..really should heve covered this.

still cannot understand why they did not ever reform..with apologies to Jim King (sax) RIP

Family are a bit of an odd one for me. I love My Friend The Sun and have done since I first heard it around 35 years ago. I also really like Burlesque and think the main riff could make a brilliant sample for an eclectic rap producer but I have never heard anything else by them that is in the same league.

Not a comment on Family but the title of the track below. I was wondering if the cursed P-word applied to the band but in their earlier years it was a very apt description. The only band I saw where the concert was made better by how pissed Roger Chapman had got beforehand. One night at the Free Trade Hall he was borne onstage on a stretcher, still clutching a bottle of hooch. He rocked, back and forth admittedly, throughout the night.

......the '67 single which must have gone a long way to introducing the producer Jimmy Miller to the Rolling Stones.
'Incredible' record, could be the best single in '67, which pretty much means it could be the best record since '67!

The debut LP has its moments but is too prog and not pysch enough for me but I'd still (narrowly) have it over the debuts by Free and Jethro Tull and Traffic's second LP from the same year.

Music In A Doll's House. A much overlooked psychedelic gem

and also: (persevere past the first 20 seconds or so - it sorts itself out...)

Twin-necks-a-go-go!!

is not a man who carries grudges lightly. He never forgave Ric Grech (also RIP) for walking out of the group on the eve of an American tour to join Blind Faith, but can't really blame him on that one.
Jim King he ousted from the band in a power struggle... King was the original singer and de facto leader of The Farinas, the pre Family family, so King would not speak to Chappo after that.
Whitney and Roger had a major fall out for reasons unknown. A promoter friend of mine tried to book (unsuccessfully) a gig for Whitney in Aberdeen, and during the negotiations asked him why he and Chapman had fallen out. Whitney did not divulge the reasons but revealed that it was really trivial, but "That's Roger" he said.
I met Chapman once before a Family gig in Glasgow (1968?)... I asked for his autograph, duly given, but when I tried to engage him in conversation he told me to fuck off. Laterly at a concert in Aberdeen in 2004sh, when a punter from the audience shouted "play some Family stuff", he was also told to fuck off. Also at that concert he physically hauled the mild mannered Mick Moody to the front of the stage during a Moody solo and gave him an earful for what reason I do not know.
Roger Chapman is IMHO the best vocalist this country has ever produced, and his catalogue of work post Family is good stuff, and worth looking into.
Growing up in a Wee Toon in the highlands of Scotland in the 60s, my musical hero was Roger Chapman.... when I was 15 I was allowed one poster on my bedroom wall, and the choice was no brainer- the insert from the "Family Entertainment" album, the best album they ever did I would say.
Chappo is now practically retired, though there is rumours of some gigs in the UK this year... Chappo now being domiciled in Germany... if you get the opperchancity to see The Great Man, do so. you will not regret it.
AND if you are really really lucky, he may tell you to fuck off also.
Roger Chapman, still my hero.

..why Family (Chapman-Whitney) can't put their differences behind them and go round one more time.

My daughter's boyfriend is a serious Leicester City FC fan. I gave him this original 1974 LP for his birthday last year. He'd never heard of Family, but loved the sleeve (and subsequently the music) so much that he went out and bought a heap of their CDs.

You have to get them when they least expect it ;-)

of my mate Steve Dunn's older brother Paul, our musical mentor. I have to say that "Burlesque" is a thing of great wonder - deeply funky, unmistakably British, radio friendly and deeply odd all at once.

However, my problem with Family is the vocal of Sir Chappo of Rodge. On a singular track and held in check it has a gruff, yet sweetish allure. In larger amounts, its warblesome fury is somewhat grating. I know it's an impossible and slightly silly question but imagine if a Stevie Winwood or Paul Rodgers or Jess Roden had fronted the band they may have had more mainstream success though in the process may have lost what made them stand out in the first place.

A great time for British rock music though late 60s through the early 70s

..a "love it or hate it" voice, then again so is Brian Ferry's, it's always puzzled me how anyone can find that enjoyable at all.

Roger Chapman was spellbinding. I saw Family a few times around the time of their second (and best) LP Family Entertainment and he was always amazing.

He dressed differently to most other prog frontmen of the time with shortish, receding hair (even then) and exuded an air of genuine menace. He would literally smash his tambourines to pieces against his thigh (no mean feat) and throw the battered remains to the crowd.

And, of course, that voice was a wonder to behold.

he is still one of the most entertaining and charismatic singers. I saw Family at Hyde Park in'69, Streetwalkers at many gigs in the mid 1970s and introduced my wife to Chappo by driving her down to London to the New Victoria in about 1979.

The Shortlist are a superb band (have to mention the multi-talented Steve Simpson and Drummer John Lingwood - both exceptional pros) and I have seen them many times mostly at the Robin and Leicester's 'Y' Theatre. My son has also been inculcated into the ways of Chappo.

Chappo shot himself in the foot somewhat by announcing his last gig at the 'Y' as being the last, makes it a bit embarassing to come back. The Leicester gigs have always been the best with fans from all over the place and a swaying 'football crowd' (but good -natured) atmosphere.

There has been a slew of good material since he went solo, so I am happy to hear the best of Family and the newer songs, plus whatever else he covers, because he gives them all a different slant (e,g, BR5-49's 'Eighteen Wheels and a Crowbar', Tennessee Ernie Ford's '16 Tons', The Stones' "Let's Spend The Night Together" or whatever).

If he plays the UK again I'd go in a heartbeat - just to catch the magic one more time,

According to the Roger Chapman Official Appreciation Society he is still playing live

http://www.johnhodson.me.uk/

His next appearance in the UK is at the Abbeyfest in Bury St Edmunds. Looks a great lineup on July 24th:

Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings featuring Andy Fairweather Low, Georgie Fame, Beverley Skeete, Graham Broad, Geraint Watkins, Terry Taylor, Nick Paine and Frank Mead with special guests Shakin' Stevens and Rick Wakeman

The Strawbs with special guest Rick Wakeman

Roger Chapman and the Short List

EDIT: 2 free album downloads available on the website