This 2003 CD reissue of
Family Entertainment (1969) boasts the original 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). By contrast to their debut LP
Music in a Doll's House (1968),
Entertainment (1968) settles into a stronger central blues base that continues to branch into a British sense of psychedelic folk reminiscent of their earlier effort. This is set apart by the grittier "Second Generation Woman," which is easily one of
Family's heavier pieces. While arguably the least representative of their overall approach, the tune became a prime showcase for the concert stage. "Weaver's Answer" is another edgier rocker, sporting some of the band's best work, ranging from King's earthy sax solo to Whitney's equally pungent electric leads. This balances the more organic "Observations From a Hill" and the Eastern-flavored instrumental "Summer '67." The latter could have been influenced by the likes of
George Harrison's "Within You, Without You." If the hauntingly foreboding "How-Hi-the-Li" seems oddly familiar, the bridge bears a striking resemblance to
Chicago's light rock favorite "Wishing You Were Here." Enthusiasts should note that
Family Entertainment and
Music in a Doll's House were collectively anthologized onto a deluxe double-disc set that includes both respective long players, as well as the 45-only sides "Scene Through the Eye of a Lens" and "Gypsy Woman," both of which predating the first album. The sound quality is worth mentioning on the two-fer package as Super Bit Mapping (SBM) technology has been incorporated yielding uniformly excellent audio to match the 40-page liner booklet. ~ Lindsay Planer