Family Roger Chapman

Three CD set. Digitally remastered and expanded edition of this 1971 album including 24 bonus tracks. Featuring vocalist Roger Chapman, guitarist John 'Charlie' Whitney, drummer Rob Townsend, bassist and vocalist John Wetton and multi-instrumentalist John 'Poli' Palmer on vibes, keyboards and flute, 'Fearless' was released in October 1971 and was the first album to feature new member John Wetton following the departure of John Weider following the band's second US tour in 1971 and the UK Top Ten hit single 'In My Own Time'.

Led by gale-force vocalist Roger Chapman and virtuoso guitarist John "Charlie" Whitney, Family were a British rock group who attracted a large cult following in the U.K. (and a miniscule one in the U.S.) for their passionate but wildly eclectic sound; from song to song and album to album, Family could veer from arty progressive experiments to thoughtful folk-rock to blues-influenced grooves to meat-and-potatoes hard rock, all of it performed with sincerity, fire, and a subtle yet genuine sense of humor. Featuring 30 songs that span the group's 1968-1973 recording lifespan, History: The Best of Family collects the highlights from the band's seven albums, and serves as a fine introduction to their music for beginners and a concise celebration for longtime fans.

Digitally remastered and expanded edition of the 1972 album by Family. Includes 10 bonus tracks. Released in September 1972 the album was the second to feature a line-up vocalist Roger Chapman, guitarist John "Charlie" Whitney, drummer Rob Townsend, bassist and vocalist John Wetton and multi-instrumentalist John "Poli" Palmer on vibes, keyboards and flute and followed the success of the album 'Fearless' released the previous October. The album featured such classic tracks as 'Burlesque' (a UK Top 20 hit single), 'My Friend The Sun', 'Glove' and 'Coronation'. The recording sessions also featured guest vocalist Linda Lewis on the powerful 'Broken Nose'. This new expanded edition has been newly remastered from the original master tapes and also includes ten bonus tracks drawn from the single 'The Rockin' Rs', unreleased studio out-takes from May 1971 and a BBC Radio session from October 1972.

Family Entertainment followed on the heels of Family's Music in a Doll's House with the band's first incarnation: Roger Chapman (harmonica/tenor sax/vocals), Rick Grech (violin/cello/bass guitar/vocals), Rob Townsend (percussion/drums), John "Charlie" Whitney (guitar/pedal steel guitar/keyboards), and Jim King (harmonica/keyboards/soprano sax/tenor sax/vocals). While not totally dismissing their psychedelic leanings, much of the material bears a stronger acoustic influence, in much the same manner as Fairport Convention and Traffic were also exploring…

Following a long-established production pattern, Mike Oldfield assembled some relatively simple pop- and rock-flavored numbers following one long introductory piece on his 1983 Disky release, Crisis. The 20-minute opening title-track is a quintessential Oldfield texture study that consists of sparkling synth washes with edgier material weaving in and out…