Album: The Family: Difference between revisions

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|introduction          = '''The Family''' is the first album by [[The Family]]. While [[Prince]] was only credited with writing [[Nothing Compares 2 U]], he wrote seven of the eight songs and played almost all the instruments on the album ([[Bobby Z.]] wrote the remaining track, [[River Run Dry]]). Vocals were provided by [[Paul Peterson|St. Paul Peterson]] and [[Susannah Melvoin]].  
|introduction          = '''The Family''' is the first album by [[The Family]]. While [[Prince]] was only credited with writing [[Nothing Compares 2 U]], he wrote seven of the eight songs and played almost all the instruments on the album ([[Bobby Z.]] wrote the remaining track, [[River Run Dry]]). Vocals were provided by [[Paul Peterson|St. Paul Peterson]] and [[Susannah Melvoin]].  


This album was the first Prince-related release to feature saxophone by [[Eric Leeds]] and string orchestration by [[Clare Fischer]].
This album was the first Prince-related release to feature saxophone by [[Eric Leeds]] and string orchestration by [[Clare Fischer]]. This album is also the second album, after [[Prince and the Revolution]]'s [[Album: Around The World In A Day|Around The World In A Day]]), to be released on [[Paisley Park Records]].


Recording took place in late June and the first two weeks of August 1984. [[High Fashion]], [[Mutiny]], [[Susannah’s Pajamas|Mazarati]] (later renamed [[Susannah’s Pajamas]]), and [[Desire]] were the first tracks recorded for the album in late June 1984. [[Nothing Compares 2 U]] was recorded in mid-July 1984.  
<b>Sessions and compiling</b>
 
Recording took place in late June and the first two weeks of August 1984. [[High Fashion]], [[Mutiny]], [[Susannah’s Pajamas|Mazarati]] (later renamed [[Susannah’s Pajamas]]), and [[Desire]] were the first tracks recorded for the album in late June 1984. [[Nothing Compares 2 U]] was recorded in mid-July 1984.  


[[Yes|Lisa]] (later renamed [[Yes]]) and [[River Run Dry]] were recorded in early August 1984 while [[The Screams Of Passion]] followed in mid-August 1984 (a year to the day before the album’s release). Vocal overdubs by [[Paul Peterson|St. Paul Peterson]] were added in late 1984 or early 1985. Orchestral overdubs by [[Clare Fischer]] also took place in late 1984 to early 1985, and mixing taking place in April and May 1985.
[[Yes|Lisa]] (later renamed [[Yes]]) and [[River Run Dry]] were recorded in early August 1984 while [[The Screams Of Passion]] followed in mid-August 1984 (a year to the day before the album’s release). Vocal overdubs by [[Paul Peterson|St. Paul Peterson]] were added in late 1984 or early 1985. Orchestral overdubs by [[Clare Fischer]] also took place in late 1984 to early 1985, and mixing taking place in April and May 1985.
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An acetate, dated 28 May 1985 was made of the final configuration of the album. The songs are in the same sequence as they were ultimately released, although the instrumentals [[Yes]] and [[Susannah’s Pajamas]] (listed on the acetate as 'Susannah’s Clothes') are each listed as being some 30 seconds longer than they were released. However this was down to errors in writing down the timings, the versions on the acetate are exactly as released.
An acetate, dated 28 May 1985 was made of the final configuration of the album. The songs are in the same sequence as they were ultimately released, although the instrumentals [[Yes]] and [[Susannah’s Pajamas]] (listed on the acetate as 'Susannah’s Clothes') are each listed as being some 30 seconds longer than they were released. However this was down to errors in writing down the timings, the versions on the acetate are exactly as released.
<b>Promotion</b>


The album produced two singles, [[Single: The Screams Of Passion|The Screams Of Passion]] and [[Single: High Fashion|High Fashion]].  
The album produced two singles, [[Single: The Screams Of Passion|The Screams Of Passion]] and [[Single: High Fashion|High Fashion]].  

Revision as of 21:14, 2 October 2020

1985: A.C. ◄ All Prince Albums All Related Artists Albums ► 1985: Romance 1600
The Family
The Family (Front Cover)

Album details

Released: 12 August 1985 (UK)

19 August 1985

Length: 36:01
Label(s): Paisley Park Records
Studio(s): Flying Cloud Drive Warehouse

Charts, Certifications & Awards

Charts
America
Country: Chart Entry Date Peak Position Weeks in Chart
Billboard Top Black Albums Chart, USA 7 Sep. 1985 17 30
Billboard Top Pop Albums, USA 7 Sep. 1985 62 22
Certifications
This album has not received any certifications in the USA
Awards
This album has not received any awards in the USA

Singles released

The Screams Of Passion
b/w Yes
High Fashion
b/w Susannah’s Pajamas

See also

    

Alternate Album Configuration

Early sequence, likely only made on paper and not sequenced as such

  1. Hi Fasion
  2. Mutiny
  3. Desire
  4. River Run Dry
  5. BMW
  6. Paisley Park
  7. Feline
The Family is the first album by The Family. While Prince was only credited with writing Nothing Compares 2 U, he wrote seven of the eight songs and played almost all the instruments on the album (Bobby Z. wrote the remaining track, River Run Dry). Vocals were provided by St. Paul Peterson and Susannah Melvoin.

This album was the first Prince-related release to feature saxophone by Eric Leeds and string orchestration by Clare Fischer. This album is also the second album, after Prince and the Revolution's Around The World In A Day), to be released on Paisley Park Records.

Sessions and compiling

Recording took place in late June and the first two weeks of August 1984. High Fashion, Mutiny, Mazarati (later renamed Susannah’s Pajamas), and Desire were the first tracks recorded for the album in late June 1984. Nothing Compares 2 U was recorded in mid-July 1984.

Lisa (later renamed Yes) and River Run Dry were recorded in early August 1984 while The Screams Of Passion followed in mid-August 1984 (a year to the day before the album’s release). Vocal overdubs by St. Paul Peterson were added in late 1984 or early 1985. Orchestral overdubs by Clare Fischer also took place in late 1984 to early 1985, and mixing taking place in April and May 1985.

Other tracks recorded for the album include Feline (recorded in mid-July 1984) and Miss Understood (recorded in the second week of August 1984). After recording, St. Paul Peterson objected to some of the more explicit lyrics in Feline, leading to Prince removing the track from the project (some of the lyrics were reworked and used in Holly Rock). Prince also sent the 1982 track You’re My Love to St. Paul Peterson to learn, but Peterson’s lack of enthusiasm for the track led to Prince dropping the idea (the track was later sent to Kenny Rogers, who re-recorded it and released it on his 1986 album They Don’t Make Them Like They Used To).

An undated early work-in-progress configuration of the album is known to exist, tentatively titled Hi Fashion, which also included Paisley Park (an instrumental song different from the Around The World In A Day song of the same name), and a track titled BMW (thought to be an interim title of Susannah’s Pajamas).

An acetate, dated 28 May 1985 was made of the final configuration of the album. The songs are in the same sequence as they were ultimately released, although the instrumentals Yes and Susannah’s Pajamas (listed on the acetate as 'Susannah’s Clothes') are each listed as being some 30 seconds longer than they were released. However this was down to errors in writing down the timings, the versions on the acetate are exactly as released.


Promotion

The album produced two singles, The Screams Of Passion and High Fashion.

There was little other promotion for the album, as Jerome Benton and Susannah Melvoin flew to France with Prince to film the Under The Cherry Moon movie at the time of the album’s release, and St. Paul Peterson was taking acting and dancing lessons in Los Angeles to prepare for a future (undetermined) Prince film project.

As such, a planned tour and other promotional activities were put on hold. The Family played only one show at the time of the album’s release, on 13 August 1985 at First Avenue in Minneapolis.

Perhaps due to the lack of promotion, the album reached only number 62 on the US Billboard Top Pop Albums Chart, and number 17 on the US Billboard Top Black Albums Chart.



Track listing
CD LP

The compact disc version is a reissue from the original LP.

  1. High Fashion (5:06) 1
  2. Mutiny (3:57) 2
  3. The Screams Of Passion (5:26) 3
  4. Yes (4:27) 4
  5. River Run Dry (3:31) 5
  6. Nothing Compares 2 U (4:31) 6
  7. Susannah’s Pajamas (3:58) 7
  8. Desire (4:58) 8

The vinyl long play format is the original issue.

  • Side 1:
  1. High Fashion (5:06) 1
  2. Mutiny (3:57) 2
  3. The Screams Of Passion (5:26) 3
  4. Yes (4:27) 4
  • Side 2:
  1. River Run Dry (3:31) 5
  2. Nothing Compares 2 U (4:31) 6
  3. Susannah’s Pajamas (3:58) 7
  4. Desire (4:58) 8

All songs written by Prince, except where noted.

1 Written by Prince - officially credited to Jerome Benton and St. Paul Peterson
2 Written by Prince - officially credited to Jerome Benton
3 Written by Prince - officially credited to St. Paul Peterson and Susannah Melvoin
4 Written by Prince and Eric Leeds - officially credited to Jellybean Johnson and Jerome Benton
5 Written by Bobby Z.
6 Written by Prince
7 Written by Prince and Eric Leeds - officially credited to Eric Leeds
8 Written by Prince - officially credited to St. Paul Peterson



Personnel
Musicians


The following artists got credit on the record, but they did not contribute to the album:


Production


Thanks
  • none.



Releases
LP, CD, Cassettes and Other versions
Country Format Cat. Number Comments Front Back Label 1 Label 2
This section is under construction

Variants, Special Editions and Reissues
Country Format Cat. Number Comments Front Back Label 1 Label 2
This section is under construction
 
Additional Information
Promotion (at time of release) Trivia
References
1985
A.C. 		All Albums All Related Artists Albums 1985
Romance 1600
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