GRAND FUNK RAILROAD
On Time (Capitol)
Grand Funk (Capitol)
Live Album (Capitol)
Closer To Home (Capitol)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale


Newly remastered so you won't miss a moment of Mark's buzz, Mel's thud or Don's boom, here are the first four, and by my measure the best four, albums from a group that as a critic I'm nearly obliged to hate, but as a fan I gotta love.

Grand Funk were occasionally guilty of attempted art, but that was hardly the point. They were a fan favorite for very good reasons that the critical community of the seventies could never seem to grasp. The indisputable joy of their boogie, the unquestioned sincerity of their angst and the honest attempts to stretch their efforts to the limits (and, granted, sometimes a bit beyond the limits) of their talents made them the quintessential American band. The hit that celebrated that status is about the only Grand Funk you'll ever want that can't be found on these four discs that defined the band and delighted the fans.

Actually, given the advances in bass response that today's sound systems offer over previous eras, it's probably prime time for a Grand Funk revival. Start it at your house.

Track Lists:

On Time: Are You Ready * Anybody's Answer * Time Machine * High On A Horse * T.N.U.C. * Into The Sun * Heartbreaker * Call Yourself A Man * Can't Be Too Long * Ups And Downs (Bonus Tracks) High On A Horse (original version) * Heartbreaker (original version)

Grand Funk: Got This Thing On The Move * Please Don't Worry * High Falootin' Woman * Mr. Limousine Driver * In Need * Winter And My Soul * Paranoid * Inside Looking Out (Bonus Tracks) Nothing Is The Same (demo) * Mr. Limousine Driver (extended version)

Live Album: Introduction * Are You Ready * Paranoid * In Need * Heartbreaker * Words Of Wisdom * Mean Mistreater * Mark Says Alright * T.N.U.C. * Inside Looking Out * Into The Sun

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) * Heartbreaker (live) * Mean Mistreater (live)

© 2002 - Shaun Dale