Search - Family :: Fearless

'GOD KNOWS I'M HIP...EVERYBODY'S ARSE IS UP FOR KICKS'

Larry L. Looney | Austin, Texas USA | 06/17/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"FEARLESS showcases this seminal British band at their pinnacle. Their following album, BANDSTAND, is great as well -- but on this cd, they shine as on no other in their catalogue. Their influences were many -- blues, jazz, pop, progressive, folk -- but they generally always rocked. Roger Chapman's unique vocals led the way -- his trademark bluesy growl could belong to no one else. He's been compared to Joe Cocker -- Cocker has become almost a parody of himself, something Chapman avoided. Chapman and his writing partner, guitarist Charlie Whitney, were responsible for the core of Family's sound [After Family's eventual demise, they continued their collaborative work in the band Streetwalkers]. Poli Palmer adds some fine keyboard work, and the rhythm section of rock-steady drummer Rob Townsend and (new to the band on this album) bassist/vocalist extraordinaire John Wetton (later to move on to King Crimson) rounded out the group.The album begins with the folk-like opening of 'Between Blue and me', which builds nicely as Chapman's voice moves from its first restrained lines toward the second verse, where the first-time listener finds that something special awaits. The band then moves on to 'Sat d-y barfly' -- a gin-soaked, rollicking ode in praise of over-indulgence. 'Larf and sing', a Poli Palmer composition, follows, full of some really inventive, multi-part harmonies, offering a lighter look at the band's philosophy of their work and of life: 'That's why we all larf and sing whenever we all feel blue -- you should see the way we grin whenever you feel it, too...love, o Mother Life, she's the only kin we've got'.The following track, 'Spanish tide', is one of the most amazing under-4-minutes tunes I've ever heard in rock music. Over this short space of time, the song effortlessly and seamlessly glides through enough changes that the listener would swear the time listing is wrong -- and not because it's tedious, but just because there's so much packed into this song. We're treated to a little of John Wetton's distinctive vocals on this tune as well, a portent of things to come with King Crimson.'Save some for me' keeps the pace up -- 'As living's for free, I'm going to save some for thee...' -- with another statement of the band's outlook, complete with some fine work by the Ladbroke Horns, who add their creatie touches to the album in other places as well. 'Take your partners' continues to rock, and then the band relaxes a bit with the quieter, folkier 'Children'. Poli Palmer's instrumental offering 'Crinkly grin' comes next, letting the players stretch out nicely. Two of the band's most incredible tunes close out the original album -- 'Blind' and the uncommonly powerful 'Burning bridges'...'...burning your bridges with God's holy fire...' God's holy fire is what Family played with.This cd edition finishes up with a couple of rareties, two songs recorded during the sessions for this album: 'In my own time', which was released as a single and became their highest-charting single ever in the UK; and 'Seasons', the B-side.Recorded and released orignally in 1971, FEARLESS effectively showcases the giant talents of this band. My only regret is that I never got to see them live -- from the reports I've read, they were a powerhouse concert act.Turn it up, Louise...!"

Fearless is Peerless

loce_the_wizard | Lilburn, GA USA | 07/27/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've worn out 2 LPs of Fearless and used to break out my better copy only a couple of times a year before getting the CD. If you are a serious fan of early '70s music---the real stuff, not radio fodder or fad junk---most likely you have some Family in your collection. If not, then "Fearless" is a superb starting point, a recording that endures as perhaps the strongest testimony to what was once the most-loved band in rural England. Some folks consider this to be Family's "quite" album. Maybe, but that is a relative matter. The range of material is actually quite staggering from the contemplative opening cut Between Blue and Me to the gutsy Blind (by the way, the weird sound is a piece of pipe looped through a string that Poli Palmer is whirling overhead) to the gentle Children. It's almost worth the price of the CD just to hear Spanish Tide, one of the best cuts on any Family album. Three songs in particular-the smoldering Burning Bridges, feisty Take Your Partners, and aforementioned Blind-showcase the group's flat out rock and roll style. Sat D-Y Barfly further cements Chappo's legend as the greatest rock vocalist. One of the two bonus tracks, In My Own Time, is a solid addition to the Family canon, not a throwaway like some bonus tracks. Seasons, the other bonus track, is nice enough but nothing special. The production here is a step up from some of the earlier Family recordings and this ensemble is as tight as that on the group's legendary first album. Having John Wetton in the mix really anchored the band's sound, and he is often front and center instead of being relegated to a supporting role. Charlie Whitney once more turns in virtuoso performances on every song, leaving one to wonder why he never enjoyed the success of more one-dimensional guitarists such as Jeff Beck or Eric Clapton. Roger Chapman is, well, there has never been a vocalist quite like the fellow whose delivery some have likened to an electric sheep's bleating or an elephant's gargling. With power and range that exceeded such peers as Robert Plant or Joe Cocker, he can be remarkably expressive and contained at times but sound like Zeus having a tantrum at others. Rob Townsend, one of the three mainstays of the group, is another underrated member of Family. His flawless drumming powers the group along. Listen to him on Save Some for Thee to get an idea of how good this guy was (actually is, for he still plays skins for the Blues Band and the Manfreds). If there is any weakness, then some of Palmer's eccentric synthesizer might sound quaint to those steeped in modern electronic modes of music. But Chappo and Whitney, the leaders of Family, show, once again, why they serve all of the respect they were never afforded and this fine recording highlights the failings of FM radio, both then and now, as an artists' medium. For once, you can trust all these five star reviews."

5 star album, packaging 5 star (duplicates original vinyl al

Wayne Klein | My Little Blue Window, USA | 04/15/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"One of England's greatest overlooked bands, Family's "Fearless" stands as one of the band's best albums. While the liner notes are pretty darn good here (as are the bonus tracks), the CD itself sounds good but not as spectacular as it could sound. The overuse of noise reduction is a bit problematic sucking the life out of the recording making sound a bit too sterile and muffles it a bit by cutting out some of the dynamic range. Still, it's about the best version available right now. Certainly the album deserves 4 stars. The packaging in this limited edition release deserves 5 as it captures the look of the original vinyl release almost exactly.



Still, the album itself is the most important stuff and from a content perspective this is one of Family's crowning achievements. This version is a replica of the deluxe fold out packaging of the original vinyl. As far as a reproduction of the original vinyl packaging, this looks top notch. Repertoire has done a fine job of recreating the look of this classic album. I can't do a head-to-head comparison to the Mystic release but if I'm not mistaken this transfer (which uses the same source)sounds slightly better (or maybe it's my pocketbook speaking, i.e., I spent more so it MUST be better sounding).Reportedly the Castle version sounds better than the Mystic reissue but I can't comment because I've never heard it.



This classic line up features Chapman, Whitney and bassist John Wetton who would stick around for one more album before defecting as lead vocalist/bassist for King Crimson. Wetton is a welcome addition to the band as his support vocals had depth and texture to Chapman's and his bass playing is a pleasure easily equalling the departed Rick Grech (who defected to Blind Faith).



Should you spend the extra money to acquire a replica of the original vinyl release? That depends on how much money and how much of a purist you are. As I said the sound is slightly better here (although not as well mastered as the stuff that Eroc has done for Repertoire for example on his "Gentle Giant" remasters). I sprung for this edition simply because I liked the design of the original graphics.

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