Music In A Doll's House (studio album) by Family (UK)

From IlMala 02/03/2022 12:55

Very undervalued and forgotten album. Peaceful example of psychedelic rock.

There are certainly nods to early 'Traffic' on this album. There is an overall psychedelic feel to the album with some great and unusual instrumentation. 'Peace of Mind' is a particular favourite, along with 'The Breeze'. I have a mint copy of the original vinyl, I think the production lets the album down a bit if you compare it with other albums which came out in 68. Parts of the album sound like they were recorded in a paper sack. Being honest it is an album which I will listen to once in a blue moon.

From Sandrof1969 02/13/2018 21:00

Un disco uscito in quel momento davvero fuggente in cui dalla psichedelia si passava al progressive ma non era più la prima e non era ancora il secondo. INCANTATO.

Very good album from a very good year for rock music. Worth listening to even though it is not my favorite Family album, because as a debut LP it shows you where the band started out as a recording unit. Quite impressive on many levels.

Family first album "Music In A Doll's House" is one of the albums, which must not be ignored. With Traffic guitarist Dave Mason as producer, the group recorded a very exciting album which is both innovative, melodic and bearing Mason's obvious Traffic imprint.

The group's original line-up included, besides the three regular Family members Roger Chapman, John Whitney and Rob King, also bassist and violinist Rick Grech and saxophonist Jim King. The line-up allowed a diverse instrumentation and the group took great advantage of this oportunity. Moreover, the songwriter-team Chapman / Whitney shines, with many fine compositions.

"Pscychedlia" is probably what you first think when you hear the opening track "The Chase"; the number has a fine melody and an instrumentation that can lead the mind towards both the Move and King Crimson.

The acoustic melodic approach is also found on the album, not least the beautiful "Mellowing Grey" and the airy "The Breeze" - both fine examples of this. "Never Like This" was written by Dave Mason and it clearly shows - sounds almost like a "Hole in My Shoe - 2". The grandiose of the opening number returns with "Me My Friend" - interesting change on lead vocals with Chapman taking care of the chorus while Jim King takes care of the verse. More pscychedelia on "Winter" - sounds almost like Creation.

The group's roots in R & B are revealed on "Hey Mr. Policeman" and "Old Songs, New Songs" - both tracks could have been Yardbirds numbers. The intro of "Peace of Mind" was later reused by David Bowie; the song is one of the major highlights of the album and a number that would become one of the group's live favorites.

At no time in this very seamless album, one senses idling, and you may easily find yourself subsequently go humming some of the fine melodic themes.

The original Family line-up released the year after another album "Family Entertainment" on which they actually managed to surpass themselves. Both albums by two great classics of the period.