The Family Jams - Family Jams [Aoroa] (CD)

All Music Guide

This collection contains recordings made by the members of Charles Manson's extended ‘family' shortly after his final incarceration in late1969. These should not be mistaken for the infamous LIE: The Love Terror Cult (1970) sides, as Manson is not present. Rather, as legend has it, The Family Jams (1997) were documented with the idea of turning the profits into a sort of legal defence fund for Manson and company. Morbid curiosity aside and despite what reason (or taste) might suggest, Manson's lyrics and melodies show an undeniable aptitude for both basic song structure as well as improvisation. But of course any degree of ability became summarily dismissed by the subsequent legacyinevil produced by Manson et al. In his liner note essay, he describes the contents of this twodisc set as “desert music" documented by his “friends" at the time of his trial, adding “ … there was no Manson Family till we got busted. There was a music group known as ‘The Family Jams'." There are several rea...dings of the eerie “I'll Never Say Never To Always" a song prominently featured in both the madeforTV movie Helter Skelter (1976), as well as on the aforementioned LIE: The Love Terror Cult. The tune typifies many of the performances as the lyrics and melody are rendered with a loose choral arrangement. Another infamous inclusion is “Look At Your Game, Girl", which regained notoriety all over again when Guns and Roses covered it on Spaghetti Incident? (1993). Here, the selection has been revamped as “Look at Your Love". One notable omission is “Cease To Exist", a track adapted by Dennis Wilson into “Learn Not To Love", eventually surfacing on the Beach Boys' 20/20 (1969). Interested parties will not be disappointed, nor will openminded enthusiasts who can separate Manson's admittedly heinous deeds with his musical capacity. - Lindsay Planer, All Music Guide Read more Less