We continue our look back at the music of 50 years ago…..
They weren’t aiming for your cerebral cortex. They wanted to hit you a bit lower in your anatomy. And for awhile, they accomplished their mission. Grand Funk Railroad was a quintessential American rock band of the era. Blaring guitar, crunching, fuzzy bass and bashing drums. Lyrics were mostly limited to the usual themes…partying, getting it on and such. Although on their second LP of 1971, “E Pluribus Funk”. they do tackle some more serious themes like the war and ecology.
The band was best known for their concerts. They drew huge crowds that dug the boogieing. They sold out Shea Stadium in three days (which was quick in those days) beating the record set by The Beatles. And that should be the only time those two bands are mentioned in the same sentence.
This LP was recorded quickly in between tours and at times it shows. Mark Farner is fine, for what he does…a solid rock voice and rudimentary licks and chords. Mel Schacher and Don Brewer bash away and, once again it’s fine, if you aren’t too picky.
The first track does kick ass. ‘Footstompin Music” brings the energy and features Farner on the organ as well as guitar. The rest is kinda just there until they tackle a long ballad with strings at the end of the LP. “Loneliness” suprisingly works for me.
Most of the critics of the day hated the band although some, David Fricke of Rolling Stone among them, had some nice things to say. Fricke said, “they were not a cheap Cream, but a no-frills, hippie-era garage band; factory town peaceniks who rocked like warlords”
The band would morph into a slick, Top 40 hit machine in a couple of years, but for now, they were what they were. And for many, that was enough.
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