Grand Funk Railroad – Behind the Music (MP4)
Grand Funk Railroad is one of the most successful rock bands of all time. But behind the music is a story of struggle, heartache, and ultimately, redemption. This behind-the-scenes look at the band reveals the highs and lows of their journey, and how they managed to stay together through it all.
Introduction
Grand Funk Railroad – Behind the Music is a documentary that tells the story of how the band came to be one of the most successful rock bands of all time. The documentary features interviews with all of the band members, as well as never-before-seen footage of the band in action.
The Band
Formed in 1968 in Flint, Michigan, Grand Funk Railroad originally consisted of singer and guitarist Mark Farner, drummer and vocalist Don Brewer, and bassist Mel Schacher. The trio’s first album, On Time, was released later that year and was a commercial disappointment. Undaunted, the band members decided to produce their next album themselves and hired Terry Knight as their manager/producer. With 1969’s Grand Funk, the band hit paydirt: the album was a massive success, selling over a million copies and spawning the hit singles “I’m Your Captain/Closer to Home” and “Locomotion.”
The Music
Grand Funk Railroad’s albums were released by Capitol Records in North America and by Polydor Records internationally. Their first LP Grand Funk (also commonly known as The Red Album) was released on December 29, 1969. It was produced by Terry Knight who was also their manager at that time. The album was certified gold by the RIAA, becoming the band’s first album to do so. Despite strong reviews, the album did not enter the Billboard 200 chart until February 1970, when it reached number 31; it eventually peaked at number 3 in April 1970. The album’s single “I’m Your Captain (Closer to Home)” peaked at number 38 on the Billboard Hot 100 in November 1970; it would eventually be certified double platinum by the RIAA for sales of over two million copies.
The band’s second album Closer to Home was released on June 15, 1970. Once again produced by Terry Knight, it peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold by the RIAA in October 1970. Singles from the album included “Mean Mistreater” (number four on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart), “I’m Your Captain” (number 38 on the Hot 100), and “Closer to Home” (number 49 on the Hot 100).
In August 1971, Grand Funk released their third studio album Survival, which peaked at number eight on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold by the RIAA in November 1971. The albums first single “Footstompin’ Music” peaked at number 30 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in October 1971 while the second single “People Let’s Stop The War” only reached number 68 on the Hot 100 in December 1971.
After a Greatest Hits album that went platinum in 1972, due mainly to their cover of The Animals’ classic “Inside Looking Out”, Grand Funk released Phoenix later that year; it would be their last studio album with Terry Knight as producer. The double live LP Alive! came out in early 1973 and quickly went double platinum behind lead single “We’re an American Band”. This song would go to become their only single to reach number one on both Billboard’s Pop and Hot 100 charts simultaneously; making them one of only seven rock acts to do so as of 2018 according to Billboard magazine writer Gordon Murray.
The Legacy
Formed in 1968, Grand Funk Railroad became one of the top-selling American rock bands of the 1970s. The group’s hits included “I’m Your Captain/Closer to Home,” “Loco-Motion,” and “We’re an American Band.” Despite their popularity, the band was plagued by legal problems and internal conflict, leading to their eventual breakup in 1976. In 1981, Grand Funk Railroad reunited and released a new album, but their success was short-lived. The band has continued to tour sporadically over the years, but they have never regained the same level of commercial success that they enjoyed in the 1970s.
