Track 4:-->"Black Licorice" - Grand Funk - We're An American Band - (1973)

"Watch out, whats that noise...
there's somebody at the door.
It must be black licorice...
she come back to make me cry some more."
Grand Funk

"We're An American Band" was Grand Funk's seventh studio album...and it certainly turned out to be their lucky number.

The band dropped "Railroad" from their name. They brought on-board a terrific keyboardist into their fold (Craig Frost). And they handed over production duties to an already recognized studio wizard...Todd Rundgren.

Stir all these variables together and you have a band loaded for bear...with the attitude and energy to bring one back.

Track 4 - "Black Licorice" is a rockin' number that was absolutely meant to be played loud. A forgotten highway song if ever there was one.

The trade off between Mark Farner's guitar spanking...and new member, Craig Frost barely hanging on to his keyboard is classic. And it creates a powerful driving force.

More guitar work from Farner would have been choice...however...Frost working his keyboard like a man possessed by a..."Reefer Madness" piano-playing stunt double....more than makes up the difference.

Vocals, usually handled by Farner...were handed over to drummer...Don Brewer on this number...and he earns his allowance by providing the listener with some delicious...manic screams...to beat the devil. Whoa!

Mel Schacher rounds out the sound with his creative bass playing.

We never hear "Black Licorice" played on FM...though it definitely merits some Classic Rock rotation. Good stuff.

Casey

Grand Funk:-->"Black Licorice" (We're An American Band) (1973) (Must Own)

Comments

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 unfortunately, time and puberty wouldn't let her wait
Read more

Interview:--> Terry Kirkman (The Association)

Image
"...Not only learned to think, but to care.  Not only learned to think, but to dare." ~ The Association ~  With one of the most bad-ass songs about the herb that no one was quite sure about, yet everyone understood...to the anti-war homage that was both beautiful and pointed... The Association . From gentle psych pop spinneries that tease the mind...to the lush vocal and instrumental arrangements that melt the heart... The Association. The Association were all of these and none of these. Lead by co-founder Terry Kirkman, it was never an "either/or" about the music.  No pigeonhole here.  It was simply "all" about the music.  And having at least 3 of the most radio-played songs in history...I'd say The Association were on to something. TERRY KIRKMAN INTERVIEW  01/26/2015 Casey Chambers:  In the summer of '67, The Association had the opportunity to perform at the iconic Monterey Pop Festival.  How cool was that? Terry Kirkma
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 Chambers:  Well, this is the 35th anniversary of you
Read more