Marvin Gaye went from singing “ Don’t break my heart” to tackling drug addiction, urban decay, and the Vietnam War on “ What’s Going On“.Īs this was going on, a small movie about a black private eye exploded at the box office. Almost overnight, the tone of the genre changed and artists began reacting to it’s impact. The album was a shot across the bow of R&B. It closed with a dirge-like take of “Thank You”, maybe Stone’s idea of a cynical joke. Drum machines gave everything a mechanical, impersonal feeling voices alternated between shouts and whispers, moaning with lyrics about addiction, media stereotypes, and social unrest. It was too slow, too out of control, too spooky. It grooved, but wasn’t something you’d dance to. Cooped up in a mansion, Stone and a cast of supporting musicians cooked up the dark stew of There’s A Riot Going On. Faced with pressure from all sides, the only music Sly released in 1970 was that chart-topping single.īut he was recording all the while. As his record label demanded more hits, the Black Panther party wanted his music to get more political. So did gigs, which Stone missed with an increasing frequency. Deadlines for the band’s next album came and went Epic ended up releasing a stop-gap best of compilation.
He moved to Los Angeles and his drug habits grew out of control. And as we’ve just passed the 14th anniversary of Mayfield’s death, it’s a good time to look back at his most famous, subversive and best album.īut before we get to Mayfield, let’s make a quick detour to February 1970, where the number the one single in America is Sly and The Family Stone’s “ Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin).” During the late 60’s, Stone’s mix of soul, psychedelic rock and R&B was the cutting edge of music, inspiring everyone from James Brown to Miles Davis to The Band.īut after 1969’s Stand!, Stone’s personal life unraveled. But there’s a lot more to Curtis Mayfield’s Superfly than chunky guitars and relentless bass lines. And maybe the only funk album you’ve ever listened to. It’s one of the most famous soundtracks ever.
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