Grand Funk Railroad - Survival
	Released: 1971/2002 Label: Capitol Records Cat. No.: Total Time:
	Reviewed by: Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck, October 2002 On Survival Mark Farner plays some funky guitar licks on the opener "Country Road," and he keeps things rolling on the following track "All You Got Is Money." It's the kind of foot stompin' head bopin' blues and rhythm & blues inflected rock that their fans had become accustomed to since the group's inception. This was the band at their very peak as a trio. "Comfort Me" featured a rarely used acoustic guitar with Farner's soaring vocals. Mark certainly was getting to be a stronger and stronger presence as a lead singer, and his guitar playing was exemplary. They also do a nice job with two covers, "Gimme Shelter" and "Feelin' Alright." Farner and Brewer share the vocals duties on "Gimme Shelter." Farner rips off some awesome solos, and Mel's bass is right out front thumping away leading the charge. There is a generous number of bonus tracks on this remastered disc ... five, and they are all exceptional. The sound is excellent, and that goes without saying regarding any of the EMI remaster programs. It was all so wonderful and exciting to hear this music again because it energized you in a special way that only GFR could, and one that you could never forget. I think many listeners enjoyed the trio so much because of the rawness of their sound and the spitfire rock 'n' roll spirit that drove it all. With routine and knowing what to expect comes boredom and limited growth, thus, there were some big changes coming with the next album, and the original GFR sound would become nothing more than a memory with the forthcoming album. Rating: 5/5 More about Survival: Track Listing: Country Road (4:23) / All You've Got Is Money (5:16) / Comfort Me (6:47) / Feelin' Alright (4:28) / I Want Freedom (6:19) / I Can Feel Him In The Morning (7:15) / Gimme Shelter (6:20) / Bonus Tracks: I Can't Get Along With Society / Jam (Footstompin' Music) / Country Road / All You've Got Is Money / Feelin' Alright Musicians: Mark Farner - Guitar, Harmonica, Composer, Keyboards, Vocals Don Brewer - Drums, Vocals Mel Schacher - Bass, Vocals Contact: Website: www.grandfunkrailroad.com Note: will open new browser window Discography Grand Funk (The Red Album) (1969/81/96/99/2002) On Time (1969/81/96/2002) Closer to Home (w/bonus tracks (99)) (1970/81/94/99/2002) Live Album (1970/97/2002) E Pluribus Funk (1971/95/2002) Survival (1971/96/99/2002) Mark, Don and Mel 1969-1971 (1972/90) Phoenix (1972/98) We're An American Band (100,000 Gold Vinyl Released (73), 5000 Gold Vinyl Released (99), remastered LP replicat ltd ed. (99)) (1973/96/99/2002) All the Girls in the World Beware!!! (1974/97) Shinin' On (w/bonus tracks (97)) (1974/92/97) Caught in the Act (1975/95) Born to Die (1976) Good Singin' Good Playin' (1976/99) Grand Funk Hits (1976) Grand Funk Lives (1981) What's Funk? (1983) Capitol Collectors Series (1991) More of The Best (1991) The Collection (1992) Bosnia (Double Live CD) > (1997) Thirty Years Of Funk 1969-1999 (Anthology 3 CD Box Set) (1999) Live - The 1971 Tour (2002)
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