Family Entertainment

After ending 1968 with the rockin' single "Second Generation Woman" b/w "Home Town" (again without chart success), Family enlisted IBC producer Glyn Johns for their next album, Family Entertainment. Best known for his work with The Rolling Stones, Johns stripped back the psychedelia, bringing both the rhythm section and Charlie Whitney's guitar to the forefront. The record is still a primarily acoustic affair, but with a more potent rock ‘n' roll feel. Ric Grech provided the classic "How-Hi-the-Li" and "Face in the Cloud," with the Chapman/Whitney team adding the strong "The Weaver's Answer" and "Observations from a Hill." "Summer ‘67" reprises a raga-esque arrangement, while "Dim" is strictly hillbilly. Although the album contained no singles, it still reached the UK's No. 6 position. With Peter Grant (of Led Zeppelin fame) as tour manager, Family set off to tour the US in April. Grech, however, abruptly quit to join Blind Faith. Adding ex-New Animal John Weider on bass, Family resumed the tour in Detroit, but a reputed fist fight between Roger Chapman and promoter Bill Graham (of Fillmore legend) didn't further the band's prospects. Family would never enjoy chart success in the US. Back in the UK, the band performed at The Rolling Stone's Hyde Park gig in July and the Isle of Wight festival in August. In October, they released their next single, "No Mule's Fool" b/w "Good Friend of Mine," which reached the UK No. 29. Jim King was next to leave, due to personal issues. Following brief spells in Blossom Toes and Eclection, John "Poli" Palmer would next augment Family on keyboards and vibes, prompting a quick rearrangement of King's parts on their 1970 self-produced album.