‘Good Singin’ Good Playin’ produced by Frank Zappa is the best album Grand Funk Railroad ever recorded.
Written by: Eric
ARTIST: Grand Funk Railroad
ALBUM: Good Singin’ Good Playin’
LABEL: MCA
SERIAL: MCA-2216
YEAR: 1976
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
LINEUP: Mark Farner – vocals, guitar, piano * Don Brewer – vocals, drums, percussion * Mel Schacher – bass, background vocals * Craig Frost – keyboards, backing vocals * Frank Zappa – guitar
TRACK LISTING: 01 Just Couldn’t Wait * 02 Can You Do It * 03 Pass It Around * 04 Don’t Let ‘Em Take Your Gun * 05 Miss My Baby * 06 Big Buns * 07 Out To Get You * 08 Crossfire * 09 1976 * 10 Release Your Love * 11 Goin’ For The Pastor
WEBLINKS: Site Link
Background
Confession time. Despite being a child of the 1970’s, I have never been a big fan of Grand Funk Railroad. Their mixture of hard rock, glam and Vietnam-era good time music never turned me on much, although singles like ‘I’m Your Captain’, ‘The Loco-Motion’ and especially ‘Bad Time’ (one of the great American pop songs of the 70’s) are certainly worth hearing and owning.
But overall like early Doobie Brothers and Black Oak Arkansas, thanks but no thanks with one exception. ‘Good Singin’ Good Playin’ produced by none other than Frank Zappa is in my ever so humble opinion the best album the group recorded and unfortunately would be their last, before an ill-advised reunion in the early 1980’s.
The Songs
On paper, combining the avant garde muso Frank Zappa with the ever patriotic and at times ham-fisted Grand Funk Railroad might appear like a train wreck from hell, but it’s nothing short of genius.
Zappa’s production on this record is sharp and crisp and the band on the verge of self-destructing play for the fun of it, knowing their time has come to an end as if they didn’t give a shit.
The results are outstanding and it doesn’t get much better than the album’s opener ‘Just Couldn’t Wait’ which is slightly reminiscent lyrically of the aforementioned ‘Bad Time’ although not as immediately catchy. It is one of Grand Funk’s best and a good example of Mark Farner’s guitar and vocal talents and why the band was such a success.
‘Pass It Around’ returns to past Grand Funk glories with a couple guitar chords seemingly pulled from a bevy of the group’s hits. Again, it’s a winner as is ‘Miss My Baby’ a sweet, near power pop ballad with Farner’s vocals stealing the show.
Yes, there is a bit of red neck Americana here with ‘Don’t Let ‘Em Take Your Gun’ getting quite political for 1976 and a song whose lyrics old Ted Nugent would probably wear as a t-shirt these days.
The Spinal Tap-ish titled ‘Big Buns’ clocking in at just thirty seconds and the excellent ‘Out To Get You’ with Zappa on guitar is about all the influence the producer had on the album. He thankfully sat back and let the band do what they did they did best and the listener is all the better for it.
In Summary
Too often I think fans of classic AOR miss the boat when it comes to music pre-1977 that laid the groundwork for the golden age of melodic rock. In many ways, groups and artists of this period are far more interesting. Trial and error, with ties to the late 60’s chaos and a slightly different set of influences (early Journey anyone?)
Bands like Grand Funk Railroad, Three Dog Night, The Guess Who, Sugarloaf and numerous others which we have covered or will cover soon on Glory Daze were on the right track but time was not on their side. If you are serious about melodic rock and curious about the complete history of the genre, start listening to albums like ‘Good Singin’ Good Playin” and enjoy!
Grand Funk Railroad on Video
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