Track Listing

1. Chase
2. Mellowing Grey
3. Never Like This
4. Me My Friend
5. Variations On A Theme Of Hey Mr Policeman
6. Winter
7. Old Songs New Songs
8. Variations On A Theme Of The Breeze
9. Hey Mr Policeman
10. See Through Windows
11. Variations On A Theme Of Me My Friend
12. Peace Of Mind
13. Voyage
14. Breeze
15. 3 X Time

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8770 in Music
• Released on: 2003-07-07
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

CD Description
From the opening Jim King falsetto on "The Chase" to the quirky "God Save The Queen" ending, MUSIC IN A DOLL'S HOUSE never flags. In 1968 King's saxophone and Ric Grech's violin were imaginative additions to the standard band profile, and their playing was skin-tight. With the strangled vibrato of Roger Chapman's vocals--still one of rock's most astonishingperformers--Family created a power that has rarely been matched. "Old Songs New Songs" is a great rocker in anyone's book (why fade it in mid-flight?), and "Voyage" presents a classic slice of psychedelia. Over-produced (by Dave Mason) it may be, but as a debut album there are few equals of its time.

Customer Reviews

Acid winter days with your weird uncle
Right from the galloping start of "The Chase" this album takes you on a lysergic maelstrom trip where the weather seeps in and blows through you ("Mellowing Grey", "Winter", "The Breeze"). Songs observe the strangeness of ordinary events (Never Like This, Hey Mr Policeman, See Through Windows) and lead you on a journey through love and time (Voyage, Peace of Mind, 3 X Time), the tracks swirling into one another with snatches of sounds already heard and sounds yet to come phasing in and out of the mix, imperceptibly taking you to a dark, still place and then returning you to earth thinking 'What the f*** was that?'. It also perfectly evokes the experience of winter days and nights in a mind altered state, accompanied by Roger Chapman as your weird uncle. Perhaps the most inventive album of all time and a must for all psychedelic meteorologists and for people who have been to their girlfriend's house for tea while out of their heads. It is so good that you'll only bear to play it twice a year and your friends will say 'it's a bit scary' then laugh nervously. Excellent.

Music in a Doll's House
It's 1968 and the British underground rock scene in the UK is making waves. Family, one of the many bands gaining widespread recognition and now 'above ground' getting recording deals, issue their debut 'Music in a Doll's House on the Reprise label.
It's a curious album; a mix of late 60's production, (with flanged and phased guitars of John Whitney) matched against the powerful and utterly unique vocals of Roger Chapman, the saxes of Jim King, Ric Grech's bass and Rob Townsend's drumming. Grech went on to join Clapton, Baker and Winwood in Blind Faith, whilst Chaman,bleating like a slaughtered lamb, underpinned the 'band sound' before moving on to form Streetwalkers with Whitney.His vocals are engaging throughout and yet, never reach the heights of the 'Weaver's Answer' on the next album, 'Family Entertainment'.
Whilst feeling somwhat dated at times, thia album defines much of the feel of the decade's twilight years. It's a great piece of British band/ musical history and for me, brings back memories of halcyon days of parties, trippy laid back summer evenings, John Peel's Top Gear, and the sheer originality that so many bands at this time offered.
I still have the old vinyl copy of this album. The CD is a 'must have', whether for fans of the period or fans of the band. Or for people like me, who just want to listen to a decent copy in their car!

Summer '67
Its strange which past groups & artists get remembered & respected, & who gets overlooked. Family were an absolutely awesome & successful band in their time, but you'll look in vain for any mention of them in taste-arbiters like Mojo or Q. Ok, its great that most of their cd's are still available & Roger Chapman just keeps on going, but they deserve more. This album is an absolute classic of English psychedelia - and other reviewers are right to point out its very English flavour. Roger Chapman's voice isn't for everyone, granted, but here he adapts well to the more melodic, spacier trax as well as his more strident sound on the likes of Hey Mr Policeman & Me My Friend. The group play up a storm & producer Dave Mason throws in the kitchen sink of Pepper-era special fx, without overdoing the phasing etc. Once you get past the sumptuous joys of the music, the lyrics are rather good, too. Its one of those albums that just seem to be a perfect whole, from the cover art to the way the trax join together, themes drifting in & out of view. I'd have no hesitation putting this alongside Piper at the Gates as a true psychedelic masterpiece.