From: owner-grand-funk To: grand-funk-digest Subject: grand-funk V1 #14 Reply-To: Errors-To: owner-grand-funk Precedence: bulk grand-funk Thursday, 20 February 1997 Volume 01 : Number 014 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Phil Catalano Date: Thu, 20 Feb 1997 09:20:32 -0700 (MST) Subject: Re: 1974 MSG Ah yes, the Hershey show in '75! I was there along with my bro' (Mick) and a couple of other buddies. We traveled about 6 hours (from LI, NY) or so in the snow and sleet, were the first people to arrive at the front door to the arena somewhere around noon? Remember, it was a general admission show! What a zoo! When those front doors finally opened the bodies were packed so tight together that you could literally pick your feet up off the ground and you'd move right in with the crowd. We actually tried that for a few seconds. Waited outside in the freezing cold sleet and snow for like 4-6 hours? All the while I had the flu! What a great time! And although I was just about dying of the flu throughout the whole show, It was one of the greatest times of my life!!! I will never forget it! Keep sparking those old memories. I still have a few of those brain cells left! Phil - --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--= Phil Catalano phil.catalano@mci.com - --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--= On Wed, 19 Feb 1997 RStaln01@aol.com wrote: > I was at the 75 show in Hershey! It was during the All the Girls... tour. I > remember a great show from the guys. A lot of what they played was documented > later on the Caught in the Act release. For me the highlight was Closer to > Home/I'm Your Captain. This reworked version showed how well Craig had been > integrated into the band! > I had seen the band previously during the WAAB tour at the Harrisburg > Farmshow Arena which was my first ever concert experience! What a great time > and great show! For anybody who had been at the Harrisburg concert, do you > remember the projector (showing a film of a train coming straight at you) had > fallen over during the intro to The Railroad. I had heard that some people > were actually hurt and had to be taken out. Don't know if that's true or not > I was in the mass of humanity on the floor! The highlight of that show for me > was when they played Anybody's Answer. I went crazy as this ranks as one of > my all time favorite Funk songs from the early period. > I would be really interested in seeing the Hershey photos posted! > By the way I have to say that the three web sites by Bill, Donna and Jeff are > excellent! It was great to see the Funk finally get a presence on the Web! > Keep up the good work folks, I'll be stopping by often! > > Rock on ladies and gentlemen! > > > ------------------------------ From: einar@rfci.net Date: Thu, 20 Feb 1997 11:59:30 -0500 Subject: [Fwd: Re: Survival...different?!] This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - --------------1CA34F4255FA Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Sorry Bruce, this was meant to go to the group. Funkola - --------------1CA34F4255FA Content-Type: message/rfc822 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: inline Message-ID: <330C72AD.2D7A@rfci.net> Date: Thu, 20 Feb 1997 10:50:05 -0500 From: einar@rfci.net Reply-To: einar@rfci.net X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.01 (Win95; I) MIME-Version: 1.0 To: Bruce Thomas Subject: Re: Survival...different?! References: <330BADE9.21B4@erols.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hey Bruce, I hate to keep being the devils advocate. :) But I just can't get into 'Survival' or 'Phoenix' as far as the albums go. Some songs I dig though. I suppose I'm not as musically educated as you real musicians because I just recently bought a guitar and can only strum like a small child at the moment. I dig 'E. Pluribus' for it's power and 'GSGP' for it's musical quality and in my opinion some of Farners cleanest, purest vocals. But my favorite song is Inside Looking Out. Can't get enough of it! Keep the opinions coming though, I'm bound to learn something and maybe change my view on things. Funkola - --------------1CA34F4255FA-- ------------------------------ From: Phil Catalano Date: Thu, 20 Feb 1997 10:21:20 -0700 (MST) Subject: Re: [Fwd: Re: Survival...different?!] I just can't understand how someone can be a Funk fan and NOT like Survival! What a great album, from the opening chords of Country Road to the fade out of Gimme Shelter. The only complaint I have with that album is that there are only 7 songs on it. Phoenix, I can understand, although I still like it, being the true Funk fanatic that I am. Phil Gettin' away from the city life Society causes too many fights... - --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--= Phil Catalano phil.catalano@mci.com - --==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--= On Thu, 20 Feb 1997 einar@rfci.net wrote: > Sorry Bruce, this was meant to go to the group. > > Funkola > ------------------------------ From: Bruce Thomas Date: Thu, 20 Feb 1997 23:01:43 -0800 Subject: Re: Less is More????? HCRRock@aol.com wrote: > > The funny thing about your talk of a softer drum, alot of SURVIVAL > you have to strain to hear the guitar, especially during the > verses...Terry Knight was not one of your better boardmen in > those days... > > One memory that always stuck out, was the crap I took about > Grand Funk...People either got it or they didn't...The "Arty" folks > thought it was juvinile music where anybody can bang a guitar > or drum can be popular....There was no middle ground back > then... > > My personal favorite guitar solo was the cresendo ending of > "Can't Be To Long"....I practiced this over and over as a kid > back in my " learning days".......Those of you that have ON > TIME on CD turn this one up loud!! > > Mark had alot of great ideas with his song writing, but Terry > Knight didn't have a clue. > > CRASHTEST CHRIS Hey Chris! Well now...interesting! I noticed some strange stuff on the Red Album too...in several places you can hear their amps buzzing like crazy...something that would NOT be allowed these days. Also on the red album they do a lot of panning with the left to right stereo fader and I always noticed the sound is MUCH clearer and distinct on the right chanell than the left...so when they do the panning....the guitar solos go from loud and clear on the right chanel to more distant and not equalized differently on the left. And another thing...I bought Capitol's "E Pluribus Funk" all excited and brought it home threw it on and was not entirely pleased with the amount of hiss I heard...I thought oh well, better than NOT having it on CD....but was still convinced that Capitol did a crappy job of the digital transcription. Now, all around town is this compilation CD called "Heavy Hitters" and it has two songs from "E Pluribus" on it...guess what...it's much better done than the disc I bought of the whole album....the annoying hiss is not there! BTW, this "Heavy Hitters" CD is everywhere around this town for $4.99...What a buy .!! I hate to spend money on a CD (Like "E Pluribus") to find out too late it's not been re-mastered properly. As for Survival...I noticed the distant guitar a little on "I Want Freedom" but not too bad on the other songs....I will say some songs seems to have a much better mix than others on that album. I don't have "On Time" anymore...and can't remember "Can't Be Too Long" anymore...but I want to run out and get it again . Been waiting for Capitol's Box Set....thiink I'll be 80 years old before they come out with it? . - -- -=[ Bruce ]=- /~~\_/~\ ,,, | #=#==========# \_/~\_/ ``` ------------------------------ From: "NH Borger" Date: Thu, 20 Feb 1997 22:14:58 +0100 Subject: Re: Survival & Don and a new topic Bill wrote: > Grand Funk doing "I got the music in me"? Hmmm, well, change the original rhythm of that song, give Mark his Messenger guitar, turn up the fuzztone, put in some of that funky background lady singers....why not. Bruce wrote: > I've been playing Survival the past two days at the regular GFR volume > level (LOUD) and sitting back with eyes closed and really *listening*........... > a large degree and certainly traverses age barries..it wasn't one stricky for the youngsters. > /What/say/you/people/?? Great Survival analysis. Listening to Survival on vinyl at the moment (don't have the CD yet) . Fantastic album. Nico. ------------------------------ From: Bruce Thomas Date: Thu, 20 Feb 1997 23:19:58 -0800 Subject: Re: Survival...different?! einar@rfci.net wrote: > > Hey Bruce, > > I hate to keep being the devils advocate. :) But I just can't get into > 'Survival' or 'Phoenix' as far as the albums go. Some songs I dig > though. I suppose I'm not as musically educated as you real musicians > because I just recently bought a guitar and can only strum like a small > child at the moment. > > I dig 'E. Pluribus' for it's power and 'GSGP' for it's musical quality > and in my opinion some of Farners cleanest, purest vocals. But my > favorite song is Inside Looking Out. Can't get enough of it! > > Keep the opinions coming though, I'm bound to learn something and maybe > change my view on things. > > Funkola Interesting Funkola! And I thout you were a "died in the wool hard core Funk man"! Just kidding....I too have problems with "Phoenix"...somehow I never got that one. To be honest I've never even heard GSGP...but I see the cassette for sale locally and I'm going to have to grab it and see what I've been missing! I am surprised that "Survival" didn't rock your boat...like I said I really think that album was designed to open up a market if record buyers that didn't own "On Time" "Red Album" or "Closer" or the "Live Album".....BTW know lot's of folks who hated "LIVE". Probably worked as far as album sales went...but it also probably confused their hard core rock fans. When the album was current....I remember thinking it sucked...I wanted more like "On Time" and "Red Album"...and I thought "Survival" was wimpy . Time heals all wounds however and now more than 20 years later...I like it! Stranger things have happened I guess . - -- -=[ Bruce ]=- /~~\_/~\ ,,, | #=#==========# \_/~\_/ ``` ------------------------------ From: Bugsy41157@aol.com Date: Thu, 20 Feb 1997 18:52:39 -0500 (EST) Subject: Funk Talk Hey Gang, Like all the Funk Talk goin' on. This reunion tour this past summer, where else did they play besides North Carolina (don't tell me the northeast because I'll have to shoot myself for missing it)? GSGP...great album, oops recording. Great guitar and vocals (as per usual) by Mark. One of the things that drew me to GFR was his singing. I'm not a musician (although I play a mean air guitar), but his vocals rank with anybody. Keep the Funk Talk goin'...Alrighta! Bugsy ------------------------------ From: bigdog@vbe.com Date: Thu, 20 Feb 1997 18:24:15 -0600 Subject: Re: Survival & Don and a new topic einar@rfci.net wrote: > > > Grand Funk doing "I got the music in me"? I don't think so. or "Whacha talkin' > > about, Willis?" > > > > I would much rather see them cover "Wild Thing" by the Trogs or how about "Born > > to be Wild"? I bet Mark could have a field day with some hot licks on that one. > > No No No guys!!! What they need to play is 'Takin Care of Business' by > BTO. They would put them to SHAME! :) > > With the Brew singin' of course! > > Funkola A band like Grand Funk doesn't have to do remakes of music that's been played since I was in high school. There are enough garage bands to do that. You are right though, they would put them to shame. bigdog ------------------------------ From: bigdog@vbe.com Date: Thu, 20 Feb 1997 18:26:44 -0600 Subject: Re: Funk Talk Bugsy41157@aol.com wrote: > > Hey Gang, > > Like all the Funk Talk goin' on. This reunion tour this past summer, where > else did they play besides North Carolina (don't tell me the northeast > because I'll have to shoot myself for missing it)? > > GSGP...great album, oops recording. Great guitar and vocals (as per usual) by > Mark. One of the things that drew me to GFR was his singing. I'm not a > musician (although I play a mean air guitar), but his vocals rank with > anybody. > > Keep the Funk Talk goin'...Alrighta! > > Bugsy The band also played at Riverfest in Kaukauna,WI. GREAT!!!!! bigdog ------------------------------ From: Randy Stowe Date: Thu, 20 Feb 1997 18:55:26 -0600 Subject: Re: Survival & Don and a new topic bigdog@vbe.com wrote: > A band like Grand Funk doesn't have to do remakes of music that's been > played since I was in high school. There are enough garage bands to do > that. You are right though, they would put them to shame. > > bigdog I respectfully disagree. Cover tunes by established bands give an interesting insight as to what grooves them besides their own stuff. The songs that Grand Funk has covered, for the most part, are a lot better than the original artist. In my opinion, GFR's "Gimme Shelter" beats the crap out of the Rolling Stones recording. "Feelin' Alright" is excellent. "We Gotta Get Out Of This Place" from Grand Funk Lives is definitely the best version available on that tune. I hope they continue to do cover songs. I would love to hear their version of Bad Company's "Movin' On." Randy ------------------------------ From: bigdog@vbe.com Date: Thu, 20 Feb 1997 19:11:29 -0600 Subject: Re: Survival & Don and a new topic Randy Stowe wrote: > > bigdog@vbe.com wrote: > > > A band like Grand Funk doesn't have to do remakes of music that's been > > played since I was in high school. There are enough garage bands to do > > that. You are right though, they would put them to shame. > > > > bigdog > > I respectfully disagree. Cover tunes by established bands give an > interesting insight as to what grooves them besides their own stuff. > The songs that Grand Funk has covered, for the most part, are a lot > better than the original artist. In my opinion, GFR's "Gimme Shelter" > beats the crap out of the Rolling Stones recording. "Feelin' Alright" is > excellent. "We Gotta Get Out Of This Place" from Grand Funk Lives is > definitely the best version available on that tune. I hope they continue > to do cover songs. I would love to hear their version of Bad Company's > "Movin' On." > > Randy To each his own. However GFR did not establish themselves with cover tunes now did they??? bigdog ------------------------------ From: Bruce Thomas Date: Fri, 21 Feb 1997 03:09:20 -0800 Subject: Re: Survival & Don and a new topic This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - --------------12CA6CE8 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit bigdog@vbe.com wrote: > To each his own. However GFR did not establish themselves with cover > tunes now did they??? > > No...but Gimmie Shelter went a _long_ way to increase their popularity didn't it....? -- -=[ Bruce ]=- /~~\_/~\ ,,, | #=#==========# \_/~\_/ ``` - -- -=[ Bruce ]=- /~~\_/~\ ,,, | #=#==========# \_/~\_/ ``` - --------------12CA6CE8 Content-Type: message/rfc822 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: inline Message-ID: <330D8208.264A@erols.com> Date: Fri, 21 Feb 1997 03:07:52 -0800 From: Bruce Thomas Reply-To: bathomas@erols.com X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.01Gold (Win16; I) MIME-Version: 1.0 To: bigdog@vbe.com Subject: Re: Survival & Don and a new topic References: <199702200437.UAA17732@m9.sprynet.com> <330BDE34.63F1@rfci.net> <330CEB2F.122B@vbe.com> <330CF27E.1C7E@intellinet.com> <330CF641.76B7@vbe.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit bigdog@vbe.com wrote: > To each his own. However GFR did not establish themselves with cover > tunes now did they??? > No...but Gimmie Shelter went a _long_ way to increase their popularity didn't it....? - -- -=[ Bruce ]=- /~~\_/~\ ,,, | #=#==========# \_/~\_/ ``` - --------------12CA6CE8-- ------------------------------ From: Bruce Thomas Date: Fri, 21 Feb 1997 03:09:20 -0800 Subject: Re: Survival & Don and a new topic This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - --------------12CA6CE8 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit bigdog@vbe.com wrote: > To each his own. However GFR did not establish themselves with cover > tunes now did they??? > > No...but Gimmie Shelter went a _long_ way to increase their popularity didn't it....? -- -=[ Bruce ]=- /~~\_/~\ ,,, | #=#==========# \_/~\_/ ``` - -- -=[ Bruce ]=- /~~\_/~\ ,,, | #=#==========# \_/~\_/ ``` - --------------12CA6CE8 Content-Type: message/rfc822 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: inline Message-ID: <330D8208.264A@erols.com> Date: Fri, 21 Feb 1997 03:07:52 -0800 From: Bruce Thomas Reply-To: bathomas@erols.com X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.01Gold (Win16; I) MIME-Version: 1.0 To: bigdog@vbe.com Subject: Re: Survival & Don and a new topic References: <199702200437.UAA17732@m9.sprynet.com> <330BDE34.63F1@rfci.net> <330CEB2F.122B@vbe.com> <330CF27E.1C7E@intellinet.com> <330CF641.76B7@vbe.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit bigdog@vbe.com wrote: > To each his own. However GFR did not establish themselves with cover > tunes now did they??? > No...but Gimmie Shelter went a _long_ way to increase their popularity didn't it....? - -- -=[ Bruce ]=- /~~\_/~\ ,,, | #=#==========# \_/~\_/ ``` - --------------12CA6CE8-- ------------------------------ From: bigdog@vbe.com Date: Thu, 20 Feb 1997 19:27:14 -0600 Subject: Re: [Fwd: Re: Favorite Song] Bruce Thomas wrote: > > > On Sun, 16 Feb 1997 jmaijala@sprynet.com wrote: > > What is my favorite GFR song? Well it probably is Closer to Home. However, a > > case can be made for Loneliest Rider (remember that one?) Best album, probably > > Phoenix because it was produced by themselves with little outside influence. > > Worst Album, Born to Die, definately, without question. Least appriceiated > > album, Good Singin', Good Playin'. This album really had some good work on it. > > Any guitar players out there?? I love Farner's guitar work. lots of feeling > > and not to technocratic if you know what I mean. > > Thanks for reading, > > Jim Maijala > > Hey Jim! > > Yea, man...everyone's got their favorite Funk! I just went out and > bought a used vinyl "Live Album"....again...had it for years..turned up > missing lately! > > Talk about lead guitar work....I LOVE the live version of "Inside > Looking Out" on that LP...absolutely C_O_O_L!!! > > I've always been of a mind set that poor Mel was way-underated. When I > listen to ANY GFR these days I hear Mel Mel and more Mel! He was such > a powerhouse and a BIG BIG force behind the "magic". Not to slight the > other members...but Mel really had it together! I think his laid back > style on stage helped may have contributed to his lack of recognition. > Everyone always loves the "up front" man. > > Take Mel out of GFR...and I think you'd lose a lot more that 33% of the > magic. > > What does everyone else say about Mell and his lack of recognition? > > -- > -=[ Bruce ]=- > > /~~\_/~\ ,,, > | #=#==========# > \_/~\_/ ``` Bruce, There has always been a saying around here as far as bands go. "the band is nothing without a bottom", Mel DEFINITELY provides that bottom!! bigdog ------------------------------ From: bigdog@vbe.com Date: Thu, 20 Feb 1997 19:32:34 -0600 Subject: Re: [Fwd: Re: Favorite Song] LMcdan1313@aol.com wrote: > > I think the recent live version of Closer to Home with the organ intro and > Mark's expanded guitar lead in the middle is their best song bar none, but on > the albums I like a great many of them depending on the mood I'm in, however, > I believe the two most underrated songs, which I don't think were ever done > live are Anybody's Answer and I Don't Have to Sing The Blues. Those two songs > could be hits today if released as singles. Come on and ride the railroad one > more time! Larry Larry, Right On. I Don't Have to Sing The Blues No More, is EXCELLENT. Nobody has yet to mention "The Railroad". The work is definitely hard. A friend of mine works for Union Pacific and can attest to this. Lives lost, limbs removed. bigdog ------------------------------ From: jmaijala@sprynet.com Date: Thu, 20 Feb 1997 20:29:21 -0800 Subject: Re: Survival...different?! I think that Survival was a different type of album also. It was musically different from the previous albums and the later ones as well. Oddly, it is the one album I listen to least. Not rock and rolly enough for me, I guess. The notations about the drums and bass may be why I don't listen to it much. I prefer the hard driving style anyway. later, Jim ------------------------------ From: jmaijala@sprynet.com Date: Thu, 20 Feb 1997 20:33:44 -0800 Subject: Re: Survival & Don and a new topic or how about "American Woman" or "Iron Man" or "Ina-gadda-vida" or . . . just forget it, it will never happen. ------------------------------ From: jmaijala@sprynet.com Date: Thu, 20 Feb 1997 20:42:24 -0800 Subject: Re: Survival & Don and a new topic Hey Randy, I think they could do an excellent cover of "Carry on my wayward Son" by Kansas. What do you think? Jim ------------------------------ From: jmaijala@sprynet.com Date: Thu, 20 Feb 1997 20:49:16 -0800 Subject: Re: [Fwd: Re: Favorite Song] Alls well with Mel!! Mel was and is a tremendous one man rythyum section. His work on Closer to Home is truly exceptional. On the live version of Inside looking out he comes to the fore as a first class bass player without equal. By the way, the live versions (both of them) of Inside Looking out are better than the studio version. I really get PUMPED UP listening to the live version of that particular song. One last thing, how do spell rythum?? That old Funkoholic, Jim ------------------------------ End of grand-funk V1 #14 ************************