Digitally remastered and expanded edition of the 1972 album by Family. Includes 10 bonus tracks. Released in September 1972 the album was the second to feature a line-up vocalist Roger Chapman, guitarist John "Charlie" Whitney, drummer Rob Townsend, bassist and vocalist John Wetton and multi-instrumentalist John "Poli" Palmer on vibes, keyboards and flute and followed the success of the album 'Fearless' released the previous October. The album featured such classic tracks as 'Burlesque' (a UK Top 20 hit single), 'My Friend The Sun', 'Glove' and 'Coronation'. The recording sessions also featured guest vocalist Linda Lewis on the powerful 'Broken Nose'. This new expanded edition has been newly remastered from the original master tapes and also includes ten bonus tracks drawn from the single 'The Rockin' Rs', unreleased studio out-takes from May 1971 and a BBC Radio session from October 1972.

Three CD set. Digitally remastered and expanded edition of this 1971 album including 24 bonus tracks. Featuring vocalist Roger Chapman, guitarist John 'Charlie' Whitney, drummer Rob Townsend, bassist and vocalist John Wetton and multi-instrumentalist John 'Poli' Palmer on vibes, keyboards and flute, 'Fearless' was released in October 1971 and was the first album to feature new member John Wetton following the departure of John Weider following the band's second US tour in 1971 and the UK Top Ten hit single 'In My Own Time'.

After Family concluded their second stateside tour in mid-1971 they were to again face personnel changes as John Weider (bass) was replaced by John Wetton (bass/guitar/vocals) just in time to chip in for Fearless, their sixth long-player in four years. Listeners who had enjoyed their most recent platters might have been a bit nonplussed when confronted with this disc, as the combo's direction was notably altered. Wetton brought along his trademark propulsive performance style, which is immediately evident on the heavy midtempo opener, "Between Blue and Me." Charlie Whitney (guitar/mandolin/percussion) presents some expressive strings weaving through Wetton's full bottom-end bombs. The decidedly English "Sat'd'y Barfly" recalls the inebriated vibe of lighter-weight numbers à la the Faces, and the Ladbroke Horns do little to help as a prominent tuba rhythmically poots along…

The non-LP single "Scene Through the Eye of a Lens" b/w "Gypsy Woman" not withstanding, Music in a Doll's House (1968) is the debut full-length release from the earliest incarnation of Family, featuring Roger Chapman (harmonica/tenor sax/vocals), Rick Grech (violin/ cello/bass guitar/vocals), Rob Townsend (percussion/drums), John "Charlie" Whitney (guitar/pedal steel guitar/keyboards), and Jim King (harmonica/keyboards/soprano sax/tenor sax/vocals). Their highly original sound has often been compared to Traffic, which may be in part due to the production skills of Jimmy Miller and Dave Mason, the latter also contributing the organic and rootsy rocker "Never Like This."

Once Upon A Time is the definitive last word on Family. A long-awaited 14 disc box set that collects the band's entire back catalogue for the first time…

The non-LP single "Scene Through the Eye of a Lens" b/w "Gypsy Woman" not withstanding, Music in a Doll's House (1968) is the debut full-length release from the earliest incarnation of Family, featuring Roger Chapman (harmonica/tenor sax/vocals), Rick Grech (violin/ cello/bass guitar/vocals), Rob Townsend (percussion/drums), John "Charlie" Whitney (guitar/pedal steel guitar/keyboards), and Jim King (harmonica/keyboards/soprano sax/tenor sax/vocals). Their highly original sound has often been compared to Traffic, which may be in part due to the production skills of Jimmy Miller and Dave Mason, the latter also contributing the organic and rootsy rocker "Never Like This." Additionally, neither band was overtly psychedelic or progressive, contrasting them from the other burgeoning combos such as Soft Machine, Pink Floyd, and Caravan…

This CD is wonderful. The writing, musicianship, vocals and production value are terrific. It never gets monotonous or boring. It is always soothing and enjoyable. Our kids love it! I would recommend this to all parents and it's also a great gift! ~ Ed Corsi

Kicking off with the wickedly salacious "Burlesque," Bandstand was the best of the late Family recordings. For a band that for the most part eschewed riffs and hooks, both are in plentiful supply here. More important, by the time of Bandstand's release, Family had reconciled the war between their art-rock and hard rock tendencies; that is to say, there is more of the latter and less of the former. So, the record doesn't have the internal stress of their earlier releases, but what it does have is Chapman shouting like he could take on the world and Whitney playing like he must have when he formed the Farinas in 1962. A corker from the word go.

All three of Family's 1970 BBC sessions (all of them previously unreleased) are on this 77-minute CD, all of them dating from the time when Poli Palmer had joined the band to fill out its sound on flute, piano, vibes, and percussion. Only the first of the three sessions is taken from the master tapes, with the other two surviving only in the form of the off-air recordings that served as sources for this CD. Also, that first session (from January 1, 1970) wasn't a typical performance by the group, given that - because singer Roger Chapman was ill - the band performed two instrumentals (one of which, the jazzy "Here Comes the Grin," makes its first appearance here)…

This is the Paris Theater concert from 1973 near the end of the bands existence. They are having a very good time in front of a very appreciative audience with Chappo snarling and howling, grunting bass, slicing guitar, wailing organ/synth and rocking drums. The sound - even though mono - is really solid and soundboard clear. It's a wall of sound type mix but everything is quite clear within it. It beats some of the live bonus cuts on some of the individual album releases by miles! If you have all three of the BBC series already - you will find this a very enjoyable and glad addition as the arrangements and sheer drive are unique among the other BBC series. It is a massive rockin testament to the band.

Led by gale-force vocalist Roger Chapman and virtuoso guitarist John "Charlie" Whitney, Family were a British rock group who attracted a large cult following in the U.K. (and a miniscule one in the U.S.) for their passionate but wildly eclectic sound; from song to song and album to album, Family could veer from arty progressive experiments to thoughtful folk-rock to blues-influenced grooves to meat-and-potatoes hard rock, all of it performed with sincerity, fire, and a subtle yet genuine sense of humor. Featuring 30 songs that span the group's 1968-1973 recording lifespan, History: The Best of Family collects the highlights from the band's seven albums, and serves as a fine introduction to their music for beginners and a concise celebration for longtime fans.