Family album

Album   Released Publisher Rating
It's Only a Movie (Bonus Tracks) 1973 Cool Sound Records
Bandstand (Bonus Tracks) 1972 Repertoire Records
Fearless (Bonus Tracks) 1971 Repertoire Records
Anyway (Castle Bonus Tracks) 1971 Castle Music Ltd.
A Song for Me (Bonus Tracks) 1970 Cool Sound Records
Family Entertainment (Remastered) 1969 Pucka
Back to the topIt's Only a Movie (Bonus Tracks)
Review by John Dougan, All Music Guide
Released:
1973
Label:
Cool Sound Records
Rating:
Styles:
Blues-Rock
Prog-Rock
Art Rock
British Psychedelia
Psychedelic
For a swan song, this is pretty a good one. Generally, at this point in a band's career, when personnel changes become more frequent, live shows become more unpredictable, and substance abuse seems to become more central to the band than singing and songwriting, you would think that Family (a band that partied as hard as any) would simply cough up a final piece of dreck and say so long. But It's Only a Movie is a relaxed, funny, and funky record, almost sunny in disposition. The songs take a while to worm their way in, but once they do, tracks like "No Money Down" and "Boom Bang," with their swagger and sway, end up sounding as good as any of the band's previous work. Totally ignored upon release, It's Only a Movie was one of those records that seemed to go directly into the cut-out bins -- a fitting end to Family's career in America. [This version of the album includes bonus material.]
Track # Track Time Composer
1 It's Only a Movie 5:06 Chapman, Whitney
2 Leroy 5:39 Chapman, Whitney
3 Buffet Tea for Two 5:20 Chapman, Whitney
4 Boom Bang 3:01 Chapman, Whitney
5 Boots 'N' Roots 5:00 Chapman, Whitney
6 Banger 3:05 Chapman, Whitney
7 Sweet Desire 3:40 Chapman, Whitney
8 Suspicion 3:21 Chapman, Whitney
9 Check Out 4:29 Chapman, Whitney
10 Hometown (*) 3:09 Chapman, Whitney
11 Holding the Compass (Live)(*) 2:21 Chapman, Whitney
12 Weavers Answer (Live)(*) 4:48 Chapman, Whitney
13 Dim (Live)(*) 1:19 Chapman, Whitney
14 Procession/No Mule's Fool (Live)(*) 4:45 Chapman, Whitney
Back to the topBandstand (Bonus Tracks)
Review by John Dougan, All Music Guide
Released:
1972
Label:
Repertoire Records
Rating:
Styles:
Blues-Rock
Prog-Rock
Art Rock
Club/Dance
British Psychedelia
Psychedelic
Now this was more like it. Kicking off with the wickedly salacious "Burlesque," Bandstand was the best of the later Family recordings. For a band that, for the most part, eschewed riffs and hooks, both are in plentiful supply here. More important, by the time of Bandstand's release, Family had reconciled the war between their art rock and hard rock tendencies; that is to say, there is more of the latter and less of the former. So, the record doesn't have the internal stress of their earlier releases, but what it does have is Roger Chapman shouting like he could take on the world and John "Charlie" Whitney playing like he must have when he formed the Farinas in 1962. A corker from the word go. [This version of the album includes bonus material.]
Track # Track Time Composer
1 Burlesque 4:04 Chapman, Whitney
2 Bolero Babe 4:35 Chapman, Whitney
3 Coronation 3:50 Wetton, Chapman, Whitney
4 Dark Eyes 1:46 Chapman, Palmer
5 Broken Nose 4:09 Chapman, Whitney
6 My Friend the Sun 4:20 Chapman, Whitney
7 Glove 4:50 Chapman, Whitney
8 Ready to Go 4:36 Chapman, Whitney
9 Top of the Hill 5:40 Chapman, Whitney
10 The Rockin' R's (Single B-Side) (*) 3:22 Chapman, Whitney
11 No Mule's Fool (Live)(*) 2:58 Chapman, Whitney
12 Good News - Bad News (Live)(*) 4:10 Chapman, Whitney
13 The Weaver's Answer (Live)(*) 5:34 Chapman, Whitney
Back to the topFearless (Bonus Tracks)
Review by Lindsay Planer, All Music Guide
Released:
January 1971
Label:
Repertoire Records
Rating:
Styles:
Blues-Rock
Prog-Rock
Art Rock
British Psychedelia
Psychedelic
After Family concluded their second stateside tour in mid-1971 they were again to face personnel changes as John Weider (bass) was replaced by John Wetton (bass/guitar/vocals) just in time to chip in for Fearless, their sixth long-player in four years. Listeners who had enjoyed their then-recent platters might have been a bit nonplussed when confronted with this disc, as the combo's direction was notably altered. Wetton brought along his trademark propulsive performance style, which is immediately evident on the heavy mid-tempo opener, "Between Blue and Me." John "Charlie" Whitney (guitar/mandolin/percussion) presents some expressive strings weaving through Wetton's full bottom-end bombs. The decidedly English "Sat'd'y Barfly" recalls the inebriated vibe of lighter-weight numbers à la the Faces, while the Ladbroke Horns do little to help as a prominent tuba rhythmically poots along. Poli Palmer's (keyboards/vibes/flute/percussion) roly-poly piano further conjures up a barroom setting while pulling the tune together. As if the juxtaposition of those tracks wasn't incongruous enough, the slightly off-kilter and trippy "Larf and Sing" features a breezy four-on-the-floor backbeat that predates disco in chronology only. It drops out for a jazzy a cappella chorus that could easily be executed by the Hi-Lo's or the Four Freshmen. Whitney's wah-wah is also a focal point as it slithers in between the verses. Another of the album's best offerings is the "Spanish Tide"/"Save Some for Thee'" medley. Highlighted is the combination of Roger Chapman's powerful warbling and Wetton's sturdy vocal timbre. The pair shine against the intricate melody, brought to life by a well-balanced blend of Whitney's acoustic fretwork. On the funky rocker "Take Your Partners," the bandmembers maneuver their interaction with an aptitude and skill that would arguably best any jam-based aggregate of the day. Concluding Fearless is the sinuous "Burning Bridges," sporting a Chapman lead that is almost uncomfortable in its palpable sense of foreboding. Whitney's muted mandolin likewise has a haunting, ruminative quality as it dances and seemingly mocks the simmering tempo. Although admittedly uneven, Fearless was the first of two Family titles to make an impact in the States, where it peaked at a modest number 177 in February of 1972. [This version of the album includes bonus material.]
Track # Track Time Composer
1 Between Blue and Me 5:01 Chapman, Whitney
2 Sat'd'y Barfly 3:58 Chapman, Whitney
3 Larf and Sing 2:44 Palmer
4 Spanish Tide 4:01 Chapman, Whitney
5 Save Some for Thee 3:42 Chapman, Whitney
6 Take Your Partners 6:22 Chapman, Palmer, Whitney
7 Children 2:19 Chapman, Whitney
8 Crinkley Grin 1:04 Palmer
9 Blind 4:03 Chapman, Whitney
10 Burning Bridges 4:44 Chapman, Palmer, Whitney
11 In My Own Time (*) 3:33 Chapman, Whitney
12 Seasons (*) 2:21 Chapman, Whitney
13 Between Blue and Me (Live)(*) 5:05 Chapman, Whitney
14 Sing 'Em the Way I Feel (Live)(*) 4:37 Lenoir
Back to the topAnyway (Castle Bonus Tracks)
Review by Mike DeGagne, All Music Guide
Released:
1971
Label:
Castle Music Ltd.
Rating:
Styles:
Psychedelic
British Psychedelia
Blues-Rock
Prog-Rock
Art Rock
The first four tracks of Family's Anyway were recorded at Croydon's Fairfield Hall, and while their sound throughout these songs is messy, overly loud, and remarkably bottom-heavy, their is an emitted energy that would change Family's persona from this point on. Aside from the piano, violin, and drum barrages, Roger Chapman's vocals are simply electrifying, even with a voice that sounds slightly stretched and flattened. It was these four cuts that transformed Family's sound into something that audiences other than their cult following could adhere to. The eight minutes of "Good News -- Bad News" and the sharply written "Holding the Compass" are testimony to what the band was transforming into. And, while the studio tracks weren't as boisterous, they were indeed rough, especially the title track and the modernized feel of "Part of the Load," sounding slightly ahead of its time. Poli Palmer's percussion work is both resounding and highly inventive, as is his flute playing, taking drumming duties away from Jim King. While many critics dismiss this album, it was the first real release that merged Chapman comfortably with the band's bizarre instrumental outcrops that actually stuck. Sure, the music is off-center and follows no precise direction at times, but this is what Chapman needed in order to find a home for his quavering voice. While albums like Bandstand, It's Only a Movie, and the earlier Family Entertainment have received greater praise, Anyway's abrasiveness is just as relevant. The CD version of Anyway includes both the full and edited cuts of "Today," as well as "Song for Lots."
Track # Track Time Composer
1 Good News -- Bad News 8:06 Chapman, Whitney
2 Willow Tree 4:39 Chapman, Whitney
3 Holding the Compass 4:28 Chapman, Whitney
4 Strange Band 3:44 Williamson, Chapman, Whitney
5 Part of the Load 4:40 Chapman, Whitney
6 Anyway 3:28 Chapman, Whitney
7 Normans 4:21 Weider, Palmer, Whitney
8 Lives and Ladies 6:31 Chapman, Whitney
9 Today (*) 2:31 Weider, Chapman, Whitney
10 Song for Lots (*) 9:44 Chapman, Whitney
11 Today (Edited Version)(Edit)(*) 8:04 Weider, Chapman, Whitney
Back to the topA Song for Me (Bonus Tracks)
Review by John Dougan, All Music Guide
Released:
1970
Label:
Cool Sound Records
Rating:
Styles:
Blues-Rock
Prog-Rock
Art Rock
British Psychedelia
Psychedelic
Twenty-seven years after the fact, this might well be the best of the early Family recordings. A combination of hard rock (bordering on metal) and wistful folk-rock (it sounds as if Roger Chapman and John "Charlie" Whitney were listening to a lot of Incredible String Band), A Song for Me veers toward early prog rock, but isn't as nakedly indulgent as some early prog rock recordings (e.g., they didn't try to sound like a jazz band; they wanted to sound like a rock band screwing around with jazz). Perhaps their most experimental record, it seems as though the credo in making A Song for Me was that anything went. And on tracks like "Drowned in Wine," it works quite well. Again, Chapman offers more proof of his vocal greatness, and again the record sells large quantities in England and nearly nothing in America. [This version of the album includes bonus material.]
Track # Track Time Composer
1 Drowned in Wine 4:09 Chapman, Whitney
2 Some Poor Soul 2:44 Chapman, Whitney
3 Love Is a Sleeper 4:01 Chapman, Whitney
4 Stop for the Traffic - Through the Heart of Me 2:12 Chapman, Whitney
5 Wheels 4:38 Chapman, Whitney
6 Song for Sinking Lovers 4:06 Chapman, Whitney
7 Hey-Let It Rock 1:00 Chapman, Whitney
8 The Cat and the Rat 2:29 Chapman, Whitney
9 93's OK J 3:58 Weider, Whitney
10 A Song for Me 9:15 Townsend, Weider, Chapman, Whitney
11 No Mule's Fool (*) 3:11 Chapman, Whitney
12 Good Friend of Mine (*) 3:30 Chapman, Whitney
13 Drowned in Wine (Live)(*) 4:08 Chapman, Whitney
14 The Cat and the Rat (Live)(*) 2:47 Chapman, Whitney
15 Wheels (Live)(*) 6:44 Chapman, Whitney
16 A Song for Me (Live)(*) 7:58 Townsend, Weider, Chapman, Whitney
Back to the topFamily Entertainment (Remastered)
Review by Lindsay Planer, All Music Guide
Released:
1969
Label:
Pucka
Rating:
Styles:
Blues-Rock
Prog-Rock
Art Rock
British Psychedelia
Psychedelic
This 2003 CD reissue of Family Entertainment (1969) boasts the original incarnation of Family featuring Roger Chapman (harmonica/tenor sax/vocals), Rick Grech (violin/cello/bass guitar/vocals), Rob Townsend (percussion/drums), John "Charlie" Whitney (guitar/pedal steel guitar/keyboards), and Jim King (harmonica/keyboards/soprano sax/tenor sax/vocals). By contrast to their debut LP Music in a Doll's House (1968), Entertainment (1968) settles into a stronger central blues base that continues to branch into a British sense of psychedelic folk reminiscent of their earlier effort. This is set apart by the grittier "Second Generation Woman," which is easily one of Family's heavier pieces. While arguably the least representative of their overall approach, the tune became a prime showcase for the concert stage. "Weaver's Answer" is another edgier rocker, sporting some of the band's best work, ranging from King's earthy sax solo to Whitney's equally pungent electric leads. This balances the more organic "Observations From a Hill" and the Eastern-flavored instrumental "Summer '67." The latter could have been influenced by the likes of George Harrison's "Within You, Without You." If the hauntingly foreboding "How-Hi-the-Li" seems oddly familiar, the bridge bears a striking resemblance to Chicago's light rock favorite "Wishing You Were Here." Enthusiasts should note that Family Entertainment and Music in a Doll's House were collectively anthologized onto a deluxe double-disc set that includes both respective long players, as well as the 45-only sides "Scene Through the Eye of a Lens" and "Gypsy Woman," both of which predating the first album. The sound quality is worth mentioning on the two-fer package as Super Bit Mapping (SBM) technology has been incorporated yielding uniformly excellent audio to match the 40-page liner booklet.
Track # Track Time Composer
1 The Weaver's Answer 4:56 Chapman, Whitney
2 Observations from a Hill 3:11 Chapman, Whitney
3 Hung Up Down 3:12 Chapman, Whitney
4 Summer '67 (Instrumental) 3:19 Whitney
5 How-Hi-the-Li 4:56 Chapman, Whitney
6 Second Generation Woman 3:13 Grech
7 From Past Archives 3:21 Chapman, Whitney
8 Dim 2:31 Chapman, Whitney
9 Processions 2:48 Whitney
10 Face in the Cloud 2:53 Grech
11 Emotions 5:09 Chapman, Grech, Whitney
Back to the topExternal Links