Grand Funk Railroad – Foot Stompin’ Music

If you’re a fan of classic rock, then you’re sure to know Grand Funk Railroad. They’re known for their hit songs like “We’re An American Band” and “The Loco-Motion.” But did you know that they also have a great song called “Foot Stompin’ Music?”

Well, if you didn’t, now you do! “Foot Stompin’ Music” is a great song to rock out to, and it’s perfect for getting

Introduction

Grand Funk Railroad’s fourth studio album, “Foot Stompin’ Music”, was released on March 2, 1973. It was the band’s first album to be released on a major label, Capitol Records. The album was produced by Jimmy Vitale and recorded at the Record Plant in New York City.

“Foot Stompin’ Music” peaked at #5 on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified Gold by the RIAA. The title track was released as a single and peaked at #48 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The Early Years

Before they were Grand Funk Railroad, the band was simply known as Grand Funk, and they made their debut in 1968 with the album On Time. The album wasn’t a huge success, but the band’s high-energy live shows began to draw attention.

Grand Funk’s big break came in 1969 when they were invited to play at the Atlanta Pop Festival. Their performance was so well-received that they were invited to open for several big-name acts, including the Rolling Stones and Creedence Clearwater Revival.

In 1970, Grand Funk released their second album, Closer to Home. The album’s first single, “I’m Your Captain (Closer to Home),” became a Top 10 hit, and the album eventually went on to sell over a million copies.

The band’s popularity continued to skyrocket in 1971 with the release of their third album, Survival. The album’s first single, “We’re an American Band,” became their biggest hit yet, reaching #1 on the Billboard charts.

Grand Funk Railroad continued to tour and release albums throughout the 1970s. They took a brief hiatus in 1976 but reunited a few years later and have been touring and recording ever since.

The First Album

Grand Funk Railroad’s first album, On Time, was released on August 2, 1969. The album was not a commercial success, but the single “Time Machine” did receive some airplay. The band’s next album, Grand Funk (later referred to as the Red Album), was released on December 21, 1969 and was a huge success, reaching #4 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album’s first single, “Paranoid”, was a top 10 hit in America and Canada.

The Second Album

Grand Funk Railroad’s second album, Foot Stompin’ Music, was released in early 1971. The album featured the band’s trademark mix of originals and cover songs, including a cover of The Animals’ “Inside Looking Out” and Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth”. The album also featured the band’s first Top 40 hit, “I’m Your Captain (Closer to Home)”.

The Third Album

Grand Funk Railroad’s third album was released on February 15, 1971, only six months after their second album. The album was titled Closer to Home after the rail line that ran through the band’s hometown of Flint, Michigan. The album continued the band’s hard rock sound and zeitgeist-capturing lyrics, as well as their success on the charts; it was certified platinum by the RIAA. “Footstompin’ Music” and “I’m Your Captain (Closer to Home)” were released as singles and both charted in the top five on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart.

The Later Years

After singer Mark Farner left the group in early 1976 citing creative differences, the band recruited English singer Max Carl to take his place. The new lineup released its first album with Carl, Good Singin’, Good Playin’, later that year. The album featured a cover of the Little Richard song “Ooh! My Soul” and the original song “Foot Stompin’ Music”, which would become one of their most well-known songs.

The band’s next album, Born to Die (1976), was less successful than its predecessor, only reaching No.
40 on the charts. It would be their last album for Capitol Records. Despite its lack of commercial success, the album features another of Grand Funk’s signature tracks, “We’re an American Band”.

The band left Capitol Records in 1977 and released its next album, Grand Funk Lives, on MCA Records. The album was produced by Fleetwood Mac producer Tony Visconti and featured a more polished sound than the band’s previous albums. It was also their first album not to feature any original material, instead consisting entirely of cover songs. The album was a commercial disappointment, only peaking at No.
48 on the charts.

The Reunion

In 1971, after a successful tour, the band members took a break from recording and touring to focus on their respective solo projects. The band’s manager, Terry Knight, was also fired due to financial and creative disagreements. After six years apart, the band members decided to reunite in October 1976. They immediately started work on their first album in nearly seven years. The album, entitled Good Singin’, Good Playin’, was released in June 1977. The album’s first single, “Footstompin’ Music”, became a hit, reaching number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The Legacy

American rock band Grand Funk Railroad (also known as Grand Funk) was one of the biggest drawing bands of the early 1970s. Calling themselves “the world’s greatest rock and roll band”, they played to sold-out stadiums and arenas throughout the United States. Formed in 1968 in Flint, Michigan, Grand Funk hit its peak with hits such as “We’re an American Band” and “The Loco-Motion”. Despite strong criticism from music critics, Grand Funk was a commercial success, selling millions of records and becoming one of the best-selling American hard rock groups of all time. The band’s popularity waned in the late 1970s but they remain an important part of classic rock radio today.