We're an American Band

Grand Funk Railroad

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 5, 1999)
• Original Release Date: November 1973
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Capitol
• ASIN: B00001R3GM
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #354,774 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars GFR go Gold with American Band, August 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: We're an American Band (Audio CD)

When released in 1973, the first 100,000 units were on virgin gold vinyl. Grand Funk was the only group to release their albums on virgin vinyl. It was sign of things to come for the band and was truly the most successful year for the group, which they needed after dumping Terry Knight and embroiled in lawsuits and fears that maybe they wouldn't succeed but they did. Although more POP then previous albums, this was a Grand Funk album no doubt; introducing the songwriting abilities of Don Brewer (who had co-written other songs previously, but this album has songs written only by him). It was more upbeat then the previous "Phoenix" album and had a party theme to it, yet Mark Farner did contribute a soul-searching song on how American Indians are treated in " Loneliest Rider". It's the second album with keyboardist Craig Frost now a full fledge member of the band, posing nude with the rest of them on the inside gatefold of the cover. "The Railroad", "Stop Looking Back" along with the Mark Farner signature type song "Ain't got Nobody" are well worth the price of this CD along with the hits "Walk Like a Man" and of course "American Band". Capital is planning to re-release this on a gold CD so watch out for that!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Grand Funk at the Height of the Career, May 28, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: We're an American Band (Audio CD)

Grank Funk Railroad, often lost respect of the critics, but never of their fans. Employing the production talents of Todd Rundgren, and introducing full time keyboardist, Craig Frost, Mark, Don and Mel came up with a highly succesful meeting of commercial ditties, with a hard rockin' edge. The best example on this album, "Creepin'", which has an almost mystical background, with strongly hypnotic vocal, that no hard rock fan should be able to resist. Although the title track, "We're an American Band", has become a rock and roll anthem, little else on the album will disapoint. You can feel the blue collar ethic of the band in the driving beat of "The Railroad". You'll find yourself moving without control to the power chords of "Black Licorice". Try it out. You'll find it's true, Grand Funk is An American Band.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars They say you can't go back..., June 2, 2004

By	R. L. MILLER (FT LAUDERDALE FL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

...but what happens when you've got it right? I got interested in the Grand Funk of "On Time", "Grand Funk" and "Closer To Home" as a blues metal outfit in the tradition of the Cream and Mountain material I played as a bass player at the time. Neil Young's Crazy Horse albums were later to fit into that niche very nicely. That was the Grand Funk that Pearl Jam fans would be interested in as an antecedent. "Survival" was interesting in terms of a country-blues Creedence Clearwater approach. That was followed by "E Pluribus Funk", which extended Mark Farner's fairly adequate keyboard skills. Then came "Phoenix", when Craig Frost rejoined the group on keys and pretty much reinstated the sound they had when they were The Pack and backed their eventual producer Terry Knight on vocals (see the Elvis-like "I Who Have Nothing" from the mid-1960s). Which meant they were now more like Journey than the Grand Funk that got them noticed by metalheads like me. This album has some points of interest to be sure. "Black Licorice" is a lot more spicy than the Stone's "Brown Sugar" could ever be. Farner actually screams the refrain, becoming Axl Rose's stylistic papa in the process. "Loneliest Rider" is a nod to the Native American dilemma, but the solid relevant lyrics don't carry the sluggishness of the beat, nor does what sounds like Farner's first use of bottleneck guitar. Much is said about the appearance of production by Todd Rundgren to revive a sagging popularity, but (I hate to be a purist here) Rundgren has made them a pop band rather than a rock'n'roll band. Which they remained for the remainder of their studio output. And the existence of bands like G'n'R and AC/DC is proof that the hard rock trio sound they drew my attention with is not and never could be "dated". That wasn't why their popularity was fading, and they didn't have to bail on it. Especially when younger outfits (like Pearl Jam) even today cite them as influences.