Liner Notes
Family's last single on Reprise — a Chapman/Whitney acoustic ballad lifted from the previous autumn's Bandstand — appeared on 12 January after having been trailed as the Burlesque follow-up since late 1972. An earlier 8 December 1972 date survives in later discographies, but the 9 December issue of Sounds announced the single for 12 January 1973; this timeline follows that contemporary notice. The A-side stood in marked contrast to the funked-up swagger of Burlesque — fragile, sincere, with Poli Palmer's quirky Woolworth's electric organ shading the arrangement.
Despite strong radio support and John Peel's championing, the single did not replicate Burlesque's chart success and failed to enter the UK Top 40. It has grown into a cult favourite over the decades — often cited by fans and critics as one of the most emotionally resonant songs in the Family catalogue. The B-side, Glove, is a breezy, soulful deep cut from the same Bandstand sessions. Linda Lewis would cover My Friend the Sun in 1977.
(Some discography listings — e.g. 45cat — pair My Friend The Sun with Burlesque under a different catalogue number K 14378, reflecting a separate later Reprise pressing.)
Album Reviews1
Reviews gathered with this release and kept on the album page rather than in the general Press Archive.
My Friend the Sun — Martin Crookall retrospective
Retrospective critical essay. Martin Crookall remembers “My Friend the Sun” as a startlingly gentle turn after Family’s more forceful hit singles. He hears its strength in the economical arrangement—acoustic guitar, accordion, wordless voices and a restrained electric-guitar coda—and in Roger Chapman’s unusually light, melodic delivery.
Crookall also draws attention to John Wetton’s harmony vocal and argues that the record’s warmth and sincerity deserved far greater recognition. His essay treats the single not as a minor detour but as a small, beautifully judged performance in its own right.
All Pressings4
Every known issue, variant, reissue, and repress across all countries and formats. Identical catalogue entries with multiple Discogs listings are grouped into a single row.
Gallery14 images
Covers, labels, inserts, and press material across all pressings. Click any image to view full-size.
Reader comments
Memories of seeing this released in the wild, pressing variants, and corrections welcome.
No comments yet — be the first.