Generally given short shrift and dismissed as a lesser work by rock critics, Family’s final studio album, It’s Only A Movie, was released in September 1973, and it wasn’t long after that they called it a day. Still, there are fans of the record out there, and it’s also worthy of reappraisal, so many decades and generations having passed since it first came out.

Cherry Red Record’s Esoteric imprint completes it remastering of the Leicestershire-born band’s catalogue with added bonus tracks and a second CD of live BBC sessions. It also features the customary booklet with rare pictures, and an essay on the band at that time. While informative enough, this time round there’s far less insider gossip or discussion of band members’ thoughts at the time or in hindsight. Thus, it is a case of letting the music do the talking.

After a steady line-up that had seen them climb the UK charts, and the release of singles that have become firm favourites down the years, the nucleus of main songwriters Roger Chapman (vocals) and John ‘Charlie’ Whitney (guitarist), plus mainstay drummer Rob Townsend had recruited Jim Cregan on bass, following John Wetton leaving. That the man who brought him into the band, John ‘Poli’ Palmer would leave after a US tour also significant, with him being replaced by keyboard player Tony Ashton.

The booklet’s essay would really have benefited with the thinking behind that last addition. ‘Resurrection Shuffle’ by Ashton, Gardner & Dyke was still a dance floor rave by the time of the discos of my youth, Paice, Ashton & Lord less a success, and too often now his problems with alcohol surface when he’s discussed in print. A bar room piano player done good slights his talents, as a more serious listening of his recorded work shows, but what he brought to the Family table isn’t so obvious, possibly it’s that his personality fitted.

In losing multi-instrumentalist Palmer, and Jim King before him, Family were shorn of sax, flute and vibraphone in their musical arsenal. Recorded at Knowle Hall, in Somerset on the Rolling Stones Mobile, they were helped by Medicine Head’s Peter Hope-Evans playing harmonica on ‘Leroy’ and some very nice string and good horn arrangements courtesy of one Del Newman.

There’s a continuation of Roger Chapman and Whitney’s more concise songwriting skills present on It’s Only A Movie. However, their previous album, Bandstand, had seen a lessening of Wetton’s involvement as a vocalist, so it’s quite remarkable to hear Ashton take lead on the opening title track.

A mini-rock opera come music hall roustabout, ‘It’s Only A Movie’ is part pastiche, part inspired madness. Its lyrics are lengthy and in depth, ranging from the technicalities of film making to plot and characterisation considerations, with humour despite its throwaway title refrain somehow melancholically probably outlining the band’s feeling on their career, and that despite it all, life goes on. It’s a damn sight nearer to Randy Newman than rock and roll, more so it’s like Tom Waits fronting 10cc. Some often innovative thought went into Family’s album sleeve designs and the armed cowboy suited both the title track and a few other numbers featured on the record. Early editions also came with cardboard and brown paper contraptions that when pulled would make a bang, like a gun. For those generations brought up on DC Thomson comics like The Beano and Sparky these cheap free gifts had names like Thunderclaps and proved suitably entertaining in a world without computer games.

‘Leroy’ is the hip tale of a man on the make, and sees the band retiring to a softer reflective country rock sound, Chapman putting real narrative character behind his vocals. ‘Buffet Tea For Two’ takes that subject matter and replaces its Stateside feel with British attitude, and the doubts but determination of a man leaving his hometown, catching the train, and hoping to do good in London. Somewhat autobiographical, there’s a subdued sense of drama, some wonderfully bright chord runs and reflective asides from Whitney, Ashton’s piano trickling away in the background with a sense of impending excitement to it, leading to an unexpected thoughtful solo, though you shouldn’t underestimate what Townsend is doing on drums that fuels the full impact of the strings later in the song. A rather beautiful, and quietly potent number.

‘Boom Bang’ is somewhat harrowing gospel rock, Chapman howling away with what sounds like an uncredited female choir. A few years down the road, upping the comic drama and angst you’d get the Sensational Alex Harvey Band pulling out stuff like this. ‘Boots ‘N’ Roots’ starts like a northern brass band playing New Orleans jazz before Ashton’s piano takes brooding precedence, with acoustic folk guitar coming in later, as Chapman sings with reflection and hope. Again, one is reminded of Randy Newman here.

‘Banger’ is a mid-paced bluesy instrumental, that while pleasant enough is relatively anonymous. The piano parks up on ‘Sweet Desire’ and we feel safe in ‘Burlesque’ come ‘Resurrection Shuffle’ territory, with a little laidback calypso on the side. Ashton and Chapman share lead vocals on this goodtime girl number. A little more rock and roll, with horns, is ‘Suspicion’ where the opening lines go, “Said I don’t make much money, for me it’s suffice, but for one good friend, I’d give it up twice” may well be Chapman being autobiographical again about the music industry.

The album ends with ‘Check Out’ that finds future Cockney Rebel and Rod Stewart guitarist Cregan added to the writing team. It’s another where the arrangement acts as prequel to the kind of thing you’d hear on a 10cc album. There’s rock, blues, some prog, brass and a little ska in there, only for Chapman remind you just what he can do with some scorched earth guitar near the end. Lyrically, it’s another of one of those numbers where Chapman wonders how the hell he got in this mess (Ironically, Randy Newman’s ‘Mama Told me Not To Come’ best exemplifying that kind of scenario), but with the added, ahem, thrill of the vocalist finding himself in gaol, and attempting to escape. Is that what they did in splitting the band? It bares consideration.

This is not a bad album. I first heard it a few years back and I’d have said otherwise back then. Now, I can hear the nuances intended, nothing truly stands out save ‘Buffet Tea For Two’, but it’s a befitting coda to the band. All would go on to continue their musical careers, notably Chapman and Whitney forming Streetwalkers straight after. Here’s a thought, had they focussed as songwriters, with the right publisher adding muscle and clout, we may well have seen their composing credits on records by the likes of Roger Daltrey or Rod Stewart.

Of the bonus tracks that complete Disc 1, ‘Stop This Car’ is a somewhat hokum send-up country rocker, though hearing Chapman effectively narrate it at the beginning I’m reminded how Phil Lynott would do similar talk-through introductions on several Thin Lizzy numbers. ‘Drink to You’ is a pretty good rock and roller and could’ve replaced on ‘Banger’ on the main album, while the remaining tracks are early renditions of songs that did get featured.

Disc Two features ten tracks originally featured on BBC In Concert in January 1973, then four from Top Gear sessions only two months later. As anyone with previous remastered Family albums in this series will tell you, the BBC kept the band busy, certainly doing their bit to help promote a band that tended to polarise listeners throughout their career. Here’s one last chance to see how that last line-up sounded live (and prior to a version of Family reforming for selected dates this millennium), and they’ll not be disappointed by the number of classics in the set. Among those from the In Concert set there’s a belting version of ‘Sat’dy Barfly’, ‘Top Of The Hill’ is updated and epic, and ‘My Friend The Sun’ is particularly excellent. Confirming my belief that ‘Buffet Tea For Two’ is a winner, it appears both before the album’s release on the In Concert show and after, for the Top Gear one; just a shame its taken me this long to find out. Still, it’s good to be able to give It’s Only A Movie the thumbs up. It’s far from a masterpiece, but it is worthwhile, with a selection of maturely written songs, hidden gems no longer.

It’s Only A Movie is released via Cherry Red Records and is available here.

Track List:

Disc One: It’s Only a Movie – Remastered

1. It’s Only a Movie
2. Leroy
3. Buffet Tea for Two
4. Boom Bang
5. Boots ‘n’ Roots
6. Banger
7. Sweet Desire
8. Suspicion
9. Check Out
Bonus Tracks:
10. Stop This Car (B-side of single)
11. Drink to You (B-side of single)
12. Boom Bang (early version)
13. Suspicion (early version)
14. Stop This Car (early version)

Disc Two – BBC Radio Sessions 1973/BBC In Concert January 1973

1. Burlesque
2. Sat’dy Barfly
3. Top of the Hill
4. My Friend the Sun
5. Buffet Tea for Two
6 Children
7. Glove
8. Ready to Go
9. Holding the Compass
10. Rockin’ Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu
11. Boom Bang
12. Buffet Tea for Two
13. Check Out
14. Sweet Desiree