Customer Reviews

Good Singing Good Playin

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This CD went almost unnoticed because of no air play in 1976 but, it has been one of my favorite Grand Funk albums since it came out. Any Frank Zappa fans out there would treasure Frank's 5 minute guitar lead on the instrumental classic "Out To Get You". It is by far the best rock guitar work Zappa ever did. The whole CD rocks and believe it or not even the critics loved this CD. Buy this one, you won't be sorry. Mike C. of Austin, TX

You can't go wrong with most any Grand Funk album (w/the possible exception of "What's Funk") but the production on this album is like none I've heard before (even Zappa's own albums). My favorite on this album has always been "Don't Let 'Em Take Your Gun". If your a Grand Funk fan you need to add this CD to your collection. If you not a fan maybe this is a good album to start with. BUY IT!

Anyone interested in hard rock audio production and engineering should not miss this album.Zappas production of this album is stunning. I am not a big fan of GF but it just goes to show how guys like Zappa, Eno, Spector and Rothschild can create a unique soundscape which lifts a bands performance to another level.I read that this album did not initially sell very well and the band subsequently folded. Maybe the band over estimated their fans ability to get their ears around this album.It's a shame because this is a great album.

I orginally bought this Album in 1976 when it came out, I loved it then and still love it today. I was so happy to see it was finally coming out on CD. Hippo did an excellent job with the remastering and It is so cool that they added an extra song-Rubberneck. Rubberneck is clearly the most Zappa influenced song on the CD (Frank Zappa Produced Good Singin Good Playin) and it rocks. Frank also plays a mean lead on Ought To Get you. Floks if you like good singin, good playin and good rock N Roll you will love this CD.

Rick Cappetto

Sometimes when a band knows it's over, they will do one of two things; they will record and release a sloppy, unimaginitive album full of second rate songs just to satisfy the record company, or they will decide they have nothing to lose, and record and release a masterful album because they decided to go back to the reason they started in the first place, which is to make good music. Grand Funk chose the latter. They must have realized they weren't on top of the world anymore, and the infighting and bickering had taken its toll. Completely changing gears, they employed the services of Frank Zappa and recorded GOOD SINGIN' GOOD PLAYING, in my opinion, a great album.
Zappa knew GFR had it in them to make an album that brought to vinyl the concert sound they were famous for.He succeeded!
Though it's my opinion, Pass it Around is the best thing GFR ever put on tape. It's an excellent song. A driving, relentless song in which the whole band burns. Another great song is 1976.
Although negative in lyrical content, it still manages to get the message across that this is America, and if we want to, we can still be a great nation. Don't let them take your Guns, they say in one song, and it makes perfect sense to me.There should have been two huge singles from this album: Pass it Around for one, and Release Your love, for another. This album should have sold 8 million copies and launched a world tour for GFR, instead, they broke up upon its release. Sad as it is, GFR called it quits and never again worked with Zappa. But, the bright side is, they left us an absolutely wonderful album.

Some fans say that Grand Funk's one and only MCA album Good Singin' Good
Playin' released in '76 is possibly the bands best album. Well, its at
least one of my all time faves no doubt! Produced by the great GRAND WAZOO
Frank Zappa, it was an oddball pairing many thought at the time. But for me
being a fan of both artists, it was a funky railroad ride made on earth!
What can I say about this reissue? The remastering is impeccable! Sounds
not very audible on the original LP are present here on this CD for the
first time. Looking for hints? Any fan will find missing 'sonics'
everywhere on the songs. If you are a new fan, don't worry. You'll be
floored by this CD! For me these are still the monsters on this album, and
they are even larger than life now here on CD. "Can You Do It," Pass It
Around" and " Don't Let Them Take Your Guns". One bonus track which has
remained unreleased until now is "Rubberneck" written by Funk's Don Brewer
about his get away to Jamaica during that time. Its actually pretty 'tongue
in cheek' and funny. All of Uncle Frank's artsy fartsy side comes into to
play in the production which makes this Grand Funk tune come out like a
Grand Funk Railroad/Mother's BURNT WEENIE SANDWICH! Killer stuff! Great
detailed liner notes and unreleased pixs are in included about the birth of
this MONUMENTAL FUNK album!

big don brewer is my favorite drummer and one of my top 5 singers, along with mark. i like the way they start out "pass it around". you can hear big don in the background making a sound of exhileration before he does the drum intro, and then right before he starts singing, you can hear him sock the sock symbol and triple tap the snare and then crash the symbol to introduce the lyrics: "i wish i had a place to stay..." then there's "release your love" which is one of grand funk's all time greatest rock n roll songs. grand funk is the american band. i've seen them live twice. need to make it thrice. grand funk railroad rocks me completely out. and after all these years i realize that i am, was and always will be, READY!! are you?

Maybe they knew this was their Coup-de-gras or maybe they just were at the top of their game. Whatever the reason, this is GFR's most complete album. Having Frank Zappa produce gave it somewhat of a slick feel. Crossfire is a classic radio standard

In 1976 as the disco craze was creeping in, Grand Funk released this Zappa produced album, although it initially only sold 70,000 copys.Zappa wanted to capture the boys in their raw form and the album was produced with minimal overdubs.
He succeded in capturing GF in the raw, and Grand Funk delivers a wonderfull recording, An overwhelming number of GFR fans agree this is one of their best combinations of ballads and rockers.Mabey not the best, most definately not the worst
The other reviewers obviously have a grudge that they blatently want to voice , I say let the music do the talking, this is a must have in your GFR collection.highly recommended

Having been a lifelong fan of early GFR, I tended to dismiss everything from Phoenix onward. But I gambled (based on the acclaim below) and was surprised at the vintage GFR sound. Really heartfelt stuff, even if you don't agree politically ("Don't Let 'Em Take Your Gun"). I haven't quite turned around on any of their other mid 70's releases, but this is a happy exception.