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While browsing on Debaser, I realize that a review of a hard rock masterpiece is missing.
To give you an idea, "E Pluribus Funk" for Grand Funk Railroad is like "Machine Head" for Deep Purple or "Paranoid" for Black Sabbath, "Master Of Puppets" for Metallica, etc.; ultimately, it perhaps represents their greatest creative expression.
For those who don't know (I hope there are few), G.F.R., together with Blue Oyster Cult, represents the American response to the British dominance in the heavy rock field during those years. This extraordinary trio composed of virtuoso musicians such as Mark Farner (guitar/vocals), Mel Schecher (bass), Don Brewer (drums), could hold their own in the seventies with much more famous groups, at least in Europe.
The blend of Blues, Funky, Rock that distinguishes them allowed them to create unique albums and remain ingrained in the memory of many people for their breathtaking live performances, as evidenced by the "Live Album" (1970), one of the best live albums of all time.
Snubbed by critics for being too simplistic, lacking any pretension, noisy and brutal, they managed to break through to people precisely because of these traits, even smashing the Beatles' record when it came to filling Shea Stadium.
"E Pluribus Funk" was recorded towards the end of 1971 but only saw the light at the beginning of the following year, astonishing everyone; by now masters at blending the musical styles from which they came, they produced a compact work that leaves nothing to be criticized; right from the initial track "Footstompin" it is clear that G.F.R. is in a state of grace, this frenetic rock 'n' roll completes the discourse started with "Are You Ready" on the excellent debut album "On Time" (1969), with the addition of Farmer's expertly played organ.
"People, Let's Stop The War", besides noble media purposes, has a funky rhythm with Mel's ever-thumping bass, a wah-wah that accompanies the entire piece, culminating in a beautiful rock blues interlude that gives chills; "Upsetter", carefree radio rock 'n' roll packed with harmonica solos, serves as an appetizer to "I Come Tumblin", a relentless hard rock where the bass and drums undoubtedly take center stage, leaving you breathless for the entire duration of the track, perfectly conjugating the verb of rock, the hard one, Mel Schecher then engages in a frenetic solo.
The inevitable blues arrives with "Nolies", a song of rare beauty with a superb interpretation by Farmer both vocally and on guitar; finally, it's hard to find the words to describe "Loneliness", a suite of almost nine minutes where the listener is struck by a whirlwind of emotions, a true masterpiece comparable in intensity to tracks like "Mistreated" by Deep Purple.
"E Pluribus Funk" is a must-have album in the discography of every self-respecting rocker.Tracklist Lyrics and Samples
03 Upsetter (04:18)
She's a real upsetter,
Least she's tryin' to all of the time, yeah.
You know I just won't let her,
Break this heart of mine, yeahhh ... yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, ya-yeah.
I got hip to her, yeah, right away boys,
But my heart just led me along, yeah.
I'm gonna' slip right away boys,
'Cause I don't want to sing this song, all night looooooong-oh, yeah.
CHORUS
Upsetter, got me layin' awake all night.
Upsetter, like to make me cry, yeah.
Upsetter, got me layin' awake all night.
Upsetter, I'd be better to die.
She'll be sorry when I leave her,
She just won't know what to say, yeah.
I can't hardly wait to leave her,
I guess I'll be on my way, yeahhh ... yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, ya-yeah.
CHORUS
Upsetter.
Upsetter.
Upsetter.
Upsetter.
Upsetter.
Upsetter.
Upsetter.
Upsetter.
Upsetter.
Upsetter.
Upsetter.
Upsetter.
04 I Come Tumblin' (05:47)
I come tumblin' down, from the darkness I, stretch my arms out to, catch the sound, yeah.
I hear grumblin' and, broken heartness is, slowly spreading and, going 'round.
Half the people are, never knowing and, never caring and never showing, their ...
... love for sisters, as well as brothers. Let's, teach our children to, love each other.
Slowly coming the, thought of losing the world is ever so near.
Let's start showing and, let's start growing with love there's nothing to fear.
Da, da, da-da, da; Da, da, da-da, da; Da, da, da-da, da; Da, da, da-da, da;
Da, da, da-da, da; Da, da, da-da, da; Da, da, da-da, da; Da, da, da-da, da;
Oh ... Yeah.
Oh ... Yeah.
Oh ... Yeah.
Oh ... Yeah.
Da, da, da-da, da; Da, da, da-da, da; Da, da, da-da, da; Da, da, da-da, da;
Da, da, da-da, da; Da, da, da-da, da; Da, da, da-da, da; Da, da, da-da, da;
Oh ... Yeah.
Oh ... Yeah.
Oh ... Yeah.
Oh ... Yeah.
Yeah ...
06 No Lies (03:57)
Oh ... I got one thing to tell ya', then you make up your mind.
It's what I been tryin' to tell ya', for a long, long time.
We need each other, to live in peace and harmony.
Don't need a whole lot to give, 'cause love is for free.
I ... I got one thing to tell ya',
I ... oooo, I ain't tryin' to sell ya',
No lies.
Forget all of your troubles, for a minute or two.
Just listen to what I'm sayin', 'cause I'm talkin' to you.
We don't need no leader, to tell us just what's wrong.
We need love in the country, so we can get strong.
And, I ... oh, you know, I got one thing to tell ya',
I ... oooo, I ain't tryin' to sell ya',
No lies.
I ... I got one thing to tell ya',
I ... oooo, I ain't gonna' sell ya',
No lies.
I ... I got one thing to tell ya',
I ... oooo, I ain't gonna' sell ya',
No lies.
07 Loneliness (08:38)
Loneliness cries deep from my soul,
Keeps trying to tell me about the world growing so cold.
Too many people trying to take from my Earth,
But we can't live without controlling our birth.
Deep inside a voice cries out for you,
It's not alone 'cause, people, I been cryin' too.
If we don't stop what we all see is wrong,
I guarantee you mankind won't live long.
CHORUS
There's a land, a glorius land,
It's right here on Earth.
Understand what you can from the land,
Your life is it's worth.
Woah-oh, woah-oh, woah-oh-oh.
Woah-oh, woah-oh, woah-oh-oh.
Woah-oh, woah-oh, woah-oh-oh.
To face the problems that everyone's found,
We must replace what we took out of the ground.
Pray for your brother, let your soul find a way,
Help one another, oh, please listen to what I say.
CHORUS
Loneliness ...
Oh ..., I can't get away from loneliness ...
Yeah, loneliness ... oooo ...
Loneliness ...
Yeah, loneli- ... loneli- ... lo- ... neliness ...
I just can't get away from loneli- ...loneliness ...
Yeah, ... yeah ...
Loneliness ...
Can't get away from loneliness ...
Can't get away from loneliness ...
Can't get away from loneliness ...
Can't get away from loneliness ...
Can't get away from loneliness ...
Can't get away from loneliness ...
Can't get away from loneliness ...
Can't get away from loneliness ...
Can't get away from loneliness ...
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