NewsFamily at the BBC / 8-disc deluxe set
Remastered • 7CD+DVD • Unreleased recordings • hardcover book
British rock band Family‘s recordings for the BBC are brought together for a special eight-disc deluxe set to mark 50 years since the band’s first album.
Family released seven studio albums between 1968 and 1973 and had a sound that evolved into a unique mix of blues, folk, jazz, psychedelia and high energy rock ‘n’ roll, built around the distinctive vocals of frontman Roger Chapman, Charlie Whitney’s innovative guitar playing and Rob Townsend’s intelligent drumming.
During that time the band recorded many sessions for the BBC including for programmes such as “Top Gear,” “Saturday Club,” “Colour Me Pop,” “In Concert” and various John Peel and Bob Harris shows. 
These sessions feature across seven CDs of audio and this new deluxe set – packaged in a 48-page hardcover book – is the most comprehensive collection of these BBC sessions and indeed boasts 20 previously unreleased recordings including new versions of ‘Scene Through The Eye Of A Lens’, ‘Old Songs New Songs’ and ‘The Weaver’s Answer’. All the audio has been newly remastered for this release.
The eighth and final disc is a DVD (region free, NTSC) which offers nine performances from ‘The Old Grey Whistle Test’, ‘Top of the Pops’ and a forgotten ITV show called ‘Doing Their Thing’.
The book features John Peel interviews, new sleeve notes, and rare photos and this set includes a rare poster replica promoting second album Family Entertainment. The hardcover book slots neatly into an outer slipcase.
Family at the BBC is strictly limited to 2000 copies for the world and is released by Madfish on 7 December 2018.
It is available to pre-order exclusively via the SDE shop and Burning Shed (same price on both). You can pre-order from SDE using the button below or via this link (guest checkout available).
DISC 1
1. Scene Through The Eye Of A Lens (Top Gear 26.11.1967) [02:34]
2. The Breeze (Top Gear 26.11.1967) [02:55]
3. Winter (Top Gear 26.11.1967) [04:17]
4. See Through Windows (Top Gear 21.4.1968) [03:53]
5. Hey Mr. Policeman (Top Gear 21.4.1968) [03:38]
6. 3 X Time (Top Gear 21.4.1968) [03:35]
7. Old Songs New Songs (Top Gear 21.4.1968) [04:01]
8. Processions (Top Gear 4.8.1968) [03:24]
9. Me My Friend (Top Gear 4.8.1968) [03:06]
10. The Weaver’s Answer (Top Gear 4.8.1968) [05:46]
11. See Through Windows (Saturday Club 7.9.1968) [04:00]
12. The Weaver’s Answer (Saturday Club 7.9.1968) [05:04]
13. The Breeze (Saturday Club 7.9.1968) [02:57]
14. The Weaver’s Answer (Radio One Club 1.11.1968) [07:15]
15. Second Generation Woman (Radio One Club 1.11.1968) [03:37]
16. The Breeze (Radio One Club 1.11.1968) [05:08]
17. Observations From A Hill (Radio One Club 1.11.1968) [03:31]
18. Peace Of Mind (Radio One Club 1.11.1968) [04:38]
DISC 2
1. Second Generation Woman (Top Gear 24.11.1968) [02:40]
2. Observations From A Hill (Top Gear 24.11.1968) [02:53]
3. Dim (Top Gear 24.11.1968) [02:27]
4. How-Hi-The-Li (Top Gear 24.11.1968) [04:48]
5. Holding The Compass (Symonds On Sunday 9.3.1969) [02:45]
6. Processions (Symonds On Sunday 9.3.1969) [03:28]
7. How-Hi-The-Li (Symonds On Sunday 9.3.1969) [03:23]
8. A Song For Me (Top Gear 30.3.1969) [07:38]
9. I Sing Em The Way I Feel (Top Gear 30.3.1969) [04:26]
10. Love Is A Sleeper (Top Gear 30.3.1969) [03:39]
11. Bring It On Home (Top Gear 30.3.1969) [02:47]
12. The Weaver’s Answer (Colour Me Pop 10.5.1969) [06:50]
13. Observations From A Hill (Colour Me Pop 10.5.1969) [03:21]
14. How-Hi-The-Li (Colour Me Pop 10.5.1969) [06:06]
15. Processions (Colour Me Pop 10.5.1969) [03:43]
16. A Song For Me (Colour Me Pop 10.5.1969) [05:46]
DISC 3
1. Drowned In Wine (Top Gear 3.8.1969) [05:41]
2. Wheels (Top Gear 3.8.1969) [06:47]
3. No Mule’s Fool (Top Gear 3.8.1969) [02:54]
4. The Cat And The Rat (Top Gear 3.8.1969) [02:46]
5. John Peel Intro (John Peel Sunday Show 4.1.1970) [00:32]
6. Love Is A Sleeper (John Peel Sunday Show 4.1.1970) [04:15]
7. Stop For The Traffic (Through The Heart Of Me) (John Peel Sunday Show 4.1.1970) [03:15]
8. 93’s OK J (John Peel Sunday Show 4.1.1970) [05:29]
9. Song For Sinking Lovers (John Peel Sunday Show 4.1.1970) [04:44]
10. Here Comes The Grin (John Peel Sunday Show 4.1.1970) [06:58]
11. Lives And Ladies (Top Gear 5.9.1970) [07:15]
12. Holding The Compass (Top Gear 5.9.1970) [03:23]
13. Good News Bad News (Top Gear 5.9.1970) [08:17]
DISC 4
1. Good News Bad News (John Peel Sunday Show 27.9.1970) [08:36]
2. Drowned In Wine (John Peel Sunday Show 27.9.1970) [04:57]
3. Wheels (John Peel Sunday Show 27.9.1970) [07:53]
4. Processions/No Mule’s Fool (John Peel Sunday Show 27.9.1970) [04:58]
5. Holding The Compass (John Peel Sunday Show 27.9.1970) [03:49]
6. Lives And Ladies (John Peel Sunday Show 27.9.1970) [07:22]
7. Strange Band (John Peel Sunday Show 27.9.1970) [03:27]
8. The Weaver’s Answer (John Peel Sunday Show 27.9.1970) [10:16]
9. Blow By Blow (John Peel Sunday Show 27.9.1970) [05:51]
DISC 5
1. Processions/No Mule’s Fool (Bob Harris Show 16.3.1971) [04:56]
2. Part Of The Load (Bob Harris Show 16.3.1971) [09:56]
3. Lives And Ladies (Bob Harris Show 16.3.1971) [08:14]
4. Strange Band (Bob Harris Show 16.3.1971) [03:08]
5. Hometown (Bob Harris Show 16.3.1971) [04:11]
6. In My Own Time (Top Gear 17.7.1971) [03:17]
7. Save Some For Thee (Top Gear 17.7.1971) [04:25]
8. Seasons (Top Gear 17.7.1971) [02:39]
9. Burning Bridges (Top Gear 17.7.1971) [03:48]
10. Children (Bob Harris Show 22.11.1971) [02:25]
11. Between Blue And Me (Bob Harris Show 22.11.1971) [05:27]
DISC 6
1. Good News Bad News (Live 28.12.1971) [08:22]
2. Spanish Tide (Live 28.12.1971) [04:13]
3. Part Of The Load (Live 28.12.1971) [09:28]
4. Drowned In Wine (Live 28.12.1971) [04:12]
5. Holding The Compass (Live 28.12.1971) [04:05]
6. Between Blue And Me (Live 28.12.1971) [05:28]
7. Children (Live 28.12.1971) [02:40]
8. In My Own Time (Live 28.12.1971) [03:26]
9. Take Your Partners (Live 28.12.1971) [06:21]
10. The Weaver’s Answer (Live 28.12.1971) [08:23]
11. Ready To Go (Bob Harris Show 23.10.1972) [04:35]
12. Dark Eyes (Bob Harris Show 23.10.1972) [01:42]
13. Burlesque (Bob Harris Show 23.10.1972) [02:59]
14. My Friend The Sun (Bob Harris Show 23.10.1972) [04:42]
15. Coronation (Bob Harris Show 23.10.1972) [03:49]
DISC 7
1. Burlesque (In Concert 26.1.1973) [05:29]
2. Sat’dy Barfly (In Concert 26.1.1973) [04:49]
3. Top Of The Hill (In Concert 26.1.1973) [07:48]
4. My Friend The Sun (In Concert 26.1.1973) [04:08]
5. Buffet Tea For Two (In Concert 26.1.1973) [04:31]
6. Children (In Concert 26.1.1973) [03:01]
7. Glove (In Concert 26.1.1973) [05:56]
8. Ready To Go (In Concert 26.1.1973) [07:04]
9. Holding The Compass (In Concert 26.1.1973) [04:53]
10. Rockin’ Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu (In Concert 26.1.1973) [06:08]
11. Boom Bang (Top Gear 22.5.1973) [02:59]
12. Buffet Tea For Two (Top Gear 22.5.1973) [05:16]
13. Check Out (Top Gear 22.5.1973) [05:10]
14. Sweet Desiree (Top Gear 22.5.1973) [03:54]
DISC 8 (DVD)
1. In My Own Time (Top Of The Pops 1.7.1971) [03:21]
2. The Weaver’s Answer (Top Of The Pops 27.8.1970) [04:41]
3. Dim (How Late It Is 21.3.1969) [02:42]
4. Between Blue And Me (Old Grey Whistle Test 2.11.1971) [05:17]
5. Spanish Tide (Old Grey Whistle Test 2.11.1971) [04:09]
6. Good News Bad News (Doing Their Thing 25.09.1970 – ITV) [07:43]
7. Drowned In Wine (Doing Their Thing 25.09.1970 – ITV) [04:29]
8. Processions/No Mule’s Fool (Doing Their Thing 25.09.1970 – ITV) [04:42]
9. Strange Band (Doing Their Thing 25.09.1970 – ITV) [05:12]
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Now down to £50 at Burning Shed/Amazon
And , guess what…the BBC Radio’73 In Concert is in…Mono… with that ‘applause’ referred to in an earlier post. Still listenable , but , it would have been appreciated if the stereo mix that is commented on as being on a transcription disc , had been made available.
Anyone able to comment on the sound quality? I have the Hux – BBC releases and I am sitting on the fence until I know if the unreleased material is good or if there has been any upgrade on previously released tracks. The box on SDE is now Sold Out.
Ran out, but now back in stock!
Does anybody know if the In Concert tracks from 26-1-1973 are going to be released in stereo? Many years ago I had access to a BBC transcription disc of the concert & transferred it to reel-to-reel (since transferred into digital) so I know there’s a stereo version which sounds much better than the Windsong release.
Here’s what has been previously unreleased on this set….
DISC 1
1. Scene Through The Eye Of A Lens (Top Gear 26.11.1967) [02:34]
2. The Breeze (Top Gear 26.11.1967) [02:55]
3. Winter (Top Gear 26.11.1967) [04:17]
4. See Through Windows (Top Gear 21.4.1968) [03:53]
5. Hey Mr. Policeman (Top Gear 21.4.1968) [03:38]
6. 3 X Time (Top Gear 21.4.1968) [03:35]
7. Old Songs New Songs (Top Gear 21.4.1968) [04:01]
8. Processions (Top Gear 4.8.1968) [03:24]
9. Me My Friend (Top Gear 4.8.1968) [03:06]
10. The Weaver’s Answer (Top Gear 4.8.1968) [05:46]
14. The Weaver’s Answer (Radio One Club 1.11.1968) [07:15]
15. Second Generation Woman (Radio One Club 1.11.1968) [03:37]
16. The Breeze (Radio One Club 1.11.1968) [05:08]
17. Observations From A Hill (Radio One Club 1.11.1968) [03:31]
18. Peace Of Mind (Radio One Club 1.11.1968) [04:38]
DISC 2
4. How-Hi-The-Li (Top Gear 24.11.1968) [04:48]
11. Bring It On Home (Top Gear 30.3.1969) [02:47]
12. The Weaver’s Answer (Colour Me Pop 10.5.1969) [06:50]
13. Observations From A Hill (Colour Me Pop 10.5.1969) [03:21]
14. How-Hi-The-Li (Colour Me Pop 10.5.1969) [06:06]
15. Processions (Colour Me Pop 10.5.1969) [03:43]
16. A Song For Me (Colour Me Pop 10.5.1969) [05:46]
DISC 3
5. John Peel Intro (John Peel Sunday Show 4.1.1970) [00:32]
6. Love Is A Sleeper (John Peel Sunday Show 4.1.1970) [04:15]
7. Stop For The Traffic (Through The Heart Of Me) (John Peel Sunday Show 4.1.1970) [03:15]
9. Song For Sinking Lovers (John Peel Sunday Show 4.1.1970) [04:44]
11. Lives And Ladies (Top Gear 5.9.1970) [07:15]
12. Holding The Compass (Top Gear 5.9.1970) [03:23]
13. Good News Bad News (Top Gear 5.9.1970) [08:17]
DISC 6
11. Ready To Go (Bob Harris Show 23.10.1972) [04:35]
12. Dark Eyes (Bob Harris Show 23.10.1972) [01:42]
13. Burlesque (Bob Harris Show 23.10.1972) [02:59]
14. My Friend The Sun (Bob Harris Show 23.10.1972) [04:42]
15. Coronation (Bob Harris Show 23.10.1972) [03:49]
DISC 7
14. Sweet Desiree (Top Gear 22.5.1973) [03:54]
& The DVD
Everything else was available on the 3 Hux sets, the FAMILY LIVE CD and the Windsong CD.
Also, why no Colour Me Pop footage on the DVD? A LOT of $$$ for the fan who has all the above CDs….
Mob
You’ve just brought back a night I spend with friends, in which we listened to the BBC in Concert cd you referred to with the canned applause, it took a while to register with us, but what a mess, what were they thinking.
If it’s repeated on this box set, it’s a no for me.
Record companies – “When will they learn”
Interesting to remember that the Snapper Group encompasses
Snapper, Madfish, K-Scope, Peaceville, Recall . . and . . ahem (groan) Charly Records.
Who knows what you’ll get . . .
Tonk is right, these things are a case of bite the bullet versus bide your time. And don’t (always) give in to the pressure of “this is gonna sell out and if you don’t buy it now you will never see this price again”. Don’t panic Mr Mainwaring! On the other hand YOLO!
Thanks Mickey – another thing I forgot to add was who is the customer base?
Anyone under55/60?
I doubt it.
Most geezers I know are getting really fed up of buying stuff they already have (in varying formats) again and again and again. Sure it’s desirable, but space is often a factor for people who have been collecting since the 70’s and more to the point, just how much of a difference can those ancient lug’oles discerne and is it really worth rearranging all The Stuff for maybe one or two tracks you don’t have?
Sure some things can be transformed by a good mastering job, but others? I prefer the Yes and LZ original cds to any of the remasters – they sound better to my ears . . but that’s another argument . . .
Sorry, should have rechecked my facts first – that should have been the Wishbone Ash Vintage Years box set (not Ian Hunter) – no longer in stock at Proper, but it was offered out to UK Indie retailers after it’s initial ‘exclusive’ BS release.
It too was a limited edition, is still in stock at BS, and should be available to order from a UK indie.
Like I said, panic not . . .
With regard to VAT, these Burning Shed ‘exclusives’ are generally offered out to normal retailers (who WILL deduct your VAT for export shipping) after BS have hoovered up enough sales from desperate punters who can’t wait/think they’ll lose out.
It generally takes around 4 weeks for the crumbs to appear and be offered by Proper (who distribute the label and also have their own retail site) but they do always appear – this happened with the Wishbone Ash and Porcupine Tree box sets . . so sit tight!
An example of this is the Ian Hunter box set (Stranded In Reality) – another BS ‘exclusive’ and ‘highly limited’ -well, it is in stock STILL at Proper and for sale some 2 years after it was released . . .
When it gets into Proper’s distribution chain, any UK indie retailer will be able to get it.
It is also worth knowing that Snapper/Madfish/K-Scope stuff also sometimes gets filtered out to continental Europe via Bertus Distribution, so if you prefer dealing with continental Europe there is that side of it too.
I really hate the play on these ‘exclusive’ things – it’s generally a l0t of marketing bollocks.
Certainly things do disappear – some much much quicker than others, so it doesn’t behove one to wait too long, but generally and in this day and age of physical products shifting less and less units, in the words of Corporal Jones “Don’t Panic!”
much but not all of this has been released before, but upgrades are welcome! the joyful ’73 in-concert set was released on a Windsong cd with a dreadful applause loop between and sometimes during tracks. the third volume of the Hux cds featuring a ’70 in-concert performance was verrry poorly mastered. lets hope they right some of those wrongs here. family rule!
I wish they’d got the TOTP clip of “Burlesque” where Roger Chapman started laughing in the second verse, and carried on until the end. I was 11 and have never forgotten it!
By the way, “the forgotten ITV show called ‘Doing Their Thing’” is well-remembered by Deep Purple fans, having provided the best available footage of the Mark II line-up in their prime. I still have the VHS, though I’m not sure if the whole show has appeared on the various compilation Purple DVDs or just bits.
Hello Paul, this looks to be a superb release.
Since orders are taken through the SDE shop, if you pay by card, will money be taken immediately or at the time of dispatch ?
Thank you
Michael
Hi Michael, thanks! The money is taken at time of order on the SDE shop. Best, Paul
I passed on a few off-air BBC tracks, via another collector who was dealing with Madfish, direct from uncirculated reels I inherited. No idea if they’re being used though. I would imagine all of the previously unreleased 20 tracks come from off-air sources – the bulk of this set having already been released on several CDs by Hux.
Hi Colin,
My name is Mick White and I’m writing the official biog on Family – have spoken with most of the band, incl. Jim King, Chappo and Whitney. I was also the bass-player in Ric Grech’s SDM in 1976. I’m fascinated to see the BBC version of ‘Scene Thru The Eye Of A Lens’ has surfaced after all this time – I’ve never actually heard it! Wonder if anyone’s got the BBC R1 ‘Emotions’?
Would be great to hear from you. Thanks, Mick.
A vinyl version would amount to 14 LP’s worth…how was that ever going to be a practicality ? Some projects are just too big for vinyl.
Well, not the whole 14 LP’s, obviously, but a good selection across three to four discs is not unusual these days.
They haven’t made a vinly version for me to buy, so I have bought this legitimate 2000 vinyl release instead – thanks for reminding me about this, Paul: https://www.discogs.com/Family-1973-BBC-Radio-Show/release/5080233?utm_campaign=order-confirmation-buyer&utm_medium=email&utm_source=transactional
An overlooked band that excelled in the live environment – singing, bleating sheep ahoy. Shame that there’s no vinyl version.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrZxF7GbULw&feature=youtu.be
Will this not be released on Amazon or JPC??
Not as far as I’m aware…
7 Albums in 6 years. nowadays one can be happy to get one new album by his favourite Artist every six years
Sadly not a vinyl version!!!
4 tracks from Granada TV’s “Doing Their Thing” on the DVD – how very odd! The final track “Holding The Compass” (with the Granada credits) does not appear to be included. A fantastic programme though, one that surely deserves an uncut release.
I recall a Saturday night arts / comedy show fronted by Joe Melia the band appeared on . Not sure now how many songs they played that night (it went out live I think) but they closed out with what was promising to be a storming version of Top Of The Hill that was curtailed as the credits rolled .
Have long tried to find footage of this
Sadly , looks like the wait continues
Doesn’t detract from an essential set though
Ditto! It was Full House or Second House..I (maybe) remember they changed the name. It was pretty free form, audience milling around, more than one stage.
I also remember them on some afternoon design show where someone redesigned their communal house (or at least one of the rooms)
No vinyl record version Im gutted !
Nice work Paul
Looking forward to receiving my copy
That looks awesome. What about the sound quality of theses recordings (sources) ?
Hey Paul
Burning Shed discounts the 20% VAT for overseas orders; do you do the same?
Hope to be able to implement this at some point in the near future, but not right now I’m afraid… Burning Shed are obviously a much bigger operation.
For what it’s worth, I checked prices on Burning Shed (to be shipped to the US), to see how they handled VAT. It turns out, in this particular case, there is no savings when shipped to non-EC customers. So all the more reason to purchase from this site.
Specifically, I wrote to Burning Shed to ask about this, and they replied:
> I’m sorry but there is no VAT to refund on this. It is correct as the
> boxset has two prices:
> 1) EC customers = £62.50 + vat = £75.00
> 2) Non EC customers = £75.00 (no vat)
> Sorry for any confusion, Madfish likes to do this on some of the more
> expensive releases.
Great news !! What about the sound quality of these BBC sessions ?