Chain is an album by the American band the Family Stand, released in the United States in 1990.[2][3] The first single, "Ghetto Heaven", was a hit in dance clubs; "Chain" was also released as a single.[4][5] The band supported the album with a North American tour.[6] Chain peaked at No. 52 on the UK Albums Chart.[7]
| Chain | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1990 | |||
| Genre | R&B, rock[1] | |||
| Label | Atlantic | |||
| Producer | Jeffrey Smith, Peter Lord | |||
| The Family Stand chronology | ||||
| ||||
Production edit
The Family Stand hoped to craft a nonmainstream album that would still be played on Black radio; according to the band, Atlantic Records delayed Chain due to doubts about radio success.[8][2] Their chief influence was Sly and the Family Stone.[2] Sandra St. Victor sang lead on "In Summer I Fall".[9] "Little White, Little Black Lies" examines racism in Christianity.[10] The rap in "Twisted" implores the Jackson family to avoid additional plastic surgery; the track includes a snippet of a Malcolm X speech.[11][12] The title track urges listeners to avert the bad habits of their parents.[13] "Ovasaxed" is a saxophone-led instrumental.[14]
Critical reception edit
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [15] |
| The Kansas City Star | [12] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [3] |
The Toronto Star called the album "a virtually seamless blend of vintage soul, hip-hop, modern rhythm 'n' blues and rock, decorated around the edges with jazzy frills."[9] USA Today deemed it "in-depth music that moves the mind as well as the butt."[10] The Los Angeles Times opined that St. Victor "displays a dynamic and impressive range."[16] The Star Tribune concluded that "the quirky 'Twisted' is the gem here... It's a 1990 answer to Prince's socially conscious 'Sign o' the Times'."[17] The Chicago Tribune considered Chain to be "one of the great lost albums of 1990."[18]
AllMusic determined that "the title track ... is melodic in a muddy way, the muffled sound gives the shuffling rhythm an eerie effect."[15]
Track listing edit
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Ghetto Heaven (Remix)" | |
| 2. | "Twisted" | |
| 3. | "Only" | |
| 4. | "In Summer I Fall" | |
| 5. | "Ovasaxed" | |
| 6. | "Sweet Liberation" | |
| 7. | "The Last Temptation" | |
| 8. | "Chain" | |
| 9. | "Avenue Lust" | |
| 10. | "Little White, Little Black Lies" | |
| 11. | "Ghetto Heaven" |
References edit
- ^ Wyatt, Hugh (27 Apr 1990). "Stand Delivers R&B and Rock". Daily News. New York. p. 62.
- ^ a b c Owen, Frank (Aug 1990). "Family Values". Spin. Vol. 6, no. 5. p. 12.
- ^ a b The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 240.
- ^ "The Family Stand Biography by Andrew Hamilton". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
- ^ Whitall, Susan (3 May 1991). "Black musicians dip into past". The Times. Shreveport. Gannett News Service. p. 18C.
- ^ Farmer, Robin (2 Aug 1990). "Family Stand Delights". Richmond Times-Dispatch. p. E6.
- ^ "Family Stand". Official Charts. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
- ^ Hill, Edward (5 Oct 1990). "Family Stand on mission for artistic quality". The Plain Dealer.
- ^ a b Potter, Mitch (29 June 1990). "The Family Stand Chain". Toronto Star. p. E16.
- ^ a b Jones IV, James T. (19 July 1990). "A double burst of funky fun". USA Today. p. 2D.
- ^ Heim, Chris (7 Sep 1990). "The Family Stand, Saturday at Park West". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. M.
- ^ a b Triplett III, Ward W. (18 May 1990). "Spins". The Kansas City Star. p. G18.
- ^ Ford, Lynn Dean (3 May 1991). "The Family Stand Chain". The Indianapolis Star. p. B5.
- ^ Sandow, Greg (May 11, 1990). "Chain". Entertainment Weekly.
- ^ a b "Chain Review by Andrew Hamilton". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
- ^ Hunt, Dennis (13 Aug 1990). "Too Much Noise to Make Good Family Stand". Los Angeles Times. p. F10.
- ^ Bream, Jon (31 Aug 1990). "The Weekly Three". Star Tribune. p. 14E.
- ^ Kot, Greg (17 Feb 1991). "The real Grammy winners". Arts. Chicago Tribune. p. 8.