funkpill said:

Yeah Sly kept overdubbing it, lol. That's why it's hard to tell where the Family Stone can be heard.

Most of the members were going through a lot of demons tho.

Yup..Billy Preston played on "Family Affair" and a few others. I can tell by his gospel style.

I also read that "Africa" was a old cut done from 1968 that ended up on "Riot". Man..Sly and the gang were funkin' hard in 68 if that's true.

Larry did a piece in Bass Player magazine last year and he actually admitted what songs he played on (for "Riot")..anyone know?

Timmy84 said:

Yeah! He was a crackhead BUT he was funkay!!!! I especially luv that clavinet riff in the beginning. I can play that part too. Just genius.

Smittyrock70 said:

Yeah I know. He was indeed a genius drugged up or not.

SPYZFAN1 said:

Exactly...That's why I always consider it to be a solo album by Sly. To me, it doesn't matter if the cast from Sesame Street played on that motherfucker. Sly kept offing their tracks and Graham was no longer a true member when he was running for his life right off the stage trying to get away from Sly's cats that he had on him. He was looking all up under his ride and shit, checking for TNT. That motherfucker didn't want to wind up looking like Dick Williams did in The Mack and shit. So hell yeah, Sly erased his shit. THAT goes without saying.
[Edited 8/6/09 21:13pm]

haha!!.."The Mack"..yes!! Now THAT'S a thread by itself.

I always wondered if Sly back then saw "Superfly" or "The Mack" and said "sheeet..they must have been checkin' me out...these cats are ME!!"

SPYZFAN1 said:

Probably. I mean he WAS a real pimp at one point, wasn't he?

Good stuff, despite his highness.

SPYZFAN1 said:

ALREADY did it dawg! I wrote a thread about The Mack and P's lyrics to "I Wanna Be Your Lover" about a year ago over in Music and More. You know the scene where Goldie is talking to that cute dark haired girl where he's wearing the hat that came straight out of the J5's wardrobe dept from the 71 tour? Where he tells ole girl " I wanna be everything to you. I wanna be your brother, I wanna be your father, I wanna be your lover." Prince's little ass saw that shit in the drive in and a lightbulb went off in his Afro and was like "Ooooh, where is my pen? Gawt dammit, hey somebody, ya'll have a pencil or crayon or anything. I GOTS to use that shit right there!"

blackguitaristz said:

.

Stephanie Nicks.....I mean STEVIE was one of Sly's hoes!!!!!

woogiebear said:

What? Stevie Nicks used to fuck with Sly?

that's a new one

How is that shocking? You know Stevie used to GET DOWN back then!

It was always the Dinah Shore rumor

funkpill said:

I remember that rumor too.

Timmy84 said:

U mean Doris Day.

JazzyJ said:

Dang!!!


you're right..

That's right B. You did do a thread on that...I forgot (lol).


Sly also f%cked Grace Slick when he produced her in 1965/66.