Grand Funk Railroad
Bosnia
It's probably no secret that Grand Funk is a big favorite with Vintage rockers;
however, it seems to be a big secret to the general public that Grand Funk is even back
together. And maybe in this day and age, it's not that important anyway. To the few who
have been waiting 20 years to see this band in action, BOSNIA is for them...and only them.
BOSNIA is a 2-CD live, greatest hits package recorded at the Palace in Auburn Hills,
just between Flint and Detroit, Michigan -- GFR's home court. It is the
"comeback" album in the tradition of the Eagles, Fleetwood Mac and countless
reformed units -- but with a publicity-friendly catch: it's for a worthy cause. The
proceeds from the concert -- and assumingly this album -- go to the Bosnian Relief Fund to
aid the war-torn people of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
BOSNIA starts off with the theme from 2001: A SPACE ODDYSEY, sounding the alarm for
what once was the biggest band in America. Well, at least on this night, they were the
biggest thing in Detroit. They open with "Are You Ready," a fist-pumping rocker
that's been a GFR standard from the very outset. This version, however, is a little too
toned down for it's own good. The producer, Ron Nevison, must have thought he was
producing Heart; the guitar sound lacks the usual grit that Mark Farner is known to wield.
Regardless, the Funk's concert staples follow suit -- "Rock n Roll Soul,"
"Footstompin' Music," "Inside Looking Out" and "We're An American
Band."
Through much of it, "the bong-rattling bass of Mel Schacher" and "the
competent drum work of Don Brewer" is firmly buried in the mix. Perhaps I've become
jaded listening to other recent live GFR, and not hearing what I've heard elsewhere. Grand
Funk fell victim to the high gloss production of the mid 70's, and swiftly eluded their
original following. They shouldn't try to do it again in the name of charity.
Amidst the obligatory hits of their later days ("Bad Time,"
"Locomotion," "Shinin' On," and "Some Kind of Wonderful"),
they still manage to fill the set out with some choice material. "Time Machine"
is a stand-out, featuring guest Peter Frampton bending the strings with Farner. Bob Segar
reedman Alto Reed blows some snappy sax on "Aimless Lady," another early
blues-tinged shuffle from the band's third album.
The second disc, at a mere 36 minutes, features the Detroit Symphony Orchestra,
conducted by Paul Shaffer -- yeah that Paul Shaffer. The culmination arrives in the
form of the epic, "I'm Your Captain." This number alone justifies the presence
of the orchestra, and takes full advantage of such rich embellishment. Ironically, the
added instrumentation really takes flight during the next and final number,
"Loneliness." In this reviewer's opinion, there's a rare gem if there ever was
one. Too bad, it was somewhat shelved when GFR didn't employ the orchestra for later
shows.
In the meantime, the appetite for new Funk has been mollified. Talk of box sets and CDs
of new material is already on the chopping block. Until they take the risks necessary to
market their brand of fun, BOSNIA gives Funk listeners a chance to go back and wonder just
what all the fuss was about. Hopefully, nothing will get lost in the translation.
~ Shawn Perry
Get yourself some new music
equipment, whether you want Fender
guitars or
digital
pianos, we will have it.
For submissions, comments, suggestions and offers of sponsorship
Send E-mail to stperry@inetworld.net
Back to CD Review Archive
Take Me Home
© Copyright 1997, 2007
Vintage Rock
|
