Album #62 : Grand Funk Railroad - Grand Funk

Grand Funk Railroad

Grand Funk (1969)

Because of their name, I always thought Grand Funk Railroad were a funk band. My awareness of them extended as far as several references on The Simpsons. Until recently I didn't even know that my own father;

a) knew who they were, and

b) owned some of their material.

He assures me this is because some harlot took his Grand Funk LPs along with some of his other kickarse LPs. Consequently I was denied the opportunity to wreck with a screwdriver spin their stuff, and never discovered them.

Thanks to the LOAD Project though, he asked me to review a Grand Funk album. So here it is, their second album, Grand Funk, otherwise known as The Red Album (apparently because the guitars on the mixing desk were turned up all the way until the lights were red).

The Album

Mistake number 1: do not expect Grand Funk Railroad to be a funk band. They are instead another one of those blues-driven proto-hard rock bands, belonging to the same pantheon as Zeppelin or Sabbath or Purple (though admittedly not as thrilling or brilliant). They're a power trio (as are all TRULY AWESOME BANDS, especially nowadays) with three fine, fine musicians on board. Adding to their flexibility is the dual vocal attack of guitarist Mark Farner and drummer Don Brewer, with Farner possessing a tenor voice, contrasted by Brewer's deeper baritone. It's probably Farner who has the better of this album though both have excellent moments.

Mistake number 2: just because they're 60s/70s hard rock don't compare them to the aforementioned bands in terms of sound. If anything, they have more in common with groups like Steely Dan, in that they take that typical American rock sound and tweak it to suit their own musicianship. It's hard to define what it is that makes American hard rock so different from British hard rock, but listening to this album at least confirms that they are different. Perhaps it's the greater reliance on setting and keeping a groove going in American rock. 

To the music, then. The bass playing is fat and sharp by Mel Schacher, who forms a tight partnership at times with drummer and/or guitarist. Farner is a terrific guitar player whose solos alter between sweeter, more note perfect breaks and frenzied riffing. Brewer is a good drummer, technically a touch messy at times but there's other moments on the album where he smashes the groove to pieces with well timed rolls. Musically it's really rather good.

Of the songs, the album is really one of two halves. The first half is four shorter, focused tracks. Got This Thing On The Move sets a rocking tempo with a cool riff, but the best part is the slowed down midsection, allowing Schacher and Brewer to set a hypnotic groove. The other three tracks of the four are all blues-infused numbers, although Please Don't Worry also has shades of Steely Dan-esque jazz/soul. High Falootin Woman features some nifty guitar/bass work and was a really cool little blues-rock song. Lastly, Mr Limousine Driver is a tasty, groove-laden blues tune, with some great guitar work from Farner.

The second half sees Grand Funk take off their shackles, with four longer songs. The first, In Need, is the most electric track on the album. Starting off as a pretty standard rock tune, built around a tasty riff, the track winds through a few sections; including a harmonica solo played over a drumline that sounds like a train; before settling into a slow, chunky groove. The last three and a half minutes sees Farner take over, playing a searing guitar solo that goes on...and on....and on, but remains enthralling. Winter and My Soul was probably the weakest track, though it did feature two of the more musically interesting moments; the unusual harmony between guitar and vocal, and Brewer's lightning quick tom fill work. Paranoid makes one hell of a promising start; air raid sirens punctuate the sound early on, before a dark, filthy riff kicks of the song, accompanied by thunderous drums and a wah-wah solo that screams like the tortured souls of the underworld. Alas, when the vocals enter, the darkness is lost, though it remains a pretty cool song with yet more guitar wizardry. 

Final track Inside Looking Out is a cover of a minor Animals hit. Telling the story of a man in prison, it's nine minutes of guitar solo magnificence, outstanding vocals, grooves set by drum and bass that put the 'funk' in Grand Funk and chunky blues riffs. It is a fantastic track to end the album.

The Verdict

Grand Funk is a fine, fine album. It's ideal for anyone who enjoys that early hard rock sound with an American slant. I still prefer the British hard rock style, but there's no doubt that these dudes could shred/wail/groove with the best of them.

Remind me to copy this album for my dad to make up for his Grand Funk being BLATANTLY THIEVED.

My rating: ****

Standout Tracks

Inside Looking Out

In Need

Mr Limousine Driver

Tomorrow, my last post-rock album for a while, as I've already done a few (note, this does not include lo-fi, as I have a lo-fi album in the schedule for this month). If you thought post-rock couldn't be done in an entirely made up language, you thought wrong....