The Staples: “Family Tree” (1977/2020) CD Review

The Staple Singers had become The Staples in 1976, with the release of Pass It On. They kept that name for their next couple of releases including 1977’s Family Tree, which is now being re-issued along with three other albums they released in the 1970s. While Pass It On and 1975’s Let’s Do It Again featured music written by Curtis Mayfield, on this album the group performs songs by several different songwriters. Likewise, Curtis Mayfield did not produce this album. It was produced by Eugene Record, who wrote or co-wrote three of the tracks. The new re-issue includes a couple of bonus tracks and new liner notes by Rob Bowman.

Family Tree opens with its title track, an interesting song written by Nick Uhrig, Mark Piscitelli and Jerry Tawney. This song features a good deal of soul, particularly in the harmonies. It addresses some social issues, as it describes the troubles of various members of a family. “Mama, she ain’t quite the same/Now that Mary’s found a way/To buy anything that she needs.” But it is the main line that really makes this song something special: “I’m just sitting here watching leaves falling off the family tree.” That’s followed by “What You Doing Tonight,” a fast-paced tune with a good and catchy rhythm and a horn section, one to get you on your feet. This one was written by Carolyn Franklin. Then “See A Little Further (Than My Bed)” is a fun track with a funky disco beat and a full sound, including some nice work from the horn section. It’s playful, particularly some of the vocal work, and it works well. There is a section with the lyrics delivered as spoken word: “If he can see inside my head, then he can surely see further than my bed, you know.” This is one of the tracks co-written by Eugene Record (with Barbara Acklin).

The group offers a seriously good rendition of “I Honestly Love You,” a song written by Peter Allen and Jeff Barry and originally recorded by Olivia Newton-John. It was included on her 1974 LP If You Love Me, Let Me Know, and also released as a single, her first to reach the top of the pop chart in the United States. This rendition by The Staples was also released as a single, paired with the album’s title track. Mavis Staples delivers an absolutely fantastic vocal performance on this track, making it a highlight of the album. At times she is sensuous, and at other times her voice conveys a certain need, even ache, and the entire time she is passionate. She is given the opportunity to really dig into this song, this track being more than seven minutes. There is even a section toward the end with piano, bass and drums backing her astonishing vocal delivery. Things then get good and funky with “Hang Loose,” written by Eugene Record and Jackie Record. Pops sings lead on this one and gives us a really good performance. This is an entirely enjoyable number and is for me is another of the album’s highlights. “Just hang on in there,” he urges us near the end, and I think this song will help us do just that.

“Let’s Go To The Disco” is a rather vacuous number, but its purpose seems to be revealed in its title and the line “Come on, baby, let’s have some fun.” They aren’t trying to do much here, just offer a dance song. And so I suppose they are largely successful, though it is one of the album’s weaker tracks. For some reason, it was decided that this song needed to be seven minutes, but that instrumental part in the middle might be the best part. A shorter version of this song was released as a single. “Let’s Go To The Disco” is followed by “Color Me Higher,” which has a funky rhythm that I can’t help but enjoy, as well as an energetic vocal delivery that includes a bit of attitude. This is a fun track written by Eugene Record. The original album then concludes with another funky number, “Boogie For The Blues,” written by Carolyn Franklin. This one urges us to dance, and works where “Let’s Go The Disco” falls flat. It has more of an organic celebration at its core, and is a lively track.

Bonus Tracks

This disc contains two bonus tracks, the single versions of “I Honestly Love You” and “Let’s Go To The Disco.”  This version of “I Honestly Love You” is still excellent, but I prefer the full album version, with that extra three minutes. This is one of those cases of more being better. Still, the vocal performance here is fantastic. Then, with “Let’s Go To The Disco,” I appreciate this shorter rendition, for this is a song that doesn’t need to be seven minutes, although what is cut is that good instrumental section in the middle.

CD Track List

1. Family Tree
2. What You Doing Tonight
3. See A Little Further (Than My Bed)
4. I Honestly Love You
5. Hang Loose
6. Let’s Go To The Disco
7. Color Me Higher
8. Boogie For The Blues
9. I Honestly Love You (Single Edit)
10. Let’s Go To The Disco (Single Edit)

This re-issue of Family Tree is scheduled to be released on June 26, 2020 through Omnivore Recordings.