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

1 thought on “CD Reissues”

  1. 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.

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