Just the other day I dusted off my old "the Family" record and put it on the turntable,I must say that it is really passing the test of time! It's too bad Prince didn't put more attention into that project they were ahead of their time and that's a real classy piece work, I think too good to waste like that. I believe he could lay his vocals all over again and release it and it would be loved!

The Family is 4 stars out of 4 in my book.

AMG REVIEW: As huge as Prince's Minneapolis sound was in 1985, one would have expected a band boasting three ex-members of the Time to hit big. But the urban contemporary and pop markets can be incredibly fickle, and this self-titled debut album by the Family wasn't the blockbuster some folks predicted it would be. Not surprisingly, this release is about as Minneapolis-sounding as it gets, and the heavy Prince/Time influence is undeniable. The Family isn't among the true classics that came from Minneapolis in the 1980s; it isn't in a class with Prince's Purple Rain, the Time's Ice Cream Castles, or Sheila E's The Glamorous Life, but it's competent and generally decent. Produced by David Z, this LP ranges from the sweaty funk of "High Fashion" and "Mutiny" to moodier items like "Desire" and the single "The Screams of Passion." Also noteworthy is the band's interesting version of Prince's "Nothing Compares 2 U." After the Family's breakup, this LP went out of print. And by the end of the 1980s, it was becoming increasingly difficult to find. — Alex Henderson

Snake said:

So true.... so true. This album is arguaby the best protege/side project album of ALL TIME! (with possible exception of "The Glamorous Life").



Uhh.... there is no need for Prince to lay any new vocals on this. The original vocals are PERFECT! (well, they could up Susannah's voice a little in the mix but that's all).

Paul Peterson's voice is amazing (even if it did take hours and hours as Per Nilson says to record the songs). And yes, he was folllowing Prince's instructions, but the guy was blessed with a beautiful resonant voice..... IMO a much more pleasant sounding tone than Prince's own.

This album is the Holy Fuckin' Grail of obscure Prince projects. It t gives me chills just thinking about it. Brrrr.

I wish I had the album

Yeah, I love this album. But something about the whole project made me...sad. I can't really explain it.

squirrelgrease said:

You said it!!!

this album rules!!

I couldn't stand this album for years and years.
St. Paul's vocals annoyed the crap out of me --
I thought it was awful. I didn't know any of the
songs except Screams of Passion, and Nothing
Compares, because I couldnt bear to listen to
it. THEN I saw the Family perform at Family Jamm
and they kicked my ass!!! It was so incredible
that it changed how I hear that album. I
listened to it nonstop for about 2 weeks after
the concert.

Definite classic.

madartista said:

Are you KIDDING ME???? I think St. Paul's voice is really beautiful..... more pleasant sounding than Prince's. (Prince has great technique but I wouldnt' say he has a beautiful voice/tone a la Luther)



OK You're forgiven. Yeah they were amazing at the Jamm!

St.Paul is really a great singer + songwriter and he's still active on his own.

Visit him at stpaulmusic.com and make sure to get his latest CD. It's amazing.