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Family Circles 1973 LP draws a tight ring around the most beguiling soul tropes of its era, with its full house of ambitious players and hook-laden originals. Newark, New Jerseys Simmons siblingsGeorge, James, Mary, Don, and Davidrallied around journeyman arranger George Andrews and business maven/producer Randy Irwin, whose industry ties brought studio luminaries into the Simmons orbit: session guitar giant Cornell Dupree, guitarist/songwriter Billy Vera, and the inimitable Bernard Pretty Purdie on drums. Charles Simmons Well Runs Dry dipped several toes into Jackson 5-saturated waters, while I Hope You Really Love Me stayed together with the Al Green ethos. Where the bowling, basketball, and karate-obsessed Simmons fivesome was hitching tothumbs unfurled and dressed to impress in Central Park on Family Circles back coveris anyones guess, but their sparkling, layered sound, gospel-honed vocal chops, and instantly relatable melodies shouldve dropped them off on everybodys turntable. Give Family Circle a lift, drive em around awhile.