FAMILY – BANDSTAND – 1972 (UK) progressive rock

Now this was more like it. Kicking off with the wickedly salacious "Burlesque," Bandstand was the best of the late Family recordings. For a band that for the most part eschewed riffs and hooks, both are in plentiful supply here. More important, by the time of Bandstand's release, Family had reconciled the war between their art-rock and hard rock tendencies; that is to say, there is more of the latter and less of the former. So, the record doesn't have the internal stress of their earlier releases, but what it does have is Chapman shouting like he could take on the world and Whitney playing like he must have when he formed the Farinas in 1962. A corker from the word go.

ROGER CHAPMAN vcls
ROB TOWNSEND drms
CHARLIE WHITNEY gtr
POLI PALMER keyb'ds, vibes
JOHN WETTON bs, vcls
1 Burlesque 4:04
2 Bolero Babe 4:35
3 Coronation 3:50
4 Dark Eyes 1:46
5 Broken Nose 4:09
6 My Friend the Sun 4:21
7 Glove 4:50
8 Ready to Go 4:37
9 Top of the Hill 5:40
10 The Rockin Rs (Bonus track) 3:22

Family's 1972 album Bandstand is by far their most polished work which gained them some much needed notice in the states. As with many of their albums, this is a rather eclectic mix with the perfect balance of depth and accessibility that makes all of Family's albums an enjoyable experience.

Highly recommended!
Rip from CD 256@ (full artwork included)
Download link
http://link-protector.com/295994/