Yes, it's a fantastically fascinating documentary on one of the true giants of popular music. But having watched it thrice now, I don't recall any interviews with the 82-year-old Sly. In fact, one of the producers stated that they made a conscious choice not to interview him on film because he has trouble communicating these days. That said, the vintage interviews are all riveting; even when he is clearly wasted out of his gourd he has interesting things to say.
That makes sense to me. Clearly I should have delved deeper and more critically into when the lookback interviews with Sky took place. For sure he seemed to be in rather good shape for the age I took him to be even the second time I watched the film, and fished around for corroboration as to what took place when. As a fellow 82-year-old, maybe a part of me didn't want to go there.
The albums with the top grades are stunning, but for me the singles defined Sly’s best. From the time I first heard it on American Bandstand one Saturday morning in 1969 Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)/Everybody Is A Star has never stopped thrilling me every time I hear it. For me, taste and judgment blur in my conclusion that it is the finest double-a single in the history of rock music.
Sly & the Family Stone's string of classic albums (Life 1968, Stand! 1969, Greatest Hits 1970, Riot 1971, and Fresh 1973) are played all the time at my house. Life may be their greatest unheralded record.
A-plusses are rare, as they should be. Consecutive ones by an artist are indeed even thinner on the ground. After a cursory glance, it looks like the only others are the New York Dolls (three [!] in a row, if you don't count the demos and live stuff in between); Dylan (Love and Theft, Modern Times), the Firesign Theater (their first two); and, if two compilations in a row can count, Franco (the two volumes of Francophonic).
Sly never stops coming back around at our house. Essential, unstoppable, singularly life-affirming in his prime. I can’t wait to watch this documentary, and I probably wouldn’t have known about it if you hadn’t written this. Thank you so much. And, of course, enormous props to Questlove.
Loved it. The insight from the interviewees was a notch above too. D’Angelo was thoughtful and emotional, but a big shout out to Vernon Reid, the thinking man’s shredder. One of my fantasy dinner party guests.
There’s A Riot Going On is such a snapshot of a moment. Its a big call, but I really struggle to think of a more visceral album both sonically and politically. I only listen to it once every few years now but boy when I listen, I really listen. I’ve never made it to Fresh but this is the reminder I need to finally check it out. Thanks Xgau.
Lots to applause here, but I’m particularly garage full for the “I failed to fully comprehend” element of looking back on his genius and work. Honest self-reflection is frighteningly rare these days. I appreciate it.
In the early 80s I was living and attending college in my hometown of Champaign, IL. Lo and behold, Sly was booked into this rathole club, its name long forgotten, on University Avenue in North Urbana (around this time, Sly was gigging with a cover band called One Eyed Jacks, a staple of the Chicago and CU club scenes).
I had no plans to attend, because by then Sly’s notorious booked-for-9-go-on-by-2-maybe routine was legendary; besides, even at my young pup age, I seldom made it past midnight. Plus bar closing was at 1, and the Urbana PD didn’t mess around.
But on the day of the show, I happened to be driving past the club, early afternoon. And, contrary to his vampire hours, Sly was up. There on the battered concrete stoop of the front door sat Sly, in full regalia, smoking a cigarette, all by himself. Guess I shoulda gone to shake his hand. This may have been the year he was busted on drug/ weapons charges out on I 57 up in Paxton.
Yes, it's a fantastically fascinating documentary on one of the true giants of popular music. But having watched it thrice now, I don't recall any interviews with the 82-year-old Sly. In fact, one of the producers stated that they made a conscious choice not to interview him on film because he has trouble communicating these days. That said, the vintage interviews are all riveting; even when he is clearly wasted out of his gourd he has interesting things to say.
That makes sense to me. Clearly I should have delved deeper and more critically into when the lookback interviews with Sky took place. For sure he seemed to be in rather good shape for the age I took him to be even the second time I watched the film, and fished around for corroboration as to what took place when. As a fellow 82-year-old, maybe a part of me didn't want to go there.
The albums with the top grades are stunning, but for me the singles defined Sly’s best. From the time I first heard it on American Bandstand one Saturday morning in 1969 Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)/Everybody Is A Star has never stopped thrilling me every time I hear it. For me, taste and judgment blur in my conclusion that it is the finest double-a single in the history of rock music.
Sly & the Family Stone's string of classic albums (Life 1968, Stand! 1969, Greatest Hits 1970, Riot 1971, and Fresh 1973) are played all the time at my house. Life may be their greatest unheralded record.
Ditto at mine. "Thank You for Talkin' to Me, Africa" is such a powerful vibe it's the only choice for certain moods.
A-plusses are rare, as they should be. Consecutive ones by an artist are indeed even thinner on the ground. After a cursory glance, it looks like the only others are the New York Dolls (three [!] in a row, if you don't count the demos and live stuff in between); Dylan (Love and Theft, Modern Times), the Firesign Theater (their first two); and, if two compilations in a row can count, Franco (the two volumes of Francophonic).
Loved this doc. Hail Questlove! Thanks for the review.
Sly never stops coming back around at our house. Essential, unstoppable, singularly life-affirming in his prime. I can’t wait to watch this documentary, and I probably wouldn’t have known about it if you hadn’t written this. Thank you so much. And, of course, enormous props to Questlove.
About once a year I’ll hear some music or see a movie that makes me cry because it’s so beautiful. “Summer of Soul “ really had me going.
Loved it. The insight from the interviewees was a notch above too. D’Angelo was thoughtful and emotional, but a big shout out to Vernon Reid, the thinking man’s shredder. One of my fantasy dinner party guests.
Not to be a smarty pants, but Riot was released in 1971.
Sorry sent prematurely. Family Affair was a major Detroit AM hit in fall of 1971.
There’s A Riot Going On is such a snapshot of a moment. Its a big call, but I really struggle to think of a more visceral album both sonically and politically. I only listen to it once every few years now but boy when I listen, I really listen. I’ve never made it to Fresh but this is the reminder I need to finally check it out. Thanks Xgau.
Lots to applause here, but I’m particularly garage full for the “I failed to fully comprehend” element of looking back on his genius and work. Honest self-reflection is frighteningly rare these days. I appreciate it.
In the early 80s I was living and attending college in my hometown of Champaign, IL. Lo and behold, Sly was booked into this rathole club, its name long forgotten, on University Avenue in North Urbana (around this time, Sly was gigging with a cover band called One Eyed Jacks, a staple of the Chicago and CU club scenes).
I had no plans to attend, because by then Sly’s notorious booked-for-9-go-on-by-2-maybe routine was legendary; besides, even at my young pup age, I seldom made it past midnight. Plus bar closing was at 1, and the Urbana PD didn’t mess around.
But on the day of the show, I happened to be driving past the club, early afternoon. And, contrary to his vampire hours, Sly was up. There on the battered concrete stoop of the front door sat Sly, in full regalia, smoking a cigarette, all by himself. Guess I shoulda gone to shake his hand. This may have been the year he was busted on drug/ weapons charges out on I 57 up in Paxton.