Customer Reviews

Family Entertainment

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If Family's first album, "Music from a Doll's House," had not set such an incredibly high standard, then their rather eclectic second album "Entertainment" might not be so overlooked. I think it is clear that the group decided to assert more influence over their sound, and the results are mixed. The recording itself has some technical problems and the band actually remixed and rereleased serveral of these songs on a long out-of-print LP to compensate their fans.

An undercurrent of tension fill some songs, showing what happens when this much creativity is brought to bear on a project. If you have heard some of the later live versions of "Weaver's Answer" without reeedman Jim King, then you can see how flat those takes sound compared to this one. His spark also lights up cuts such as "Hung Up Down" and "Procession." King also arranged much of the music though he did not receive writing credits.

Rick Grech, never a contender for the greatest bass player ever, still made solid contributions with his violin, which was an intergral component of the first two Family albums. I actually like both "How-Hi-The-Li" and "Second Generation Women," both Grech-penned and sung tunes that many Family fans dismiss too quickly.

Roger Chapman, as always, sings as if his life depended on each note. You cannot question his heart even if his delivery leaves you cold. Charlie Whitney seems to be in the background but then he emerges from the mix to nail a few bars of riveting lead guitar. "Dim" showcases Charlie's versatility and presages his current focus on bluegrass, acoustic, and folk music. The drummer Townsend is rock solid when needed and subtle when needed, proving why he was the perfect drummer for this band that refused to be nailed down into one category throughout its too brief history.

This is the bands 2nd album and although older than "Fearless", It has an excellent rock/blues sound! It is one of my most played albums with the title "Processions" being my favorite.

Great and influential band from the past. I hadn't heard these tracks for years but they have weathered well and the translation to CD is good.

I'm confused: wasn't Family's debut album supposed to be the only worthwhile thing the band did? If that's true, then why is Family Entertainment such a GREAT album? It's mostly centered around touching vocal melodies and not so much on making each song stand apart from each other, but you see, the vocals here are very pretty and pleasing to anyone who admires 60's and 70's pop rock. You might even say the songs here are INSTANTLY pleasing. It's wrong to compare everything Family did to their debut album. Pick up Family Entertainment for a great listen. While you're at it, pick up something from Procol Harum.

Family were one of those bands who never fulfilled their potential in the studio but had a tremendous live act. The first album, though excellent in itself, still was not a patch on them live.

This album begins with a stalwart of the live show and is the most played of any Family song on the radio, 'Weaver's Answer'. This song dominates the entire album and so it should. The next two tracksare both stand out tracks, 'Observations from a Hill', and 'Hung Up Down' which is a showcase for Roger Chapman's manic vocal style. What a vocalist. I remember counting up to twenty tambourines that he destroyed at only one show, purely by the passion with which he attacked the instrument.

Back to the album. The band had an outpouring of new material which was more than enough to fill an album. As well as writing together, John Whitney and Roger Chapman were writing separately as well as Rik Gretch. What results is to me like a Grateful Dead studio album - songs that did not sound great there but were transformed by public performance. Second Generation Woman, sounds like any other band except Family, and of the slower songs, 'How-Hi-The-Li is a personal favourite.

The lack of live albums by this band means that one needs to have the studio albums to capture the joys of their sound. Well worth having in your collection even if it is only for the Weaver's Answer.

Don't get me wrong . . . I love Family. They are probably my single all-time favorite, & the group whose work I most admire. But this one was tepid. "The Weavers Answer" and "Hung Up Down" are the only songs that rate with their best work. Every other Family album was much, much better than this one.