Grand Funk Railroad Survival CD

The cleaned-up production and general absence of sloppiness is the first thing you will notice upon hearing Survival. A surprisingly good album, Survival contains a number of standout cuts, including a cover of the Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter." With the devotion their fans showed toward them, it seemed that Grand Funk could do no wrong, and here, they attempted to prove their fans right. ~ James Chrispell

In his annotations to this expanded reissue of Grand Funk Railroad's fifth album, Steve Roeser quotes producer Terry Knight as saying that the band regarded Survival as their "studio album," a curious remark considering that they had made three previous albums in the studio. But those albums, recorded at Cleveland Recording, were rushed affairs and had been criticized for muddy sound. By the time Grand Funk came to make Survival in January 1971, that studio had moved to new quarters, and the group had become a national phenomenon, its last two albums Top Ten million-sellers. They spent a relatively luxurious six weeks or so on the record, and the results showed; Survival was the best-sounding and the best-played album they had yet made. Such assessments are, of course, relative, however. The group's playing remained rudimentary, especially in the rhythm section, and its sense of song construction was simple and repetitious. Singer/songwriter/guitarist Mark Farner sang in a strained, limited tenor lyrics that yearned for basic satisfactions ("Comfort Me," "I Want Freedom"), then led the lengthy instrumental passages with either simple guitar patterns or simple organ patterns. The band's choice of covers, Traffic's "Feelin' Alright" and the Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter," indicated taste (and that they were short of material), but their interpretations were inferior. This may have been Grand Funk's first real studio album, but they still sounded like they hadn't quite figured out how the studio differed from the stage and what added dynamics might be necessary to make a recording successful. The 2002 reissue adds a studio outtake, "I Can't Get Along With Society," that should have made the album; an early version of "Footstompin' Music" (which would turn up on the next album); and extended takes of "Country Road," "All You've Got Is Money," and "Feelin' Alright." ~ William Ruhlmann

Remastered reissue of their Top Ten-charting album from 1971 includes the hits, 'Feelin' Alright' & 'Gimme Shelter', plus five previously unreleased bonus tracks, 'I Can't Get Along With Society' (2002 Remix), 'Jam (Footstompin' Music)', 'Country Road' (unedited original version), 'All You've Got Is Money' (unedited original version), & 'Feelin' Alright' (unedited original version). Capitol. 2002.

All tracks have been digitally remastered.

Recorded at Cleveland Recording Company Studios, Cleveland, Ohio. Originally released on Capitol (764). Includes liner notes by Steve Roeser.

Personnel: Mark Farner (vocals, guitar, harmonica, keyboards); Don Brewer (vocals, drums).

Audio Mixer: Jimmy Hoyson.

Liner Note Author: Steve Roeser.

Recording information: Cleveland Recording Company Studios (01/02/1971-08/??/1971).

Grand Funk Railroad: Mark Farner (vocals, guitar, harmonica, keyboards); Don Brewer (vocals, drums); Mel Schacher (bass).

Rolling Stone (6/10/71, p.43) - Lester Bangs