September 27, 2005 | Posted by mark at 3:08 AM

Opportunity Only Knocks Once

Grand Funk RailroadGrand Funk Railroad - Nothing is the Same.

I wish there was more funk rock. I wish there was more immaculately produced drums, guitar and bass that expertly straddles the line between the twin gods of FUNK and ROCK. Listen to this damn thing. Listen to the drums! Holy crap. This song is a damn monster with a mind of its own. Listen to that guitar line at the beginning! Hysterical genius. These kids need to be locked up for making shit this hot.

So, I'm not gonna sit here and lecture you on why the Grand Funk are the most underated of all the rock and roll vehicles, because I know you don't care. But I will tell you that Closer to Home is a damn fine record. The reissue even contains a live version of Mean Mistreater that a prime example of post rock way before its time. It's ridiculous. Now, don't listen to AllMusic who says that the production is lacking here, because it's not. I couldn't ask for better drums and bass, but I'm maybe my ears aren't that good. I don't know.

Anyway, I'm almost done with my 60s-70s kick, I promise. Until then, you can pick up a sweet, new copy of Closer to Home with bonus track from our friends at insound for just under 12 bucks. You can also pick it up on vinyl on most dollar bins, and this track definitely works on the dancefloor in the middle of a funk set. Recommended.

Comments

A couple of years ago I was living in dark frigid northeastern Europe and spent a freezing spring curled up in bed, lonely and heartbroken, just playing guitar. My mom sent me a care package that had a copy of Guitar World -- kind of random, I hadn't read GW in like 10 years -- and they had the chords for "I'm Your Captain" and it was the greatest thing ever. I still can't believe that Grand Funk was one of the things that helped me stay sane.

Posted by: gerhardj at September 27, 2005 4:07 PM

No one in the uk has a clue who GFR are. It's great cos i can get away with playing Sin is a good man's brother and people think it's an unearthed rare classic.

Posted by: 20jazzfunkgreats at September 28, 2005 7:17 AM

Grand Funk had some great tunes throughout the seventies. A true Amerian original.

Posted by: pelegrim at September 30, 2005 1:49 AM

i just played this when dj'ing last night. thanks for the tune.

Posted by: keith at October 1, 2005 5:10 PM

not to mention homer simpson's favorite band...

Posted by: famthtrowa at October 3, 2005 1:36 AM

Wow, homer's fav, we are in such good company!

Posted by: 20jazzfunkgreats at October 3, 2005 8:24 AM
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