Grand Funk Railroad: The Best Music You’ve Never Heard
Grand Funk Railroad is one of the best American rock bands of all time, yet they’re often overlooked. Learn more about their music and why they’re worth checking out.
Introduction
Grand Funk Railroad is an American rock band that was popular during the 1970s. The band was formed in 1968 in Flint, Michigan, by Mark Farner (guitar, vocals) and Don Brewer (drums). The two were originally members of the garage rock band Terry Knight and the Pack. Bassist Mel Schacher soon joined them to complete the lineup. The band’s name comes from a connection between Farner and Brewer; they both worked for the Grand Trunk Railroad.
The band’s first album, On Time, was released in August 1969. It was a success, reaching number 27 on the Billboard 200 album chart. The album included the singles “Time Machine” and “I’m Your Captain/Closer to Home”. These singles were both successful, reaching number 5 and number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 respectively.
The band’s second album, Grand Funk, was released in November 1969. It was even more successful than their first album, reaching number 1 on the Billboard 200. The singles “Paranoid” and “Inside Looking Out” were both successful, reaching number 1 and number 16 respectively on the Billboard Hot 100.
After two successful albums, the band members began to experience creative differences. As a result, Farner left the band in 1971 to pursue a solo career. Evil Men Do followed in 1983 after getting dropped from their label due to declining popularity; it would be their last studio album for twelve years until Some Kind of Wonderful in 1996..
The Band’s Beginnings
Grand Funk Railroad was a rock band that was popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The band was formed in 1968 in Flint, Michigan, by brothers Mark Farner (guitar, vocals) and Don Brewer (drums). The two had been playing together in a band called the Pack, which also included bassist Mel Schacher. When the Pack broke up, Farner and Brewer recruited singer TerryKnight to form Grand Funk Railroad.
The Band’s Success
Grand Funk Railroad was one of the most successful rock bands of the 1970s, selling millions of records and packing stadiums around the world. But despite their commercial success, the band was largely ignored by the critical establishment, who dismissed them as a crude, juvenile hard rock band.
But in recent years, there has been a reappraisal of Grand Funk’s music, and they are now widely recognized as one of the most influential bands of their era. Their tough, working-class rock has influenced everyone from Metallica to Nirvana, and their pioneering use of heavy riffs and drum solos laid the foundation for much of modern metal.
If you’ve never heard Grand Funk Railroad’s music, then this article is for you. We’ll introduce you to their best album
The Band’s Legacy
One of the most popular and influential American rock bands of the 1970s, Grand Funk Railroad achieved a level of commercial success rivaled only by a handful of their peers. The group’s music was a pioneering force in the development of the genre known as hard rock, melding elements of psychedelia, blues-rock, and arena rock.
Despite their popularity, Grand Funk were often dismissed by critics as being crass and commercially oriented; even their name was derided as being silly and unserious. Nevertheless, the band’s infectious blend of hard rock and blues-infused boogie quickly found favor with a wide range of listeners, resulting in a string of gold- and platinum-selling albums that helped solidify their place in rock history.
Conclusion
Grand Funk Railroad was one of the most popular and successful rock bands of the early 1970s, yet they are often overlooked and underestimated by music critics and historians. Their straightforward, no-frills approach to music made them a favorite of working-class fans, but their commercial success also earned them a place in the history of American rock music. In spite of their rough edges, Grand Funk Railroad were genuine innovators whose influence can still be heard in the work of many contemporary rock bands.
