Grand Funk Railroad's somewhat eponymous 1970 album, the band's second for
Capitol, is characteristic of the classic
rock radio sound that would permeate the airwaves of the late 20th century.
Grand Funk Railroad was a seminal force in giving the friendlier side of the heavy
rock sound its charm and making it stick. Built on fuzzed-out
blues riffs, simple lyrics, and at times seemingly unnecessary jamming,
Grand Funk's songs are mild in nature. Far less extreme than
Black Sabbath but slightly toothier than
Foghat or
Bad Company,
Grand Funk's major influence comes from the loose,
blues-based power trio formula of bands such as
Cream and
the Jimi Hendrix Experience.
Grand Funk combines rawness with radio-friendly melodies and vocal harmonies that would become their trademark sound. Hordes of bands to come, from
Foreigner to
Bon Jovi, would emulate
Grand Funk's sound and style, focusing on good-time rocking material while attempting a few token social commentary pieces. This is a good album as far as early
hard rock goes, and as
Grand Funk Railroad would move farther and farther away from the type of roughness and loose arrangements found here, it is well worth picking up as an example of one of the group's early efforts. [The 2002 reissue adds an alternate version of
"Mr. Limousine Driver" and a demo of
"Nothing Is the Same" as bonus tracks.] ~ Jeff Schwachter
![Coda [Remastered]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0081227955854_p0_v4_s90x140.jpg "Coda [Remastered]")
![Too Old to Rock 'N' Roll: Too Young to Die! [Bonus Tracks]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0724354157325_p0_v2_s90x140.jpg "Too Old to Rock 'N' Roll: Too Young to Die! [Bonus Tracks]")
![Masque [Bonus Tracks]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0886972379029_p0_v3_s90x140.jpg "Masque [Bonus Tracks]")
![Second Helping [Bonus Tracks]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0008811164829_p0_v1_s90x140.jpg "Second Helping [Bonus Tracks]")
