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.
Sat'd'y Barfly
Family Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well I was downtown cruisin' in my low slung cat
Diamond pin and a funky hat
Mohair suit and new white spats
Spot a juke joint blastin' and I cut my boost
Well it's Sat'd'y night and I'm hanging loose
Well I swing those doors and I bust right in
I see Louise there and I just grin
Unroll my hip, and shout Hey gimme a gin
The band's still wailin' and it's 4 a.m.
Me and Louise we're just hangin' on in
We're drinkin' wine now - they ran out of gin
We're drunk as hell but we're feeling fine
If we leave now then we'll just have time
Where we goin' Louise, your place or mine?
Hoo, Saturday night...
What's that Louise, what's that in sight?
Little old Mustang, now we're gonna pass on the right
Hey Mustang, we gotta wait all night for you
We gotta wait all night for you
Woah Louise, Saturday night's gonna do
Move a little closer, get up, get up and tighten up
Leave it out, Louise, leave it out
The song Sat'd'y Barfly by Family is a classic rock song that captures the spirit of Saturday nights spent partying and drinking at a local juke joint. The opening stanza sets the stage with a description of the singer's outfit - a low slung cat, diamond pin, funky hat, mohair suit, and new white spats. The singer spots a juke joint blasting music and decides to cut his boost and head on in. The night is young, and the singer is ready to let loose, look for someone to buy him a gin and catch the vibe.
Louise, a character who we can assume is no stranger to the bar scene, is already there as the singer busts in swinging those doors. He grins at seeing her and immediately asks for a gin. The band is still rocking, and it's now 4 a.m. as the singer and Louise keep hanging on, drinking wine as they ran out of gin. Despite feeling drunk as hell, the singer and Louise are feeling fine as they continue to party late into the night and into the morning.
The final stanza leaves the listener with a playful sense that anything could happen on a Saturday night. The singer asks Louise where they will be going - her place or his? As they leave the juke joint, they spot a little old Mustang, and the singer woos Louise, saying they're going to pass it on the right. The song then ends with the singer telling Louise to move a little closer and tighten up in a playful, flirty way.
Overall, the lyrics to Sat'd'y Barfly paint a picture of a wild and fun Saturday night spent drinking, dancing, and romancing at a local juke joint. The characters of the singer and Louise are vivid and give the song an added dimension of playful romance and youthful recklessness.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I was downtown cruisin' in my low slung cat
I was driving my car slowly through the city streets
Diamond pin and a funky hat
I was wearing a stylish and unique outfit
Mohair suit and new white spats
My suit was made of a fine wool fabric and had new white shoes as accessories
Spot a juke joint blastin' and I cut my boost
I saw a bar with loud music playing and quickly made my way over there
Well it's Sat'd'y night and I'm hanging loose
It's Saturday night and I'm ready to have a good time
I'm looking out to cut my juice
I'm on the lookout to get a drink
Well I swing those doors and I bust right in
I opened the doors and entered the bar confidently
I see Louise there and I just grin
I notice Louise and smile
Unroll my hip, and shout Hey gimme a gin
I confidently order a drink from the bartender
The band's still wailin' and it's 4 a.m.
The live music is still playing and it's early morning
Me and Louise we're just hangin' on in
Louise and I are still enjoying the music and drinking
We're drinkin' wine now - they ran out of gin
We had to switch to wine since they ran out of gin
We're drunk as hell but we're feeling fine
We're very drunk, but we're enjoying ourselves
If we leave now then we'll just have time
If we leave soon, we'll still have some time before morning
Where we goin' Louise, your place or mine?
I'm considering going to Louise's place or my own for the rest of the night
Hoo, Saturday night...
I'm feeling good on this Saturday night
What's that Louise, what's that in sight?
I'm curious about something I see in the distance and ask Louise
Little old Mustang, now we're gonna pass on the right
I see a Mustang and plan to pass it on the right
Hey Mustang, we gotta wait all night for you
I sarcastically address the Mustang, meaning we don't have time to wait for it
We gotta wait all night for you
Repeating the previous line for emphasis
Woah Louise, Saturday night's gonna do
I express excitement for the rest of the night with Louise
Move a little closer, get up, get up and tighten up
I encourage Louise to get closer to me, and to dance more closely
Leave it out, Louise, leave it out
I tell Louise to stop worrying and enjoy the night
Contributed by Jayce E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
captainsoul1953
totally unique band....no one else like them....Rogers vocals were an outstanding point but even without them they were instrumantelly and lyrically on their own.
Walt Franklin
Best bar song ever, on one of the greatest rock albums ever!
Gret Husky
I see Louise there and I just grin... Unroll my hip and shout "Hey! Gimme a gin!" So much unheralded talent in this album...
pretorious700
Brings back memories of a house, a girl, and my old stereo. What a fantastic band and album.
Jeffrey Capshew
One of the greatest rock albums, every song is great.
John Blaney
Great band, great lyrics, great musicianship, bloody awesome...STILL!
Bum Bum A Wang Wang
This is one of the all time greats of the seventies,sounds desolate,i like this in a song,not as pantomimic as it initially appears."Fearless"is a great album,makes my top 1000 albums list.They were a great band.
54HarryB
Great band. Loved it.
david obrien
Chappo if you are tuning in to the comments, believe me we are still listening to Family. You are still miles better than the current music.
el mago
THX sbritt for some "soothing" memories..... from days loooong passed!!! 👌
Here on this rainy dawn in the tropics, I can sing the words verbatim = song after song = 50 years later. 🤣
What a fabulous fusion band ensemble, if only for a few delightful years, with talented Ric Grech 'pounding the beat' on base....TOO. 👍
So many truly original songs and arrangements = 100% Fearless = where "Larf & Sing" and "Spanish Tide" remain forever on my mind!!! ✔