1) A British… Read Full Bio ↴There are several artists using this name, chronologically:
1) A British rock band (1967 - 1973)
2) A disco group signed to New York Salsoul Records (1970's-1980's)
3) A Spanish indie pop band (1991 - 1993)
1) Family was British rock band from Leicester, England, active between 1967-1973. Their music has been described as a masterful blend of Blues-Rock, Prog-Rock, Art Rock and Psychedelia.
Family's debut single "Scene Through The Eye Of A Lens/Gypsy Woman" was released by Liberty in the autumn of 1967. While the single received praise from critics, it received very little airplay, due to its rather complex, uncommercial nature. Family's debut album, Music in a Doll's House, was released in July 1968 and it was produced by Traffic's Dave Mason and Jimmy Miller on a 4-track machine at Olympic Studios, London. The band's line-up: Roger Chapman (vocals/harmonica/tenor saxophone), Charlie Whitney (guitars/vocals), Rick Grech (bass/violin/cello/vocals), Rob Townsend (drums/percussion), and Jim King saxophone/flute/harmonica/vocals). Bandleader Tubby Hayes and his brass section played on "Old Songs New Songs". An extraordinarily ambitious album, 'Music In A Doll's House' marked an audacious beginning of what was a rather mixed career for Family. Many of the sounds conjured up in the studio had never been heard before - more incredible given that the album was created on a 4-track. The band's ability clearly transcended the available technology. Chapman's unusual vibrating delivery did not appeal to everyone, but it's a remarkable voice all the same. The musicianship and the unusual arrangements on this album found favour with fans who regarded it as a rather surreal musical feast. Music In A Doll's House is a truly innovative album and years ahead of it's time. The album charted respectably in the UK (reaching No. 35 in the UK album charts) and received considerable airplay from well-known British radio personality John Peel. It did not chart in the US. Interestingly, Mike Batt got his first big break in record production on this album by arranging "Mellowing Grey".
Family's 1969 follow-up, Family Entertainment, toned down the psychedelics of their previous offering, and featured their first UK hit "The Weaver's Answer." For the 1970 release A Song For Me, they developed a more aggressive sound, gaining them a larger European following. That year they played at several major rock festivals including the Isle Of Wight music festival and Holland's Kralingen Festival. Both of which were included in the documentary films Message To Love and Stomping Ground. The next release, Anyway, featured a side of a live performance of new material at Fairfield Hall in Croydon, England, as well as a side of new studio recordings.
The bar was raised in 1971 with Fearless, but the band's biggest success was yet to come, in 1972's Bandstand, featuring hits "Burlesque" and "My Friend the Sun". This was followed by the underrated but enjoyable It's Only a Movie, where the band's sound was augmented by Tony Ashton of Ashton Gardner and Dyke on piano.
Family disbanded in 1973 and former members went on to play in the bands King Crimson, the Streetwalkers and Stud.
2) Family were a disco group who formed in the 1970's and released the single 'Music (Listen To The Music)', on the Salsoul label which was later re-released on the Suss'd 2007 compilation 'Deep Disco Culture Vol. 2'.
3) Family was a Spanish indie band active 1991-1993 formed by Javier Aramburu and Iñaki Gametxogoikoetxea. They released just one album in 1993 titled Un soplo en el corazón," a tribute to the film by Louis Malle. In 2003 Spanish magazine Rockdelux released an album with the same songs played by other Spanish bands to celebrate 10 years from probably one of the best Spanish albums of 90's.
Boom Bang
Family Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sick and tired, all hay-wired, fever that's for sure
Moon, lune girl erection for a cure
Boom bang, shotgun man
I said I feel as if I'm dead
Cos I got those TV nudes
Running through my head
Scratch scratch, old Tom cat
Screaming every night
He's going round smelling every one-eyed she-cat in sight
Full grown, big yellow moon
Excite me awful bad
But it make all the girls come running
Cause they like it mad
Sick and tired, all hay-wired, fever that's for sure
Moon, lune girl erection for a cure
Wang dang, pocket man
Couldn't even raise a thought
So while passing he would flash till he got caught
Horned toad, rooster crow
But it all add up to just one thing
When the men specie get hot
Then they sure do sing
{REPEAT CHORUS}
Boom bang, shotgun man
I said I feel as if I'm dead
Cos I got those TV nudes
Running through my head
"Boom Bang" by Family is a song that explores the problems a person faces when they are 'sick and tired, all hay-wired' and the various ways that they deal with it. The song starts with the singer saying they have a fever, and that they are 'sick and tired' because they can't get their mind off of the TV nudes that are running through their head. The song then goes on to describe a series of different characters who are also having similar issues.
These characters include a 'Moon, lune girl' who is looking for a cure for her 'erection', a 'shotgun man' who is feeling dead inside, and an 'old Tom cat' who is going around smelling every one-eyed she-cat in sight. The song even describes a 'Horned toad' and a 'rooster crow', saying that when the men specie gets hot, they sure do sing. The chorus repeats the phrase 'Boom bang, shotgun man' and emphasizes the feeling of being dead inside and having TV nudes run through one's head.
The lyrics of "Boom Bang" are open to interpretation, but it seems to touch on the universal feelings of restlessness, loneliness, and isolation. The mention of different characters who are all facing their own problems is a reflection of the reality that we all are going through something in our lives, and sometimes it can feel like we are going through it alone.
Line by Line Meaning
Sick and tired, all hay-wired, fever that's for sure
Feeling exhausted, frustrated, and feverish
Moon, lune girl erection for a cure
The sight of the moon and a naked woman is a cure for one's feverishness
Boom bang, shotgun man
Loud and sudden noise of a shotgun man
I said I feel as if I'm dead
Expressing a feeling of complete exhaustion
Cos I got those TV nudes
Seeing naked images on TV in one's head
Running through my head
Constantly replaying in one's mind
Scratch scratch, old Tom cat
A cat scratching itself
Screaming every night
Making loud and unpleasant sounds every night
He's going round smelling every one-eyed she-cat in sight
A male cat going around and sniffing female cats
Full grown, big yellow moon
A large, full moon
Excite me awful bad
Causing strong feelings of excitement
But it make all the girls come running
Attracting female attention
Cause they like it mad
Because they find it crazy and exciting
Wang dang, pocket man
A man who flashes money to attract attention
Couldn't even raise a thought
Unable to think or focus
So while passing he would flash till he got caught
Flashing money until he was caught
Horned toad, rooster crow
The sounds of animals
But it all add up to just one thing
All these sounds and sights lead to one thing
When the men specie get hot
When men get sexually aroused
Then they sure do sing
They express their excitement vocally
Boom bang, shotgun man
Loud and sudden noise of a shotgun man
I said I feel as if I'm dead
Expressing a feeling of complete exhaustion
Cos I got those TV nudes
Seeing naked images on TV in one's head
Running through my head
Constantly replaying in one's mind
Contributed by Gabriella V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
groundhog713
Great song!
MeloLand
Wonderful song
ka pow
Some stuff I just don't get tired of
BashBrand
I think this was their penultimate single, before 'Sweet Desiree'.