Survival | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 15 April 1971 | |||
Recorded | March 1–3, 1971 | |||
Studio | Cleveland Recording Company, Cleveland | |||
Genre | Rock [1] | |||
Length | 40:55 | |||
Label | Capitol | |||
Producer | Terry Knight | |||
Grand Funk Railroad chronology | ||||
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Singles from Survival | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Christgau's Record Guide | C [3] |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Survival is the fourth studio album by American rock band Grand Funk Railroad, released in April 1971 by Capitol Records. Recorded at Cleveland Recording Company, the album was produced by Terry Knight. Drummer Don Brewer was not happy with the drum sound on the album, due to Knight's insistence of having Brewer cover his drum heads with tea-towels, after seeing Ringo Starr use the technique in the Beatles' film Let It Be (1970).
All tracks written by Mark Farner unless noted.
Side one
Side two
Bonus Tracks – CD release
The bonus tracks on the 2002 reissue labeled "Original Version" have extended sections and extra lyrics compared to the tracks as released on the original LP.
"Feelin' Alright" is a different take of the song, as heard by the different inflections in the vocals, placement of the instruments, and musical differences in the playing. There is also a third verse not in the LP version.
"Footstompin' Music" became a staple at Grand Funk Railroad's concerts, having been recorded at the Survival sessions but not included on the original release. It was brought into their next album setlist, E Pluribus Funk (1971), with a slightly different arrangement and without the word "Jam" on its title. The song is featured on the live albums Caught in the Act (1975), Bosnia (1997), and Live: The 1971 Tour (recorded in 1971, released in 2002).
2002 Remaster
The original LP release came with 8x10 photos of each of the three bandmembers, in similar poses as the caveman image of the three from the album cover.
Album
Chart (1971) | Peak position |
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US Billboard Top LPs [5] | 6 |
Australian National Charts [6] | 9 |
Canada RPM Top Albums [7] | 4 |
Singles
Year | Single | Chart | Position |
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1971 | "Feelin' Alright" | Billboard Hot 100 [8] | 54 |
Canada | 20 | ||
"Gimme Shelter" | Billboard Hot 100 [9] | 61 | |
Canada | 49 | ||
Germany [10] | 42 | ||