{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = Bring the Family | type = Album | artist = John Hiatt | cover = Hiatt Family.jpg | alt = | released = June 3, 1987 | recorded = February 17–20, 1987 | venue = | studio = Ocean Way (Hollywood) | genre = Rock and roll,<ref name="Deming"/> roots rock | length = 45:26 | label = A&M | producer = John Chelew | prev_title = Warming Up to the Ice Age | prev_year = 1985 | next_title = Slow Turning | next_year = 1988 | misc = {{Singles | name = Bring The Family | type = studio | single1 = Thank You Girl | single1date = 1987 | single2 = Have a Little Faith in Me | single2date = 1987 }} }} '''''Bring the Family''''' is American singer-songwriter John Hiatt's eighth studio album, released in 1987. It was his first album to chart on the ''Billboard'' 200, and featured his first single entry on the mainstream rock chart with "Thank You Girl". It features Ry Cooder on guitar, Nick Lowe on bass guitar and Jim Keltner on drums. The four would later reform as Little Village and release an album in 1992. "Thing Called Love" later became a hit for Bonnie Raitt, and "Have a Little Faith In Me" is among Hiatt's most popular songs. "Alone In The Dark" was featured in the 1994 James Cameron film ''True Lies'', in a memorable scene where Jamie Lee Curtis dances to the song.
== Background and recording == The album was recorded live, in just four days with little to no overdubs<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Bakker |first=Machgiel |date=June 8, 1987 |title=Back To Basics With John Hiatt |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1987/M&M-1987-06-06.pdf |magazine=Music & Media |page=6 |via=World Radio History}}</ref> after McCabe's Guitar Shop booker John Chelew convinced Hiatt that these were some of his best songs. Hiatt was recently sober but had burned so many bridges in the music industry he did not think he had a chance of continuing. He had been dropped by his label and "wondered if I was worth a damn". Hiatt had played some solo acoustic shows at McCabe's in January 1987 just prior to recording where he debuted songs such as "Lipstick Sunset", "Your Dad Did" and "Memphis in the Meantime".
Demon Records in England still loved his work and had pledged about $30,000 if he wanted to record ("Demon Records said I sing in the shower and they'd put it out," Hiatt says. He later told the Rocky Mountain News that Demon would release an album "if I farted in a bathtub").<ref>2001 Liner Notes from ''John Hiatt: Anthology'', Hip-O Select</ref> A&M Records in the U.S. eventually picked up the finished disc. Chelew asked Hiatt to name his dream band and Hiatt replied that he'd want to cut a record with Ry Cooder on guitar, Nick Lowe on bass, and Jim Keltner on drums. To Hiatt's surprise, he discovered all three were willing to work with him on his next album. They went into Studio 2 of Ocean Way Studios, Los Angeles and recorded the album in four days, using direct metal mastering. These songs were all that were recorded – there were no leftovers or outtakes and Hiatt had to complete a couple of songs in the studio. "I remember Ry walking out the door on the fourth day and me coming after him and going: 'Ry, I've got one more song. Could you stay?' Literally, we'd done nine and I needed one more," Hiatt has said. Budgets were so tight that Hiatt and Lowe shared a Holiday Inn room in the San Fernando Valley during the recording sessions. Lowe, an old friend of Hiatt's, took no payment for his contribution. Chelew's prediction turned out to be correct. ''Bring the Family'' is one of the cornerstones of Hiatt's career, a critical and financial success, and not a Hiatt performance goes by without a generous helping of its songs.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Deming |first=Mark |title=Bring the Family Review by Mark Deming |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/bring-the-family-mw0000190188 |website=AllMusic}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Art |date=February 23, 2023 |title=“I Had Been About a Year Sober and I Was on Shaky Ground”: John Hiatt Recalls When Lightning Struck Twice for Him With ‘Bring the Family’ and ‘Slow Turning’ |url=https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/i-had-been-about-a-year-sober-and-i-was-on-shaky-ground-john-hiatt-recalls-when-lightning-struck-twice-for-him-with-bring-the-family-and-slow-turning |website=Guitar Player}}</ref>
== Release == ''Bring The Family'' was released by A&M Records in June 3, 1987.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=May 22, 1987 |title=New Releases |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/FMQB-Album/1987/FMQB-1987-05-22.pdf |magazine=FMQB |page=54 |via=World Radio History}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |date=May 29, 1987 |title=New Releases |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/FMQB-Album/1987/FMQB-1987-05-29.pdf |magazine=FMQB |page=41 |via=World Radio History}}</ref> The album debuted at No. 197,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Billboard 200 - Week of July 4, 1987 |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1987-07-04/ |website=Billboard}}</ref> and peaked at No. 107 on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Billboard 200 - Week of August 22, 1987 |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1987-08-22/ |website=Billboard}}</ref> It eventually sold more than 200,000 copies.<ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Ambrosio |first=Brian |date=November 6, 2014 |title=The Terms of John Hiatt's Surrender |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-terms-of-john-hiatts_b_6109308 |website=HuffPost}}</ref> "Thank You Girl" was the first single from the album,<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=July 18, 1987 |title=Single Releases |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1987/CB-1987-07-18.pdf |magazine=Cash Box |page=8 |via=World Radio History}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |date=August 1, 1987 |title=On The Circuit |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1987/CB-1987-08-01.pdf |magazine=Cash Box |page=22 |via=World Radio History}}</ref> it debuted at No. 41,<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=June 20, 1987 |title=Billboard Album Rock Tracks |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1987/Billboard-1987-06-20.pdf |magazine=Billboard |page=15 |via=World Radio History |access-date=June 23, 2025 |archive-date=May 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519175701/https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1987/Billboard-1987-06-20.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> and peaked at No. 27 on the Mainstream Rock chart.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=August 1, 1987 |title=Billboard Album Rock Tracks |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1987/Billboard-1987-08-01.pdf |magazine=Billboard |page=15 |via=World Radio History}}</ref> "Have a Little Faith in Me" was also released as a single.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=August 29, 1987 |title=Single Releases |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1987/CB-1987-08-29.pdf |magazine=Cash Box |page=8 |via=World Radio History}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |date=September 12, 1987 |title=Single Reviews |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1987/Billboard-1987-09-12.pdf |magazine=Billboard |page=81 |via=World Radio History}}</ref> Music videos were made for both singles.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=June 27, 1987 |title=New Videoclips |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1987/Billboard-1987-06-27.pdf |magazine=Billboard |page=63 |via=World Radio History}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |date=September 5, 1987 |title=New Videoclips |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1987/Billboard-1987-09-05.pdf |magazine=Billboard |page=60 |via=World Radio History |access-date=June 23, 2025 |archive-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122000846/https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1987/Billboard-1987-09-05.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Hiatt toured to support the album, but couldn't bring Cooder, Keltner or Lowe. Instead he hired a group of musicians known as the Goners, with which he recorded his next album, ''Slow Turning''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ingalls |first=Chris |date=January 26, 2018 |title=Yesterday’s Jukebox: John Hiatt – ‘Bring the Family’ / ‘Slow Turning’ |url=https://www.popmatters.com/john-hiatt-bring-the-family-2528378533.html |website=PopMatters}}</ref>
== Critical reception == {{Music ratings | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="Deming">{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/bring-the-family-mw0000190188 |title=Bring the Family – John Hiatt |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=August 12, 2011 |last=Deming |first=Mark}}</ref> | rev2 = ''Chicago Sun-Times'' | rev2score = {{Rating|4|4}}<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3828718.html |title=Wit, backup band put bite into John Hiatt's 'Family' |newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times |date=June 1, 1987 |access-date=February 12, 2018 |last=McLeese |first=Don |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213021718/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3828718.html |archive-date=February 13, 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> | rev3 = ''Chicago Tribune'' | rev3score = {{Rating|3.5|4}}<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1994/02/13/hiatt-leaves-village-for-good-guitar/ |title=Hiatt on disc: Grit and polish |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=February 13, 1994 |access-date=September 5, 2024 |last=Kot |first=Greg |author-link=Greg Kot}}</ref> | rev4 = ''Los Angeles Times'' | rev4score = {{Rating|3|4}}<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-06-28-ca-56-story.html |title=A Hiatt Coming On |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=June 28, 1987 |access-date=February 12, 2018 |last=Cromelin |first=Richard}}</ref> | rev5 = ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' | rev5score = {{Rating|4|4}}<ref>{{cite news |title=John Hiatt records with a dream band |newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=June 14, 1987 |last=Tucker |first=Ken |author-link=Ken Tucker}}</ref> | rev6 = ''Q'' | rev6score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Ballad of a Thin Man |magazine=Q |issue=26 |date=November 1988 |last=Hepworth |first=David |author-link=David Hepworth}}</ref> | rev7 = ''Record Collector'' | rev7score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |title=John Hiatt: Bring the Family / Slow Turning |magazine=Record Collector |issue=479 |date=May 2018 |last=Staunton |first=Terry |page=100}}</ref> | rev8 = ''The Rolling Stone Album Guide'' | rev8score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref>{{cite book |chapter=John Hiatt |last1=Coleman |first1=Mark |last2=Harris |first2=Keith |title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide |title-link=The Rolling Stone Album Guide |editor1-last=Brackett |editor1-first=Nathan |editor1-link=Nathan Brackett |editor2-last=Hoard |editor2-first=Christian |editor2-link=Christian Hoard |publisher=Simon & Schuster |edition=4th |year=2004 |isbn=0-7432-0169-8 |page=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/378 378]}}</ref> | rev9 = ''Uncut'' | rev9score = 9/10<ref>{{cite magazine |title=How to Buy... John Hiatt |magazine=Uncut |issue=186 |date=November 2012 |last=Mueller |first=Andrew |author-link=Andrew Mueller |page=75}}</ref> | rev10 = ''The Village Voice'' | rev10score = B−<ref>{{cite news |url=https://robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv7-87.php |title=Christgau's Consumer Guide |newspaper=The Village Voice |date=July 28, 1987 |access-date=August 12, 2011 |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau}}</ref> }}''Billboard'' calls the album a "superb collection."<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=June 13, 1987 |title=Album Reviews |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1987/Billboard-1987-06-13.pdf |magazine=Billboard |page=76 |via=World Radio History}}</ref> The Gavin Report describes the album as "blues-based rockin' folk with wonderfully clever lyrical twists."<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Fell |first=Ron |date=June 19, 1987 |title=Ron Fell's Personal Picks - Albums |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Gavin-Report/80/87/Gavin-1987-06-19.pdf |magazine=The Gavin Report |page=65 |via=World Radio History}}</ref> ''Cash Box'' says that "Hiatt’s strong songwriting fills each cut with earthy honesty."<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=June 13, 1987 |title=Album Releases |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1987/CB-1987-06-13.pdf |magazine=Cash Box |page=8 |via=World Radio History}}</ref> Mark Deming of AllMusic called ''Bring The Family'' "the best album of Hiatt's career" and wrote "''Bring the Family'' isn't an album about tragedy, it's about responsibility and belatedly growing up, and it's appropriate that it was a band of seasoned veterans with their own stories to tell about life who helped Hiatt bring it across; it's a rich and satisfying slice of grown-up rock & roll."<ref name=":0" />
==Track listing== All tracks are written by John Hiatt.
{{Track listing | headline = Side one | title1 = Memphis in the Meantime | length1 = 4:00 | title2 = Alone in the Dark | length2 = 4:46 | title3 = Thing Called Love | length3 = 4:13 | title4 = Lipstick Sunset | length4 = 4:14 | title5 = Have a Little Faith in Me | length5 = 4:05 }} {{Track listing | headline = Side two | total_length = 45:26 | title1 = Thank You Girl | length1 = 4:11 | title2 = Tip of My Tongue | length2 = 5:54 | title3 = Your Dad Did | length3 = 4:03 | title4 = Stood Up | length4 = 6:01 | title5 = Learning How to Love You | length5 = 4:06 }}
==Charts== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- !scope="col"|Chart (1987) !scope="col"|Peak<br>position |- |Australian (Kent Music Report)||74<ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=138}}</ref> |}
==Personnel== *John Hiatt - Acoustic guitar, vocals, Piano on "Have a Little Faith in Me" *Ry Cooder - Electric guitar, Harmony on "Thing Called Love", Sitar on "Your Dad Did" *Jim Keltner - drums *Nick Lowe - Bass guitar, Harmony on "Learning How To Love You" *John Chelew - Production *Larry Hirsch - Recording, Engineering *Joe Schiff - Engineering, Mixing *Jeffrey Gold - Art direction *Michael Hodgson - Art direction, Design *Steven M. Martin - Photographs
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{John Hiatt}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bring The Family}} Category:1987 albums Category:John Hiatt albums Category:A&M Records albums