nedjelja, 19.09.2010.
Grand Funk - We're An American Band (1973)
The Audio Fidelity gold CD of 'We're An American Band' may be the best sounding Todd Rundgren recording I've heard. "Transistor Todd's" standard upper midrange boost has been tamed and the typically tinny drum sounds have been expanded to include a deep, solid low end. I don't have too many Grand Funk albums to compare this gold CD to but it certainly sounds better than any I do have. The remix of the title track is really bad. It's lame, limp and weak but other than that it's remarkably awful. I wonder if it was the band or record label pushed it for inclusion here. Either way the mix doesn't improve on any aspect of the original. It's thin and narrow and the musical balances are off (that's short for awful... get it? :-) ). It's the reason God invented the skip button. Just ignore it and listen to the original album. The sound on this CD reminds me of the good old DCC gold CDs. A return to form for AF and crew. They even went so far as to reproduce the foil cover of the original release. An all around great reissue. Nicely done!...J. Tate
Having made several changes in their business and musical efforts in 1972, Grand Funk Railroad made even more extensive ones in 1973, beginning with their name, which was officially truncated to "Grand Funk." And keyboardist Craig Frost, credited as a sideman on Phoenix, the previous album, was now a full-fledged bandmember, filling out the musical arrangements. The most notable change, however, came with the hiring of Todd Rundgren to produce the band's eighth album. Rundgren, a pop/rock artist in his own right, was also known for his producing abilities, and he gave Grand Funk exactly what they were looking for: We're an American Band sounded nothing like its muddy, plodding predecessors. Sonically, the record was sharp and detailed and the band's playing was far tighter and more accomplished. Most important, someone, whether the band or Rundgren, decided that gruff-voiced drummer Don Brewer should be employed as a lead singer as often as guitarist Mark Farner. Brewer also contributed more as a songwriter, and the results were immediate. The album's title song, an autobiographical account of life on the road written and sung by Brewer, was released in advance of the album and became a gold-selling number one hit, Grand Funk's first really successful single. Despite the band's previous popularity, for many, it must have been the first Grand Funk record they either heard or bought. Elsewhere on the album, Farner contributed his usual wailing vocals and guitar, singing of his heartfelt, if simpleminded, political concerns. But We're an American Band really belonged to Brewer and Rundgren, and its success constituted a redefinition of Grand Funk that came just in time. [The 2002 reissue adds two worthy outtakes (both previously released), an acoustic version of "Stop Lookin' Back," and a remix of the title song (both previously unreleased).] ...W. Ruhlmann
Grand Funk - We're An American Band (1973)(Gold Disc Remaster 2010)
Codec: flac
High Fidelity CD Formats
SHM (Super High Material)
SACD (Super Audio CD)
HSACD (Hybrid SACD)
HDCD (High Definition Compatible Digital)
MFSL (Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab)
DTS 5.1 Audio CD
DCC Gold GZS
Size: 346 MB
Genre : Rock
2000mustangs
Line-up-
- Mark Farner - vocals, guitar, acostic guitar, electric piano, conga
- Don Brewer - vocals, drums, percussion
- Craig Frost - organ, clavinet, electric piano, moog
- Mel Schacher - bass
Tracklist:
01 We're An American Band 3:27
02 Stop Lookin' Back 4:53
03 Creepin' 7:02
04 Black Licorice 4:46
05 The Railroad 6:09
06 Ain't Got Nobody 4:25
07 Walk Like A Man 4:05
08 Loneliest Rider 5:23
09 Hooray - Bonus 4:07
10 The End - Bonus 4:12
11 Stop Lookin' Back - Bonus / Acoustic Mix 3:12
12 We're An American Band - Bonus 3:32
