TCCDM Pulls One Out..."Live Album" - Grand Funk (1970)

"Live Album" - Grand Funk (1970)

     Who knows why we gravitate toward one specific band or album?  It's a hoo-doo thing.  But a little Grand Funk in my head, and I can get shit done.  Whether it's some active listening or just fuel to get my blood moving around the house.  It's a feel-good thing.  Grand Funk starts my lawnmower.  They kick my car into the next gear.  The band should go halfsies on the speeding tickets with me.

     Grand Funk has never been about flash or smoke and mirrors.  Always just a blue-collar powder keg ready to go off.  Their first live offering is a double square and easily one of my top ten live spins.  The vinyl catches the band rocking hard, heavy, and hungry. Often funky; sometimes psychy.  Back when live albums were important.  Years later, and it's still killer.

     I have fond memories of hearing my dad drop the needle on this on a Saturday morning.  And he did this a lot.  I've since owned the CD forever and still find comfort in the crankage.  I recently picked up a used vinyl copy for 40 cents!  The cover showed some ring wear, but both records were clean and came in brand-new sleeves.  I didn't necessarily need another copy, but this one did include the original color poster inside, so…"Boom goes the dynamite!" 

"Live Album" - Grand Funk (back)

"Live Album" - Grand Funk (inside gatefold)

Favorites include:
"Into The Sun"
"Inside Looking Out"
"Paranoid"

     When I got the album home, I learned I'd made a rookie mistake.  The vinyl was clean and played great, but the labels were from different pressings.  It had been Frankensteined! (see below)  I was in a rush and never noticed the different labels.  That's on me.  Anyway, it's a good player copy and will be loved until I can find myself an upgrade.  This album went GOLD in the first week.

"Live Album" - Grand Funk (1970)
 (33½ x 22½  poster) 

↑Frankensteined!↑

Cat #
SWBB-633
SIDE 1  DEADWAX
SWBB-1-633-J4 .  5  ✲  
SIDE 4  DEADWAX
SWBB-4-633-H3 .  3  ✲
SIDE 2  DEADWAX
SWBB 2 633  F11#2  0
SIDE 3  DEADWAX
SWBB 3 633  F12#1  0

"Paranoid" - Grand Funk / "Live Album" (1970)

TRACKS:
A1  Introduction 2:30
A2  "Are You Ready" 3:34
A3  "Paranoid" 6:20
A4  "In Need" 9:50
B1  "Heartbreaker" 6:58
B2  "Inside Looking Out" 12:22
C1  "Words Of Wisdom" 1:55
C2  "Mean Mistreater" 4:40
C3  "Mark Say's Alright" 5:10
C4  "T.N.U.C." 11:45
D1  "Into The Sun" 12:10

PERSONNEL: 
Mark Farner - vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica
Mel Schacher - bass
Don Brewer - drums, vocals
Terry Knight - producer

Good stuff.

Follow me on FACEBOOK 

Comments

Charlie said…
I prefer this pre-hitmaking version of GFR to the Top 40, hitmaking quartet of a few years later. In either version though, they were a much better group than many people give them credit for. Their best LP was Closer to Home.
July 9, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Casey said…
Something in that Detroit area water 'cause there were some great bands out there. I luv Closer To Home!
July 9, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Interview:-- Joan Staley (Actress - Classic Movies & Television)

Image
  "Elvis,  do you really want me to slap you?"  ~ Joan Staley ~     So my friends and I were talking about first crushes. First tv and movie crushes.  For me, it was easy.  It was Alma. (Joan Staley)   I broke into the double-digit age of 10 in 1993.  That was the summer I discovered my favorite Don Knotts movie while flipping thru cable one Saturday morning... "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken." Everyone has seen it.  It was a funny haunted house story similar to an episode on Andy G. with a cast of familiar characters, trippy organ music, and the prettiest girl I had ever seen...Alma. She was beautiful alright.  I was love-stung so bad, I swear I could smell flowers coming out of the TV set.  And best of all, she was nice.  She didn't like the smart alec, the wise guy, or the show-off.  Alma was digging Luther (Don Knotts) and that just made her that much prettier.  And from then on... But unfortu...
Read more

Interview -- Henry Lee Summer (Singer/Songwriter)

Image
"I just always have played music.  For better   or worse, I banked my whole life on it." ~ Henry Lee Summer ~     It's strange how music lets you travel through time as if there truly was no time.  I played the shit out of this album growing up.  Nothing deep or complicated.  Nothing outta bounds.  Nothing to get hung about.  It's deceptively simple.  But here's the thing... Henry Lee Summer  is serving aces all over this heartland square. This is the 35th anniversary of Henry Lee Summer's self-titled album and this one falls under that sweet spot between raucous and chill.  It's a large cup of iced coffee with a nice soulful blend.  Not usually my type of go-to and yet this album easily fills a void I didn't know I had.  Let this spin be your own private Idaho.  " Check it out, Leroy!"   Henry Lee Summer... Go get you some. Henry Lee Summer Interview -- August 2023 Henry Lee Summer Casey Cha...
Read more

Interview -- Elliot Lurie (Looking Glass)

Image
"...Your eyes could steal a sailor from the sea." ~ Looking Glass ~ Elliot Lurie was a singer/songwriter for the 70s band Looking Glass . The band recorded two albums and had a couple of hits along with a handful of deep-track FM cuts.  And as many bands are wont to do... Looking Glass called it a day and handed over the keys.  However, before cutting out, Looking Glass did leave us with the #1 hit song... "Brandy (You're A Fine Girl)."   Now there have been plenty of #1 songs that have climbed to the top spot faster.  And plenty of #1 songs that have stayed at the top spot longer.  But the list begins to thin when it comes to #1 songs that have had some real staying power years and years after their run.  And as the 50th anniversary draws to a close, the song  "Brandy..." still remains an ageless and endearing wonder. A song of unrequited love without all the drippy, maudlin sadness that often stains so many other attempts.  Every boy dreams ...
Read more