Family - A Song For Me (expanded) 2 x CDs
SKU
23-ECLEC 22790
How to explain Family's 3rd album (1970) 50 years later? Take a idiosyncratic vocalist, who, like Peter Hammill or Don Van Vliet you either grow to love or hate (Roger Chapman) combine his talents with a standard guitar-led rock format, but add a multi-instrumentalist who plays vibes/piano/flute, a bassist who plays violin, and have the guitarist add banjo at the right times. Stir this wild and creative mix of hard rock and and folk and shake it all up with a lot of thought and experimentation, while still keeping it a 'song format' based album with almost all of the songs being well under 5 minutes, and you have this great band and this great album!
Over the last few years I've gotten extremely fond of this band and of Chapman, but it's an acquired taste for sure, so this is conditionally highly recommended!
“Recorded at Olympic Studios in late 1969 and issued in January 1970, ‘A Song For Me’ marked a new chapter in the story of the band. The middle months of 1969 had been a period of trauma with the departure of bassist/violinist Ric Grech to join the supergroup Blind Faith and the dismissal of saxophonist Jim King. As a result, vocalist Roger Chapman, guitarist John ‘Charlie’ Whitney and drummer Rob Townsend recruited bassist and violinist John Weider (previously with Eric Burdon And The Animals) and multi-instrumentalist John ‘Poli’ Palmer (previously with Blossom Toes and then Eclection) joined on vibes, keyboards and flute.
As a result of the line-up change, the musical characteristics of Family progressed and ‘A Song For Me’ was a wonderful showcase for the reincarnated band. Upon its release the album reached number four in the UK charts and saw the band enjoy further success in Europe.
This new two-disc edition of this classic album has been newly remastered from the master tapes and also includes 14 bonus tracks drawn from singles and BBC Radio sessions from August 1969 and January 1970. This release also features an illustrated booklet with a new essay and is a fitting tribute to a much-treasured band.”
DISC ONE:
A Song For Me Remastered
1 Drowned in Wine
2 Some Poor Soul
3 Love is a Sleeper
4 Stop for the Traffic (Through The Heart Of Me)
5 Wheels
6 Songs For Sinking Lovers
7 Hey – Let It Rock
8 The Cat And The Rat
9 93’s OK J
10 A Song For Me
Bonus tracks
11 No Mules Fool (A-side of single)
12 Good Friend Of Mine (B-side of single)
13 Today (A-side of single)
14 Song For Lots (B-side of single)
DISC TWO:
BBC Radio Sessions
1 Drowned In Wine (BBC session August 1969)
2 Wheels (BBC session August 1969)
3 No Mule’s Fool (BBC session August 1969)
4 The Cat And The Rat (BBC session August 1969)
5 Love Is A Sleeper (BBC John Peel Sunday Concert January 1970)
6 Stop For The Traffic (Through The Heart Of Me) (BBC John Peel Sunday Concert January 1970)
7 93’s OK J (BBC John Peel Sunday Concert January 1970)
8 Songs for Sinking Lovers (BBC John Peel Sunday Concert January 1970)
9 Here Comes the Grin (BBC John Peel Sunday Concert January 1970)
10 No Mule´s Fool (Stereo Mix)
11 A Good Friend Of Mine (Stereo Mix)
12 Today (Edited Promotional Version)
- LabelEclectic
- UPC5013929479081