Music in a Doll's House

Music in a Doll's House
Studio album by Family
Released 19 July 1968
Recorded December 1967 - Early 1968 at Olympic Studios in London
Genre Progressive rock, psychedelic rock
Length 37:00
Label Reprise
Producer Dave Mason
Family chronology
Music in a Doll's House
(1968)
Family Entertainment
(1969)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Rolling Stone(neutral)[2]

Music in a Doll's House is the debut album by English progressive rock group Family, released on 19 July 1968. The album, co-produced by Dave Mason of Traffic,[3] features a number of complex musical arrangements contributing to its ambitious psychedelic sound.

The Beatles had originally intended to use the title A Doll's House for the album they were recording during 1968. The release of Family's similarly titled debut then prompted them to adopt the minimalist title The Beatles for what is now more commonly referred to as The White Album due to its plain white sleeve.

"Old Songs, New Songs" features a cameo from the Tubby Hayes group.

The album was the first of its kind by an English rock group on the US Reprise label set up for Frank Sinatra. It was licensed to the label by Dukeslodge Enterprises, a company run by the band's manager, John Gilbert, who also acted as 'executive producer' of the album. The album was released on vinyl in two different guises: mono (RLP6312) and stereo (RSLP6312) and Stereo 8 Track Cartridge. Mono vinyl copies featured a different mix to the stereo pressing and many mono copies were returned to the shops as they often skipped tracks. The mono edition was swiftly withdrawn, making this a much sought-after format.

This album was initially issued in the US using the UK import and sold in the US as a domestic album with an extra piece of cardboard to stiffen the sleeve (as they essentially had the same catlog number in both countries). Around the time the second album was issued in the US, US pressings of this album started to appear. (The album also initially had a 12" black and white photo of group included as an insert.)

In the Q & Mojo Classic Special Edition Pink Floyd & The Story of Prog Rock, the album ranked number 30 in its list of "40 Cosmic Rock Albums".[4]

Track listing

All tracks written by John Whitney and Roger Chapman, except as noted.

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."The Chase"  2:13
2."Mellowing Grey"  2:48
3."Never Like This" (Dave Mason)2:18
4."Me My Friend"  2:01
5."Variation on a theme of Hey Mr. Policeman" (instrumental)0:23
6."Winter"  2:26
7."Old Songs New Songs"  4:17
8."Variation on a theme of The Breeze" (instrumental)0:40
Side two
No.TitleLength
1."Hey Mr. Policeman" (Whitney, Ric Grech, Chapman)3:13
2."See Through Windows"  3:43
3."Variation on a theme of Me My Friend" (instrumental)  (Whitney)0:22
4."Peace of Mind"  2:22
5."Voyage"  3:35
6."The Breeze"  2:50
7."3 x Time"  3:35
8."God save the Queen" (hidden Track)0:14

Personnel

with

References

  • Sleevenotes from CD re-release of album on See For Miles Records
Notes
  1. Planer, Lindsay (2011). "Music in a Doll's House - Family | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  2. Gancher, David (December 7, 1968). "Records". Rolling Stone. San Francisco: Straight Arrow Publishers, Inc.
  3. Vernon Joynson, The Tapestry of Delights Revised, The Comprehensive Guide To British Music Of The Beat, R&B, Psychedelic and Progressive Eras 1963 - 1976, 2006 Edition (Borderline Productions, Reprinted 2008), pp. 276
  4. Q Classic: Pink Floyd & The Story of Prog Rock, 2005.
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