Family Circle -

Family Circle was an American soul group from Newark that released a 1973 self-titled album on Sky Disc, followed in 1977 with Love Bound on Strawberry Records.

Members: Charles Simmons, David Simmons, Don Simmons, James Simmons, Mary Simmons

Background

Family Circle formed in Newark, New Jersey, as a Simmons-family vocal group led by keyboardist and singer Charles Simmons Jr. with singers and percussionists David Simmons, Don Simmons, James Simmons, and Mary Simmons. Charles Simmons Jr. supplied the group’s lead-vocal role, keyboard role, and most of the original writing; David, Don, James, and Mary Simmons formed the family vocal unit.

Producer Randy Irwin and arranger George Andrews connected Family Circle with Sky Disc, where the group made its first documented singles in 1972. The group cut “Change” with “If You Wanta Really Make It,” then cut “I Hope You Really Love Me” with “Loving You Make the World Go Round” for Sky Disc in August. Irwin produced the sides, and Andrews arranged the sessions. In 1973, Irwin produced the group’s self-titled Sky Disc album Family Circle.

Family Circle

Family Circle released their self-titled debut album in 1973 on Sky Disc.

The album presents family-group soul with close vocal stacks, string-lined slow material, and clipped rhythm-section passages. The album features singers Mary, David, Don, and James Simmons, bassists Bob Piazza and Gordon Edwards, drummers Alan Herman and Bernard Purdie, guitarists Billy Vera and Cornell Dupree, and keyboardists Charles Simmons Jr. and George Andrews. Randy Irwin produced the album.

Family Circle glides through close-held mixed-voice leads, swelling refrains, baroque-lined charts, and dusk-toned cadence. “I Hope You Really Love Me” pleads through a soft lead and layered upper replies. “Mariya” sways from exposed vocal harmony into a tender title cadence. “Loving You Makes the World Go Round” lingers in ballad form, with the refrain set close to the lead. “Well Runs Dry” rises on a brighter youth-vocal pulse and answers the lead with clipped group phrases.

A1. “I Hope You Really Love Me” (2:27) – Charles Simmons Jr.
A2. “It Doesn’t Make Sense” (4:20) – Billy Vera
A3. “Try It, You’ll Like It” (3:28) – Charles Simmons Jr., D. Bradshaw
A4. “La La So Lucky” (2:41) – Charles Simmons Jr., George Andrews
A5. “Mariya” (3:53) – Charles Simmons Jr.

B1. “Loving You Makes the World Go Round” (2:55) – Charles Simmons Jr., Randy Irwin, S. Owens
B2. “If You Really Want to Make It” (3:40) – Charles Simmons Jr.
B3. “Well Runs Dry” (2:40) – Charles Simmons Jr., Randy Irwin, S. Owens
B4. “Change” (2:44) – Charles Simmons Jr., D. Bradshaw
B5. “Bridge With One Side Down” (3:17) – Charles Simmons Jr., D. Bradshaw

Sky Disc issued “Change” in 1972 with “If You Wanta Really Make It” as the B-side, along with a promo coupling of mono and stereo versions of “Change.” In August 1972, “I Hope You Really Love Me” appeared as a Sky Disc single with “Loving You Make the World Go Round” as the B-side, with Irwin producing and Andrews arranging both sides.

Love Bound

Family Circle released their second album, Love Bound, in 1977 on Strawberry.

The album reprises four titles from Family Circle and adds Strawberry-era material by Charles Simmons Jr., Andrews, Irwin, Owens, Greg Davis, Clinton, C. Hill, B. Seidman, and George Gordy. Randy Irwin produced the album, while George Andrews arranged and conducted the material.

Love Bound centers close vocal answers, slow cadences, and compact rhythm-section parts. “If You Don’t Use It” steps through a punchy arrangement and close-harmony replies. “You Are the Love of My Life” pleads through a slow-dance lead and softened cadence. “Mariya” returns to exposed upper harmonies and a suspended title phrase. “Well Runs Dry” reprises the brighter pulse and concise warning refrain. “Stop Turn Around” turns on a compact command phrase and clipped closing cadence.

A1. “If You Don’t Use It” (3:38) – Charles Simmons Jr., George Andrews, Randy Irwin, S. Owens
A2. “Try It, You’ll Like It” (3:28) – Charles Simmons Jr., D. Bradshaw
A3. “(I Like) The Simple Things” (3:05) – B. Seidman, George Gordy
A4. “You Are the Love of My Life” (3:38) – Clinton
A5. “Barbara Lee” (3:12) – C. Hill

B1. “Together We Can Make It” (3:10) – Charles Simmons Jr., George Andrews, Randy Irwin
B2. “It Doesn’t Make Sense” (4:20) – Billy Vera
B3. “Haven’t Seen Nothin’” (2:39) – Charles Simmons Jr.
B4. “Mariya” (3:53) – Charles Simmons Jr.
B5. “Well Runs Dry” (2:40) – Charles Simmons Jr., Randy Irwin, S. Owens
B6. “Stop Turn Around” (2:37) – Charles Simmons Jr., Greg Davis

Calla issued “Haven’t Seen Nothin’” as a 1975 single with “Stop Turn Around” as the B-side. Strawberry later issued “Barbara Lee” with “Stop Turn Around” as a 1977 single and grouped “Together We Can Make It” on a 1977 EP configuration.

Discography: