From: owner-grand-funk To: grand-funk-digest Subject: grand-funk-digest V1 #84 Reply-To: grand-funk@roadkill.com Errors-To: owner-grand-funk Precedence: bulk grand-funk-digest Saturday, 5 July 1997 Volume 01 : Number 084 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: jmaijala@juno.com (James I Maijala) Date: Fri, 04 Jul 1997 23:27:32 EDT Subject: Re: This & That On Fri, 4 Jul 1997 11:38:29 -0400 Leo Bartoli writes: >Good morning fellow funkers! I'm in the mood to ask some questions. >= >Anyone in the mood to respond? > >- I've got to know. Does it or does it not happen.....Before the band >= >comes on...as the crowd is stirring....do they do it?....do they do >what = >I would want to be doing if I were there? ....do they call 'em out in >= >the style of the Live album......WE WANT GRAND FUNK...WE WANT GRAND = >FUNK...... > Actually, we did not chant WE WANT GRAND FUNK. The show started almost on time! so no one was left waiting for the show to start. >- Say, I'm as nuts as anyone is for the songs they've been doing in >the = >recent concerts. Just the same, >if I had my way, I'd be willing to trade half a dozen or so of them >for = >other great tunes you practically >never hear in concert. Sometimes I wonder if the band itself may >share = >my sentiment. I mean, if it >were me playing WAAB or IYC for the zillionth time, I'd be busting at >= >the seams with frustration wishing I could let the world hear and = >experience some of my other creative efforts. My heart goes out to = >these >guys if they feel forced by popular demand (i.e.. us) to do things not >= >quite like they would prefer. The last thing I want to do is be part >of = >something that suppresses free expression, creativity or spontaneity. >= >Maybe we'd be giving something back to the boys by letting them know >we = >encourage them to experiment some with they're song list. I know for >= >one I'd appreciate it. =20 > Well, I might agree with you and maybe not. I to would like to hear more songs IN ADDITION to what they are playing now. By the way, I had not heard them do Sins, Limo, Aimless Lady, or Time Machine before live. So it was quite a treat. Interestingly, many people on this net have said "I like the early stuff best" Well, they seem to be playing mostly the early stuff. HHHMMMM. >- Lastly, anyone up to speed on Marks religious beliefs/practices >these = >days. Years ago I thought I >had read that he was unwilling to do WAAB due to its theme, which we = >know is not a problem now. >I don't believe he has given up on spirituality entirely-thats not >what = >I'm inquiring about. >What I'm wondering is whether his view of Christianity has changed, or >= >whether he's less of a bible >thumper than he was (that is if he ever was, I don't really know). > >I think I did a poor job of expressing what I'm looking for here, but >= >all responses appreciated! T/Leo > I think I read or heard of a comment Mark made about the other Christian Artists more interested in making money than spreading the word. He became disenchanted with the whole affair. However, I believe his own faith remains quite strong (whatever that means). Just my nickels worth. Jim > > > ------------------------------ From: jmaijala@juno.com (James I Maijala) Date: Fri, 04 Jul 1997 23:27:32 EDT Subject: Re: Second class citizen Well, it's not that anyone dislikes Farner, it's just that we are trying to give Mel and Don their due. Mark is the front man, songwriter, lead vocalist, and the person most people identify when they think of GFR(I know I do). But, without Don and Mel, Mark kind of fell off of the Rock and Roll Planet for a few years(In the GENERALpublics mind.) Mark did have a reasonably successful christian act but, that is a relatively small sampling of the general record buying public. Look at all the folks saying that "It really wasn't GFR without Mel". Dennis Bellinger is a good bass player, but, what has he done for me lately. GFR only works when all three original members are together. There is no substitue for the genuine article! Now, Let me have it!!] JIM On Fri, 04 Jul 1997 12:20:29 -0700 James Lichtenberg writes: >Brit & John Montalbano wrote: >> As far as that guy saying that Mark Farner probably wrote 95% of the >bass >> lines for GFR, I got one word for him... NOT !! I hate to burst your >> bubble, but Mark, in my opinion, is the least talented of the three. >Now >> don't everyone bite my head off, let me clarify that I don't mean >Mark is >> not talented, I simply mean that Don is a better drummer, and Mel is >a >> better bassist than Mark is a guitarist. Sorry if that offends >anyone. >> DOdell4280@aol.com wrote: >> >> hey man, >> there aint NOBODY who sounds like Mel !!!!! to say >someboby else >> wrote that is hard to believe. that comes from feeling man. he is >the music >> just as much as mark & don. you cant put feeling on paper you put >musical >> notes. this is where the difference between someone who plays an >instrement & >> the person who originally played the song or sound.Mel does not just >play the >> bass . HE IS THE THUNDER OF THE BAND. Nobody can get bottom like >him. Put on >> the live album man and I think you agree that someone doesnt tell >you to play >> like that. That comes from the heart > >Dear Brit & John, Don, Phil Cat, > Don't worry, no one on this list is gonna bite your head off for >banging on Farner! I never thought that I'd be reduced to having to >defend Mark Farner on this list. Mark is a complete second class >citizen >here. You would think that Mark was lucky to have been let into the >band. Please consider the following. Mark Farner wrote EVERY song on >the >following albums that most of you guys worship(Shinin' On is my >favorite). > > On Time > Closer To Home > E Pluribus Funk > Phoenix > >On the Red Album, of the 7 original GFRR tunes, Mark wrote/co-wrote >all >seven(Brewer helped out on "Please Don't Worry". On Survival, of the 5 > >original GFRR tunes, Farner wrote/co-wrote all five(Brewer helped out >on >"I Can Feel Him In The Morning". I am an amateur songwriter and my >bass >player does not write my bass lines, although he can play me under the > >table(maybe this is why I'm still an amateur!). Seriously though, Mark > >said he wrote "Footstompin' Music" in 20 minutes. I just can't believe > >that Mel wrote the bass line in that tune or any other that he didn't >get a writer's credit on. Phil, next time you schmooze with Mel, >please >kindly ask him. Maybe Mel defers to Mark on stage because he knows >whose >band he's in. I'm not arguing that Mel and Don are not great players >and >I think Don is a good songwriter in his own right, but I sincerely >believe that Grand Funk would have achieved 95% of the success that >they >did achieve if Mark had picked 2 other great musicians from Flint to >play with him. I also know some outstanding lead guitarists who think >that Mark Farner is an accomplished player and an incredible >songwriter. >All the commotion about Don & Mel is exciting, but I am still stunned >at >the lack of attention that brother Mark gets here. Talk soon, guys. >Later. > > Regards, > Jim > ------------------------------ From: jmaijala@juno.com (James I Maijala) Date: Fri, 04 Jul 1997 23:27:32 EDT Subject: Re: More Vegas II Here let me grab the stick and I will read right off of it. . . . .it looks to be a PRO-MARK MILLENIUM II with "DON BREWER" written in script on it. The script looks like the ink is the same as the brand marking. ALSO, it looks like a hickory stick made in TEXAS. There you have it. Jim PS. I will now return the drum stick to the time capsule. On Fri, 4 Jul 1997 21:42:48 -0500 "Rex D. Hutto" writes: > >------ =_NextPart_000_01BC88C6.1BE92E60 >Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" >Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable > >-----Original Message----- >From: James I Maijala [SMTP:jmaijala@juno.com] >Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 1997 10:44 PM >To: 1kfunkrr@vegasnet.net >Cc: grand-funk@roadkill.com >Subject: Re: More Vegas II > >When Don was throwing his drum sticks in the air during TNUC on of >them >rolled out to within 5 feet of the end of the stage, right in front of >me!! I climbed up on stage and grabbed the drum stick. >=20 >It is a Don Brewer signature stick. > >I didn't know there *was* "a Don Brewer signature stick." What brand? >= >What size? I didn't know he was "important" enough (commercially = >speaking) for endorsements/signature products. 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Hi Guys (and gals)! I'm quite surprised by all the arguing about which member of GFR is the best. I always thought they ALL were the best! By the way, I doubt if Mark Farnar wrote the bass lines. I used ot play bass in aband that did original material written by the guitarist. Howver, I made up all the bass lines, simply because, as a bass player, I could make up better bass parts than he could! I'm sure it's the same with Mel in GFR. But does that make any difference? No! They're All still the best! See Ya! - - - - - Ken KEN BLACKLEY email: kblackle@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca ------------------------------ From: "Randy J. Valdez" Date: Fri, 4 Jul 1997 22:11:17 -0700 (PDT) Subject: News Flash This just in: I sent Sunny Quinn an e-mail asking her to tell the boys how much we enjoyed the Del Mar show. She sent back a very nice thank you and also stated that they may be booking two additional Calif. shows in early Aug. (Somebody pinch me, I must be dreaming!) Randy ------------------------------ From: RCinSinCty@aol.com Date: Sat, 5 Jul 1997 03:03:13 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: Palace Video I'm afraid to ask this one...I've been on vacation for two weeks. Any reliable update on the status of the Detroit Video??? Yes the Video will NOT be released, The Boys were disapointed with it. But the CD will be out in Augest. ------------------------------ From: steve lisuk Date: Sat, 5 Jul 1997 00:41:06 -0700 Subject: mark on bass Mark is a very accomplished bass player. He played bass in the bands he was in before GFR. Take it for what it's worth. I would think that a great artist/songwriter, like Mark, would have the total sound of "his" songs in his head when he wrote the songs. Remember the movie "Let It Be" when Paul is telling George how to play the lead on one of his songs. I think that this is common practice. Look at how we are now finding out that on many of the Beatle's songs the great leads were played by Paul on "his" songs and John on "his" songs. This does not mean that the Beatles would have been the same band without all four members. Just look at how their solo careers never caught on with the same success. I know that Paul had the most solo success, but he was also the most commercially accomplished of the four. I'm not saying that Mel is not a great bass player; he obviously is one of the best there is. We all saw how far the early 80's reunion went without him. As Don is quoted as saying about the reunion without Mel, "Things just didn't click." Did they not "click" because GFR did not fit the "sound of the time", or because Mel was missing? We have seen Mel play all of these fantastic bass lines, and add his personal style to the concerts. I never saw or heard the band live with Dennis on bass. Did he play the same bass lines as Mel? Did the songs sound the same, but was there just that something missing? What do those bootlegs from that tour sound like? Is the bass as prominent? I know that I like alot of the songs on the "Lives" and "What's Funk" albums. Even on the later albums with Mel, the production does not showcase the bass like the pre WAAB albums. You have to listen for the bass, to catch the bottom end. I don't really care who wrote what parts. I just know that there are some songs that I like better than others. It's the total sound of the songs I like that turns me on. I can't wait to hear the new material, and to hear more of the non-hit songs "live". Steve ------------------------------ From: Sam LeMaster Date: Sat, 5 Jul 1997 05:16:34 -0400 Subject: Who's Best? Who cares! Hello to all, I have been reading this bombardment that Mark has been getting the last few days and I have had it. The whole band is GREAT! Mark is the reason I picked up a guitar. I played pro for about 15 yrs in different bands. I had an original band where I wrote 90% of the music. I happen to play guitar, bass, keyboards and a little drums. I am a better guitar player than anything else. Sometimes I would give the bass player or the drummer an idea of what I wanted for the song. But most of the time I would start playing my song and they would just jam until we worked out something that fit. I think alot of bands that create their own music do it that way. Sometimes just jamming on a good riff you may come up with a song. In my opinion I think when Mark or Don writes a song they jam until they work it out. What I am trying to get at is, that it is a group effort. I have all of Mark's solo albums and I have the album called Flint which has Don, Mel and Craig on it. Well brothers and sisters I have to tell you the Flint lp is not as good as any of Mark's lps. Even with the help of Zappa, Mark Chatfield and Todd Rundgren on Guitar the album is weak. And Mark's albums kicks butt. even without the superb playing of Mel and Don. But his albums are not as good as a GFR album. Hmmm are you getting my point yet. They need each other to be GRAND FUNK RAILROAD. So get off of Mark's case. And lets support the best American Band in the land. They are all GREAT! And by the way Mark kicks ass on lead guitar and sings his ass off also. Who's Best? Who Cares! They are back together and that is all that should matter. The band needs our support. They do not need to be put down. How would you feel if you had just read that you were the least talented one in the band. Boy! that sure would make me want to play for you. NOT! Have some consideration for the band members. Be glad they are back together and give them your support. Mark, Don & Mel are GREAT players and together they form the BEST BAND IN THE LAND, GRAND FUNK RAILROAD! ##====(SAM) ------------------------------ From: "Carl Bratcher" Date: Sat, 5 Jul 1997 19:21:17 +1000 Subject: Re: Mel IS the Man get a life, if Mark Farner actually sat and read some of this tripe about who is and who isn't, I dare say he'd be the first to set everyone straight, that goes for Mel and Don as well, how about we knock this battle of the muso's on the head before it gets to heated.. later - ---------- > From: Creamx5@aol.com > To: catalano@nymph.cs.mci.com; 1kfunkrr@vegasnet.net > Cc: grand-funk@roadkill.com > Subject: Re: Mel IS the Man > Date: Saturday, July 05, 1997 12:20 PM > > MARK IS IT,HE BLOWS VAN HALEN AWAY AND ANY OTHER POP HARD ROCK BAND... ------------------------------ From: nickgrenfell@juno.com Date: Sat, 5 Jul 1997 02:19:50 -0700 Subject: Re: Nonsense On Thu, 3 Jul 1997 6:17:11 -0800 michael.demattei@milliman.com writes: > Does anyone else hear similarities between GFR and Rare Earth, >and GFR and Three Dog Night? Rare Earth are a more soulful GFR, >and Three Dog Night are a pop-slop GFR. Both bands did some of >the best GFR songs never written. > Deemo Well, I'd generally agree with you about Rare Earth, but 3 Dog Night would have to do a lot more tunes like "Chest Fever" to convince me that they were similar. Nick Grenfell Fidonet 1:114/440 e-mail Nick.Grenfell@BioHazard.ghostrdr.wierius.com e-mail nickgrenfell@juno.com ------------------------------ From: "William A. Parrette" Date: Sat, 5 Jul 1997 09:03:51 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: Import CD's Hi all, On Fri, 4 Jul 1997 Gasnoilguy@aol.com wrote: > ... I got the Japanese "Phoenix" CD, and it really sounds good. It > even has English lyrics on the liner notes. I don't remember if the original > album had lyrics. Anyone know if it did? The only two albums that had lyrics printed on them somewhere were E Pluribus Funk and Born To Die. Watch out for lyrics on those import CDs ... the ones I have on my Survival are a joke! I promise that as soon as I get some material I have out on loan back in my hands, I'll try to spend some time finishing up my lyrics pages. Ahhhh ... so much to do, so little time! ;-) Take care, grok in fullness ... Bill-- ...who likes work -- he can sit and watch it for hours. (42) o o o o +--------------------------+--------------------------+ _____ ---- o ----+ |William A. (Bill) Parrette|7177 Heritage Drive | ]OO|_n_n__][. | |wap@one.net |Westchester, OH 45069-4012| _|__|________)< | | *** http://w3.one.net/~wap/ *** | oo OOOO-| oo\\ | +------------------- 513-779-0780 --------------------+------------------+ ------------------------------ From: "William A. Parrette" Date: Sat, 5 Jul 1997 09:20:21 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: mark on bass Hi all, On Sat, 5 Jul 1997, steve lisuk wrote: > ... We all saw how far the early 80's reunion went without > him. As Don is quoted as saying about the reunion without Mel, "Things just > didn't click." ... Interesting quote! I had never heard that one before Steve, you always come up with some great information -- Thanks! > ... We have seen Mel play all of these > fantastic bass lines, and add his personal style to the concerts ... This is, IMHO, one of the fundamental reasons that GFR was so great and successful. As an ex-musician, I know how hard it is to get a three-piece band to sound good -- especially when the guitar player takes off into a solo. Grand Funk never had a problem, due in a large part to Mel's bass style. > ... I never > saw or heard the band live with Dennis on bass. Did he play the same bass > lines as Mel? Did the songs sound the same, but was there just that > something missing? ... I never saw them either, I just have a bootleg. But this is absolutely the first thing I noticed about the music -- the bass just didn't fill the sound the same way. Dennis seemed to play much the same bass lines, that is the same notes. But it just didn't have the same flavor or feel and it seemed like something was missing. I just felt a need to comment here. My $0.02. Take care and grok in fullness ... Bill-- ...who thinks that time is the best teacher -- but it kills all its pupils. +--------------------------+-------------------------- (42?) - (42?) ----+ |William A. (Bill) Parrette|7177 Heritage Drive | \ ___ \ ___ | |wap@one.net |Westchester, OH 45069-4012| (o o) (o o) | | *** http://w3.one.net/~wap/ *** | ( V ) ( V )| +------------------- 513-779-0780 --------------------+- /--m-m- /--m-m--+ ------------------------------ From: Graves Date: Sat, 05 Jul 1997 09:22:12 -0400 Subject: Capitol Records I always wondered why Grand Funk did not have more of their albums put on CD. I am a fan of a fairly unknown band (Sparks) who have 17 of their 18 albums on CD!!! Grand Funk were one of the biggest bands of the 70's and I am amazed that the "Live Album", "On Time"...etc...are either not on CD or are hard to obtain!!! May I say "Capitol Sucks???" Also, can someone answer this...How is Grand Funk in concert now? Do they ever play "Into The Sun"? Do they rock like they did on their first few albums??? Without causing any arguments hopefully, I wonder if most of the fans would agree that after "WAAB" Grand Funk kind of "sold out"? It's quite a ways from "Paranoid" to doing "The Loco-motion" (although I do like the song!) Has there been any comments from Mark, Don or Mel concerning their musical career changes? I have to agree that "Mel is the man". Without him, Grand Funk would have still been a good band, but with him, they kick *ss!!!!!!!!!! (A good slogan for a button/poster/bumper sticker..."MEL IS THE MAN!") Larry ------------------------------ From: Leo Bartoli Date: Sat, 5 Jul 1997 09:23:33 -0400 Subject: RE: Who's Best? Who cares! Say Sam. I'm with you on this one! Leo - -----Original Message----- From: maxruins@iwaynet.net [SMTP:maxruins@iwaynet.net] Sent: Saturday, July 05, 1997 6:41 AM To: Ljb Subject: Who's Best? Who cares! Hello to all, I have been reading this bombardment that Mark has been getting the last few days and I have had it. The whole band is GREAT! Mark is the reason I picked up a guitar. I played pro for about 15 yrs in different bands. I had an original band where I wrote 90% of the music. I happen to play guitar, bass, keyboards and a little drums. I am a better guitar player than anything else. Sometimes I would give the bass player or the drummer an idea of what I wanted for the song. But most of the time I would start playing my song and they would just jam until we worked out something that fit. I think alot of bands that create their own music do it that way. Sometimes just jamming on a good riff you may come up with a song. In my opinion I think when Mark or Don writes a song they jam until they work it out. What I am trying to get at is, that it is a group effort. I have all of Mark's solo albums and I have the album called Flint which has Don, Mel and Craig on it. Well brothers and sisters I have to tell you the Flint lp is not as good as any of Mark's lps. Even with the help of Zappa, Mark Chatfield and Todd Rundgren on Guitar the album is weak. And Mark's albums kicks butt. even without the superb playing of Mel and Don. But his albums are not as good as a GFR album. Hmmm are you getting my point yet. They need each other to be GRAND FUNK RAILROAD. So get off of Mark's case. And lets support the best American Band in the land. They are all GREAT! And by the way Mark kicks ass on lead guitar and sings his ass off also. Who's Best? Who Cares! They are back together and that is all that should matter. The band needs our support. They do not need to be put down. How would you feel if you had just read that you were the least talented one in the band. Boy! that sure would make me want to play for you. NOT! Have some consideration for the band members. Be glad they are back together and give them your support. Mark, Don & Mel are GREAT players and together they form the BEST BAND IN THE LAND, GRAND FUNK RAILROAD! ##====(SAM) ------------------------------ From: Leo Bartoli Date: Sat, 5 Jul 1997 09:26:33 -0400 Subject: RE: Mel IS the Man I'm not sure what -knock this battle of the muso's on the head- means, but I think I agree! Leo - -----Original Message----- From: loki@rpi.net.au [SMTP:loki@rpi.net.au] Sent: Saturday, July 05, 1997 6:44 AM To: Ljb Subject: Re: Mel IS the Man get a life, if Mark Farner actually sat and read some of this tripe about who is and who isn't, I dare say he'd be the first to set everyone straight, that goes for Mel and Don as well, how about we knock this battle of the muso's on the head before it gets to heated.. later - ---------- > From: Creamx5@aol.com > To: catalano@nymph.cs.mci.com; 1kfunkrr@vegasnet.net > Cc: grand-funk@roadkill.com > Subject: Re: Mel IS the Man > Date: Saturday, July 05, 1997 12:20 PM > > MARK IS IT,HE BLOWS VAN HALEN AWAY AND ANY OTHER POP HARD ROCK BAND... ------------------------------ From: GHA6001@aol.com Date: Sat, 5 Jul 1997 10:29:11 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: Anniversary 4th July 1969 Well said Mike. Keep on Funkin On. George ------------------------------ From: jmaijala@juno.com (James I Maijala) Date: Sat, 05 Jul 1997 10:31:38 EDT Subject: Re: Capitol Records On Sat, 05 Jul 1997 09:22:12 -0400 Graves writes: >I always wondered why Grand Funk did not have more of their albums put >on CD. I am a fan of a fairly unknown band (Sparks) who have 17 of >their >18 albums on CD!!! Grand Funk were one of the biggest bands of the >70's >and I am amazed that the "Live Album", "On Time"...etc...are either >not >on CD or are hard to obtain!!! May I say "Capitol Sucks???" > Well, you may say that capitol sucks or use their new name "crapitol" (I love it) Remember when GFR was big no one had ever hear of CD's. They were still trying to perfect vinyl!. >Also, can someone answer this...How is Grand Funk in concert now? Do >they ever play "Into The Sun"? Do they rock like they did on their >first >few albums??? Without causing any arguments hopefully, I wonder if >most >of the fans would agree that after "WAAB" Grand Funk kind of "sold >out"? >It's quite a ways from "Paranoid" to doing "The Loco-motion" (although >I >do like the song!) Has there been any comments from Mark, Don or Mel >concerning their musical career changes? No, they didn't do "Into the Sun". In fact, many on this network agree with the "sold out" thing. The band does tend to stick with the early stuff in their live performance. >I have to agree that "Mel is the man". Without him, Grand Funk would >have still been a good band, but with him, they kick *ss!!!!!!!!!! >(A good slogan for a button/poster/bumper sticker..."MEL IS THE MAN!") Truely spoken.> Loveya, Jim >Larry > ------------------------------ From: VegasRDC@aol.com Date: Sat, 5 Jul 1997 10:42:29 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: Who's Best? Who cares! you wrote I have all of Mark's solo albums and I have the album called Flint which has Don, Mel and Craig on it. Well brothers and sisters I have to tell you the Flint lp is not as good as any of Mark's lps. Even with the help of Zappa, Mark Chatfield and Todd Rundgren on Guitar the album is weak. And Mark's albums kicks butt. even without the superb playing of Mel and Don. But his albums are not as good as a GFR album. Hmmm are you getting my point yet. They need each other to be GRAND FUNK RAILROAD. So get off of Mark's case. And lets support the best American Band in the land. They are all GREAT! And by the way Mark kicks ass on lead guitar and sings his ass off also. Who's Best? Who Cares! They are back together and that is all that should matter. The band needs our support. They do not need to be put down. How would you feel if you had just read that you were the least talented one in the band. Boy! that sure would make me want to play for you. NOT! Have some consideration for the band members. Be glad they are back together and give them your support. Mark, Don & Mel are GREAT players and together they form the BEST BAND IN THE LAND, GRAND FUNK RAILROAD! ##====(SAM) I'm with you. Also Mark guitar playing has improved with every year. Who else can you say that about in Rock music. rick ; ) ------------------------------ From: "Jimmy G." Date: Sat, 05 Jul 1997 11:12:56 -0400 Subject: Guitar World Brother's and Sister's in Funk: I read the article on Grand Funk in the August '97 Guitar World...it's one of the better articles I've seen lately...a few good photos too. See my web site http://www.concentric.net/~Jimmy911/ (the "1997-The Year of Funk" page) for some scans from the article. Also, last month while visiting family in Pa. there was a full page article on GFR, by Mary Campbell of the AP, in the Sunday Hazleton Standard-Speaker in the Arts section. It was on the entire back page, with big one inch bold letters across the entire top page as the headline; "Grand Funk Railroad is rolling again". It's the same article that's been showing up in newspapers across the country. Jimmy ------------------------------ From: kblackle@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca Date: Sat, 5 Jul 1997 09:26:19 -0600 (MDT) Subject: Re: Capitol Records KEN BLACKLEY email: kblackle@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca > (snip) after "WAAB" Grand Funk kind of "sold out"? > It's quite a ways from "Paranoid" to doing "The Loco-motion" (although I > do like the song!) Has there been any comments from Mark, Don or Mel > concerning their musical career changes? > I'd be interested to hear what they would say, too. Did they switch because they decided they'd better make the cash while they could? Or were they gradually pushed that way by management? On ABC, Mark said the band split becasue they "refused to bow to the disco gods". Does he mean that Locomotion and Some Kind of Wonderful were as far down the bubblegum trail that the band would go? Did the record companies want them to wear leisure suits and become Mark Farnar and the Sunshine Band? What's the story here? Ken ------------------------------ From: GEODOG8809@aol.com Date: Sat, 5 Jul 1997 13:04:50 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Tickets for the Oklahoma and Arkansas shows "Everybody listen to me..." I'm looking for info on getting tickets for the Oklahoma and Arkansas shows that does not involve Ticketmaster. I am out here in Vegas and am planning my vacation around these two shows. Any help would be appreciated. Sincerely("No Lies.."), Craig ------------------------------ From: Sue Moore Date: Sat, 05 Jul 1997 13:56:42 -0400 Subject: Re: Capitol Records James I Maijala wrote: > On Sat, 05 Jul 1997 09:22:12 -0400 Graves writes: > >I always wondered why Grand Funk did not have more of their albums > put > >on CD. I am a fan of a fairly unknown band (Sparks) who have 17 of > >their > >18 albums on CD!!! Grand Funk were one of the biggest bands of the > >70's > >and I am amazed that the "Live Album", "On Time"...etc...are either > >not > >on CD or are hard to obtain!!! May I say "Capitol Sucks???" > > > Well, you may say that capitol sucks or use their new name "crapitol" > (I > love it) Remember when GFR was big no one had ever hear of CD's. > They > were still trying to perfect vinyl!. > > >Also, can someone answer this...How is Grand Funk in concert now? Do > >they ever play "Into The Sun"? Do they rock like they did on their > >first > >few albums??? Without causing any arguments hopefully, I wonder if > >most > >of the fans would agree that after "WAAB" Grand Funk kind of "sold > >out"? > >It's quite a ways from "Paranoid" to doing "The Loco-motion" > (although > >I > >do like the song!) Has there been any comments from Mark, Don or Mel > >concerning their musical career changes? > I disagree!!!! GFR would never sell out and it is an insult to say > that they would. When they did an album they chose the music they > wanted to include in that recording. The fans who could not accept > their choices were the ones with the problem. Fans who will not allow > a band to grow and try new things in music do not understand the needs > of creatative artists. You do not have to like their choices or > support them by buying their new music but you should not insult them > by calling them "sell-outs"! I know I would not appreciate anyone > saying this about me. > No, they didn't do "Into the Sun". In fact, many on this network > agree > with the "sold out" thing. The band does tend to stick with the early > > stuff in their live performance. > > >I have to agree that "Mel is the man". Without him, Grand Funk would > >have still been a good band, but with him, they kick *ss!!!!!!!!!! > >(A good slogan for a button/poster/bumper sticker..."MEL IS THE > MAN!") > > Truely spoken.> > > Loveya, > > Jim > > >Larry > > ------------------------------ From: Sue Moore Date: Sat, 05 Jul 1997 14:06:46 -0400 Subject: Re: Who's Best? Who cares! VegasRDC@aol.com wrote: > you wrote > > I have all of Mark's solo albums and I have the album called Flint > which has > Don, Mel and Craig on it. Well brothers and sisters I have to tell you > the > Flint lp is not as good as any of Mark's lps. Even with the help of > Zappa, > Mark Chatfield and Todd Rundgren on Guitar the album is weak. And > Mark's > albums kicks butt. even without the superb playing of Mel and Don. > But his > albums are not as good as a GFR album. Hmmm are you getting my point > yet. > They need each other to be GRAND FUNK RAILROAD. So get off of Mark's > case. > And lets support the best American Band in the land. They are all > GREAT! And > by the way Mark kicks ass on lead guitar and sings his ass off also. > Who's > Best? Who Cares! They are back together and that is all that should > matter. > The band needs our support. They do not need to be put down. How would > you > feel if you had just read that you were the least talented one in the > band. > Boy! that sure would make me want to play for you. NOT! Have some > consideration for the band members. Be glad they are back together and > give > them your support. Mark, Don & Mel are GREAT players and together they > form > the BEST BAND IN THE LAND, GRAND FUNK RAILROAD! > ##====(SAM) > > I'm with you. Also Mark guitar playing has improved with every year. > Who else > can you say that about in Rock music. > > rick ; ) I don't agree. I have the Flint album and I think that it is great. Don wrote some great songs on this albums and finally had a chance to show that he could write and sing also. It's a good album for a first effort with or without MF. ------------------------------ From: RCinSinCty@aol.com Date: Sat, 5 Jul 1997 15:07:07 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: Who's Best? Who cares! I don't agree. I have the Flint album and I think that it is great. Don wrote some great songs on this albums and finally had a chance to show that he could write and sing also. It's a good album for a first effort with or without MF. read the mail better i was agreeing with some one else, also mark's solo albemis are very good, especially the last three; Just another injustice, wake up and some kind of wonderful. Don't get me wrong I like the Flint album. But the point is MARK, DON and MEL are best together. Rick ; ) ------------------------------ From: thesonics Date: Sat, 05 Jul 1997 12:10:28 -0700 Subject: Funk LP's Wanted Jayola here. Someone contacted me about Funk LP's for sale. Can you please contact me. I've got mint condition copies of the requested items. Good singing, good playing American Band All the Girls On Time Jayola ------------------------------ From: Creamx5@aol.com Date: Sat, 5 Jul 1997 16:02:31 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: Don Brewer i agree with the hype factor,but once that gives it the royal push,theyre hard drivin talent will do the rest. ------------------------------ From: STAATS Date: Sat, 05 Jul 1997 16:40:59 -0400 Subject: Re: Mark? Mel? What's up??? Bass6plyr@aol.com wrote: > > I was just wondering. In the very little footage I've seen of GFR on video or > TV appearences, why does Mark seem to ignore Mel? I notice that Mel always > looks for oportunities to get close to Mark, but it never happens. Here's an > example. Remember the Jay Leno appearence? Well, when they cut into We're An > American Band, Mel is up towards the foot of the stage, then backs up and > see's Mark facing him. Mel turns to Mark abruptly so he can jam it out with > him, but Mark pays no mind and looks the other way. In the LA '74 video, Mark > is always going up to Don and Craig and EVEN the back-up singers in > Locomotion. Never really saw him go near Mel. There was even one time that > I've noticed in that same concert that Mel thought Mark was on his way over > to him to jam side by side. Mel was in position, but Mark again ignores him > and Mel kinda has to play it off and turn to Don or Craig. Let me tell you > something. > > I was just wondering, I have never seen them live yet... Has anyone else > noticed that Mark does this? > > Later, > Paul > Bass6plyr@aol.com Well Paul I sadly agree 100%. I always felt that but never had the guts to say it to anybody. even in the early videos 69.70,71 and even the 74 video I felt that Mark somewhat ignores him. The cincy video says it all. When I saw GFR last year it was the same way and it was that way in Detroit,(97).I have to admit that this is my ONLY disappointment in GFR. In the 74 video,at one point Mark walks over to Mel and when Mel turn towards him and smiles Mark quickly turns away.I don't understand it but I still LOVE the American Band> DAVID ------------------------------ From: Creamx5@aol.com Date: Sat, 5 Jul 1997 17:35:45 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: Anniversary 4th July 1969 craig frost,wasnt at the atlanta pop festival ------------------------------ From: DOdell4280@aol.com Date: Sat, 5 Jul 1997 17:47:58 -0400 (EDT) Subject: 3 makes whole Hey Man, Now I think I understand when Pete Townsend wrote," one & one dont make two, one & one makes one . The same goes for G.F.R,, 3 makes the group. One(Mark) & one(Don) & one(Mel) makes one(G.F.R.)!! aint nobody in that band better than the other cause they all have different jobs. So, how could they be more or less of a musician than the other? As history has proven, be it just Mark & Don together or Don & Mel or Mark & Mel or just Mark it isnt the same. Its just one or two them . You need the three to make the one(G.F.R.)!!!!!!!!!!! So lets stop sounding like a bunch of bored old laidies & enjoy this time there are giving us. you know together we can make it happen again for them. pissin and moaning the Railroad just not make that stop were looking for don ------------------------------ From: Bass6plyr@aol.com Date: Sat, 5 Jul 1997 18:17:16 -0400 (EDT) Subject: PLEASE READ!!! Re: Who's Best? Who cares! I don't know what is going on lately, but all I wanted was for everyone to talk more about Mel. I was just feeling that there was too much discussion about Mark lately. No big deal, but we need more Mel, right? A lot of you have agreed to this. I don't know why these discussions have turned into a battle, because like a few of you said, it takes all three to make one! I think it all started when someone said that he didn't think Mel came up with half the sh!t he plays. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. Maybe Mark might have said now and again, "hey Mel, maybe try going to a higher ocatave on this part of the song". Maybe Mel told Don, "do a drum roll right there before we go into the next change". Or maybe Don told Mark, "on this part, maybe you should start your lead off a little on the mild side, then just crank up the distortion and whale away!" The point is, it's a group effort when writing songs. I'm sure they have givien each other plenty of ideas when writing. However, I'm also sure when it comes down to Mark, Don, or Mel giving a suggestion to one another, they try their idea. Maybe it works, maybe it don't. But the point is, is that when someone gives you a suggestion, it is played in your own way and your own style. I doubt very much Mark picks up the bass and plays the parts for him and says to do it just like that! I mean listen to Mel's playing. If you have ears you can tell that it is all from his own feeling and not something that was rehearsed. Sometimes I feel that Mel improvises on some of the fills he does. You can just tell sometimes. All I am saying is that I'm sure Mark and maybe even Don had some suggestions on how Mel should play a certain part. But I don't think they are playing it or coming up with it for him. He just takes the idea, plays it in his own way, and if it's what Mark or Don was suggesting, there it is! But it's Mel's creativity that allows him to come up with the parts that he does.... even if the idea WAS sparked from a suggestion. Same as for Don and Mark. Just my thoughts... Later, Paul Bass6plyr@aol.com ------------------------------ From: kblackle@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca Date: Sat, 5 Jul 1997 16:51:42 -0600 (MDT) Subject: Re: I unsuscribe to many lying trubble making as*holes on hear. I seem tohave ruffled a few feathers with my comments. For that, I apologize. Let me clarify myself. In the mid-seventies, as we all know, the Grand Funk sound began to change. They became more commercial-sounding. I don't say better or worse, just more commercial. One of my favourite GFR tunes, "Bad Time", for example, comes from this period. Now, if you compare Paranoid and Bad Time, they sound quite different. And they sound as if they were made for a different audience. What I want to know is whether this move to a more commercial sound was made by the band itself, or whether it was forced onto them by the record companies. Mark's comments about "refusing to bow to the disco gods" makes me wonder if they felt manipulated by the record companies and felt that they were being forced into more commercial ventures. I'd like to know what the band thinks about songs like "Locomotion" and "Some Kind of Wonderful". They were popular commercial successes. Did they do them because they liked the songs, becasue the record companies demanded that sound, or because the they themselves thought they could sell more records? I have no idea. Neither do I dislike these songs. I'm not trying to put anyone down, especially the band that has been my favourite for well over twenty-five years. I just wonder whether the shift in style was a natural evolution of the band's sound or whether it was superimposed onto them. See Ya! - ----Ken GFR: COME TO EDMONTON!!!! PPPLLLEEEAAASSSEEE!!!!!!! KEN BLACKLEY email: kblackle@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca On Sat, 5 Jul 1997 RCinSinCty@aol.com wrote: > Mark has always said the fan's though GFR sold out but they always were > influenced by 60's soul & pop music, thus Loco-motion, some kind of wonderful > etc. They had some mellow songs on there early albums also. Can't be too > long, comfort me, ups and downs,winter on my soul, & mean mistreater. And > let's not forget the rockin songs from were an american band on. Do you > people think that Shinin On is Bubble gum-Shinin On, little johny hooker, > destitue N losin, getting over you. And Born to Die, Dues, born to die, take > me. What about good and evil, creepin, loneliest rider, walk like a man, > carry me through, Out to get you. I don't beleive any of you who think grand > funk sold out ever listened to these albems you just became idiot's like thew > critics, Bandwagoners, and Grand funk does not need you as fans. unsuscribe > grand-funk > > All real GFR fans should get off this > list before Mark Don and Mell read it and get sick. > ------------------------------ From: RCinSinCty@aol.com Date: Sat, 5 Jul 1997 20:58:56 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: PLEASE READ!!! Re: Who's Best? Who cares! I don't know what is going on lately, but all I wanted was for everyone to talk more about Mel. I was just feeling that there was too much discussion about Mark lately. No big deal, but we need more Mel, right? A lot of you have agreed to this. yes they agreed with you then tore mark apart. I gues GFR would of been Better off with out mark, maybe they could play better you than me over and over for two hours in concert and some on this list would be happy. ------------------------------ From: tom fagan Date: Sat, 05 Jul 1997 18:08:52 -0700 Subject: Power Trio Hey Brothers and Sisters, chill! I don't know if it is due to the summer heat or if we all just are looking for something to write about but this Mark Don & Mel issue is getting old regarding who is best, and all that sh!$! Lets face it gang, the boys regardless of there personnal lives and the who's better than who is getting old! They are simply put the best band I have ever had the opportunity to see & hear, and they have had a profound influence on my life. They have gone there separate ways in the past but let's just hope and pray that they stay togeather. Not only are they the best band I have ever heard, But it is just 3 GUYS...Hmmmmmmmmmmmm and it's the chemistry of MARK, DON & MEL That make it work. I've been listening to the squable going on for days and these 3 guys are the best AND THEY COMPLIMENT EACH OTHER! END OF STORY! Just my 2 cents for what it is worth, probaly a half cent with inflation! respectfully, tom funkster fagan tom-span@pacbell.net ------------------------------ End of grand-funk-digest V1 #84 *******************************