Old Songs New Songs (studio album) by Family (UK)

"Old Songs New Songs" was originally a compilation album consisting of singles and alternate versions of album tracks. This is why the album regularly cited as an original album, as there is no direct overlap in relation to the four albums Family had released at the release of it in 1971.

However you categorize the album, it belongs among Family's strongest. Perhaps the most homogeneous, without any weak numbers.

Besides the very fine single-tracks "Hometown," "No Mule's Fool" and "Good Friend of Mine" it is a scoop to get "Observations From a Hill" with Roger Chapman on lead vocals.

The only annoyance is that the songs are not remastered to the same fine sound quality, as the group's other albums. Comparing CD 1 containing the original "Old Songs New Songs", with the other CDs on the box, it is very obvious to notice the difference.

Apart from these alternate versions, the box contains no tracks from the group's first two albums, which is slightly odd, since these are among the band's finest. Has probably got something to do with rights.

Otherwise the build-up is a good mixture of great album tracks, singles and previously unreleased demos. I you do not absolutely need to have everything with the group, you are with this box well covered.

There is a fine and detailed biography of the group, old interviews, photos, etc. If you wish to know where the individual songs originally come from it requires a little extra research, as this is not listed on the box.

All in all a fine release, though it is a little frustrating that the original "Old Songs New Songs" numbers do not sound as good as the rest.