Classic Rock N Recall: Grand Funk Railroad’s ‘Live Album’

Today In Classic Rock History

In 1970
Grand Funk Railroad released the album "Live Album."

Kind of a cool thing to talk about this with our 991 The Whale Classic "LIVE" Weekend starting this afternoon  at 5pm with Holly Dagger.

When Rock N Roll was new to me, Grand Funk Railroad was one of the first really cool rock bands I listened to. The band was formed in 1969 by Mark Farner and Don Brewer from Terry Knight and the Pack and Mel Schacher from Question Mark & the Mysterians;
Here is a bar band... from Flint Michigan, who took their name from the Grand Trunk Western Railroad. A three piece band who wailed! These kids were playing the local bar scene, when they were asked to 'fill in,' at the Atlanta Pop Festival that very same year. A festival with over 500,000 people in attendance at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
After a raucous, well-received set on the first day of the festival, the group was asked back to play two additional days. Patterned after hard rock power trios such as Cream, in 1970, they sold more albums than any other American band and became a major concert attraction. In 1969, the band released its first album titled On Time, (which I own) and which sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold record in 1970.

In the day, Grand Funk Railroad was panned by the critics, but they played to sold out stadiums because they were known for their amazingly hot, LIVE performances. They sold out Shea Stadium in New York, faster than the Beatles did....  in just 72 hours.

I was so into this band, and still am. It's too bad that Mark Farner and the other guys, can't

get their acts together and get it together again as the Real Grand Funk Railroad.  I had a great time watching,listening and talking to Mark Farner at Spiedifest a few years ago.  I remember sitting at my friend, Joe Richardsons house and listening over and over again to 'All The Girls in The World Beware!!!' which came out in '74.  Those were awesome times!

We have two live songs by this amazing group coming up this weekend. We promise to get you more the next time we have a live weekend. Anyway, here's the amazing 5 part story of Grand Funk Railroad.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5