Friday night live music - Grand Funk from 1974...American Band,,,

[old mark]

I really hated them in the '70's, but this song has lasted through the decades on oldies radio, and they really kicked ass hard on stage - and you may enjoy the mid '70's hair and clothing styles, too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMsIrKjSM6Y

mark

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. You didn't like them? I love "Mean Mistreater." :^) (The song, not being one.)

[old mark]

3. They were too pop for my taste at the time...I realize now that I was really

in the minority...they sold well over 25 million albums and in 1970 were the best selling band in the US.
American Band was one of 2 top 10 singles in 1974, the other was Loco-Motion

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSQOeQakExU


...by that time, I was starting to like them a little...they got me with Some Kind of Wonderful

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8H82lGTQL

a little bit later. (This one was recorded in 2007, so they look somehow older...)

mark

[The Midway Rebel]

2. Needs more cow bell! n/t

[livetohike]

4. Saw them in 1970 and then again in 1994 or so

Had such a great time at both concerts. In 1994 no one in the audience was sitting down! It was outdoors....lots of dancing and singing. "Mean Mistreater" was/is one of my favorites.

[Capn Sunshine]

5. My favorite was "I'm Your Captain" here it is live

I have fond memories of this tune, it kept me company in the hospital, far far from home, the only American Music available. I played it over and over and over. The cassette was in my pocket when all hell broke loose, in 1970.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyF5J7au1jE&feature=related

[NoGOPZone]

6. A kick for Grand Funk

Here's Heartbreaker from another of their legendary concerts, Madison Square Garden Christmastime 1972

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlk-Pd7O69g&feature=related

[Amerigo Vespucci]

7. I saw them perform this on the "Shinin' On" tour at the Cow Palace

It was basically the same concert that appears on their live CD "Caught In The Act."

They showed a brief little video of various kids saying what they wanted to be when they grew up. The last kid yells "I WANNA BE A ROCK & ROLL STAR" and then it's right into Down Brewer's intro.

I always liked Grand Funk because they were a working band...they didn't sleepwalk through shows or rip their fans off or cop an attitude.

They were true underdogs as well, surviving the one-two punch of manager Terry Knight taking away most of what they'd earned in court, with the I.R.S. then taking whatever was left.

Too bad they ultimately had a difference of opinion...Mark Farner tours regularly on his own and Brewer / Schacher tour as Grand Funk with other musicians. But without the three of them on the same stage, it's just a shadow of what it was.

[tigereye]

8. one of the first albums I bought when I was 13 or something...

[carlyhippy]

9. I bought this album, I was like in 3rd grade

imagine my surprise when I opened the album jacket to see the picture of the naked band sitting on hay bales with the strategically placed flags LOL. I loved that album.

[tigereye]

10. exactly! I was a bit shocked when I opened it up - but those were days

when people didn't worry about that stuff so much. Nowadays there would be neurotic protests and "save the children"- type ranting.

[carlyhippy]

11. now days it wouldn't be sold to anyone under 18 ha

I remember being the cool, hip kid on the block for a while because I was the only one who had that album with the half naked band inside hehe. I always thought the guy in the middle with the long hair was cute (Mark Farner).