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Fearless was the fifth album from the British rock band Family, which was released in October 1971. It was known for its innovative layered-page album headshots of the band's members melding into a single blur.

Fearless is regarded as one of Family's most innovative albums by critics and fans. Its ten tracks were arranged with great care and complexity, and the lyrics and music take unexpected turns. The musicianship was of especially high caliber, as the bass and vocals of new member John Wetton added a new dimension to Family's sound.

"Between Blue and Me," the opening cut, set the pace for the album with a gentle introduction shattered by Charlie Whitney's piercing guitar solo and Roger Chapman's impassioned vocal bleats. Family do a commendable job of approximating other styles and making them a part of their own sound; "Sat'd'y Barfly," about getting drunk on a Saturday night, suggested a Faces outtake, while the closing cut, "Burning Bridges," drew comparisons to Genesis. (Chapman's vocal even sounded like Peter Gabriel.) "Save Some For Thee," dominated vocally by John Wetton, was a favorite on Fearless, with a piano arrangement that slowed and started up again throughout, filled in by a prickly guitar line and complemented by a marching band ensemble.

Family showed the occasional light touch with gentle fare like "Children," though Chapman's vocal delivery and the acoustic guitar backup were halting enough to keep it from sounding too soft. "Spanish Tide," a somewhat spooky folk rocker that employed heavy bass a Poli Palmer's organ-sounding vibes, was more in keeping with the album's adventurous spirit.

Fearless was, as always, entirely different from Family's earlier work, but it was just as warmly embraced, doing respectably well in the British album charts and garnering attention in the United States, where Family's fortunes had always been meager at best.

After Family concluded their second stateside tour in mid-1971 they were to again face personnel changes as John Weider (bass) was replaced by John Wetton (bass/guitar/vocals) just in time to chip in for Fearless, their sixth long-player in four years. Listeners who had enjoyed their most recent platters might have been a bit nonplussed when confronted with this disc, as the combo's direction was notably altered. Wetton brought along his trademark propulsive performance style, which is immediately evident on the heavy midtempo opener, "Between Blue and Me." Charlie Whitney (guitar/mandolin/percussion) presents some expressive strings weaving through Wetton's full bottom-end bombs.

The decidedly English "Sat'd'y Barfly" recalls the inebriated vibe of lighter-weight numbers à la the Faces, and the Ladbroke Horns do little to help as a prominent tuba rhythmically poots along. Poli Palmer's (keyboards/vibes/flute/percussion) roly-poly piano further conjures up a barroom setting while pulling the tune together. As if the juxtaposition of those tracks wasn't incongruous enough, the slightly off-kilter and trippy "Larf and Sing" features a breezy four-on-the-floor backbeat that predates disco in chronology only. It drops out for a jazzy a cappella chorus that could easily be executed by the Hi-Lo's or Four Freshmen. Whitney's wah-wah is also a focal point as it slithers in between the verses. Another of the album's best offerings is the "Spanish Tide"/"Save Some for Thee'" medley. Highlighted is the combination of Roger Chapman's powerful warbling and Wetton's sturdy vocal timbre. The pair shine against the intricate melody, brought to life by a well-balanced blend of Whitney's acoustic fretwork. On the funky rocker "Take Your Partners," the bandmembers maneuver their interaction with an aptitude and skill that would arguably best any jam-based aggregate of the day. Concluding Fearless is the sinuous "Burning Bridges," sporting a Chapman lead that is almost uncomfortable in its palpable sense of foreboding. Whitney's muted mandolin likewise has a haunting ruminative quality as it dances and seemingly mocks the simmering tempo. Although admittedly uneven, Fearless was the first of two Family titles to make an impact in the States, where it peaked at a modest number 177 in February of 1972. [Source: Wikipedia + AMG]

01."Between Blue and Me" – 4:58
02."Sat'd'y Barfly" – 4:02
03."Larf and Sing" (Palmer) – 2:45
04."Spanish Tide" – 4:00
05."Save Some For Thee" – 3:45
06."Take Your Partners" (Chapman-Whitney-Palmer) – 6:25
07."Children" – 2:20
08."Crinkly Grin" (Palmer) – 1:05
09."Blind" – 4:02
10."Burning Bridges" (Chapman-Whitney-Palmer) – 4:00