Re-Grooved Groovy Tuesday: “The Family”

Note from Mr. The Analog Kid: I originally featured this blog entry way back on 12/24/2013. I check my statistics regularly, and this post is always at the top of my daily views list. The vinyl rip that I used on the original entry was one of the first I ever attempted, and I have upgraded both my equipment and my technique in the years since. Therefore, I decided to create a brand-new high-quality 320 kbps rip of “The Family” for all of the interweb to enjoy! Call it a re-grooved Groovy Tuesday…

Every Tuesday, the Analog Kid blog goes back in time and features some groovy R&B/soul songs from a specific year. Sometimes you’ll hear songs from individual artists, and other times you’ll get an entire full-length classic LP ripped directly from the Analog Kid’s vast vinyl vault. Warning: by R&B/soul, I also mean disco. I could go Cheryl Lynn on your ass at any given moment, so just be ready!

Although The Family was technically a band, Prince actually wrote and recorded most of their 1985 debut album himself. The vocals were added by Susannah Melvoin (Wendy’s sister) and St. Paul (aka Paul Peterson from The Time), and future New Power Generation member Eric Leeds supplied the saxophone. Other than that, it’s all Prince. As he had often done with The Time, Prince gave writing credits to the members of The Family even though he had written the songs by himself (with the exception of “River Run Dry,” written by Revolution member Bobby Z).

Of course, The Family is best-known as the original source for Sinéad O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U.” Sinéad’s version spent four weeks at number one in the spring of 1990, and Prince himself finally released his own version on The Hits compilation in 1993.

The Family’s one album was not a commercial success, and the band disbanded after only one live show. The Family has never been released on CD in the United States, and as a result it has become one of the rarest Prince recordings. The Analog Kid hopes you enjoy this smooth soul classic.

The Family: The Family

Paisley Park/Warner Brothers, 1985

320 kbps vinyl rip courtesy of the Analog Kid

1. “High Fashion” (St. Paul/Jerome)

High Fashion

2. “Mutiny” (Jerome)

Mutiny

3. “The Screams Of Passion” (St. Paul/Susannah)

The Screams Of Passion

4. “Yes” (Jerome/Jellybean)

Yes

5. “River Run Dry” (Bobby Z)

River Run Dry

6. “Nothing Compares 2 U” (Prince)

Nothing Compares 2 U

7. “Susannah’s Pajamas” (Eric Leeds)

Susannah’s Pajamas

8. “Desire” (St. Paul)

Desire

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Bonus Tracks!

The first rule of The Analog Kid blog is that if you write about a song on the Analog Kid blog, you share the song on the Analog Kid blog.

Sinéad O’Connor: “Nothing Compares 2 U” (Prince)

From the album I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got

Chrysalis Records, 1990

Nothing Compares 2 U

Prince: “Nothing Compares 2 U” (Prince)

From the album The Hits 1

Warner Brothers, 1993

Nothing Compares 2 U