''The Family'' is the second

studio album An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as Digital distribution#Music, digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early ...

by Canadian

Rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...

fusion band

Mashmakhan Mashmakhan was a Canadian rock band formed in 1969 in L'Île-Perrot, Quebec. The band is best known for their 1970 hit single "As the Years Go By". The song reached No. 1 in Canada, and the Top 40 in the United States. The song was also a major ...

History

In 1970,

released their self-titled debut album, which released three successful singles and garnered critical acclaim. After the debut album was released, Mashmakhan contributed to the musical score of the 1971 film ''Epilogue/Fieve'', with the song "Couldn't Find the Sun." The track from the film was released as the first single to Mashmakhan's second album, followed by "Start All Over." Mashmakhan afterwards released their second album, ''The Family'', which bombed shortly after. ''The Family'', along with Mashmakhan's debut album, were compiled into one

compact disc The compact disc (CD) is a Digital media, digital optical disc data storage format that was co-developed by Philips and Sony to store and play digital audio recordings. In August 1982, the first compact disc was manufactured. It was then rele ...

Collectables Records Collectables is a reissue record label founded in 1980 by Jerry Greene. Jerry Greene formed Lost Nite and Crimson record labels. Soul Survivors gained the hit "Expressway to Your Heart" (1967) while on Crimson Records. History It maintains a ca ...

, '' Mashmakhan/The Family'' in 1995. The last track of ''The Family'', "Mr. Tree" was cut off due to time restraints.

Track listing

Reception

At the album's release, it was a major flop, due to loss of fan support. The album received mixed reviews from critics. ''The Family'' was well received by Allmusic, getting a four and a half out of five star review, along with an " AMG Album Pick." Allmusic critic Lindsay Planer stated that the album is "a noticeably more cohesive collection," and a "thematic return" to the "rural introspection" that had "influenced much of their self-titled debut." Lindsay stated that the opening tracks "continue in the progressive rock leanings established on their earlier effort." Lindsay praised "Senecal's deft and ethereal flute" instantly evoking

Ian Anderson Ian Scott Anderson (born 10 August 1947) is a British musician, singer and songwriter best known for his work as the lead vocalist, flautist, acoustic guitarist and leader of the British rock band Jethro Tull. He is a multi-instrumentalist w ...

from Jethro Tull and said that "Blake's delicate fretwork" had the "combo's affective vocal harmonies" highlight the tracks "The Family" and "Come Again." The single "Children of the Sun" reached #40 in the

RPM Magazine ''RPM'' ( and later ) was a Canadian music-industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. ''R ...

charts. Further singles released include "Love Is" (#47), Ride Johnny Ride" (#84), and "Dance A Little Step" (#35).

Personnel

* Rayburn Blake –

lead guitar Lead guitar (also known as solo guitar) is a musical part for a guitar in which the guitarist plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs and chords within a song structure. The lead is the featur ...

backing vocals A backing vocalist is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists. A backing vocalist may also sing alone as a lead-in to the main vocalist's entry or to sing a counter-melody. Backing vocalists are use ...

(4) * Pierre Senecal –

organ Organ may refer to: Biology * Organ (biology), a part of an organism Musical instruments * Organ (music), a family of keyboard musical instruments characterized by sustained tone ** Electronic organ, an electronic keyboard instrument ** Hammond ...

lead vocals The lead vocalist in popular music is typically the member of a group or band whose voice is the most prominent melody in a performance where multiple voices may be heard. The lead singer sets their voice against the accompaniment parts of t ...

(2, 5),

piano The piano is a stringed keyboard instrument in which the strings are struck by wooden hammers that are coated with a softer material (modern hammers are covered with dense wool felt; some early pianos used leather). It is played using a keyboa ...

flute The flute is a family of classical music instrument in the woodwind group. Like all woodwinds, flutes are aerophones, meaning they make sound by vibrating a column of air. However, unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is a reedless ...

soprano saxophone The soprano saxophone is a higher-register variety of the saxophone, a woodwind instrument invented in the 1840s. The soprano is the third-smallest member of the saxophone family, which consists (from smallest to largest) of the soprillo, sop ...

rhythm guitar In music performances, rhythm guitar is a technique and role that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with other instruments from the rhythm section (e.g., drum kit, bass guitar ...

(2, 5) * Brian Edwards – bass, lead vocals (1, 3, 4, 6-8) *

Jerry Mercer Gerald "Jerry" Mercer (born April 27, 1939) is a Canadian drummer, best known for his work with the rock groups Mashmakhan and April Wine. Personal life Mercer was born in Newfoundland. Prior to becoming a full-time musician, Mercer worked ...

–

drums A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair o ...

, backing vocals

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Family, The 1971 albums Mashmakhan albums Epic Records albums