It's only a movie

Family | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Import
• ASIN: B0000040MZ
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,855,606 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Family Matinee, September 7, 2001

By 

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

This review is from: It's Only a Movie (Audio CD)

This is the one Family recording that strikes the listener as "light." Apparently the fellows decided to do something quite different from their mainstay musical forays and different it is. Once they knew the gig was up, I'm guessing they decided to have fun with such songs as the title track "It's Only a Movie," "Leroy," and "Sweet Desiree." Their is an aching sadness to "Buffet Tea for Two," a paean to starting over (which is exactly what Chapman and Whitney were about to do with the dissolution of Family) featuring a great, typically underplayed solo by Charlie Whitney. The jaunty keyboards of the late Tony Ashton give this recording a real tilt toward the R&B fold, and Chappo's vocals, as always, prove to have the right touch. Jim Cregan's vocals, second guitar, and bass fill in the edges nicely, and Rob Townsend shows his deft touch once more on drums. The last song on the recording, "Check Out" really rocks and as it ends, you cannot help but be both amused and sad that the greatest band of its time closed out its recording career with such an aptly named song. (Note: there are two bonus tracks not on the LP version tacked on here.)
Though I would not recommend this CD as an introduction to Family, I do think it is a fitting conclusion.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Looser & Funkier Family Coda, January 13, 2005

By 

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

This review is from: It's Only a Movie (Audio CD)

Alas, the last Family album. At the end of an incredible run of creativity and intensity, they turned out their loosest, funkiest effort. Most Family devotees would not consider it their favorite, but this is nonetheless an outstanding album.
These guys were not exactly known for R&B roots, but along with a significant change in the band's personnel, several tracks displayed a surprisingly funky side ("Boots 'n' Roots," "Banger," "Sweet Desiree," & maybe even "Suspicion."). The trend continued into Chapman & Whitney's subsequent band, Streetwalkers.

The title track is a stunner, given Family's taut, intent past. The lead vocals are casual, offhand, conversational and not even by Roger Chapman. Chapman added to his rougues gallery of [...]-as-protagonists with "Boom Bang," with Chappo front & center as a flasher. As usual for his weirdo stories, the tempo is unusual, the pace is aggressive, the lyrics are amusing & Roger howls at the moon.

The album ends (fittingly?) with "Check Out," a song about a prison break. Check out they did, with a straightahead (for these guys) guitar and organ workout. I still miss them.

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Time Was Had By All, And It's A Pleasure Being Had, December 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: It's Only a Movie (Audio CD)

In contrast to most of Family's material, they chose more of a rollicking, good-time mood here: from the good-guy cowboy out to do right (title track), to an escaped convict ('Check-Out'), and the boy who uses a rich girl to get a cool car ('Leroy') in-between, the group is always celebratory. Even when the singer is leaving his girl ('Tea For Two'), he looks at the bright side: 'New start, new city....' While I have always found this album enjoyable since I bought it on vinyl in 1974, I would warn anyone looking for straightforward rock 'n' roll to consider that Roger Chapman's haggard voice and the band's nonderivative performance is pretty offputting for the uninitiated; however, after a few plays, they will be happy to join the fun.