Customer Reviews

We're an American Band

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Yeah, it's quite obvious THIS is the album where Grand Funk Railroad turned commercial, but sometimes -though quite rare- an obvious commercial approach is just what a band needs to recharge their batteries, and I think Grand Funk may have been aware of that back in the day, and thus results in an album that radio stations probably found some comfort in.

The funk is still there, though not as noticeable as before. The hard rock is still there, but again, it was more noticeable on previous albums.

What this album does VERY well is succeed in sheer amazing songwriting. You can practically sing along to any one of these vocal melodies, and the album feels like it would work really well at a party scene. How many people were partying back in the 70's with this album playing on the turntable? I'm sure a lot of people were, especially those in the Detroit area.

I just love "Creepin". An EASY highlight for me, because the vocals are fantastic. "Ain't Got Nobody" sounds like it should have been a HUGE hit, a much bigger hit than the title song, but it didn't turn out that way. I almost want to say "I guarantee you'll love this song" but maybe it's not for everyone. Sure FEELS like it could have been a huge hit though.

The closing song "Loneliest Rider" takes the band in a much different direction than I ever heard the band attempt before as far as lyrical matter is concerned, and I enjoy it.

Overall, I think very highly of this album, and I believe you will too.

Arguably the best album Grand Funk ever did. I still wouldn't call it essential, though. Producer Todd Rundgren was the best thing that ever happened to this group. American Band was Grand Funk's seventh studio album & climbed to #2 on the album charts, the highest position of all their albums. Two singles charted: "We're an American Band" which was a #1 hit & "Walk Like a Man" which peaked at #19.

The album opens with "We're an American Band", penned by Don Brewer. It was the first song that he got a complete writing credit, vocals are by him also. "Stop Lookin' Back" is one of their best album tracks, it's some of the better lyrics that involve doing time. "Creepin'" is Farner's first lead vocal on the album though it's only an average song. "Black Licorice" has another vocal by Brewer. Lyrically, it's similar to the Stones' "Brown Sugar" but not near as good. Most fans of Funk will realize that the Stones were one of their favorite groups. "The Railroad" is Farner's tribute, of sorts, to his father who had been employed (and died) by Grand Trunk Railroad. It's a good track especially toward the end where the sound effects of a locomotive are employed. "Ain't Got Nobody" falls into the average territory. "Walk Like a Man" is a powerful song with lead vocal by Brewer. "Loneliest Rider" is the final song of the original album, it's Farner's tribute to his Native American heritage.

Capitol Records has treated us with four bonus tracks, two which were outtakes from the American Band sessions. In other words, we're not just getting live versions or alternate versions. The first is "Hooray" which is actually a very good song, it's better than at least two songs that ARE on the album. Then there's "The End" which is also great. It's thumping bass line gives it a drive like few other songs have. Keyboardist Craig Frost gets an opportunity to solo which was a rare thing. "The End" is killer & I can't figure out why it wasn't included on the original album. Next is an acoustic version of "Stop Lookin' Back". Farner shows what he can REALLY do playing an acoustic guitar. I really enjoy this track. The last bonus cut is a remix of "We're an American Band" that's not all that different from the original.

It was great to see the success of this Grand Funk album. It was their most successful but, unfortunately, subsequent albums would never get close to the quality of this album. Brewer is featured on more lead vocal than on any previous album &, that too, was an indication that Funk was going in the wrong direction.

I bought this album back in the 70's and some older classmates stole it when I brought it to school so I had to go out and buy it again. Now, I have purchased it on CD so it makes the third time I have bought this album. Do I need to say anymore? Of course, it has the classic radio hit "We're an American Band" which I consider kind of bubble gum compared to most of their other music, but the album has a good blend of music to give you an idea of what Grand Funk is all about. Solid Rock n' Roll.

Well, this is about the most underrated group (and album ) in music histoty. I realy love this album. I bought this album when i was...abought 16, and it still one of the greatest rock albums( i'm 41 now).

This was 1973 GFR just barley survived a huge brake up with there manager Terry Knight. Mark, Don and Mel got the name Grand Funk Railroad, Terry Knight got everything else. GFR in 72 Added a forth member in Craig Frost (now with Bob Segar's Silver Bullet band) to round out the sound and put out a self produced album called Phoenix, which had the hit Rock N Roll soul on it, but it was not as commercially successful as there pervious 7 albums. Even with that Hit song many GFR fans felt GFR was gong soft and they needed a much better album, yet they also needed radio friendly songs. Don Brewer, Grand Funk's GREAT Drummer, stepped forward with his song writing and singing and wrote and sung the great number one HIT Were An American Band; It was GFRs first number one hit and became there signature song; it went on to be a smash hit for GFR and one of the biggest rock songs of all time. The Album We're An American Band rock's from start to finish. Of course We're An American Band became a rock anthem (ask Garth Brooks, Kid Rock, Jackal, Bon Jovi, Joe Lynn Turner, Halloween and On and On-so many artists and bands have covered it over the years), Stop Looking Back a Brewer and Farner composition has a wonderful chorus which went "Shoot for the starts when my eyes can't see the star light. Reach for the sun in the night, Stop lookin back at the times I was defeated, I pick myself up and move straight ahead; stop lookin back" an excellent song. Brewer wrote the lyrics and Farner the music. Its funny Farner was the main song writer in GFR BUT, Don Brewer Wrote there Biggest Hit, We're An American Band, and there most sophisticated lyrics in songs such as Stop Lookin Back, I Fell for your Love (from the Born to Die Album), Still Waitin (from the What's Funk Album), and I can Feel Him In The Morning (from the Survival Album). The album also contains The Railroad and Creepin Two of Mark Farner's best written songs, these two songs really show how Mark's writing was maturing. Both songs are spiritual and political. Black Licorice and Walk Like A Man are Two rocker's by Don Brewer that really fill up this album with great rockers. Black Licorice is about Brewer's first sexual experience and Walk Like A man is an in your face rocker expressing GFRs break from knight to daylight. Ain't got Nobody and Loneliest Rider both by Farner, The Former a mid tempo song of lost love and the later a song about the plight of Native Americans in the USA (Mark is part Native American), both great songs. This version of We're An American Band is a 24 Bit remasterred version that sounds wonderful has new liner notes and restored artwork. It also contains four bonus tracks Hooray and The End two Brewer/Farner penned songs that just flat out rock, I can't believe either of these was left off the original album, they turn one of rocks and rolls best albums into an even better hard rocking album. Another Bonus track is a new mix of We're An American Band that is heavy in Guitar that sounds very cool and lastly an acoustic version of walk like a man with fantastic vocals by Don Brewer. All in all a Great album, GFRs Best by a long shot; We're An American Band is a classic and is must have CD for every Rock "N" Roll fan.

By far the most classic FUNK album of all. Rising from the Terry Knight/Grand Funk legal issues, the band placed all behind them and enlisted the producer master watchful eye of Todd Rundgren and from the studio they came forth with one of the most sonic albums of all time. I think the song " Creepin" is one of their finest songs that should have gotten alot of air play, but hey, the title track says it all!!! They are our band.

Just wish they would get together as the original group again for an album and tour, and bring Craig Frost along!!!

Get this disk. This is FUNK

Grand Funk / We're An American Band (bonus tracks version): The Rodney Dangerfield of Rock N Roll (they "didn't get no respect at all" ... from the critics), Grand Funk returned to the charts with this good Rockin' album's title track and "Walk Like A Man". Everything on this CD is enjoyable and it is well worth owning. This is a solid Four Star album.

I've had this album since it came out on the yellow vinyl in 1973, so I knew the music would be good. This is one of Grand Funk's best works, but I only gave this CD 4 stars instead of 5.

I was a little disappointed with the sound on the original album cuts. Since it is a remastered CD, I thought the sound would be better, but I found that I have to really punch up the bass and treble to get the best sound here.

The sound quality is better on the bonus tracks. The acoustic version of Stop Lookin' Back is outstanding, not quite what you'd expect from GFR, but really showcases Farner's acoustic guitar skills, something you don't get to hear very often. Hooray and The End are good songs, but I'm not sure why they even added the 2002 remix of We're An American Band, it is lifeless and anemic compared to the original 1973 version.

A trip down memory lane awaits with the classic song "We're an American Band" and from there it just keeps driving harder! With this cd comes an acoustic version of "Stop Look'in Back" and alternate takes of other songs that really make this a must have for anyone who enjoys classic 70s music.

WE'RE AN AMERICAN BAND is the best Grand Funk Railroad CD ever. True, it does sound commercial, but sometimes, and I know it's rare, a band needs a more commercial approach to recharge itself, and in Grand Funk's case, that was definitely true. The result is an album that still gets played on radio today. One song that should have been a hit is "I Ain't Got Nobody", but, unfortunately, it wasn't released as a single. "The Loneliest Rider", on the other hand, is about how we destroyed the American Indians without any compunctions. The fact that past and present members of the group have supported efforts to free Americans detained in Iran and North Korea on false charges makes this CD an essential purchase for both your ears AND your conscience.