OK, so I was looking for ANY excuse at all to post this killer video of a great band, Grand Funk Railroad. Mark Farner blows some harp later in the video. It's hard to believe that these guys were in the early 20's when this song came out, the bassist Mel Schacher was only 20. This is some impressive playing. We really were spoiled back then. And now the youth of today have The Dave Matthews Band et.al. Most of the bands of today don't even get close to these guys.
My second rock concert ever was these guys with Canned Heat opening.Canned Heat was great - only time I saw Alan Wilson.
Sorry but GFR does not stand the test of time for me. Thought they where gods gift to rock when I was 14 though. The harp playing is close to atrocious - the type of caterwauling that gives the instrument and harp players a bad name. Dave Mathews may not turn you on (doesn't do much for me either) but they are musicians - compared to these guys certainly.
I'll have to disagree (amicably of course) with bonedog569. While I can't listen to some classic rock bands anymore (such as most Led Zepellin) I never tire of GFR. I really like the albums they did which were produced by Frank Zappa or Todd Rundgren. Granted the harmonica is no better than Bob Dylan lets say, but I still enjoy many of their songs such as: Creepin, The Railroad, Someone, People Let's Stop the War, Mean Mistreater, Dues, and I could list another 10 songs or more.
That is what is great about music. There is something for everybody.
Snakes......Mean Mistreater....one of my all time favorite songs...have it on my Ipod
Paul ----------
Music is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn. They teach you there's a boundary line to music. But, man, there's no boundary line to art. - Charlie Parker
That was briliant. The lead singer bears an unnerving resemblence to a friend of mine, who happens to be a smokin' hot guitarist.
I didn't see anything wrong with his harp playing, he was feeling it, had a nice groove going. I'm sure he wouldn't introduce himself as any sort of harp-virtuoso!
Thoroughly enjoyed this vid, thanks for posting :)
It was June 1970. I had just graduated high school. Grand Funk was the head liner band at an out door concert at a race track in our town of 50,000. They took the stage about 2am (in the morning). I was so taken with them, I went out and bought a used bass guitar for $30. My life was changed forever. I have been playing ever since. I addded harp in 2001
By the end of the summer, I was in a 3 piece band. We played over 10 different Grand Funk tunes, including "Inside Looking Ouy" ---------- intermediate level (+) player per the Adam Gussow Scale, Started playing 2001
Last Edited by on Jul 17, 2010 5:20 AM
Last Edited by on Jul 16, 2010 2:00 PM