The Family That Plays Together
Encyclopedia
The Family That Plays Together, the second of four albums released by the original Spirit
lineup, was marketed by Ode Records
in 1968. Unlike its predecessor, Spirit
, their self-titled and surreal debut, The Family That Plays Together evinces more greatly the band's ability for playing beyond the genre of psychedelic rock
than within it. Tracks "It Shall Be" and "Silky Sam" demonstrate the ease with which the ensemble can incorporate jazz
into their idiosyncratic form of rock, while "Jewish" and "Aren't You Glad" evidenced the band's competence in exploiting, to their advantage, both world music
and jam rock
respectively. "Poor Richard," "Jewish," and "All the Same" feature glorious double track lead breaks from guitarist California. The inspiration behind entitling The Family was derived from the stepson-stepfather relationship guitarist Randy California
and percussionist Ed Cassidy
shared.
The album's arrangements were created by Marty Paich, who likewise arranged and conducted Spirit's eponymous debut album, as well as "Model Shop" (which was the soundtrack to a film starring Gary Lockwood ---- fresh from "2001: A Space Odyssey" ---- and "A Man And A Woman" star Anouk Aimee, directed by Jacques Demi) recorded after "Family" but not released until 2004, as well as "Clear." Paich's son David, who is one of the founding members of the Grammy-winning band TOTO, was age 13 when he penciled the sheet-music/charts for the first ever for "Spirit." (TOTO guitarist Steve Lukather, a long-time Spirit fan, produced a Jo Jo Gunne album with original members Ferguson and Andes, his brother Matt Andes, and Curley Smith in the 90s that was never released.)
At some point after "Family's" first issue, the final mixes for the album were lost. Because of this, all subsequent CD
releases by Sony, as well as the recent vinyl re-issue by Sundazed Records
, are taken from new mixes made from the original multi-track tapes (the tracks that appeared on the Time Circle
compilation were re-mixed as well, though the mixes differ) by Bob Irwin, Randy California
and Ed Cassidy
in 1996. Liner notes on the 1996 CD version state that it was "mixed and mastered by Vic Anesini, Sony Music Studios, New York." A general comparison between the original LP and the 1996 CD reissue makes this point obvious. Those who have more than a passing interest in the work should consider tracking down the original version on vinyl, as there are substantial differences in some places.
The 1996 compact disc reissue also contains five bonus track
s. Two of these appeared on the 1991 Time Circle compilation, while the other three are previously unissued.
The album cover was shot at the Sunset Highland Motel, located at 6830 Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, California, just across from Hollywood High School.
¹ - Previously unreleased material
Spirit (band)
Spirit was an American jazz/hard rock/progressive rock/psychedelic band founded in 1967, based in Los Angeles, California.- The original lineup :...
lineup, was marketed by Ode Records
Ode Records
Ode Records was a record label, started by Lou Adler in 1967 after he sold Dunhill Records to ABC Records. It was distributed by CBS Records until 1969. Between 1970 and 1976 the label was distributed by A&M Records, from 1976 onward it was again distributed by CBS Records.Adler deactivated the...
in 1968. Unlike its predecessor, Spirit
Spirit (Spirit album)
Spirit's self-titled debut album is one whose multifarious experimentalism owes a lot to the contemporary successes of The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and Pink Floyd's The Piper at the Gates of Dawn. It marked the humble beginnings and grand aspirations of its eponymous authors...
, their self-titled and surreal debut, The Family That Plays Together evinces more greatly the band's ability for playing beyond the genre of psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues rock bands in United States and the United Kingdom...
than within it. Tracks "It Shall Be" and "Silky Sam" demonstrate the ease with which the ensemble can incorporate jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
into their idiosyncratic form of rock, while "Jewish" and "Aren't You Glad" evidenced the band's competence in exploiting, to their advantage, both world music
World music
World music is a term with widely varying definitions, often encompassing music which is primarily identified as another genre. This is evidenced by world music definitions such as "all of the music in the world" or "somebody else's local music"...
and jam rock
Jam band
-Ambiguity:By the late 1990s use of the term jam band also became ambiguous. An editorial at jamband.com suggested that any band of which a primary band such as Phish has done a cover of be included as jam band. The example was including New York post-punk band Talking Heads after Phish performed...
respectively. "Poor Richard," "Jewish," and "All the Same" feature glorious double track lead breaks from guitarist California. The inspiration behind entitling The Family was derived from the stepson-stepfather relationship guitarist Randy California
Randy California
Randy California was a guitarist, singer and songwriter and one of the original members of the rock group Spirit, formed in 1967.-Biography:...
and percussionist Ed Cassidy
Ed Cassidy
Ed "Cass" Cassidy is an American drummer who was one of the founders of the rock group Spirit in 1967.His family moved to Bakersfield, California, in 1931, and he started as a professional musician in 1937. He was in the Navy during World War II, and after his discharge worked at many jobs before...
shared.
The album's arrangements were created by Marty Paich, who likewise arranged and conducted Spirit's eponymous debut album, as well as "Model Shop" (which was the soundtrack to a film starring Gary Lockwood ---- fresh from "2001: A Space Odyssey" ---- and "A Man And A Woman" star Anouk Aimee, directed by Jacques Demi) recorded after "Family" but not released until 2004, as well as "Clear." Paich's son David, who is one of the founding members of the Grammy-winning band TOTO, was age 13 when he penciled the sheet-music/charts for the first ever for "Spirit." (TOTO guitarist Steve Lukather, a long-time Spirit fan, produced a Jo Jo Gunne album with original members Ferguson and Andes, his brother Matt Andes, and Curley Smith in the 90s that was never released.)
At some point after "Family's" first issue, the final mixes for the album were lost. Because of this, all subsequent CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
releases by Sony, as well as the recent vinyl re-issue by Sundazed Records
Sundazed Records
Sundazed Records is a record label based in Coxsackie, in the Catskills of New York. It specializes in obscure and rare recordings from the 1950s to the 1970s.Label founders Bob Irwin and his wife Mary started the label in 1989...
, are taken from new mixes made from the original multi-track tapes (the tracks that appeared on the Time Circle
Time Circle, 1968-1972
Time Circle, 1968–1972 was a compilation album by Spirit, issued in 1991.This set draws heavily from the four albums released by the original line-up on Ode/Epic. It also includes some outtakes and versions of songs from then unreleased soundtrack work. At the time that this set was released,...
compilation were re-mixed as well, though the mixes differ) by Bob Irwin, Randy California
Randy California
Randy California was a guitarist, singer and songwriter and one of the original members of the rock group Spirit, formed in 1967.-Biography:...
and Ed Cassidy
Ed Cassidy
Ed "Cass" Cassidy is an American drummer who was one of the founders of the rock group Spirit in 1967.His family moved to Bakersfield, California, in 1931, and he started as a professional musician in 1937. He was in the Navy during World War II, and after his discharge worked at many jobs before...
in 1996. Liner notes on the 1996 CD version state that it was "mixed and mastered by Vic Anesini, Sony Music Studios, New York." A general comparison between the original LP and the 1996 CD reissue makes this point obvious. Those who have more than a passing interest in the work should consider tracking down the original version on vinyl, as there are substantial differences in some places.
The 1996 compact disc reissue also contains five bonus track
Bonus track
In terms of recorded music, a bonus track is a piece of music which has been included on specific releases or reissues of an album. This is most often done as a promotional device, either as an incentive to customers to purchase albums they might otherwise not, or to repurchase albums they already...
s. Two of these appeared on the 1991 Time Circle compilation, while the other three are previously unissued.
The album cover was shot at the Sunset Highland Motel, located at 6830 Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, California, just across from Hollywood High School.
Track listing
All songs written by Jay Ferguson except noted.- † - Tracks specific to the 1996 reissue
¹ - Previously unreleased material
Spirit
- Mark AndesMark AndesMark Andes is an American musician, known for his work as a bassist with Spirit, Jo Jo Gunne, Firefall, Heart, and Mirabal.-Early life:...
- Bass, Vocals - Randy CaliforniaRandy CaliforniaRandy California was a guitarist, singer and songwriter and one of the original members of the rock group Spirit, formed in 1967.-Biography:...
- Bass, Guitar, Vocals - Ed CassidyEd CassidyEd "Cass" Cassidy is an American drummer who was one of the founders of the rock group Spirit in 1967.His family moved to Bakersfield, California, in 1931, and he started as a professional musician in 1937. He was in the Navy during World War II, and after his discharge worked at many jobs before...
- Percussion, Drums - Jay FergusonJay Ferguson (American musician)Jay Ferguson is an American rock and roll musician, known for his work with Spirit and Jo Jo Gunne, and his 1978 solo hit "Thunder Island". His later career has been as a composer of music for television programs and films.-Childhood and early musical career:He was born in Burbank, California, in...
- Percussion, Keyboards, Vocals - John LockeJohn Locke (musician)John Tilden Locke was an American rock keyboardist and a member of the rock group Spirit. Locke was also a member of the band Nazareth in the early 1980s....
- Keyboards
Production
- Lou AdlerLou AdlerLou Adler is an American record producer, manager, and director.-Life and career:Adler was born in Chicago, Illinois in December 1933, and raised in East Los Angeles. In 1964, Adler founded and co-owned Dunhill Records. He was President of the label as well as the chief record producer from 1964...
- Producer - Bob IrwinBob IrwinRobert "Bob" Irwin is an Australian naturalist, animal conservationist, and a pioneering herpetologist who is also famous for his conservation and husbandry work with apex predators and reptiles...
- Producer - Marty PaichMarty PaichMartin Louis "Marty" Paich was an American pianist, composer, arranger, producer, music director and conductor....
- Horn Arrangements, String Arrangements - Vic Anesini - Mastering, Mixing
- Armin Stiener - Engineer
- Adam Block - Project Director
- Tom Wilkes - Art Direction
- Guy Webster - Photography
Charts
Album| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Billboard 200 | 22 |
| 1972 | Billboard 200 | 189 |