#Grand funk railroad on time full

On the Spotify playlist, there is another version of “Mean Mistreater” and then three live songs: “In Need,” “Heartbreaker,” and another “Mean Mistreater.” For the next four minutes, all those elements work toward the song’s finish. Some other woodwind has taken over, and now there is a string orchestra added to the mix. Farner’s acoustic guitar sounds great here.Īlmost halfway through, suddenly there are seagulls, the sound of waves, and a flute stating the theme along with Farner’s vocals. I’m your captain…” This was distinctly another level for the trio, a beautiful song with solid lyrics telling a story, fine playing, and memorable hooks. And apparently the song has been renamed “Closer to Home (I’m Your Captain).” The opening guitar is unmistakable before Schacher’s bass and Brewer’s cymbals jump in, and then “Everybody… listen to me… and return me to my ship.

#Grand funk railroad on time full

“I’m Your Captain” appeared in various lengths, depending upon the radio station it was played on, from a three-minute butcher job to half-length and the full 9:47 (10:09 on our Spotify playlist). Three minutes into the track, there is a shift, and Brewer and Farner throw the lead vocal back and forth before they shift into overdrive: Schacher and Brewer laying down a relentless pulse with Farner’s guitar surfing on top. “Hooked On Love” is one of those songs, almost bluesy. These guys are from Flint, Michigan, and they have always veered toward the soulful. Not a lot of thinking to do - just kick back and enjoy. Back in vinyl days, we often just listened to Side Two, which begins with “I Don’t Have to Sing the Blues.” This is just a joyous tune in the trio’s hands, a lot of fun. After a second wah-wah run, the wailing chorus of “gotta get it together” does a call-and-response with Farner’s vocal. Farner also plays some nice wah-wah guitar about two minutes in, then Schacher and Brewer take off before Farner enters on organ. The tempo picks up for the electric piano solo.Įlectric piano introduces “Get It Together,” primarily an instrumental with a chorus at the end.

It sounds like Farner is playing electric piano, and Brewer really stands out here. The album’s only ballad is “Mean Mistreater,” offering more nice harmonies. A second tempo change is also interesting, more nice work from Schacher. “Nothing is the Same” plods along through the opening sequence before a great tempo change shoves it into overdrive and another distortion-filled Farner solo. Schacher runs some nice bass lines, and the by-now well-known harmonies of Farner and Brewer are on display. Schacher’s bass drones underneath Farner’s distorted lead guitar. CLOSER TO HOMEĭon’t let that soft acoustic guitar fool you it gets blown away by power rock in “Sin’s a Good Man’s Brother.” Brewer’s drumming is long on power and sometimes short on technique, but it always delivers the desired effect. The group and early albums were produced by Terry Knight. The group at the time - and for the majority of their career - were Mark Farner, guitar, electric piano, organ, vocals, harmonica Mel Schacher, bass and Don Brewer, drums, vocals. GFRR’s first radio success came with the single version of “I’m Your Captain,” the real opus on Closer to Home. Grand Funk inside cover – MSG 02.13.70 – Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Interestingly, one of their best albums came out in 1976, Good Singin’, Good Playin’, under the tutelage of Frank Zappa.But we digress. Todd Rundgren helped them to great commercial success with We’re an American Band in 1973. The next albums were good but just didn’t have the gravitas of the 1969-1970 releases. In quick succession they popped out four albums, begin with their 1969 debut On Time, then three albums in 1970: the red-cover Grand Funk, Closer to Home, and Live Album (recorded in Jacksonville and West Palm Beach). Sure, everybody can sing “We’re an American Band,” and that made them a lot of money, but their real gig was head-smashing, brain-numbing thunder rock - exactly what we loved about them. The Class of 1970: Grand Funk Railroad’s ‘Closer to Home’įor some fans of the powerhouse trio Grand Funk Railroad (also abbreviated as Grand Funk and even GFRR), the first four albums remain the favorites in their body of work.