JOIN THE FAMILY
A Muze | 04/11/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"a CLIFFORD HODGE reviewThere is an R&B/rap group called Family and an online download service has Roger Chapman linked with them as vocalist. WRONG! He was the singer extraordinaire for THIS Family, and he often made Jim Morrison seem laid back. Now do I have your attention? If you don't believe me, buy this and listen to THE WEAVER'S ANSWER. That will send chills up your spine. (and down, and up again,...) If I had to, I would pay $13.99 just for that one, THE CHASE, HUNG UP DOWN, and OLD SONGS NEW SONGS. They began in the 60's - I want to say '66 - and anticipated the likes of Roxy Music with prominent use of extra insturments like clarinet, saxophone, organ, piano. violin, harmonica, in a rock band, which, like so many of the greats, laid everything on a foundation of inborn British artistic sensibilities. A little blues influence, a little jazz influence, manipulated with a sensibilty that turns toward classical, and you have Family. Melodies that go well beyond merely "catchy" set into driving rhythmic progressions make Family, at their best, the most intense band I have ever heard. And yes, I've heard punk, industrial, thrash, etc. - Leather Nun, SPK, Sex Pistols, Motorhead - and think they are all great. But I know if I listen to THE CHASE on this CD, as Roger vibratos through, "Do I see blood in your eyes babe?...You...showered affections and loves; baited and loved me until, my defenses and cautions were down babe, sucked me of strength and goodwill" and then, being familiar with the song, the music has got me dreading the next line: "And you did it just for the thrill" and I can almost see the narrator mocking himself for being fooled in love, as I hear the increasing tempo with all the instruments joining, making me think how glad I am not to be the fox. When you go to drama class, they tell you, "Raising the energy on stage does not necessarily mean raising the volume." Roger Chapman shows you what that means. He is similar to Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull in that he sings with an almost constant vibrato. Tidbit: Ric Grech played on the one CD Family Entertainment, before he was enticed to join a supergroup you may have heard of, Blind Faith, by someone you may have heard of: Eric Clapton. Roger Chapman is #1 on my list of vocalists I regret never having seen, and I've seen a lot. How a person could have such emotional intensity in his vocals and yet live to record so much is beyond me. If you can find their greatest hits compilation, move Heaven and earth to get it. You don't have to move anything except a mouse to get this."
Absolutely amazing!
A Muze | UK | 11/24/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I 'grew up' with this album. (Music in a Doll's House)
Then realised it was missing from my days.
So I had to buy another copy.
Of late I have been listening to it on the cassette player in the car, and realised it is one of the forgotten /overlooked classics of the period.
I'm a musician of sorts myself, and as such, can say in all honesty that this album is up there with the very best.
It has stood the test of time; it is musically very, very brilliant.
It was **really** innovative in it's day, and now, --in 2004--, it is still really very origina
l - and put together by REAL musicians, not the tripe that appears on most TV screens or radios these days!
If you want to know what the very best of the late 1960's were all about, then get a copy of `Doll's House' and hear a genuine marvel.
It was a tragedy that this band got passed over in the welter of events.
They were just, plain terrific.
"
Buy this
James S. Yeoman | Toronto | 10/07/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Buy this. This group does not sound like any other group, their use of instruments is brilliant and unique. Doll's House is definitely more spacey with smaller snippets of sounds rolled together, sort of the way Soft Machine Two feels, but not as jazzy, this could be the start of progressive rock (is it?was it?). Entertainment is more accessible, with songs like Face in a Clouds, Weaver's Answer, etc. All Family albums have the same amazing singer and guitarist, so you can't go wrong (the third album is a bit weak, though, as the band seems to be lacking direction). Wetton and Grech played for Family, leading to thoughts os Blind Faith, King Crimson, Asia, etc. The only drawback with Family is that the material on these albums sounds dated. I would buy Blodwyn Pig's Ahead Rings Out for something a bit more jazzy, driving, and closer to the lunatic fringe, or IF's first album for muscular artist vocals. Chapman of Family and Jack Bruce were the best vocalists in progressive rock, no buts about it...were maybe on but: Chapman sometimes sounds like a screaming duck having its vocal cords massaged by a vibrator. This is the English progressive rock scene during the late sixties peak, before everybody chose money over substance (not including Genesis with Gabriel). However, Family NEVER EVER EVER sold out, and never compromised, with every song telling a story worth hearing again and again. Not dancing music at times, and not to be wasted for background music. I hope you are blown away as I was. I would have given a rating of four instead of five plus stars only because the material is dated sounding, the way bebop also brings thoughts of a certain time and place and lifestyle. These albums are beautiful snapshots.
"
Track Listings (28) - Disc #1