Family - Once Upon A Time (2013) [14CD Box Set, Snapper Music, SMABX999/1097]

Once Upon A Time is the definitive last word on Family. A long-awaited 14 disc box set that collects the band's entire back catalogue for the first time.

This strictly limited edition set was compiled with the full cooperation of Roger Chapman and each copy includes a numbered certificate of authenticity signed individually by Roger himself

The set includes all the band's officially released work plus 2 discs of previously unreleased material featuring out-takes and alternative versions.

~ burningshed

A blues-based band with art rock inclinations, Family were one of the more interesting groups of hippie-era Britain. Fronted by the deft and frequently excellent guitar playing of John "Charlie" Whitney and the raspy, whiskey-and-cigarette voice of Roger Chapman, Family were much loved in England and Europe but barely achieved cult status in America. While bands like Jethro Tull, Ten Years After, and the Keith Emerson-led Nice (and later Emerson, Lake & Palmer) sold lots of records, Family, who frequently toured with these bands, were left in the shadows, an odd band loved by a small but rabid group of fans.

Although the band's first official release was Music in a Doll's House in 1968, the roots of the band went back as far as the early '60s, when Whitney started a rhythm & blues/soul band called the Farinas while at college. In 1966, Whitney met Roger Chapman, a prematurely balding singer who had a voice so powerful that, to quote Robert Christgau, "It could kill small game at a hundred yards," and the two began a creative partnership that would last through two bands and into the early '80s. With Whitney and Chapman leading the way, Family became whole with the addition of bassist Ric Grech, saxophonist Jim King, and drummer Rob Townsend. Within a year they were hyped as the next big thing, and under that pressure and intense British pop press scrutiny delivered their debut record in 1968, Music in a Doll's House. Doll's House is pop music redolent of the Zeitgeist: Chapman's voice is rooted in the blues and R&B, but the record is loaded with strings, Mellotrons, acoustic guitars, and horns – essentially all the trappings of post-psychedelia and early art rock. Almost completely ignored in the States, Doll's House was a hit in Britain and Family began a string of "less art rock/more hard rock" albums that ended, as did the band, with the release of It's Only a Movie in 1973.

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Family - Once Upon A Time (2013) [14CD Box Set, Snapper Music, SMABX999/1097]

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After Family's demise, Whitney and Chapman formed the blues-rock Streetwalkers; other Family members (of which there were quite a few in the band's tempestuous eight years) such as John Wetton (King Crimson, Asia) and Jim Cregan (Rod Stewart) went off to find fame and fortune elsewhere. Trivia buffs note: it was Ric Grech who was the first to leave Family in 1969 to become the least well-known member of supergroup Blind Faith. Sadly, that proved to be Grech's biggest mistake, as Blind Faith imploded in a year, and Grech (whose last notable band membership was in Traffic), long plagued by drinking problems, died of liver failure in 1990. Charlie Whitney went on to play in an extremely low-key country/blues/bluegrass band called Los Rackateeros, and Roger Chapman moved to Germany, where his solo career flourished. A fine, occasionally great band, Family deserved more recognition (at least in America) than they received – something that a thoughtfully compiled career-spanning CD retrospective might rectify.

by John Dougan, AMG

The non-LP single "Scene Through the Eye of a Lens" b/w "Gypsy Woman" not withstanding, Music in a Doll's House (1968) is the debut full-length release from the earliest 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). Their highly original sound has often been compared to Traffic, which may be in part due to the production skills of Jimmy Miller and Dave Mason, the latter also contributing the organic and rootsy rocker "Never Like This." Additionally, neither band was overtly psychedelic or progressive, contrasting them from the other burgeoning combos such as Soft Machine, Pink Floyd, and Caravan. Family's deceptively involved arrangements are coupled with an equally unique blend of Chapman's commanding vocals driving through the jazz and folk-rooted tunes. "The Chase" is a spirited opener that immediately establishes their unmistakable vibe, which is furthered on the sides "Old Songs for New Songs" and the aggressive rocker "Peace of Mind." The antithesis can be heard on the rural-flavored "Mellowing Grey" and "Winter," or perhaps the almost blatantly trippy "See Through Windows."

by Lindsay Planer

Tracklist:

01. The Chase 02:13
02. Mellowing Grey 02:49
03. Never Like This 02:18
04. Me My Friend 02:00
05. Variation On A Theme Of Hey Mr. Policeman 00:24
06. Winter 02:26
07. Old Songs For New Songs 04:17
08. Variation On A Theme Of The Breeze 00:40
09. Hey Mr. Policeman 03:13
10. See Through Windows 03:43
11. Variation On A Theme Of Me My Friend 00:22
12. Peace Of Mind 02:20
13. Voyage 03:34
14. The Breeze 02:52
15. 3 X Time 03:50

Bonus Tracks:
16. Scene Through The Eye Of A Lens 02:52
17. Gypsy Woman 03:25

Bonus Tracks: Originally released as B-side Liberty LBF 15031 October 1967

Family Entertainment followed on the heels of Family's Music in a Doll's House with the band's first incarnation: 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). While not totally dismissing their psychedelic leanings, much of the material bears a stronger acoustic influence, in much the same manner as Fairport Convention and Traffic were also exploring. The jazzy sitar lead of "Face in the Cloud" and the even more prominent Eastern-flavored "Summer '67" somewhat date the affair, and are contrasted by the beautifully noir and trippy "How-Hi-the-Li" (which may have been the impetus for Chicago's "Wishing You Were Here") and the upbeat "Hung Up Down," sporting Grech's unmistakable violin as it wafts over the rural and slightly surreal lyrics. These sides are set against the edgy "Weaver's Answer," which immediately establishes a broader spectrum of styles, most notably given Chapman's commanding if not slightly intimidating vocals. Whitney's blistering fretwork yields bite to the Grech-penned "Second Generation Woman," while "Emotions," another full-tilt rocker, is infused with an apparent R&B homage. Interested parties should note that Family Entertainment and Music in a Doll's House were issued in a double-disc package featuring a commendable 24-bit digital remastering rendering all other versions useless – especially the early-'90s pressing on the German Line label. Not only are both LPs included, but the 45s "Scene Through the Eye of a Lens" and "Gypsy Woman" are finally brought into the digital domain. The accompanying 40-page liner booklet is likewise a feast for the eyes.

by Lindsay Planer

Tracklist:

01. The Weaver's Answer 04:56
02. Observations From A Hill 03:11
03. Hung Up Down 03:12
04. Summer '67 03:19
05. How-Hi-The-Li 04:56
06. Second Generation Woman 03:13
07. From Past Archives 03:21
08. Dim 02:31
09. Processions 02:48
10. Face In The Cloud 02:53
11. Emotions 05:09

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 Chapman and Whitney were listening to a lot of Incredible String Band), A Song for Me veers toward early progressive 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 this disc 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.

by John Dougan

Tracklist:

01. Drowned In Wine 04:10
02. Some Poor Soul 02:45
03. Love Is A Sleeper 04:01
04. Stop For The Traffic / Through The Heart Of Me 02:10
05. Wheels 04:44
06. Song For Sinking Lovers 04:04
07. Hey - Let It Rock 00:59
08. The Cat And The Rat 02:33
09. 93's OK J 03:58
10. A Song For Me 09:18
Bonus Track:
11. A Song For Lots 03:41

Bonus Track: Originally issued as B-side of Reprise RS 27005 Today in 1970

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.

by Mike DeGagne

Tracklist:

01. Good News - Bad News 08:05
02. Willow Tree 04:41
03. Holding The Compass 04:26
04. Strange Band 03:53
05. Part Of The Load 04:46
06. Anyway 03:28
07. Normans 04:21
08. Lives And Ladies 06:40
Bonus Track:
09. Strange Band (Studio Version) 03:15

Tracks 1-4: Recorded live at The Fairfield Halls, Croydon
Tracks 5-8: Recorded at Olympic Sound Studio

This album, a hybrid best-of/singles/remix record, was put together by Family to promote a planned U.S. tour. When the tour was cancelled, the album was released in the U.K. in March, 1971. Songs from the first three albums are included, along with four non-album singles. Special treatment was given to "Hung up Down," "Observations from a Hill," "Weaver's Answer" and "Hometown; " instrumental tracks were re-recorded for these numbers, due to the band's dissatisfaction with the original mixes. The album was an unusual mid-career release, and it filled the gap between the stylistically opposed Anyway and Fearless.

by Patrick Little

Tracklist:

01. Hung Up Down 03:38
02. Today 05:00
03. Observations From A Hill 03:09
04. Good Friend Of Mine 03:34
05. Drowned In Wine 04:09
06. Peace Of Mind 02:20
07. Hometown 03:10
08. The Cat And The Rat 02:31
09. No Mule's Fool 03:20
10. See Through Windows 03:48
11. The Weaver's Answer 04:54

After Family concluded their second stateside tour in mid-1971 they were to again 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 most 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 midtempo opener, "Between Blue and Me." 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, and 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 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.

by Lindsay Planer

Tracklist:

01. Between Blue And Me 05:03
02. Sat'd'y Barfly 04:00
03. Larf And Sing 02:46
04. Spanish Tide 04:03
05. Save Some For Thee 03:43
06. Take Your Partners 06:28
07. Children 02:19
08. Crinkly Grin 01:07
09. Blind 04:05
10. Burning Bridges 04:44

Now this was more like it. Kicking off with the wickedly salacious "Burlesque," Bandstand was the best of the late 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 Chapman shouting like he could take on the world and Whitney playing like he must have when he formed the Farinas in 1962. A corker from the word go.

by John Dougan

Tracklist:

01. Burlesque 04:06
02. Bolero Babe 04:40
03. Coronation 03:51
04. Dark Eyes 01:48
05. Broken Nose 04:12
06. My Friend The Sun 04:22
07. Glove 04:52
08. Ready To Go 04:38
09. Top Of The Hill 05:43
Bonus Track:
10. The Rocking R's 03:31

Bonus Track: B-Side to K14196 Burlesque released September 1972

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 use 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 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 "Boots N Roots" 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, Movie was one of those records that seemed to go directly into the cutout bins, a fitting end to Family's career in America.

by John Dougan

Tracklist:

01. It's Only A Movie 05:10
02. Leroy 05:43
03. Buffet Tea For Two 05:18
04. Boom Bang 03:04
05. Boots 'N' Roots 05:02
06. Banger (Instrumental) 03:09
07. Sweet Desiree 03:44
08. Suspicion 03:25
09. Check Out 04:29






Tracklist:

01. Good News - Bad News 08:23
02. Spanish Tide 04:13
03. Part Of The Load 09:28
04. Drowned In Wine 04:12
05. Holding The Compass 04:05
06. Between Blue And Me 05:28
07. Children 02:40
08. In My Own Time 03:26
09. Take Your Partners 06:21
10. The Weaver's Answer 08:23






Tracklist CD1:

01. Part Of The Load (Backing Track) 05:02
02. Lives And Ladies (Instrumental) 06:53
03. Sat'd'y Barfly (Instrumental / No Horn) 04:50
04. Sat'd'y Barfly (Instrumental #1 / Guide Track, No Horn Studio Chatter) 03:06
05. Sat'd'y Barfly (Instrumental #2 / Guide Track, More Studio Chatter) 04:33
06. Studio Chat #1 00:34
07. Studio Chat #2 00:41
08. Spanish Tide (Instrumental #1) 04:11
09. Spanish Tide (Instrumental #2) 01:38
10. Spanish Tide (Instrumental #3) 03:53
11. Spanish Tide (with Spoken Intro) 12:43
12. Spanish Tide (Instrumental #4) 04:13



Tracklist CD2:

01. Burlesque (Instrumental) 04:12
02. Bolero Babe (Rough Mix) 04:45
03. My Friend The Sun (Instrumental / Part Vocal) 04:24
04. My Friend The Sun (Guide Track #1 / Part Vocal) 04:45
05. My Friend The Sun (Guide Track #2 / Part Vocal) 04:33
06. Ready To Go (Alternate Take #1) 04:36
07. Ready To Go (Alternate Take #2) 04:36
08. Ready To Go (Alternate Take #3) 04:37
09. Top Of The Hill (Alternate Take) 05:41
10. Boom Bang (Instrumental / Part Vocal) 05:01
11. Suspicion (No Brass) 03:33
12. Check Out (Instrumental) 04:46
13. Stop This Car (Alternate Version of B-Side to 'Boom Bang') 04:41






Tracklist:

01. In My Own Time 03:34
02. Seasons 02:20






Tracklist:

01. Boom Bang 03:06
02. Stop This Car 02:58






Tracklist:

01. Sweet Desiree 03:50
02. Drink To You 03:50



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