Fearless

Family | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 17, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: United States Dist
• ASIN: B0000C436Y
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #331,553 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Between Blue and Me

2. Sat'd'y Barfly

3. Larf and Sing

4. Spanish Tide

5. Save Some For Thee

6. Take Your Partners

7. Children

8. Crinkly Grin

9. Blind

10. Burning Bridges

11. In My Own Time [*]

12. Seasons [*]

Editorial Reviews

Digitally remastered two CD set containing a pair of albums from the British outfit: 1971's Fearless, a UK Top 20 album, and Family Live. Bonus tracks include 'In My Own Time', a Top 5 hit in the UK. 24 tracks total. BGO. 2009. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of Many Great Family Discs, April 12, 2004

By 

Michael Strom (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fearless (Audio CD)

Family was easily the most creative & most unjustly neglected Rock group ever. Over the course of several albums in the '60s & '70s, Family not only didn't copy anyone else, they never repeated themselves. No small accomplishment, since their own work was so unique & idiosyncratic. You won't find 2 similar songs in their entire recorded output.

Most of Family's albums were so consistently exceptional that it is hard to select 1 or 2 that stand out as their "best." Fearless is certainly one of the contenders. At times, it's tuneful, at other times, virtually atonal (but still fun). The melodies, instrumentation, arrangements - thoroughly unique. In an era where high harmonies were the standard, "Larf and Sing" features probably the lowest pitched harmonies in history. Most of these songs really can't be adequately described in words since there is no one else to whom Family can be compared. Anyone who enjoys challenging, quality rock should check out Family. Serious music by a group that never took themselves too seriously.

As for the "extra tracks," buyers of the old vinyl Family releases will recognize In My Own Time, but not from this album. It was tucked into the American version of Anyway. You'd think they would have put it back with Anyway (another great album in its own right), but noooooo. It is one Family's very few worthwhile non-album track singles. As for the other non-live extra track, Seasons, let's just say that you'll have no reason to hear it a second time. For those who pine for thye B sides, just buy the 2000 release, Anthology, a generous and economical 2 CD set with all the singles & B-sides anyone would ever need.

Apparently, lots of Family albums are now being re-re-reissued with live tracks. If you have any interest in these guys live, the 2004 release "Live" (not much imagination in the marketing department, I guess) is most worthwhile and long overdue. Don't rebuy Fearless yet again for the live tracks, get the live album instead.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fearless Is Peerless, May 10, 2004

By 

loce_the_wizard "loce_the_wizard" (Lilburn, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Fearless (Audio CD)

If you are a serious fan of early '70s music---the real stuff, not radio fodder or fad junk---most likely you have some Family in your collection. If not, then "Fearless" is a superb starting point, a recording that endures as perhaps the strongest testimony to what was once the most-loved band in rural England and a band that valued creativity above trends.

Some folks consider this to be Family's "quite" album. Maybe, but that is a relative matter. The range of material is actually quite staggering from the contemplative opening cut Between Blue and Me to the gutsy Blind (by the way, the weird sound is a piece of pipe looped through a string that Poli Palmer is whirling overhead) to the gentle Children. It's almost worth the price of the CD just to hear Spanish Tide, one of the best cuts on any Family album. Three songs in particular-the smoldering Burning Bridges, feisty Take Your Partners, and aforementioned Blind-showcase the group's flat out rock and roll style. Sat D-Y Barfly further cements Chappo's legend as the greatest rock vocalist.

The production here is a step up from some of the earlier Family recordings and this ensemble is as tight as that on the group's legendary first album. Having John Wetton in the mix really anchored the band's sound, and he is often front and center instead of being relegated to a supporting role. Charlie Whitney once more turns in virtuoso performances on every song, leaving one to wonder why he never enjoyed the success of more one-dimensional guitarists such as Jeff Beck or Eric Clapton. Roger Chapman is, well, there has never been a vocalist quite like the fellow whose delivery some have likened to an electric sheep's bleating or an elephant's gargling. With power and range that exceeded such peers as Robert Plant or Joe Cocker, he can be remarkably expressive and contained at times but sound like Zeus having a tantrum at others. Rob Townsend, one of the three mainstays of the group, is another underrated member of Family. His flawless drumming powers the group along. Listen to him on Save Some for Thee to get an idea of how good this guy was (actually is, for he still plays skins for the Blues Band and the Manfreds). If there is any weakness, then some of Palmer's eccentric synthesizer might sound quaint to those steeped in modern electronic modes of music.

But Chappo and Whitney, the leaders of Family, show, once again, why they serve all of the respect they were never afforded and this fine recording highlights the failings of FM radio, both then and now, as an artists' medium.

I've worn out 2 LPs of Fearless and used to break out my better copy only a couple of times a year before getting the CD. If you already have the 2000 release of Fearless on a remastered CD with bonus tracks and the just recently released, long hoped for Family Live CD then you will everything here save the live bonus track called Sing 'Em the Way I Feel. One has to hope that all this bonus live material will find its way to a Family Live, Two, disc in the future.

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fearless - a masterpiece, November 9, 2004

By 

Rick Duim (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fearless (Audio CD)

Without a doubt, one of my favorite albums of all time. I remember hearing a couple of the songs on KRLA (LA AM radio station) and wondering who it was. I ended getting the original album on vinyl with the wonderful artwork and fold outs. A hard album to describe, then called progressive, now it just sounds like a fine wine, it has aged well.