Conference napalm::heavy_metal

    
�           a)	Worth listening to (20 years on)

    Depends on who you talk to...
    
    If you ask me, you'll get a resounding "YES."  
    
    Be warned, though, in its day, GFR was panned by every decent 
    magazine, critic, and newspaper from LA to Boston.  They were
    considered talentless, media-hyped, record-company-created 
    flashes in the pan.
    
    'Course, they sold a heck of a lot of albums.  :^)  They were as
    big as KISS when KISS was in their (origninal) heyday.
    
    I think GF has some great barroom blasts, great for driving,
    football tail-gate parties, and general mayhem.
    
    Disclaimer:  This band went on to make such forgettable hits as
    "Locomotion."  In other words, their latter period got pretty lame,
    so stick to stuff like "Paranoid," "Heartbreaker," "Mean Mistreater,"
    etc.
    
SEAN/BEER=LABATTS 

    >>Be warned, though, in its day, GFR was panned by every decent 
    >>magazine, critic, and newspaper from LA to Boston.  They were
    >>considered talentless, media-hyped, record-company-created 
    >>flashes in the pan.
    
    Motorhead came under a similar caning. (maybe that's why I like them?)
    
    Keef.

    Mark Farner (ex-lead man of GFR) is reviving their sound in his
    recently launched solo career.
    
    Mike

    See last month's issue of Rolling Stone ("Where are they now?")
    for more info on Mark Farner.
    
    					dmk

    I saw the "Rolling Stone" tidbit on Farner as well as full interviews
    from other mags.  I've also heard some of his new stuff.  Some folks
    are even under the opinion that it rocks better than GFR!
    
    Alas, most will never hear it unless they expose themselves to
    Christian Rock.
    
    Mike

    
    
       The albums by Grand Funk that I can remember well is a double
    live album, and one with a red cover that is entitled Grand Funk
    Railroad. The later has a cover of the old Animals tune Inside
    Looking Out. It also had a song called Paranoid (not a the same
    Black Sabbath tune) which was very good. I'm still hoping to see
    some of their stuff on cd soon.
       Mark Farners new album - I have heard it, musically it sounds
    pretty good. I'm not into all this born again stuff too bad the
    lyrics are so full of this. I'm nat bashing religion, don't get
    me wrong. Its just not for me.
                                    mike
    

    
     Another album.... All the Women in the World Beware!
                 
    B.A.

    
    The best album to get if you want to buy just one is the double
    album "Mark, Don, and Mel."  It has all the best stuff that has
    been talked about in previous notes.
    
    Christian Rock... from the guy who wrote "T.N.U.C."... too funny.
    
    Actually, his whole show isn't religious.  He does a lot of old
    stuff and then blurbs a little about his new-found faith.
    
    He did a jammin' show at the now-defunct "Johnathon Swifts" with
    some ex-Lynryd Skynyrd dudes.
    
SEAN/BEER=LABATTS

    
    AH GRAND FUNK!!! The critics hated them for their early material which
    was great and praised them for their lame material....Figures..
    
                         A Discography....
    
                    1)ON TIME
                    2)GRAND FUNK (THE RED ALBUM)
                    3)CLOSER TO HOME
                    4)SURVIVAL
                    5)GRAND FUNK LIVE AT THE FILLMORE
                    6)DON MARK AND MEL (Greatest Hits)
                    7)E PLURIBUS FUNK
                 
                     Their is a CD out called Great Grand Funk that covers
                  material from these albums.
     
                    8)PHIOENIX
                    9)WE'RE AN AMERICAN BAND
                   10)SHININ' ON
                   11)ALL THE GIRLS IN THE WORLD BEWARE
                   12)CAUGHT IN THE ACT (LIVE)
                   13)BORN TO DIE
                   14)GRAND FUNKS HITS (GREATEST HITS from Phoeinix - BTD)
                   15)GOOD SINGING GOOD PLAYING (w/FRANK ZAPPA) on MCA
    ----------------------------------------------------------
                Mark Farner Band was formed and released to poor albums.       
                The other three members released an album called FLINT.
                (THEY WERE ALL FROM FLINT MICHIGAN.)
    _________________________________________________________________________
                   Grand Funk reformed in the 80's as a threesome
                   with Mark Farner, Don Brewer and Dennis Bellenger...
    
                    15)GRAND FUNK LIVES
                    16)WHAT'S FUNK
    
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
             Mark Farner is a Born again Christian and released a Rock and
    Rock album with religious lyrics which isn't all that bad called
    JUST ANOTHER INJUSTICE.... He is working on another.
    
             Mel Schacher the Bass player is retired and works on Sports
    Cars back in Flint.
    
             Don Brewer (Drums) and Craig Frost (Keyboards) tour as backup
    musicians for BOB SEGER.....
    
                                         the Rat
    

    Which album had the 3-D artwork and glasses on it?
    Was it 'Shining On'?
    			 dmk

    I remember 'em and my favourite track was off the "Closer to Home"
    LP called "Sin's A Good Man's Brother". Real heavy. It seems to
    me that they were once described by Rod Stewart as "the great white
    noise" which is understandable if you've ever heard the "Grand Funk Live"
    album. Still, for their time they were good to freak out on....
    
                                                        Tull Skull

    Re: BAC lyrics
    
    Something I've always wondered:  Which is more objectionable, Christian
    lyrics or Satanistic lyrics?
    
    Maybe this should be in another note?!
    
    Mike

I usually only do this file as READ ONLY but when I sawhis GRAND FUNK topic
I had to respond. 

IMHO If you really want the cohonas that GFR was really about, you just 
gotta give a listen to GFR "ON TIME" it was "THE" epitomy of funk rock.

I still have it and I still really really get off on it.

I saw GFR and TEN YEARS AFTER just one year after Woodstock at Redrocks in
Denver. Gawd I can still see the full moon rising over the skyline in Denver
during Mel Schacer's blazing solo. It seemed like everyone was peaking all
at the same time as this was happening and he was controlling the moon.
Totally awesome and unforgettable.

Oh well back to the realtime world.

Rico�

    No other band has had an influence on my life as Grand Funk Railroad
    has.  When they were hot, the band I was in at the time played almost
    every song they did right up until the Pheonix LP.  I saw them at
    almost every Massachusetts appearance they did.  I've played the
    live album so many times (and still do now) that you can almost
    see through it.  I'll put it on, lay back on the couch, close my
    eyes, and remember.  
    
    Chris D.

    Mark Farner was inducted into the Detroit Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame
    last month.
    
    Mike

    If I remember right, Tod Rundgren(sp) used to be their manager.
    
    Chris D.

    	No, I don't think it was Todd.  I believe it was Terry Knight.
    
    	Knight also managed Bloodrock (I think).
    
    	joe. (ha I beat Alan! ;^)

Awww, damn, I guess I missed this one!  8^)

Joe is right, Todd didn't manage them. He did, however, produce their biggest 
album -  "American Band".

cat

    Yeah, but why he would have done that is a mystery to me.  Granted
    Grand Funk's "American Band" LP was/is a classic, but it's way below
    Todd's normal standards (IMO).
    
    	Is "Locomotion" on that album.  Gawd, their version of that song
    	has always bugged me -- when they do the a cappella part, and
    	the music comes back in, they're *way* out of tune.
    
    	joe. (I liked their first album, and "Closer To Home", but that's
    		about it).

    Maybe it was Night.  And he may have managed Bloodrock too 'cause
    they toured together for awhile.  I saw them both at the Gardens.
    What a great show!!!
    
    Chris D.
    

    Hello,
    One of their best albums is the double live "Caught in the Act" (1975
    ?) which I bought recently on a single mid-priced CD (more than 70
    mins.). If you like Grand Funk go and buy it. They were at their best
    in this concert which is also well recorded and real value for money on
    CD.
    Regards,
    
    Sorin

    I rarely record someone else's song But I couldn't resist doing
    a remake of "Closer to Home" (I'm your captain). A Friend Of Mine
    liked the Way I played it in My Acoustic set so as a favor I recorded
    it for him. Came out pretty good . Double tracked the guitar and
    used my keyboard for the Bass and Flute parts,Three tracked the
    vocals.
    
    
    butchaka

    My first Rock album was Grandfunk Live, I bo
    
    I still play it.........the memories are just tooooooo much. 
    "Sniff, Sniff"
    
    SLAM   

    re: .24  Boy have we got something in common.  I got to your note
    and suddenly realized that 5 minutes later I was still staring at
    it, while past memories of playing GFR tunes went thru my head.
    
    Chris D. :^(

    RE: .19, .20
    
    Todd Rundgren quote from RECORDING MUSICIAN, Todd Rundgren cover story
    
    Grand Funk Railroad, "We're An American Band" 1973 (Capitol)
                         "Shinin' On"             1974 (Capitol)
    
    
    "A friend of a friend of a friend got me involved.  It was going to
    be their first record with organized management, havin gotten rid of
    Terry Knight.  You could say their records had not bee produced
    before that.
    
    They were all really creative musicians.  They rehearsed a lot and
    cared about their material.  We got along well, and whipped through
    the first one we did in ten days, I believe.  The second one took
    a little longer, about three weeks.  They were both the kind of
    records you want to make all the time.  The band is really competent
    and cooperative, and it's a huge success-everybody gets rich.  What
    more could you want."
    ____________________________________________________________________
    
    If you listen closely, you can hear Todd singing on the chorus of
    "American Band."  ...Love that opening drum solo and guitar lead!
    
    Brian
    

    Mark Farner has just signed an endorsement agreement with Peavey.
    
    Mike

    At the Channel concert last spring, Mark played all Peavey gear.
    Right down to the guitar.
    
    As was mentioned previously, he has been born again and is pursuing
    a Christian rock direction.  "Rockin" for the Father," said Farner
    in a Guitar World interview.  His shows only feature a handful of
    Christian songs; the rest are GFR favorites.
    
    I understand, perhaps incorrectly, that Hartley Peavey is of a similar
    religious conviction as Farner.  That, if it's true, may have a lot
    to do with the completely Peavey stage and the endorsement deal.
    
    In the wake of the reunions, including Deep Purple, the Stones, the
    Doobie Bros., the Who, and Yes(sort of), I was hoping for a GFR
    reunion.  And I mean a bona fide reunion with the original memebers,
    Donnie Brewer on drums, Mel Schacher on bass, and Craig Frost on
    keys.  The early 80s reunion was basically just Farner and Brewer.
      
    After all, they were the top rock act in the country in 1970
    and 71 (in terms of tour receipts).  I've heard that dozens of pending
    lawsuits are preventing even the discussion of a reunion.
    
    And, I imagine, Farner's new vocation would prevent him from
    participating, too.
    
    Brian

>    I understand, perhaps incorrectly, that Hartley Peavey is of a similar
>    religious conviction as Farner.  That, if it's true, may have a lot
>    to do with the completely Peavey stage and the endorsement deal.
    
    I didn't know that.  That might explain why Mylon LeFevre's group 
    is a big Peavey endorser too.  Just electronics though, their guitars
    seem to be poor.
    
    Mike

    
    	RE: Endorsements.
    
    	Mark Farner endorsed a mirror guitar during their Closer to Home
    	tour. The guitar sounded great, but the f**king thing blinded me
    	and everone else there with spotlight reflections. I'm serious,
    	it was painful, like having a giant flashbulb go off in your face.
    
    	Just some useless trivia.
    
    	Guy
    

    Man, I dreamt the other night that me band Savage got back together
    again and we were playing an outdoor concert and started off with
    GFR's "Are You Ready", just like we used to do.  Oh the memories.....
    
    Chris D.

    Boy, we're dating ourselves here .. but back when I used to play drums,
    my band always opebed up with that tune too, 'course I was only 13 (and
    playing in bars too !)
    
    Scary (who wished he'd been about 17 then ... mega-pusswah !)

    Mark Farner has rewritten, re-recorded, and released 
    "Some Kind of Wonderful".

    re: .-1
    
    Why bother?
    
    gh

Believe it or not, this song is a MAJOR Crowd pleaser - even in a metal
bar !  I think it's a blast to play (just nothing to it)

    His new version sounds edgier (is that a word Wendy? ;-)).  I'm tempted
    to demo his new album to see what the rest sounds like.

    That's one GFR song I never cared for.  I wonder if I'd like this
    version!
    
    Chris D. who_always_wanted_to_start_a_GFR_cover_band.

    Da Bunnies play SKOW when I have my BBST hat on...
    
    The crowd likes it, and i kinda like it too...you can throw all these
    Ace Frehley licks into it, cuz they fit like a snug condom!

    40 re-

    
        Mark Farner is a born again christian.  His three releases are
    Christian rock music.  Some kind of wonderful is the title and song 
    contained in his new album.  The song is basically the same but instead
    of my baby, it's Jesus that Mark is now singing to. 
    
        His band is pretty awesome.  The Bass player is exellent as well as 
    the guitar players that play and record with him.  Mark's voice is
    still phenomenal.  He sounds like the record live.
    
        His three albums are 1)Just another Injustice (This has a few heavy 
    tunes, Blues, ballads and commercial rock tunes.)
        2) I can't recall the title, ? Stand Up (This one is not as rocking. 
    Still it has some nice rock tunes as well as ballads.)
        3)Some Kind of Wonderful. (This has a couple of rockers, alot of
    ballads and some funky tunes (not Grand funk).  
    
        Mark can still write, sing and play. But it's not Grand Funk.
    He does play quite a bit of old Grand funk tunes live though...
    
          Rich
      
    

    Mark is still the BEST performer live and sounds better than ever
    before. He plays in the clubs which I have seen him three times. A
    great message. Listen to the radio for his upcoming tours. He will
    Knock you out physically,emotionally and most important-SPIRITUALLY!!
    He will blow you awayyyy...Don't miss him...

    
    Just found a copy of "Phoenix" on CD.  Japanese import for $26.  D'oh!!
    (told my wife I only bought "1" CD that day).
    
    Eh, it was worth it.  Mostly all I can find is bad compilations on CD.  HMV
    in Cambridge has the best GFR selection I've seen in MA.
    
    Does anybody know what LP "Inside Looking Out" is on?  I need that one,
    since Mark, Don & Mel doesn't seem to be on CD.
    
    - Sean

    'Inside looking out' was on one of the early albums but you have an
    excellent live version on 'Caught in the act' (available on CD).
    
    Sorin

    yes.."Caught in the Act" would be your choice on CD !!

    
    
     Inside Looking Out was on the album entitled Grand Funk Railroad. It
    had a red and white cover to it. It also had a great song called
    Paranoid on it, not to be confused with the Black Sabbath tune of the
    same name. I haven't seen it released as yet on CD, I bought a compil-
    ation Grand Funk CD that has all the stuff I care to hear from them
    including Inside and Paranoid. I have seen Closer To Home, so maybe
    soon we'll see all of them out.
    
                                     mike
    

    
    GRAND FUNK (The Red Album) is available on CD.  It's the Pastmasters
    series on Japenese EMI....
    
      1)On Time 
      2)Grand Funk
      3)Grand Funk Live (1st live 2cd's)
      4)Phoenix
      5)We're an american Band
      6)Shinin on
      7)Caught in the Act (2nd live 2 on 1cd)
          are all available on Japenese Capitol EMI..
    
      1)Grand funk
      2)American Band
      3)Shinin on 
          are Pipeline series available in the USA but are a little
    difficult to find...
    
      1)Closer to home (may not be available anymore)
      2)Caught in the act
      3)Best of vol 1
      4)Best of vol 2 
      5)Great Grand Funk
      6)heavy hitters
    
          are available in the USA...
    
        regards,
        Rich

    
    
     I figured it was probably out on import, everything else is. The only
    problem is I REFUSE to pay what they want for them. Besides, wait and
    be patient, They'll be released here eventually. I'm still waiting for
    alot of the old Mountain stuff too. I saw what the import prices were
    for them. I just said no. 8^)
    
                                    mike
    

    
    I dunno, I'm paranoid.  There's too many things I *need* to replace
    on CD.  If that domestic release doesn't happen to happen, I'm stuck.
    I'm too hooked on certain bands.
    

    
    Re. Sean
    
     Yeah I know, I've seen ALOT of great stuff on import labels, but the
    prices are just too high. At least the ones here I've seen in Colo.
    I've been waiting forever for a certain ELP CD to get released. I saw
    it as a Japanees inport for 49.00. Much to high of price, even if it
    is a double disk set.
    
                           mike
    

    A friend and I have a $5.00 bet on whether or not Grand Funk did a
    remake of B.J. Thomas' "Hooked On A Feeling".  The lyrics start with
    that Unga-chucka unga-chucka stuff.  Can someone offer an answer?
    
    Thanks,
    
    Bob

    
    Not that I know of...  They did record a song called Hooked on Love
    from there Closer to Home album.......
    
     Rich

    Where's Alan Starr when you need him?
    
    gh

    
    I know or own everything they ever recorded.  I've never heard of or
    own a version of B.J. thomas's Hooked on a Feeling... They recorded
    The Locomotion... 
    
    Rich

    > that Unga-chucka unga-chucka stuff.  Can someone offer an answer?
    
    Don't know why I'm wasting brain cells remembering this, but I believe
    that was a group called Blue Swede.  And I think I recently heard it
    in some TV ad, gag.
    
    motto

I thought I heard that GFR had regrouped for some sort of summer tour.  Was I
dreaming?

Tim

    A Friend of Mine Told me This Also.He Read in The Boston_Herald that
    The 3 Original_Members were Gonna Tour This Summer.
    
    
        Crazy_HHHmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm_Al

This would be tres' cool