SHADDAP back there! A warm hand, youse bums, for what we hope will be a regliar FoamFeature© from Psychfan. Ever wonder what-type music a guy wit' a handle like Psychfan would dig? Read th' screed and find out!
British band Family's lead singer Roger Chapman has a voice that's often been described as a bleat. I can't say that it really sounds like what I heard that day at the fair but it definitely has a unique vibrato sound that some people can't get used to. I like idiosyncratic voices myself. Chapman sings all of the songs and co-wrote most on the band's 1968 debut LP Music In A Doll's House. Dave Mason produced and wrote one song.
This album is one of the best examples of full blown psychedelic production that I know of. If you think that means something overblown or chaotic, this has a beautiful, dream-like sound throughout, even on the faster, harder-rocking songs, and the tracks flow smoothly into one another in a way that feels like water flowing. The dreamlike feel is enhanced by the imaginative cover art. There are several standout tracks, but Peace Of Mind is the one you were most likely to have heard on Underground FM Radio if you were listening at that time.
Family made several very good LPs but I like this one the best. Their later stuff became more like prog but still retained a nicely individual character. A great late night album and one of the top twenty British psych LPs.
Here's Mr. Fan's link, which I ain't tested, on account which I gots th' record already. I wonder if Scene Thru The Eye Of A Lens is on it?
ReplyDeletehttps://www.mediafire.com/file/nnoqp0y0v4h7azv/Music_in_a_D0ll%2527s_House.rar/file
Yup, this is the bonus track version with that single on it. I see that I was a little sloppy and made some editing errors. I am mortified and will try to do better (or at least not worse).
DeleteYou made no editing errors at all, but I did - just corrected!
DeleteDoes it not bother you that JKC plagiarised his Coney Island "memories"?
DeleteI've only just read the Shaun Costello piece. JKC's piece has been "reverted to draft", and will be deleted unless he
Delete'fesses up to being Shaun Costello.
I should have checked earlier. If it is plagiarism, then - *oooofffff*.
Okay. It appears that (in the absence of a denial) Jack Kerouac's Cat plagiarised a lengthy blog piece - even the photographs - and passed it off as his own. Accepted my email of praise - "the best piece you've done" - without 'fessing up. Dumbass me.
DeleteThe question is, of course, why? His contributions were part of the landscape here, enjoyed and responded to with all the enthusiasm you could hope for. He was a much-respected Four Or Five Guy©. Why fuck this up? I doubt we'll hear from him again - I have a couple of his blog pieces waiting, but I can't use them now.
Fooey.
Shaun Costello might be JKC. I can understand why it might be important to keep the more well known identity incognito. His resume involves film making as well as writing. Anyway, S.C. has too much history for anyone to think they can borrow from him and think it will go unnoticed. My hunch is that he might not want to admit that he is really Shaun Costello.
DeleteWTF?????????!!!!!!!!!???????????
Delete@Psychfan...
DeleteFor a long time... I believed that everything was a magnet.
Then, I believed that everything was a bomb with a lit fuse.
But, the biggest diagram reveals that we are all Family!
Nice first post... "Welcome to your new job"...
It is possible. Shaun was born in '44, which sounds right. There are various correspondences. But the "Real Shaun" is living in Florida. I can understand not wanting his cover blown more than I can understand him plagiarising a piece. But I/we haven't heard from him one way or the other, so until we know for sure ...
DeleteOK, this just in. An email I sent him got bounced, as he pulled the account. This is what I wrote:
Delete"Are you Shaun Costello?
A simple yes/no will be good enough for me.
If it's no, you plagiarised, and oh, well. Fun while it lasted.
If it's yes, and I hope it is - everybody hopes it is - then 'fess up! No harm done! It's like you never went away!
Please reply. You owe me nothing - this is the internet - but I'd like to know. And so would Three Or Four Guys© of our acquaintance."
So that's that. Adios, Jack Kerouac's Cat, whoever you are. I hope you find out one day.
Color me disappointed. I valued JKC (if that's even his real name!!) contributions here greatly -- the comments just as much as the essays. It's very disheartening that all those great pieces are all tainted now and it's left a stain in the otherwise pristine sand here. Makes me lose faith in humanity even more -- I really felt this Island paradise was relatively free from the typical drama and trolling that's ubiquitous in cyberspace. But that's my naivety of course. Next thing you know we'll find out PMac is a septuagenarian living in Spain or some shit. I'm a forgiving person though; I'd gladly have him back with a simple apology. "Why" indeed.
Delete"its"
DeleteThe information I have suggests strongly it was not Shaun Costello himself, protecting his anonimity, as much as we'd like to believe this. So - it was a stupid mistake, is all. We all make them. JKC was a terrific asset to th' IoF©, and he'll be much missed. If he wants to come back with an apology to all concerned (himself included) he'll be welcome, but the likelihood of that happening is ... zero.
DeleteGive that man a trading card!
ReplyDeleteI will give it a listen later.
Thanks, Psychfan!
He has one - see sidebar.
DeleteNice one!
DeleteHey Shaun.....
DeleteThank you, Psychfan.
ReplyDeleteYou know what I always say:
"There is nothing finer than praise from a connoisseur!"
I don't know this group, but if you are the new house hippie then I am willing to take advantage of your guidance!
Let the flight begin.
"New house hippie"? Mr Fan has been a Four Or Five Guy© since - refers to paperwork - lessee - inducted in 1649, says here!
DeleteIt was a fumble at its most respectable.
DeleteI just thought he was taking over the psych section of the music department.
I know you wouldn't let just anybody in there. "Welcome to your new job" sounded a bit formal!
Thank you, Farq! It's not easy getting the straight goods on UK tunes that are good enough for both sides of the Atlantic! I'm looking forward to it. He's one of us!
1649..........it's hard to believe that it was as recent as that.
DeleteThanks JKC and Kwai Chang. I hope that you like the LP.
As Kwai says, "There is nothing finer than praise from a connoisseur!". I've never got on with Family, so I welcome Psychfans' recommendation , and will give this album a listen. Thanks in antisipation.
DeleteYes a big fave since hi school spirit of 68--
ReplyDeletethe 1st 3 or 4 cuts are sublimest brit chamber pop-psych perfection: reverb drenched cross-faded flanged phase-shifting mellotronific pastoral swirly synesthesia trippy amorous misadventure nostalgia abounding fragmented cohesion, rockin harp riffs, wawa, and that unbeatably unique unhinged razor BLEAT!
You might like Prof Stoned's mono needle drop. never issued on CD version here:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.profstoned.com/search/label/Family
Of course, you don't get all the swirly stuff that makes you think you've overdosed on Dr Collis Brown's Herbal Remedy, but da Prof did a fine job on this. It's punchier than the stereo re-releases. Dunno about the original stereo vinyl.
DeleteI believe it's pronounced Fambly, or better, Fembly as in Fembley Stadius/a/um.
ReplyDelete'My dear, I wish to meet your fambly, to ask for your hand'.
Best said with the pinched nose affectation, as used by Steve Martin in that film he did with Maurice Micklewhite... Where Steve-O played the "Idiot" part...
DeleteThassit: "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels"
As much as you can love him or leave him... I personally think that the Head Steep Mountain Ranger is an acquired taste. Then again, I never hung with the O.C.-oh-so-white Disneyland Magic Shoppe set..... "The Jerk" indeed...
Signed, U.B. (Not D.C.)(LOVE it or leave it...)
Oh, and ... Thanks for the early Grech (Richard Roman Grechko!) set(s)!s
Fabulous fabulous album.
ReplyDeleteThe Beatles were going to call their next album a similar title, but Family beat them to it!
Dave mason wrote the horn lines to old Songs New Songs, but he didn't write in the correct key sig for the brass and wind players, so Tubby Hayes (one of the few UK jazzers of note) arranged it on the fly.
very great lp, thumbs up
ReplyDeleteThanks Psychfan! I only had the recently acquired Prof. Stoned mono needle drop so I'm very happy to have this Stereo version as well (especially considering the material). Delivered with all the extra air no less (not that I'd notice it was missing but it's always nice to know all them notes gots some elbow room in there)!
ReplyDeleteI now just what you mean Mr. Dave. Glad to be of help.
DeletePsychfan, after a few days I finally got round to listening to your Music In A Doll's House properly (sitting down with a beer, playing it with no distractions), and I rather enjoyed it thank you. Will give it a few more plays soon.
DeleteI'm sure I 'm not the only one who wants to hear you playing a beer, with no distractions.
DeleteGlad you liked it Bambi, and thanks to Easily Confused for providing Prof. Stone's mono needledrop for those who prefer that.
DeleteYes Farq, playing a beer, with no distractions, is one of my special tricks, but only in the company of a select few people. I can't believe I've never heard Music In A Doll's House before.
Delete