There have been A LOT of reissues of the original Family albums through various companies since CD’s took over the music market. Here we will take a closer look at what’s been reissued.
SEE FOR MILES
See For Miles are the only UK label who has put out Family’s first two albums, and you don’t really see any tracks off the first two albums on any compilations, more than likely due to legal/ownership technicalities that are still going on with Family’s original managers.
MUSIC IN A DOLL’S HOUSE
Original CD issue in 1987, SEE100
Remastered CD issue in 1998, SEE200H
ENTERTAINMENT
Original CD issue in 1987, SEE200
Remastered CD issue in 1998, SEE200H
Released a double CD set with both remastered albums plus the 1967 single, “Scene Through The Eye Of A Lens/Gyspy Woman” in 1999, SFM1968.
A SONG FOR ME
First CD issue, 1988 as SEE CD240.
LINE RECORDS
Germany label Line reissued most Family albums in the late 80’s on CD with bonus tracks.
1988 A SONG FOR ME
with No Mule’s Fool & The Rockin’ R’s
MainLine 9.00805L
1989 ANYWAY
with Seasons & In My Own Time
MainLine 9.00814L
1989 FEARLESS
with The Weaver’s Answer & Strange Band (studio version)
MainLine 9.00816L
1989 BANDSTAND
with Good Friend Of Mine & Today
MainLine 9.00821L
1989 IT’S ONLY A MOVIE
with Hometown
MainLine 9.00824L
A good place to try and find these old CDs is gemm.com
CASTLE COMMUNICATIONS/ESSENTIAL RECORDS
In the 1990’s, Castle Communications had licensing for Family’s post-“No Mule’s Fool” catalog and we saw a couple issues of it all!
Original Castle Classics issues featured no bonus tracks and limited artwork.
1993 A SONG FOR ME CLACD 376
1993 ANYWAY CLACD 375
1992 FEARLESS CLACD 324
1992 BANDSTAND CLACD 322
1992 IT’S ONLY A MOVIE CLACD 323
A good place to try and find these old CDs is gemm.com
Essential Records/Castle Communications reissued the albums remastered from original master tapes, with bonus tracks and faithfully restored artwork. Personally, these are the best sounding and cohesive releases so far…
1998 A SONG FOR ME
with No Mule’s Fool & Good Friend Of Mine ESM CD 616
1998 ANYWAY
with Today, Song For Lots & Today (single edit) ESM CD 615
1997 FEARLESS
with In My Own Time & Seasons ESM CD 564
1997 BANDSTAND
with The Rockin’ R’s ESM CD 565
1997 IT’S ONLY A MOVIE
with Stop This Car & Drink To You ESM CD 566
MYSTIC RECORDS
With the second half of Family’s catalog switching to Mystic Records, a new batch of remastered editions appear with different bonus tracks and liner notes.
2003 A SONG FOR ME
with No Mule’s Fool, Good Friend of Mine, Drowned in Wine (Live), The Cat and the Rat (Live), WheeSls (Live), A Song For Me (Live) MYSCD170
2003 ANYWAY
with Strange Band (Alternative Live Version), Part of the Load (Live), Lives and Ladies (Live) MYSCD171
2003 FEARLESS
with In My Own Time, Seasons, Between Blue and Me (Live)
MYSCD172
2003 BANDSTAND
with The Rockin Rs, No Mule’s Fool (Live), Good News-Bad News (Live), The Weavers Answer (Live) MYSCD173
2003 IT’S ONLY A MOVIE
with Hometwown, Holding The Compass’ (Live), The Weavers Answer (Live), Dim (Live), & Procession/No Mules Fool (Live) MYSCD174
REPERTOIRE RECORDS
Excellent German reissue specialists Repertoire have released limited edition mini-LP replica remastered editions with bonus tracks the same as the Mystic Records remasters.
2006 ANYWAY
with Strange Band (Alternative Live Version), Part of the Load (Live), Lives and Ladies (Live) REPUK1082
2006 FEARLESS
with In My Own Time, Seasons, Between Blue and Me (Live)
REPUK1083
2005 BANDSTAND
with The Rockin Rs, No Mule’s Fool (Live), Good News-Bad News (Live), The Weavers Answer (Live) REPUK1081
BEAT GOES ON
Mystic Records releases offered as a 2-for-1.
2009 A Song For Me & Anyway
A Song For Me: Drowned In Wine – Some Poor Soul – Love Is A Sleeper – Stop For The Traffic –Through The Heart Of Me – Wheels – Song For Sinking Lovers – Hey –Let It Rock – The Cat And The Rat – 93’s OK J – A Song For Me – Bonus tracks: No Mule’s Fool – Good Friend Of Mine – Drowned In Wine (Live) – The Cat And The Rat (Live) – Wheels (Live) – A Song For Me (Live); Anyway: Good News –Bad News – Willow Tree – Holding The Compass – Strange Band – Part Of The Load – Anyway – Normans – Lives And Ladies – Bonus tracks: Strange Band (alternative live version) – Part Of The Load (live) – Lives And Ladies (live) BGOCD854
2009 Fearless & Live
Fearless: Between Blue And Me – Sat’d’y Barfly – Larf And Sing – Spanish Tide – Save Some For Thee – Take Your Partners – Children – Crinkley Grin – Blind – Burning Bridges – Bonus tracks: In My Own Time – Seasons – Between Blue And Me (Live) – Sing ‘Em The Way I Feel (live); Family Live: Good News – Bad News – Spanish Tide – Part Of The Load – Drowned In Wine – Holding The Compass – Bewteen Blue And Me – Children – In My Own Time – Take Your Partners – Weavers Answer BGOCD855
2009 Bandstand & It’s Only A Movie
Bandstand: Burlesque – Bolero Babe – Coronation – Dark Eyes – Broken Nose – My Friend The Sun – Glove – Ready To Go – Top Of The Hill – Bonus tracks: The Rockin Rs; No Mule’s Fool [live]; Good News – Bad News [live]; The Weaver’s Answer [live]; It’s Only A Movie: It’s Only A Movie – Leroy – Buffet Tea For Two – Boom Bang – Boots ‘N’ Roots – Banger – Sweet Desire – Suspicion – Check Out – Bonus tracks: Hometown; Holding The Compass [live]; Weavers Answer [live]; Dim [live]; Procession/No Mule’s Fool [live] BGOCD856
Hi,
I have FAMILY “A SONG FOR ME” CASTLE COMMUNICATIONS CD CLACD376 (ie that it shows on all artwork). Even the matrix runout details show CLACD376.
The only problem is the music playing on the CD is not from “A Song for Me” but from “Anyway”. I bought the CD in the UK (late 1994).
I assume that is a known error.