FAMILY – OLD SONGS NEW SONGS LP – EXC+/Nr MINT A1/B1mtx UK ORIGINAL PROG

Family – Old Songs New Songs
(Reprise Records  1971  RMP9007)
Matrix No’s: A1/B1 – UK Pressing

G&L Sleeve in Very Good+ condition
– some wear to edges & foxing marks

Vinyl in Excellent+/Nr MINT condition
(there are some surface marks visible on the vinyl when held up to the light but they don’t affect the sound quality apart from some light pops/crackles)

Family are an English rock band, active from late 1966 to October 1973, and again since 2013 for a series of live shows. Their style has been characterised as progressive rock, as their sound often explored other genres, incorporating elements of styles such as folk, psychedelia, acid rock, jazz fusion and rock and roll. The band achieved recognition in the United Kingdom through their albums, club and concert tours and appearances at festivals.

The band’s rotating membership throughout its relatively short existence led to a diversity in sound throughout their different albums. Family are also often seen as an unjustly forgotten act, when compared with other bands from the same period and have been described as an “odd band loved by a small but rabid group of fans”. Although most of their recordings were issued in the US, the band never achieved any appreciable success there.

Old Songs New Songs is a budget-priced compilation album by the British progressive rock band Family, released in March 1971. The title is taken from the title of a song that appeared on the band’s 1968 debut album Music in a Doll’s House, although that song does not appear on this record.

Highlights of this package were songs previously released on 45rpm records only (marked by an asterisk) and four tracks from the sessions of their second album “Family Entertainment” partially re-recorded and remixed for this release. Those four tracks are: “Observations From a Hill” with Roger Chapman on lead vocals, rather than Jim King as featured on the original release, “Hung Up Down”, “Weaver’s Answer” and the single B-side “Hometown”. Roger Chapman and Charlie Whitney were quoted in ZigZag magazine (reprinted in both the interview anthology book “The Road To Rock”, and also the “Old Songs New Songs” cd box set which includes this album) stating how they disliked the mix of the album “Family Entertainment” where most of these songs originally appeared. So they re-recorded a number of vocals and elements and remixed those tracks for this release.

The album sleeve is the same both sides only the front is positive and the rear in negative black and white. Designed by Stuart Weston.

It was released as a stereo album on the Reprise label (RMP 9007) at a special low price, Tony Gourvish had replaced John Gilbert as manager and Gilbert’s old Dukeslodge management company had been replaced by the new Bradgate Bush company.

Track listing

All tracks written by John “Charlie” Whitney and Roger Chapman except where noted.

Personnel

• John Weider – bass, violin
• John Whitney – guitar
• Poli Palmer – keyboards
• Rob Townsend – drums, percussion
• Roger Chapman – vocals
• Ric Grech – bass, cello
• Jim King – saxophone, harmonica