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In the wake of the famous Rock power trios that emerged between the late Sixties and early Seventies like Cream and The Jimi Hendrix Experience, more than something in this sense was also stirring in the star-spangled Rock world of the late Sixties. And so, also and above all as a "counter-response" to the strong British Hard Rock wave (and not only) represented by Led Zeppelin and company, a band destined to be the absolute main protagonist of the U.S. (and world) Rock scene throughout almost the entire Seventies was born around the figures of guitarist/singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Mark Farner, the versatile drummer/singer/songwriter Don Brewer, and the seismic bassist Mel Schacher: Grand Funk Railroad.
Originating from Flint, a medium-sized town located in the state of Michigan and not too far from the industrial metropolis of Detroit (the latter also being a homeland of Blues and Soul, since at the time it was home to the well-known "Motown"), the three made themselves known around the beginning of 1969 with the release of the surprising album "On Time" with songs such as "Are You Ready," "T.N.U.C.," and "Heartbreaker" (nothing to do, however, with the homonymous masterpiece by Zeppelin!), which was closely followed, in the autumn of that year, by this second work of theirs called, depending on convenience, simply "Grand Funk" or, in an even more picturesque way, "Red Album" due to the almost entirely fire-red cover with the three prominent members of the band in the foreground (including the decidedly characteristic Schacher with his immortal Fender Jazz in hand, dressed in a curious yet very stylish polka dot shirt).
The album, recorded curiously in its entirety between the 20th and 21st of October 1969, represents the ideal continuation of their excellent debut, and its stylistic hallmark is the usual one: full-throated singing, dirty, aggressive, and very Blues-laden guitar by Farner, and a first-rate rhythmic base with Schacher's thundering bass standing out, along with a drum played powerfully yet technically impeccably by the excellent Brewer.
The debut kicks off with the wildly energetic "Got This Thing On The Move" with a pressing rhythmic pace that closely recalls the sound of any Hendrix piece, followed by the equally valid "Please Don't Worry," co-written by Farner and Brewer, where rhythms are temporarily lowered but without losing quality.
With "High Falootin' Woman," the Grand Funk engine decisively revs up to a thousand, while "Mr. Limousine Man" is a beautiful raw Rock/Blues with a couple of remarkable solos by the excellent Farner in the middle and towards the end of the piece.
"In Need" is the piece in which Schacher's earthquake-like bass emerges in its fullness, rivaling equally with Farner's multi-instrumental prowess, here dealing with a guitar (played with various, very pleasant Funk accents) and a harmonica. This particular piece is also noteworthy in the adrenaline-charged version contained in the equally fundamental "Live Album" of the following year: a must-listen!
"Winter And My Soul" is a good level Rock/Blues song and is decidedly appreciated, although it perhaps represents the somewhat more "weak" point, let’s say, of the album.
But the main course is served in the final combo, represented by the neurotic "Paranoid" (having nothing to do, however, with the homonymous masterpiece by Black Sabbath) in which Farner goes wild with a series of insane solos, and especially with "Inside Looking Out," the famous cover by The Animals of historic bassist Chas Chandler (of which the band declared to be fans), here reproduced with incisive sounds, also thanks to the excellent rhythmic work of Mel & Don and the favored guitar (called "Messenger") always very magmatic and rattling of a Farner definitely in great shape.
Fifty years after its release, this work by Flint's people's band (so nicknamed by the famous director Michael Moore, a fellow citizen just like the band members), hence, maintains its remarkable expressive power, yes still raw compared to the (overly) polished sounds they would have the chance to experiment with from the mid-Seventies onward, but absolutely to be rediscovered and fully relished with heart, mind, and...ears decidedly connected to each other!
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 Got This Thing on the Move (04:40)
Come on over to my side, it's where you wanna' be.
Come on over to joy ride, and let your morals be.
Ain't no way to deny it, if it's in your soul.
You don't know 'till you try it, baby, let the good times roll.
Let me taste your life. Let me fill your stream.
Let me make you feel it right now, just lay back and dream.
Got this thing on the move, it's beginin'.
Got a strange kind of feeling, under my skin.
I hear my baby knockin', at my front door.
She knows what I got, she wants some more.
And when it's all over, I start to come down.
Think of the restin' place, I'll leave the ground
02 Please Don't Worry (04:20)
If somebody tells you "look out boy,"
"That stuff you're doin' is way too strong."
Pay them no mind, just give 'em time,
Keep your head, you can't do no wrong.
CHORUS
Please don't worry, 'bout no jury,
There's so many, of us anyway.
If somebody tries to bust you,
'Cause you had their daughter late last night.
Don't get me wrong, but, you must be strong,
And, you just can't get uptight.
CHORUS
If somebody says you look funny,
'Cause the way you dress, to them, ain't right.
Say "Hey, can't you see, you look funny to me?"
"But, I'm just tryin' to be polite."
CHORUS
CHORUS
CHORUS
04 Mr. Limousine Driver (04:27)
Hey, Mr. limousine driver,
Can I ask you a favor, please?
Let her in my door and don't look back here no more,
I know you can do it with ease.
Although, we're on our way from the show,
And you don't like to get off the track.
Please, Mr. chauffeur, let's talk things over,
'Cause she says she loves me and that's a fact.
Can you hear what I'm sayin', it's not like I'm prayin',
You know, because you've done it before.
So, why make me wait, please don't hesitate,
Just get back here, and let her in my door.
Hey, Mr. limousine driver,
I know you know where it's at.
Too late will be later, you just read your evening paper,
And don't worry 'bout what's goin' on in back.
Hey, Mr. limousine driver ...
Hey, Mr. limousine driver ...
05 In Need (07:54)
Hey, hey, mama; mama, what you tryin' to do?
You keep on talkin' to me, 'till your face turns blue.
Well, do you think I'm a young boy, yet to make up my mind?
Well, I'm just castin' all my toys, I'm gonna' leave what's behind me, behind.
I'm gonna' leave what's behind me, behind.
I saw an old high school friend, just the other day,
He didn't ask me how I'd been, he asked me "how was my pay?"
Now, do you call this a friendship, judging from what he said?
If you do, I've a real tip: ain't nobody gonna' know about my bread.
Ain't nobody gonna' know about my bread.
If you got somebody, that you can trust to the very end,
I said if you do, I want to be like you, 'cause you sure got a real good friend.
You sure got a real good friend.
Friend ...
Friend ...
07 Paranoid (07:52)
Did you ever have that feeling in your life, that someone was watching you?
He don't have no reason, that's right. But, still he's there watching you.
Someone is waiting just outside the door, to take you away.
Everybody knows just what he's there for, to take you away.
But, you don't know why he's been waiting.
But, you don't know why he's been waiting.
Spent too much time anticipating.
Spent too much time anticipating.
Did you ever think it could be you, that's just outside the door?
There's just one way to find out if it's true. So, what you waiting for?
Oh, get yourself together now, my friend, and step outside the pad.
If there's no one waiting for you there, my friend, I think you should be glad.
But, who wasn't there that you should look out for?
But, who wasn't there that you should look out for?
Get back inside your wall, and shut the door.
Get back inside your wall, and shut the door.
You don't have nobody, don't need nobody, can't love nobody,
You're better off by yourself.
You ain't feelin' too bad, you're driving me mad, and say you're bad,
You're better off by yourself.
You don't have nobody, don't need nobody, can't love nobody,
You're better off by yourself.
You ain't feelin' too bad, you're driving me mad, and say you're bad,
You're better off by yourself.
Ahhhhh ...
08 Inside Looking Out (09:31)
I'm sitting here lonely like a broken man.
I serve my time doin' the best I can.
Walls and bars they surround me.
But, I don't want no sympathy.
No baby, no baby,
All I need is some tender lovin'.
To keep me sane in this burning oven.
And, when my time is up, you'll be my reefer.
Life gets worse on God's green earth.
Be my reefer, got to keep smokin' that thing.
No, no, no, no, no, no.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
I said now baby ... baby ..., let me smoke it ... smoke it ...
Makes me feel good ... feel good, yes, I feel good ... ahhhhh ...
Yes, I feel alright ... feel alright ..., yes, I feel alright ... feel alright ...
Yes, I feel alright ... Ahhhhh ...
Ohhhhh ...
Ice cold water is runnin' through my veins.
They try and drag me back to work again.
Pain and blisters on my mind and hands.
I work all day making up burlap bags.
The oats they're feeding me are driving me wild.
I feel unhappy like a new born child.
Now, when my time is up, you wait and see.
These walls and bars won't keep that stuff from me.
No, no, baby,
Won't keep that stuff from me.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
I need you right now mama.
I need you right now baby.
Right by my side, honey.
All night long.
Make me feel alright ...
Yes, all ..., yes, all ..., yes, all ... alright.
You better come on up and get down with me.
I'll make you feel real good, just you wait and see.
Make me feel alright ..., yes, I feel alright ...
Yes, all ..., yes, all ..., yes, alright.
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Other reviews
By 1XLACOERENZA
An album that converts you to the righteous cause of rock as soon as the needle touches the first grooves.
"Got this thing on the move" instills an uncontrollable urge to go out on the street, heading to a music store to buy an electric guitar.
