Family

This is a bit of an oddity. ‘It’s Only A Movie‘ was the last ‘official’ release by Family, and only Roger Chapman, ‘Charlie’ Whitney and Rob Townshend were still in the band from the original line up. The fans had drifted away, and the critics were no longer interested in the band.
But it stands as a somewhat misunderstood gem. The psychedelic leanings and the deliberate quirkiness have been replaced by a British whimsy, the quality of the playing is still there, and they hadn’t suddenly unlearned the art of songwriting – the songs are fine.

The album has the feel of a transition. After Family officially ceased, Chapman and Whitney went on to form Chapman Whitney Streetwalkers and much of the material on ‘It’s Only A Movie’ feels as though ideas that would come to fruition there.
Yet the music has charms aplenty and the origins of Family can still be heard on songs like ‘Boots ‘n’ Roots’ or ‘Buffet Tea For Two’ or ‘Suspicion’.

The package includes a number of B-sides and outtakes and a whole album worth of live recordings from BBC sessions that are worth investigating. As is usual with Esoteric reissues, the remastering is superb, the sound clean and the live material especially punchy.

It isn’t as good an album as ‘Music in a Doll's House’ or ‘Burlesque’, but it is worthy of checking out.