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| Grand Funk Railroad - On Time, Closer To Home, Grand Funk, and Live Album |
 Released: OT: 1969/2002, CTH: 1970/2002, GF: 1969/2002, LA: 1970/71/2002 Label: Capitol Records Cat. No.: Total Time: | |
Reviewed by: Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck, June 2002 Three guys from Flint, Michigan got together 34 years ago to form one of the most potent rock trios of all time. They called themselves Grand Funk Railroad, after Grand Trunk Railroad. Mark Farner (guitar, harmonica, piano, keyboards, vocals), Mel Schacher (bass, vocals) and Don Brewer (drums, vocals) were the American band. To be historically correct, Terry Knight, who was their manager, was a member of the group originally, then Mel came onboard to relieve Knight of those duties and he went into full time management of the group. Capitol Records is in the midst of an extensive reissue program covering 12 of the band's releases. "The Trunk Of Funk" will look like an old leather trunk and will include the first 4 reissues already inside and space to hold another 8 classic GFR reissues that are to be released over the next year. Each box will be individually numbered and there will only be 10,000 copies manufactured worldwide. Each box will also include stickers, so you can decorate the trunk anyway you like. These four releases are the prototypical GFR. The sound recorded on these four albums was the basic blues rock foundation sound that propelled them to a long and successful career and garnered them a huge fan base due to tireless touring. All of this was managed without any support from the media. This was before they added keyboard player Craig Frost and took on a decidedly pop sound. And although that would give them some success, it would also contribute to their eventual demise.
The bonus tracks are always welcome, as it adds to the substance and longevity of each recording. There are no throwaways here, its all top shelf GFR. I am absolutely thrilled that all of this music will reach a new generation. It all sounds better than ever now that it's been given a new lease on life thanks to the remastering processes. GFR was one of the very first rock bands I ever got into, so all of this music took me back to when my love for rock and roll really caught fire. I am sure there are many of you out there that will experience the same thing. Rating: 4.5/5 More about On Time, Closer To Home, Grand Funk, and Live Album: Track Listing: On Time: Are You Ready (3:28) / Anybody's Answer (5:17) / Time Machine (3:45) / High on a Horse (2:56) / T.N.U.C. (8:42) / Into the Sun (6:29) / Heartbreaker (6:35) / Call Yourself A Man (3:05) / Can't Be Too Long (6:34) / Ups and Downs (5:01) / Bonus tracks: High On A Horse (original version) / Heartbreaker (original version) Track Listing: Closer To Home: Sin's a Good Man's Brother / Aimless Lady (Nothing Is the Same / Mean Mistreater / Get It Together / I Don't Have To Sing The Blues / Hooked On Love / I'm Your Captain / Bonus tracks: Mean Mistreater (Alternate Mix) / In Need (Live - Orlando Sports Center, FL. 6/25/70) / Heartbreaker (Live - Orlando Sports Center, FL. 6/25/70) / Mean Mistreater (Live - Orlando Sports Center, FL. 6/25/70) Track Listing: Grand Funk: Got This Thing On The Move (4:40) / Please Don't Worry (4:20) / High Falootin' Woman (3:02) / Mr. Limousine Driver (4:27) / In Need (7:54) / Winter And My Soul (6:39) / Paranoid (7:52) / Inside Looking Out (9:31) / Bonus Tracks: Nothing Is The Same (demo) / Mr. Limousine Driver Track Listing: Live Album: Introduction / Are You Ready / Paranoid / In Need / Heartbreaker / Words Of Wisdom / Mean Mistreater / Mark Say's Alright / T.N.U.C. / Inside Looking Out Musicians: Contact: Website: www.grandfunkrailroad.com Discography
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On Time was the first GFR album and it served as a good introduction to the group's basic hard rocking blues influenced sound. "Are You Ready" and "Heartbreaker" would soon become an important part of their live shows. "T.N.U.C.," the nasty play on words, was their first full fledged jam session bordering on the very edge of progressive rock, clocking in at over 8 1/2 minutes long. For a debut album it was better than average. This was the beginning of a much heavier and technically advanced sound, particularly on guitar.
Closer To Home was the over the top album that they needed to launch their career to the next level, and it did with relative ease regardless of unsupportive press and limited airplay. Their fan base was growing in numbers as quickly as their albums were selling. "Mean Mistreater" and "I'm Your Captain" put them into the rock stratosphere, and later on the songs would become AOR staples. The clarity and crispness of this remaster is notable.
Grand Funk was their metal classic. Although the blues influence was still present on "Mr. Limousine Driver" and "High Falootin' Woman," they pushed the boundaries of that sound on the extended heavy rock psychedelic workouts "Paranoid" and "Inside Looking Out." For three people they made a lot of noise, and the talent of all three men reached its full realization on this album.
Live Album provided an up close and personal look into their live performances and it also gave a nice overview of the three previous studio albums. I remember when I first heard this album back in the early 70's. I listened intently to Mark talk to the crowd about not taking things that were handed them, namely drugs (too bad I didn't take his advice), and also asking all the brothers and sisters in the front rows to keep people off of other peoples shoulders so people in the back could see them perform. It's interesting how I remember those details after all these years. This however is no match for what was to be released in the future. Caught In The Act blows this one away. Thanks to the careful remastering it sounds a lot less muddy on the bottom end. It's extremely good for a live recording that was taped on inferior equipment by today's standards. This is a wonderful memento to GFR and their early raw and raunchy years. It's a snapshot of the hot and sweaty pot filled arenas of the 70's.