Grand Funk Railroad Survival CD - Import

By the time Grand Funk Railroad came to make Survival in January 1971, Cleveland Recording 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. ~ William Ruhlmann

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

Japanese pressing is part of a reissue series of six albums from Grand Funk Railroad featuring a bonus track, digital remastering and cardboard sleeve jacket designs. Complete series includes On Time, Grand Funk, Closer to Home, Live Album, Survival and E Pluribus Funk. Virgin. 2006.

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.

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