Customer Reviews

Caught in the Act

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

For the new Caught in the Act reissue, one of the greatest live albums of all time, they still didn't get it right--contrary to what the liner notes say. Musically, the album is still outstanding. Everyone in the band serves up an inspired performance, and overall, it sounds great (then again, the original album never sounded bad). Don Brewer's drum solo on "T.N.U.C." has been restored, but elsewhere, all is not well. There are a number of things that keep me from raving about this CD.

First of all, let's talk about the transition from "Closer to Home" into "Heartbreaker." On the original album, "Closer to Home" faded out to end the first side. Side two faded back up with the end of "Closer to Home" and went straight into "Heartbreaker" (the actual performance featured a seamless transition from one song into the other). Anyone with a good ear can hear exactly where they tried to mix the two songs together. While better than it's been (this is at least the third time Capitol has released Caught in the Act on CD), it still isn't as good as it should be. Not only is there an audible space between the two songs, the treble actually drops on "Heartbreaker."

Secondly, there's the matter of editing. Rather than mixing the songs where necessary, they're crossfaded instead. Mixing in this case involves basically overlaying the end of one track with the start of another, while keeping the volume level the same. Crossfading is similar to mixing; only the end of the `first' track fades down while the start of the `second' track fades up. This is most noticeable on the intro to "Black Licorice," where part of the vocal intro is actually missing. The liner notes mention that some of the applause between tracks was cut to let everything fit on one CD. Considering the fact that there's almost a full minute of usable space left on the CD, it makes one wonder why they felt the need to do this.

Thirdly, they left off the first song played at the shows on the tour, "Are You Ready." The liner notes say that Capitol originally didn't want to include it because it was on the band's first live album (the band was having problems with the label at the time). Again, due to space restrictions and wanting to keep it to a single CD, the song was left off once again.

Lastly, there's the matter of the album's original first track, simply entitled "Introduction." The liner notes mention the fact that it was on the original album, but that it was left off to keep everything on one CD, but it's available as an unlisted bonus track on "one of the discs that `supposedly' has no bonus tracks." (Editor's note: "Introduction" has never appeared on CD before). Granted, it's mainly just applause, with a bit of the band jamming on "Rock and Roll Soul" before they go onstage. This was expendable. The thing that makes no sense is why they put it at the end of the new CD. It's completely out of context.

What they should've done with Caught in the Act is release the entire show on two CDs instead of one--including "Introduction" and "Are You Ready," and mix "Closer to Home" into "Heartbreaker" properly. (assuming they're from two different shows--no source information is listed). Maybe next time. Meanwhile, despite all the gripes above, it's still a great CD.

This is a fun album to have. Unfortunately the CD cuts out some of the drum solo on T.N.U.C and the introduction on the LP is funny, and they cut it out of the CD. They at least could've fixed the silly ending they had to "Closer to home" so it doesn't fade out...come on, CD versions are suppose to be an improvement over the LPs not cut things out and leave the flaws. It still is a fun album, neat versions of "Rock n' Roll Soul" and "Gimmie Shelter". The First GFR Live album is much better, but if you like the post TK stuff live, then get this one or Bosnia. Capital is rumored to be remastering all of GFR albums on CD, including CITA, and hopefully they will improve it by not having "Closer to Home" fade and put back the crowed, announcements and the drum solo in tact. If you want CITA, until the remaster comes out, dust off your turntable and look through used album stores for it if you don't have it already. MUCH better then the CD version.

Caught in the act is basically a Greatest hits Live CD, that features GFR (Mark Farner, Don Brewer, Mel Schacher and Craig Frost) at there hard rock peak in 1975. This may very well be GFR best live album. The CD is 24 Bit digitally remasterred, has excellent liner notes and great artwork. David Tedds and his staff did a wonderful Job restoring the concert to its rightful form. No longer is half of Don Brewer's Drum solo cut out, and no longer is there a fade out in I'm Your Captain. This CD rocks and it is a must have for every GFR fan and would be a great first CD if you want to try GFR out, and take a ride on this Railroad.

This CD defines a wonderful time when music was evolving faster than groups could deliver what the record companies wanted us to hear.

But, you see, GFR didnt cut what someone else wanted us to hear. They began in a garage in Flint Michigan and I was lucky enough to set in a parking lot, across a busy highway and listen to them practice. And while their music left the garage, their hearts didnt. This is the real thing, the real Live rock and roll with FEELING.

HeartBreaker, Black Licorice and "The Railroad" shine on this CD, making it worth the price that you will pay. (Find it in a used CD store, I did:)

Come on, Ride the Railroad one more time.

Yes, the earlier live album is a bit more jamming (abd the sound less clear-ugh).

And I'll believe there are still some minor problems.

But I was astonished at how vastly better this sounds: I can heard the skins on the drums flex, for heaven's sake! I can hear the edge to the sound of the guitar! Even the kids saying "When I grow up I want to be..." are much clearer. I would never have imagined that the original tapes could sound so good and I am THRILLED!

The set itself really rocks. I have to disagree with the reviewer who complains about it so much; I've always enjoyed this album a lot. Yes, it is a mite slicker than the earlier one, but I don't feel it is any kind of rote run-through at all.

BUY IT!

Stuck between two pop sounding,light weight studio recordings,
Caught In The Act stands out as one of the best hard rock
recordings of it's time. Even the more pop sounding songs on
this live act are done with a hard edge that blows the studio
versions out of the water! And the bass,Schacher is at his
best. Farner's vocals are a stand out, more refined, yet just
as, if not more powerful than on their first live recording.
It's hard to pick a favorite here,but if I was pressed I'd
have to say The Railroad stands out with it's great vocals,
and excellent guitar work. As always, Frost's keyboard
work is outstanding through out,and Brewer's drum solo has
been restored. Technical problems from the vinyl release,
as well as earlier c.d. releases have been corrected,giving
this version a smoother, more natural sound.
Enjoy!!!

Having been in my long-haired prime at the time when this album was originally released on L.P. & 8-Track, I thought that Grand Funk sounded better live as a four-piece band than they did back in '70, as a three-piece band on the first live album. As musicians they had all polished-up their acts a bit, but hadn't lost any of the energy that they created when recorded live. When I listened to Caught In The Act for the first time, it sounded as good, if not better than the Grand Funk concert I had attended in '74. Although I felt that some of the songs they had chosen to record over the years were a bit too Top-40 for my tastes, it hasn't stopped me from again purchasing the album in a fourth form, CD. Any fan of Grand Funk should have this album in their collection as it represents just about the best work they ever did, live or in the studio. So I guess its true, if its too loud, you're too old.

I only have this on LP and have had trouble finding it on CD (before the internet). This is a great album if you like Grand Funk. The tracks for Foot-Stomping Music and The Captain (I'm getting closer to my home) are the best versions anywhere that I have heard. Too bad the classical rock music stations have not discovered this since these versions are better than the original studio versions (by far).

When I first heard this cd in November 2001, it captured the band sounding their best with their revamp instruments and CRAIG FROST'S keyboards that made all their power trio songs sound a whole lot better during their 1975 tour. It's a shame that CRAIG did not reunit with GRAND FUNK RIALROAD for their reunion tour. Furthermore, the songs TNUC, INSIDE LO0KING OUT, AND HEARTBREAKER on this live album that were also on the 1970 LIVE ALBUM and the 1997 BOSNIA album have a whole lot more powerful and better sounding rock and roll power. I wish their orchestra intro that was played on tape was at the beginning of this live album. The organ-driven FOOT STOMPIN' MUSIC is outstanding is the added clavinet by CRAIG and organ riffs and guitar solos by lead singer MARK FARNER who delivers outstanding lead vocals through this album. ROCK AND ROLL SOUL that features the ROCK AND ROLL PARTY intro has a more powerful rock and roll feeling than the studio version. The next that is the FM radio I'M YOUR CAPTAIN with a different intro is the best song on this album, although half of it is missing. CRAIG'S mellotron gives this song a more powerful psycohdelic sound than an orchestra. It's a shame that my two favorite ballads MEMORIES and BAD TIME that are unfortunely about MARK'S divorce could not have been performed during this tour and closed this album. Then comes the the blues -driven HEARTBREAKER with the added keyboards by CRAIG. Unfortunately, my least favorite song in general is SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL, but this version of SHININ' ON is excellent with MARK and DON trading lead vocals, as is LOCO-MOTION, BLACK LICORICE, THE RAILROAD, and the DON BREWER penned guitar rock classic WE'RE AN AMERICAN BAND, with his lead vocals, CRAIG'S keyboard riffs, MEL'S bass guitar riffs, MARK'S guitar solos and harmony vocals. Now we are back to the power trio days of GRAND FUNK RAILROAD, starting with TNUC that sounds a whole lot better than the studio version. But, I have also heard that the TNUC (MARK'S voice on this song sounds a whole lot like STING) drum solo is edited; however, DON BREWER definitely should have shorten the drum solo during the concert performances in the first place. Plus, they also could have shorten their performance of INSIDE LOOKING OUT as well, in order to put more songs on this album, but this is definitely an outstanding version that I have heard. And GIMMI SHELTER is also electrifying on this album. I think the band could have done without the female singers, although is was not a bad idea at all. One more thing, I don't have the recent reissue of this cd; however, the 1996 reissue is gggrrreeeaaattttt, and definitely a must have for all GRAND FUNK RAILROAD fans. Why this album did not go gold is definitely a mystery to me.

Climax Blues Band and Wet Willie opened for GFR. The set list was identical to this one...it was the Shinin' On tour. Farner had a metallic-finished guitar that would blind you when he caught it in the spotlight and sent a beam shooting through the weed smoke that hung like a London fog in the Cow Palace. And he kept doing it throughout the entire show. You'd see him turn and turn your head or pay the consequences.

:-)

Whether you are a Grand Funk fan or not, this band worked hard and gave their fans full value for every ticket dollar. The set list is an excellent snapshot of the band in its post-"American Band," "Locomotion" period of fame, including "The Railroad," from the "We're An American Band" album, one of their strongest non-single tracks of all time.

This isn't a CD that you cherry-pick for a good song here, a good song there. You pop this one in and press "play" and enjoy the entire ride.

I still laugh out loud when Don Brewer bellows "ARE YOU WITH ME" during his solo in "T.N.U.C." He was something to see...that huge 'fro, arms and legs shooting out in all different directions...

Buy it, and enjoy.