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Posts tagged Roger Chapman
Roger Chapman – He Was… She Was… You Was… We Was (Live 1982) (@256)
06 Dec 2009
(Review from allmusic)
One of the lost jewels within the Roger Chapman crown, He Was She Was You Was We Was was the double live album that confirmed the former Family/Streetwalkers frontman as a superstar in Germany in 1982.
Recorded late the previous year in Kiel and built around his Hyenas album, it blazed through his solo career with furnace-fire aplomb, with a pair of medleys — one commencing with the old blues shaker “I’m a King Bee,” the other with Larry Williams’ “Slow Down” — highlights that few live acts of the era could muster.
It is not an oldies show — anybody coming to a Chapman live album today would be certain to search for Family favorites. They are absent — this is the sound of Chapman at the top of his game, whether pounding through his own most recent material or dipping back to mash Jimi Hendrix’s “Stone Free” with Miles Davis’ “Bitch’s Brew”, while the band — led by the indefatigable Tim Hinckley — simply storms.
This edition of the album has one more moment of magnificence appended as a bonus track: a five-minute romp through “I Just Want to Make Love to You”.
Line-up:
- Roger Chapman / Vocals, Harmonica
with
- Geoff Whitehorn / Guitar
- Boz Burrell / Bass
- Tim Hinkley / Keyboards
- Poli Palmer / Synthesizer
- Nick Pentelow / Saxophone
- Steve Simpson / Guitar, Mandolin, Violin, Vocals
- Stretch / Drums
Track List:
CD1
01. Higher Ground – 6:07
02. Ducking Down – 5:35
03. Making The Same Mistake – 5:41
04. Blood And Sand – 5:50
05. King Bee / That Same Thing / Face of Stone – 9:07
06. Hyenas Only Laugh For Fun – 4:12
07. Night Down No. 2 A La Z.Z – 9:46
CD2
01. Prisoner – 6:07
02. Slow Down / Common Touch – 6:32
03. Juke Box Mama No.3 – 6:22
04. He Was, She Was – 6:07
05. Stone Free / Bitches Brew – 6:02
06. Unknown Soldier – 5:48
07. I Just Wanna Make Love To You (Bonus) – 5:45
Link in comments.
Family – As & Bs (1969-78) (@256)
23 Sep 2009
(Review from amazon)
The title A’s and B’s sounds like a report card but in fact refers to all the singles released by the stellar English band Family between 1969 and 1973. Many of these tracks are significant for their relation to the state of the band and to the music industry of that time, when it was common practice to release singles by bands not necessarily connected with their albums.
For instance, “No Mule’s Fool”, the first single to chart well, is also the last Family song featuring Jim King. This is the original version of “Strange Band”, not the live version best known to most Family aficionados. “In My Own Time” may be the best track here of those not originally included on any of the Family LPs. Chappo delivers another vintage performance while the band flat out rocks. “Stop this Car”, an oddball track, swerves wildly from the terrain Family staked out into country. “Drink to You”, another oddity, is a nice, churning tribute to the alcohol, but who’s on the mike here? It’s not Chappo, so odds are Cregan or Ashton took the lead vocals.
Track List:
01. No Mule’s Fool – 3:23
02. Good Friend Of Mine – 3:34
03. Today – 5:00
04. Song For Lots – 3:41
05. Strange Band – 3:16
06. In My Own Time – 3:33
07. Seasons – 2:21
08. Burlesque – 4:04
09. The Rockin’ R’s – 3:27
10. My Friend The Sun – 4:22
11. Glove – 4:51
12. Boom Bang – 3:02
13. Stop This Car – 2:53
14. Sweet Desiree – 3:40
15. Drink To You – 3:34
Links in comments.
Family – BBC Radio Volume 2 (1971-73) (@256)
22 Sep 2009
(Info from cduniverse.com)
This is the second of two volumes including Family’s previously unreleased BBC Radio 1 sessions. Covering the period from early 1971 up to mid 1973, these recorded sessions are mastered from the original BBC transcription tapes and feature one of Britain’s finest bands playing in the studio, but with an extra edge that is normally only captured at live performances.
Included here is a rare session by Family as a 4 piece, previewing songs such as ‘Save Some For Thee’, using a synthesizer in place of bass guitar.
Line-up:
- Roger Chapman / vocals, harmonica, percussion
- John ‘Poli’ Palmer / flute, piano, vibes (1-11)
- Rob Townsend / drums, percussion
- John ‘Charlie’ Whitney / guitars, keyboards
- John Weider / bass, violin, guitars (1-5)
- John Wetton / bass, guitars, vocals (10-11)
- Tony Ashton / piano, Hammond organ (12-14)
- Jim Cregan / bass, guitars, vocals (12-14)
Track List:
01. Strange Band – 2:45
02. Hometown – 3:49
03. Procession – 4:56
04. Part Of The Load – 9:52
05. Lives And Ladies – 8:13
06. Buming Bridges – 3:49
07. Save Some For Thee – 3:08
08. In My Own Town – 3:01
09. Seasons – 2:12
10. Children – 2:12
11. Between Blue & Me – 5:04
12. Boom Band – 3:03
13. Buffet Tea For Two – 5:20
14. Check Out – 5:14
Links in comments.
Family – BBC Radio 1 Live In Concert (1973) (@256)
21 Sep 2009
(Review from starling.rinet.ru)
This live album was the only recording of the album till the “Live” album surfaced only a few years back. As it frequently happened back then, it was recorded for live retransmission on the BBC airwaves. The album has an additional audience overdub (which can be annoying).
It is January 1973, Poli Palmer and John Wetton had already quit, and the band stepped into its last incarnation with Cregan on bass and Ashton on keyboards – in fact, they are actually previewing one of the songs from their future “It’s Only A Movie” album on here (‘Buffet Tea For Two’, here entitled simply ‘Buffet Tea’).
From the very opening chords – they rip into action with ‘Burlesque’ – it’s obvious that Family follow the standard classic-rock trick of discarding the smooth edges in concert and concentrating on energizing the audiences with everything loud, distorted and aggressive. Whitney’s guitar suddenly starts sounding gruffer and rougher than ever, he definitely goes out of his way to provide Family with a noble hard rock background in a live setting. In the meantime, Tony Ashton adds all kinds of nifty touches on the keyboards, bashing on the keys as if he were hammering in an enemy’s head, adding Emerson-like distortion effects to his organ parts.
Many of the songs are significantly extended in concert, or just as significantly modified. There’s the matter of lengthy intros with Whitney soloing and Chappo following him with his wailings, or occasionally they just give Roger additional time about his vocal gymnastics. The band knows well the stunning power of teasing the audience with slow soft passages suddenly crashing into loud and gruff ones and back – ‘Top Of The Hill’, for one thing, does it all the time, finally exploding in the biggest climax of the record. Of course, no show can pass without a couple “softies” to illustrate the band’s sensitive side; the minimalistic, drum-less ‘My Friend The Sun’ does the job nicely. ‘Buffet Tea For Two’ is notable for Ashton’s jazzy piano solo.
‘Glove’ is also particularly good, a bit slowed down from the studio version, but conveying the same sense of “weird majesty”, and ‘Ready To Go’ rocks harder than the original, mostly due to Whitney’s broken ‘ragged’ distorted chords in between the verses and wah-wah soloing. And on a less pompous note, they finish the show with a blistering version of the barroom classic ‘Rockin’ Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu’ – done in classic Family half-sloppy style, incorporating audience singalongs and the band just giving it all away, remembering their roots and boots.
The last three tracks come from 1970/1971 “BBC in Concert” performances (obviously with a different line-up). Out of the three, ‘Part Of The Load’ is a real stunner, and no mistake about it: ten minutes of ferocious avantgarde rock’n'roll, with everybody soloing like a pack of stray demons and I can only imagine the inhumane convulsions rattling Chappo’s body while the band were doing this.
Line-up:
- Roger Chapman / vocals, percussion
- John “Charlie” Whitney / guitars
- Tony Ashton / organ, piano
- Rob Townshend / drums, percussion
- Jim Cregan / bass, guitar, vocals
Track List:
01. Burlesque – 5:47
02. Sat’dy Barfly – 4:49
03. Top Of The Hill – 7:48
04. My Friend The Sun – 4:10
05. Buffet Tea – 4:37
06. Children – 3:02
07. Glove – 6:00
08. Ready To Go – 7:04
09. Holding The Compass – 4:53
10. Rockin’ Pneumonia And Boogie Woogie Flu – 6:08
11. In My Own Time (Bonus 1970-71) – 3:46
12. Weaver’s Answer (Bonus 1970-71) – 8:22
13. Part Of The Load (Bonus 1970-71) – 9:59
Links in comments.
Family – Bandstand (1972) (@256)
09 Sep 2009
(Review from progarchives.com)
Released in 1972, “Bandstand” is the second album recorded by the line up which made “Fearless” a year earlier. While the ever present Roger Chapman’s voice is of course the band’s signature, it is perhaps surprising that the continuing presence of journeyman John Wetton is largely low key; apart from one co-credit he does not even contribute to the song writing. Wetton would in fact leave the band after this album, heading for King Crimson.
The single “Burlesque” opens the album, a dirty, funky piece of magic with slightly risque lyrics, and a wonderful vocal performance by Chapman. The album as a whole though is not as aggressive as previous offerings, the reflectively harmonic “Bolero Babe” being more representative of the mood. Del Newman’s string arrangements are unobtrusive, but nonetheless uncharacteristic for a Family album. The downbeat mood continues on “Coronation” where Chapman’s higher range vocals sound a little odd. The track benefits from the addition of some synth and violin and a more spirited chorus. “Dark Eyes” is a brief Poli Palmer (who was also to leave the band) contribution, in very much the same vein as its predecessors on the album. The track rather strangely fades in mid verse.
“Broken Nose” finally returns us to the heavier and noisier sounds we expect from the band. This story of unrequited love across the classes has a rather messy melody and some of the most obvious synthesiser the band have added to a song.
“My Friend the Sun” was perhaps too different to their previous releases to succeed as a single. The song is a soft acoustic ballad with Crosby, Stills, Nash like harmonies, and accordion backing. “Glove” sets out as a quiet blues featuring just vocal and piano. As the song develops, it becomes a more orthodox Family song, with some nice lead guitar and ever more dominant strings. The final choruses have a sing-a-long anthem feel.
“Ready to go” is a sort of back to basics affair, with acidic lyrics. Whitney and Chapman are clearly getting something off their chests here, but rather at the expense of a decent tune. The closing “Top of the hill” is a mid paced traditional Family song, with a simple melody. The arrangement is reasonably lavish, accentuated by the ubiquitous strings.
Unlike “Fearless”, “Bandstand” is very much a single mood album.
Line-up:
- Roger Chapman / Vocals, Guitars, Percussion
- John ‘Charlie’ Whitney / Guitars, Mandolin, Percussion
- John Wetton / Guitars, Vocals, Keyboards
- John ‘Poli’ Palmer / Vibes, Piano, Flute, Percussion
- Robert Townsend / Drums, Percussion
with:
- Del Newman / String Arrangements
Track List:
01. Burlesque – 4:07
02. Bolero Babe – 4:39
03. Coronation – 3:49
04. Dark Eyes – 1:47
05. Broken Nose – 4:10
06. My Friend The Sun – 4:22
07. Glove – 4:52
08. Ready To Go – 4:36
09. Top Of The Hill – 5:40
Link in comments.
Family – Live (1971) (@256)
08 Sep 2009
(Info from sleeve)
“Family Live” catches one of the band’s strongest line-ups in the middle of their 1971 winter tour, with an anchor date at London’s pretigious Rainbow.
Unlike the under rehearsed 4 live tracks that occupied side one of “Anyway”, these live cuts find the band giving full reign to their muse. Roger Chapman as ever is in fine form, and the band sound like a coherent unit. The 10 tracks here suggest Family had played enough tour dates to confidently stretch out on both older favorites such as “Drowned in Wine”, “In My Own Time” and “Weaver’s Answer” as well as four relatively speaking new cuts from the new “Fearless” album.
In short, Family were enjoying one of the most rewarding periods of their career. The line-up was growing creatively and as this live album suggests, the band’s European and UK dates, either side of the new album, had put them in good stead for the future.
Playing live was really what Family were about. Long time fans have all got a story about a particularly favorite gig or incident. This live album culled from a batch of old tapes in Chappo’s loft, includes what is thought to be a large chunk of the band’s November show at the Rainbow, and is full of all the band elements that colour such memories.
The album demonstrates both the power and quirkiness of one of Britain’s original rock bands. Chappo’s own performances of course have been well documented and his moments of wild abandon and sheer involvement in some of the songs comes across on the live set. “Good News Bad News” for example, is full of exclamatory woops and shouts, while the ending of “Part Of The Load” includes a typical Chapman scat on the lyrics.
On the extended work out on “Weaver’s Answer”, both Charlie and Poli work up on a head of steam on both guitar and synth/keys, Chappo scats away on vocals, to great effect. On the hook of the single “In My Own Time”, Chapman holds back until the very last minute to deliver the word “time”. Wetton joins him in the chorus for a great reading of one of the band’s greatest efforts.
While the Rainbow performance is only a snapshot of what became known as the “Fearless” line-up, this belated live Family album is a reminder both of some hugely original material, some incredible live performances and above all a band that was forever forging new iddeas whatever the line-up.
Line-up:
- Roger Chapman / vocals, percussion
- John “Charlie” Whitney / guitar
- John “Poli” Palmer / keyboards, vibes, flute
- John Wetton / bass, vocals
- Robert Townsend / drums
Track List:
01. Good News – 8:23
02. Spanish Tide – 4:13
03. Part Of The Load – 9:28
04. Drowned In Wine – 4:12
05. Holding The Compass – 4:05
06. Between Blue And Me – 5:28
07. Children – 2:40
08. In My Own Time – 3:26
09. Take Your Partners – 6:21
10. Weaver’s Answer – 8:25
Links in comments.
Family – New Songs, Old Songs (1971) (@256)
07 Sep 2009
(Review from progarchives.com)
By 1971, Leicester band Family had pretty much reached the height of their popularity and commercial success. That height was however not great when compared to their peers, such as Free, Ten Years After, Deep Purple etc. Despite having had several hit singles, and attracted a small but loyal following, Family never managed to make the leap from pub-rock band done good, to fully fledged headliners.
In preparation for what was hoped to be their breakthrough US tour, the band and their record label put together this compilation of selected album tracks and non-album singles (A and/or B). Some of the tracks were remixed, and the backing tracks to four of the songs (“Weaver’s Answer”, “Hung up Down”, “Observations from a Hill” and “Hometown”) were re-recorded all together. In the event, the tour was cancelled, and this album became a stopgap UK release.
The period covered by this set, which is technically a compilation but is effectively a bona fide studio album, is from the band’s debut album (“Music in a doll’s house”) through to their fourth album (“Anyway”), although the latter is only represented by the CD bonus track “Today”. During the period, bassist and violinist Rick Grech left to join Blind Faith and Jim King was sacked due to the band’s style mutating and rendering him superfluous. A certain John Wetton, who does not appear here, arrived before their next studio album was recorded.
As was common in the 1960′s and early 70′s, several singles by Family never appeared on their original studio albums, and four of the tracks here fall into that category, including the minor hit single “No mule’s fool”.
Musically, the album consists of eleven diverse Chapman/Whitney composed songs. Some of these such as “Hung up down”, Drowned in wine”, and “Peace of mind” are very much of their time, and have not aged particularly well. They have echoes of early Uriah Heep/Spice (“Peace of mind”), Slade’s “Cos I love you” (Drowned in wine”), and early Genesis (“Today”).
There are softer reflective numbers such as “No mule’s fool” and “Home town” where Roger Chapman demonstrates that he did not need to utilise his demented warble to get noticed. The latter song was criminally hidden away for years as a non-album B side.
The standout track by far though is “The weaver’s answer”, from which the lyrical quote at the start of this review is taken. Indeed, Chapman’s virtually unintelligible vocal style on this track disguises some incredibly accomplished prose. The song is an exceptional work, which suits Chapman’s unique voice perfectly.
Line-up:
- Roger Chapman / Vocals, Percussion
- John ‘Charlie’ Whitney / Guitar, Banjo, Organ
- John Weider / Guitars, Violin, Dobro
- Robert Townsend / Drums, Percussion, Harp
- John ‘Poli’ Palmer / Vibes, Piano, Flute
- Jim King / saxophone
Track List:
01. Hung Up Down – 3:29
02. Today – 5:01
03. Observation From A Hill – 3:11
04. Good Friend Of Mine – 3:33
05. Drowned In Wine – 4:07
06. Peace Of Mind – 2:23
07. Hometown – 3:10
08. The Cat And The Rat – 2:29
09. No Mule’s Fool – 3:20
10. See Through Windows – 3:48
11. The Weaver’s Answer – 4:55
Link in comments.
Family – Fearless (1971) (@256)
06 Sep 2009
(Review from progarchives.com)
For their fifth album, out goes Weider with his violin and in comes John Wetton (from Mogul Thrash, a Colosseum offshoot) while the rest of the line-up stays put. This meant the end of the violin interludes, but it is probably no coincidence that things appeared to be tightened up considerably — not least because of Wetton’s presence, but also because of Palmer’s outstanding performances.
What strikes most with this album is the frequent use of keyboards – although Family never had a keyboard player, there was some use of keys in previous album, but not quite like in “Fearless” or the following “Bandstand” – but the use will not be systematic either. From the opening “Between Blue And Me” (between a superb Traffic and a manic Lennon-sung Beatles track), the ragtime-piano dominated “Barfly”, and passing through the Gentle Giant-inspired “Larf And Sing” and the slightly Spaniard feel “Spanish Tide”, the first side of this vinyl is stupendous and almost flawless ending with “Save Some For Thee” (still outstanding with its big band horn section).
Starting with the mainly instrumental but funky-grooved Wetton-induced bass line “Take Your Partners”, the second side is of to just as good a start as its forerunner. Almost sing-along “Children”, the vibes-lead “Crinkley Grin” all-too-short interlude, “Blind” with its bagpipe outro, and the astounding “Burning Bridges” (coming to some of the most tragic Traffic magic), rounds up another tour de force.
With such an excellent track-listing as this one, finding worthy bonus tracks would prove almost an impossible task and the rough In My Own Time and the country-esque Seasons (both worthy Family tracks) do not live up to the album’s high caliber.
Line-up:
- Roger Chapman / Vocals, Guitars, Percussion
- John ‘Charlie’ Whitney / Guitars, Mandolin, Percussion
- John Wetton / Bass, Vocals, Keyboards
- John ‘Poli’ Palmer / Vibes, Piano, Flute, Percussion
- Robert Townsend / Drums, Percussion
with:
- Ladbroke Horns / Brass
Track List:
01. Between Blue and Me – 5:02
02. Sat D-Y Barfly – 3:58
03. Larf and Sing – 2:45
04. Spanish Tide – 4:02
05. Save Some for Thee – 3:42
06. Take Your Partners – 6:26
07. Children – 2:19
08. Crinkley Grin – 1:05
09. Blind – 4:03
10. Burning Bridges – 4:45
11. In My Own Time (Bonus) – 3:33
12. Seasons (Bonus) – 2:21
Link in comments.
Family – Family Entertainment (1969) (@256)
05 Sep 2009
(Review from progarchives.com)
This album is absolutely essential. Why? Because it includes the unbelievably magnificent “The weaver’s answer”. This song is one of those masterpieces which comes along only when the planets are correctly aligned and a flash of inspiration is sent from the heavens. The song is perfect in lyric, melody and performance. It builds through Roger Chapman’s inspired vocal and some superb violin to a climactic and dramatic conclusion.
Much has been said about the production of “Family entertainment”, the band’s second album, over the years and it is true that there are deficiencies in that department. That however should not blind us to some highly enjoyable material.
“Observations from a hill” is clearly not sung by Chapman, but the credits are unclear as to who the vocalist is. Following “The weaver’s answer” is going to make any song sound inferior, but “Observations..” is a rather prosaic number all the same. “Hung up down” is a stronger, more conventional Family song, with a fine performance by Chapman.
“Summer ’67″ is a Charlie Whitney instrumental with an eastern flavour, reflecting the mood of that period. It makes for a pleasant interlude piece. “How-hi-the-Li” is a politically charged song focusing on China and the East, with rather uninspired lyrics such as We only wanna break the chain of society Put the people back on the road to reality We only wanna turn the whole world on “Second generation woman” sounds completely out of place, not just on this album, but in the Family catalogue as a whole. The song is a Beatles style rock and roll number, perhaps with singles potential. Rick Grech takes lead vocal and adds some violin too, but while the song is a credible piece of pop, it just does not fit at all here. Fortunately, normal service is resumed with the quivering vocal of Roger Chapman on “From past archives” which features a bizarre mix of harmonica, barroom piano, clarinet, orchestration and Harpsichord. It is about 15 songs in 3˝ minutes!
“Dim” also features harmonica, but in a lighter semi-country atmosphere. “Processions” has a retro 60′s pop feel, the reflections of boyhood conjuring up nostalgic images. Had this been recorded in the mid 1960′s, it would probably have found its way into the pop charts. The sitar based Rick Grech song “Face in the cloud” features a lead vocal by him. Why the band should insist on sharing out the vocal credits when they have in their line up the incredible and unique talents of Chapman is something of an enigma. Perhaps it was a futile attempt to prevent Grech from moving on to Blind Faith, something he announced would do before the tour to promote the album had started.
The closing “Emotions” is an atmospheric song with a strong arrangement. That arrangement in many ways carries the song, which is melodically average.
“Family entertainment” is far from being a one song album. While “Weaver’s answer” is undoubtedly the jewel in the crown, it is supported by a creditable range of decent songs. The progressive influences are largely kept in check in favour of a more pop orientated feel, but the diversity of the content more than compensates for this.
Line-up:
- Roger Chapman / Vocals
- John ‘Charlie’ Whitney / Guitar, Vocals
- Jim King / Saxophone, Flute
- Rick Grech / Bass
- Rob Townsend / Drums
with:
- Heavenly Strings / Strings
- Tony Cox / Additional Arrangements
Track List:
01. The Weaver’s Answer – 4:56
02. Observations from a hill – 3:11
03. Hung Up Down – 3:12
04. Summer 67 – 3:19
05. How-Hi-the-Li – 4:56
06. Second Generation Woman – 3:13
07. From Past Archives – 3:21
08. Dim – 2:31
09. Processions – 2:48
10. Face In The Cloud – 2:53
11. Emotions – 5:09
Link in comments.
Family – It's Only A Movie (1973) (@256)
19 Feb 2008
(Review from allmusic, amazon)
Alas, the last Family album. At the end of an incredible run of creativity and intensity, they turned out their loosest, funkiest effort. 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 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. This set is full of wit, invention, surprise and punch-in-the-gut rocking.
The streamlining left them tougher and fully able to tackle material that ranges from the honky-tonk ofthe title track and the sassy balladry of “Leroy”, to the steamroller of “Boom Bang” and the funky “Sweet Desiree”.
Rare is the band that can close the book on their own career with an album ending song called “Check Out”. It’ll spin your head around in your own living room. You’ll be standing on your couch crying for more, but that was all they wrote. We still miss them.
Line-up:
- Roger Chapman / Vocals, Guitars, Percussion
- John ‘Charlie’ Whitney / Guitars, Mandolin, Percussion
- Jim Cregan / Bass, guitar
- Tony Ashton / Keyboards
- Robert Townsend / Drums, Percussion
Track List:
01. It’s Only A Movie (5:06)
02. Leroy (5:39)
03. Buffet Tea For Two (5:20)
04. Boom Bang (3:01)
05. Boots ‘N Roots (5:00)
06. Banger (3:05)
07. Sweet Desiree (3:40)
08. Suspicion (3:21)
09. Check Out (4:29)
Link in comments.
Streetwalkers – Streetwalkers (1974) (@256)
06 Aug 2007
Request of Panka & John. Thanks to Plastic Geordie for the contribution. Sorry I forgot to post.
(Review from Patrick Little)
In the winter of 1973/1974, only months after the dissolution of Family, Chapman/Whitney completed a duo album called Streetwalkers. Basically this was an informal exercise by the pair to stretch their musical wings. They had done some diverse stuff on the last Family album, but this was sort of a jam project with a loose collection of famous musical friends.
The album starts off with an intense tune — succinct, biting and ever-changing. “Roxianna” has an Americana feel that is reminiscent of Family album “It’s Only a Movie”, even features clarinet. “Systematic Stealth” is a mature ballad with electric piano and Whitney’s 12-string and slide. “Call Ya” features a sax solo from Mel Collins and a Rod Stewart like Roger Chapman. “Creature Feature” is atmospheric and creepy, it has a slunky feel with a mean edge, excellent funk that would permeate later Streetwalkers. “Sue And Betty Jean” is yet another ballad that builds and floats along; featuring a baritone saxophone that coats, soothes and relieves… A nice and orchestrated blues piece “Showbiz Joe” follows. “Tokyo Rose” is a mean mix of bass, horns and low guitar. Fifties style sax screaming over chord changes and multi-tracked Chappo gets the rock back on track. The last track is an epic in the least — the string section score is right there from the beginning, creating counter melodies and embellishments.
A touring outfit of the studio album followed the formation of a solid backing band In February 1975 and the duo dubbed themselves the Streetwalkers.
Line-up:
* Charlie Whitney – guitar, steel guitar
* Roger Chapman – lead vocals, percussion
* John Wetton – bass, back vocals
* Ric Grech – bass
* Tim Hinkley – keyboards, back vocals
* Max Middleton – keyboards
* Neil Hubbard – guitar
* Ian Wallace – drums
* Mike Giles – drums
* Godfrey McLean – congas
* Poli Palmer – electric vibes
* Mel Collins – brass, woodwind, arrangements
* Boz Burrell – back vocals
* Linda Lewis – back vocals
* Jim Cregan – back vocals
Track List:
01. Parisienne High Heels
02. Roxianna
03. Systematic Stealth
04. Call Ya
05. Creature Feature
06. Sue And Betty Jean
07. Showbiz Joe
08. Just Four Men
09. Tokyo Rose
10. Hangman
Link in comments.
Streetwalkers – Live (1977) (@256)
19 Jul 2007
Request of Plastic Geordie.
(Review from amazon, Patrick Little)
Family’s six-year career was wrapped up with a farewell album and tour in 1973, and it wasn’t long after that Roger Chapman and John “Charlie” Whitney jumped right back into the game. The main songwriters of Family obviously had more to say musically, but felt that the Family name and image had run its course, forming Streetwalkers.
The band’s live album provides a fitting last testament to the tenure of Streetwalkers as one of rock’s most underappreciated bands.
The Streetwalkers in concert seems like a more accurate view of the band. Raunchy and rocking, thick melodies and occasional gentle moments, the band was basically a powerful rock machine. While the album arrangements tended to be a little muddy, here there is lean simplicity, still handling all the quick changes in tempo and tune.
Roger Chapman growls, wails, shouts, implores, and banters as only he can. Twin guitarists Charlie Whitney and Bob Tench rarely dual but instead compliment each other, layering riffs and conjuring solos that support instead of undermine the songs. Whitney often seems content to let Tench have the spotlight, but when you really listen to Whitney’s work on slide and double-necked guitar, it’s clear that he was one of rock’s now forgotten guitar masters, a player who knew what he didn’t play was sometimes as important as what he did play. Tench gets to stretch his vocal chords more than on the studio sets, showing that in any other line up (sans Chapman) he might be the lead vocalist. The supporting cast-Mickey Feat on bass, David Dowle on drums, and Brian Johnston on keyboards-are steady if not flashy. The keyboards do contribute to a fuller sound, though not as much energy as the guitars.
Tench’s voice is clearly more audible here, which is nice. They couldn’t keep him down, out here on the stage! He sings lead on choruses of “Dice Man”, and adds interesting second-vocals on “My Friend the Sun”, though they get a little carried away on the “distance”. It’s almost as if they’ve played that song way too much, and they have begun to stretch it.
Line-up:
* Roger Chapman – vocals
* John “Charlie” Whitney – guitar
* Bob Tench – guitar, vocals
* Mickey Feat – bass, vocals
* Brian Johnstone – keyboards
* David Dowle – drums, percussion
Track List:
01. Chilli con Carne
02. Crazy Charade
03. Walking on Waters
04. Toenail Draggin’
05. Mama Was Mad
06. Me an’ Me Horse an’ Me Rum
07. Dice Man
08. My Friend the Sun
09. Run for Cover
10. Burlesque
11. Can’t Come In
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Thin Lizzy – Fighting (1975) (@256)
07 Jul 2007
(Review from allmusic.com)
It’s hard not to interpret the “fighting my way back” chorus of the title track on Thin Lizzy’s fifth album as the band’s way of bouncing back from the uncommonly subdued Night Life. If that record was smooth and relaxed, Fighting is a tense, coiled, vicious rock & roll album, as hard as Vagabonds’s toughest moments but more accomplished, the sound of a band truly coming into its own. There are two key forces at work. First, there’s the integration of guitarists Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson, who get to unleash furious playing on every track here. It’s hard not to thrill at their harmonizing twin-lead interplay, which is enough to excuse the rather pedestrian nature of their original tunes here (Robertson penned the boogie “Silver Dollar,” Gorham the closer “Ballad of a Hard Man”). That’s especially true because of the other development here: the full flourishing of Phil Lynott as a rock & roll poet. Whether he’s writing hard-charging rockers like “Wild One”, jazzy Springsteen-isms of “For Those Who Love To Live” or combining both on “Freedom Song”, his songs manage to be both mythic and commonplace, and when delivered by the vital, visceral lineup he has here, they’re invigorating. Strangely enough, that leap forward as a writer is somewhat overshadowed by a triumph of the band, in how they completely steal Bob Seger’s “Rosalie” turning it into their own anthem, but that again is a testament to the strength of this incarnation of Thin Lizzy, who truly begin their classic era with this dynamic album.
Line-up:
* Brian Downey – drums, percussion
* Scott Gorham – guitar
* Phil Lynott – bass, vocals, acoustic guitar on Wild One
* Brian Robertson – guitar, backing vocals
with
* Roger Chapman (from Family) – backing vocals on ‘Rosalie’
* Ian McLagan (from The Faces) – piano on Silver Dollar
Track List:
01. Rosalie (Seger) – 3:11
02. For Those Who Love to Live (Downey, Lynott) – 3:08
03. Suicide (Lynott) – 5:12
04. Wild One (Lynott) – 4:18
05. Fighting My Way Back (Lynott) – 3:12
06. King’s Vengeance (Gorham, Lynott) – 4:08
07. Spirit Slips Away (Lynott) – 4:35
08. Silver Dollar (Robertson) – 3:26
09. Freedom Song (Gorham, Lynott) – 3:32
10. Ballad of a Hard Man (Gorham) – 3:14
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Family – BBC Radio Volume 1 (1968-69) (@256)
29 Jun 2007
(Review from progarchives.com)
Family played very original and wayward progressive rock featuring the distinctive vocals from Roger Chapman. The line-up on this album (recordings from 68-69) is Roger Chapman (vocals, saxophone, harmonica and percussion), Rick Grech (bass, violin, cello and vocals), Jim King (saxophones, harmonica, vocals, tin-whistle and piano), Rob Townsend (drums and percussion) and John “Charlie” Whitney (guitar, keyboards, Mellotron and sitar). Later Rick Grech would be replaced by John Weider (bass, violin and guitars) when he decided to join supergroup Blind Faith (featuring Clapton, Stevie Winwood and Ginger Baker). This line-up plays four songs on this album that contains all previously unreleased compositions.
In general Family sounds melodic and very alternating with lots of musical styles: from folky with violin, acoustic guitars or banjo and moving bluesrock with saxophone and harmonica to progrock with organ and some Mellotron and propulsive rock with fiery electric guitar. That ‘hot rocking side’ delights me most like the tracks Second Generation Woman, Love Is A Sleeper and the Cream-inspired I Sing ‘Um The Way I Feel (in which John Whitney almost levels ‘Guitar-God’ Eric Clapton!). The rhythm-section plays fluent, John Whitney is great and the vocals from Roger Chapman top this unique progrock but you have to be up to his many vibrations and cynical undertone. Another good song is The Cat And The Rat featuring catchy folk-rock with swirling violin work from John Weider. A certain John Lennon said about Family in the late sixties “this is the best I have heard in years!”. A band to discover!
Line-up:
- Roger Chapman / vocals, tenor saxophone, harmonica, percussion
- Rick Grech / bass, violin, cello, vocals (except tracks 13-16)
- Jim King / Tenor & Soprano saxophones, harmonica, vocals, tin whistle, piano
- Rob Townsend / drums, percussion
- John ‘Charlie’ Whitney / guitars, keyboards, mellotron, sitar
- John Weider / bass, violin, guitars (13-16)
Track List:
01. See Through Windows
02. The Weaver’s Answer
03. Breeze
04. Second Generation Woman
05. Observations
06. Dim
07. Holding The Compass
08. The Procession
09. How Hi The Li
10. Love Is A Sleeper
11. I Sing Em The Way I Feel
12. A Song For Me
13. Drowned In Wine
14. Wheels
15. No Mule’s Fool
16. The Cat And The Rat
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Family – Anyway (1970) (@320)
09 Apr 2007
(Review from amazon.com)
From one album to the next, you could never be sure what you’d get from these guys — but they never sounded like aynyone else. Anyway was released as 1/2 live & 1/2 studio, but all new material. The live tracks are mostly excellent songs (I could do without “Willow Tree”), well performed, but the recording quality is mediocre. Given the paucity of live Familiy recordings, it’s best not to quibble.
The studio tracks from the original release almost flow together as a suite of the unusual, challenging but very rewarding songs that typified Family. If there is a quintessential Family song in the unreal variety of their work, that song may be the title track of Anyway. The vocal and instrumental backing seem to be going in 2 different directions, both complex, with an unusual rhythm to boot. Yet it does hold together beautifully. Lots of violin (apparently John Weider) touches, a bit of vibes & Roger Chapman alternatively bellowing & crooning.
Line-up:
- Roger Chapman / vocals, percussion
- John ’Charlie’ Whitney / guitars, bass
- John Weider / guitars, violin, bass, percussion
- Robert Townsend / drums, percussion
- John ‘Poli’ Palmer / vibes, piano, flute, percussion
Track List:
01. Good News, Bad News (8:06)
02. Willow Tree (4:39)
03. Holding The Compass (4:28)
04. Strange Band (3:34)
05. Part Of The Load (4:40)
06. Anyway (3:28)
07. Normans (4:21)
08. Lives and Ladies (6:37)
09. Strange Band (Bonus Alternate Version) (2:31)
10. Part of the Load (Bonus Live) (9:44)
11. Lives and Ladies (Bonus Live) (8:04)
Links in comments.
Family – A Song For Me (1970) (@256)
16 Feb 2007
(Review from progarchives.com)
Gone are two of the most notable members: bassist/violinist Grech who left for Blind Faith and later in Traffic and Jim King – although an original member dating back from the mid-60’s The Farinas line-up – got sacked for his role had severely been diminished. They were replaced respectively by John Weider on bass and violin and ex-Blossom Toes Poli Palmer on keys, vibes and winds. This latest addition will help Family getting an even wider spectrum and it clearly shows on this third album. A change of band managers round up the changes.
One of the things that strikes most is that this album is very acoustic as the majority of the tracks are based on the acoustic guitars of John Charles Withney (but this can be explained easily since Grech, the other song writer was gone leaving the Chapman/Withney duo alone at the writing helm), but this does not mean that the record is a laid back affair, quite on the contrary. The opening Drowned In Wine is a real scoarcher and Chapman delivers a real strong vocal performance and newcomer Palmer adds some great flutes. Love Is A Sleeper excels again in the rougher kind of tracks but this time Palmer adds some vibes to liven things up. Another highlight on the album is the superb Wheels with its great acoustic guitar/flute duo sometimes hinting at raga music. In between those three excellent tracks are stuck some shorter and less exciting mainly acoustic tracks, but pleasant anyway. Song For Sinking Lovers is a country-tinged track and my least liked on the album. Another rather surprising track is the country boogie The Cat And The Rat which is preceded by a short but great jazzy Hey, Let’s Rock with Palmer on vibes. The instrumental 93’s OK J track is another great moment on the album with Palmer vibing out the Withney guitars. The closing title track is a 9 min affair which was written on a single chord and allows for lengthy soloing and it was used as a set closer in concert. I suspect this track worked best live but here it appears a bit overlong.
Probably my fave Family album, even if some critics call it countryish (a vast over- statement if you ask me), but this is mainly due to newcomer Weider whose violin sound is definitely more Celtic-sounding than Grech.
Line-up:
- Roger Chapman / Vocals, Percussion
- John ’Charlie’ Whitney / Guitar, Banjo, Organ
- John Weider / Guitars, Violin, Dobro
- Robert Townsend / Drums, Percussion, Harp
- John ‘Poli’ Palmer / Vibes, Piano, Flute
Track List:
01. Drowned In Wine (4:10)
02. Some Poor Soul (2:44)
03. Love Is A Sleeper (4:02)
04. Stop For The Traffic-Through The Heart Of Me (2:11)
05. Wheels (4:43)
06. Songs For Sinking Lovers (4:06)
07. Hey-Let It Rock (0:59)
08. The Cat And The Rat (2:32)
09. 93’s Ok J (3:59)
10. A Song For Me (9:20)
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Family – Music in a Doll’s House (1968) (@256)
31 Dec 2006
(Review from amazon)
Sometimes you need to go back and experience what was to wonder what could have been. No other debut album from a band can match the force of this one from Family, and for more than 30 years, this work has remained a testimony to what rock music should be about: creative, mind-bending, pulsing, twisting, strange, engaging, and even failing.
The CD is full of gems, but the crowning glory may be “Old Songs, New Songs.” Chappo’s unearthly delivery of the main vocals contrasted with the falsetto of reedman Jim King’s vocal on the chorus could stop traffic. Charlie Whitney offers up one of the coolest wah-wah pedal-powered solos toward the last minute of the song against the rock solid drums of the great Rob Townsend and the bass line of the late Rick Grech.
Be warned, however, if you cut your teeth on what has been on commercial FM radio for the past 20 years, you may experience osmotic shock when listening to Family. Had Family achieved the popularity it so deserved, then maybe today folks would know that the first and best rock band to ever feature violin, saxophone, guitar, bass, drums, and vocals may very well have been Family, not the Dave Matthews Band.
Line-up:
- Roger Chapman / Vocals
- John ‘Charlie’ Whitney / Guitar, Vocals
- Jim King / Saxophone, Flute
- Rick Grech / Bass
- Rob Townsend / Drums
Track List:
01. The Chase (2:14)
02. Mellowing Grey (2:48)
03. Never Like This (2:17)
04. Me My Friend (2:01)
05. Variation On A Theme Of Hey Mr. Policeman (0:23)
06. Winter (2:25)
07. Old Songs, New Songs (4:17)
08. Variation On A Theme Of The Breeze (0:40)
09. Hey Mr. Policeman (3:13)
10. See Through Windows (3:43)
11. Variation On A Theme Of Me And My Friend (0:22)
12. Peace Of Mind (2:21)
13. Voyage(3:35)
14. The Breeze (2:50)
15. 3xTime (3:48)
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