The Family
Prince's retinue continues to grow. This promising group, Prince's latest find, is made up of singer Susannah Melvoin, twin of the Revolution's Wendy; percussionist Jerome Benton, who played Morris Day's valet in Purple Rain; saxophonist/keyboardist Eric Leeds; vocalist/bassist Paul Peterson and drummer Jellybean Johnson. The Family has obviously studied at the knee of their Minnesota mentor, but they've added a few variations of their own. In fact, the debut album, with its haunted-house strings and sultry arrangements, is what the record Around the World in a Day should have been. For all its quirkiness, the Family rarely loses touch with its motivating impetus—funk. Most of the first side is powered by slinky James Brown-like guitar touches, while the flip side is more melodramatic. Leeds' sax gives these selections a nice jazz feel. The Family's lyrics, cover and sleeve photos, and the music reflect a superficial, sybaritic style. But even if it is only of the skin-deep variety, the sound is often more than attractive. (Paisley Park/WB)
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