Aug. 19th 1985 the Family was released. Dayum 20yrs ago. Even though I know some folks here aren't that moved by the record for whatever reasons. It is still, in my opinion the last of the great protege records Prince was involved in. I still get the same feeling listening 2 it 2day that I got 20yrs ago. My only complaint was the bass was missing. Later I found out his ego removed the bass tracks. Took off the outtakes "feline" and "miss understood"

But other than that it's still a funky album. Completely different from what was out at the time. Plus is gave a little insight to Prince's musical growth(clare fisher and eric leeds) and what Parade was going to bring. Plus the 2 instrumentals could be seen as pre"Madhouse". There was suppose to be a tour w/ shelia, the family and Mazarati. But St. Paul bolted. I always wondered how that would've gone over. Uptown had a great story about the making of the album.

Funny St. Paul puts out a live show dvd, showcasing those songs 20 yrs later. Wonder if he remembers how Prince had him sing the songs when they were recording them...

Yeah I love this album. As you said, it was just SO different from all the drum machine/synth releases around at the time.

I remember reading somewhere that Eric Leeds said the original mixes with the bass still intact was "quintesential funk". Hell, I think it is qunitessential anyway!

I was just listening to "The Screams Of Passion" extended version yesterday and those Clare Fischer strings rock. This album definately showed the musical growth Prince was going through at the time.

I agree - "The Family" project WAS the last SOLID "protégée" work prince did.
The Family album is VERY GOOD.

SCREAMS OF PASSION
RIVER RUN DRY
DESIRE
NOTHING COMPARES TO U
HIGH FASHION
MUTINY

the 2 instrumentals are "okay".. but they don't take that much away from the whole album

BlurredEye said:

That was a tough album and the following cuts" Screams of Passion,High Fashion, and Nothing Compares to U were like my shit back in the day.
[Edited 9/10/05 16:01pm]

Great album, I still love The Family, was just listening to it yesterday, my favorites are The Screams of Passion, High Fashion and Mutiny.

I always thought it was a shame "river Run Dry" wasn't released to pop radio, but then again, they probably wouldn't have touched it. There always seemed to be some sort of blacklist when it came to the proteges (you get ONE song played and that's IT!) I wish WB would stop trying to "show Prince who's boss" and re-release some of the Paisley Park stuff on CD. Remastered, of course.

As much as I loved the album, Prince has had several other pet projects since then that are worth listening to. Both Madhouse albums, The Time's Pandemonium, both Mavis Staples albums are the first few that come to mind.

Not to take anything away from a great project like The Family, but there are other projects worthy of your time as well.

Great album, less said about the live show the better...

Most underated album..... I think Rolling Stone or Spin included it in their list.


This and Sheila's 1st album are my 2 favorite Protege albums.


High Fashion/Mutiny are just too funky!

And their are actually are still drum machines and synths on it, just they aren't as much a focus, cmopared to Eric's brilliant sax and Clare Fischer's brilliant strings.

High Fashion should have been a time song(that's probably why its my favorite song by the family)

Browntree007 said:

I agree."River Run Dry" is a stunning song.In a perfect world,it would have been a Top 10 pop hit.If this song had been recorded by a band like Duran Duran or Culture Club,it would have been a smash.

GaryMF said:

Agreed!

It reminds me so much of parade, which is a good thing! The first time I heard it I was shocked, I thought it sounded like a parade outtakes cd! I guess in a way it is a bit. Its so good.....might have been better if Susannah got more vocals, but hey, thats old news...

susannah said:

I never could udnerstand why Susannah's vocals are so low in the mix! I'm always "straining" to her her more. Even live it's hard to hear her. Ithink she has a nice voice, so I'm like "turn her up!".

GaryMF said:

I know, its strange how much of a rep she has now, and how much that cd elevated her (of course her relationship may have had something to do with that), when you think that you can hardly hear her!! The level of her vocals was s dissappointment to me when I first heard it, I expected more.