We're an American Band

Last updated
We're an American Band
Grand Funk Railroad We're an American Band album cover.jpg
Studio album by
Grand Funk Railroad
ReleasedJuly 1973 (1973-07) [1]
RecordedJune 12–15, 1973
Studio Criteria, Miami
Genre Hard rock
Length39:48
Label Capitol
Producer Todd Rundgren
Grand Funk Railroad chronology
Phoenix
(1972)		We're an American Band
(1973)		 Shinin' On
(1974)
Singles from We're an American Band
  1. "We're an American Band"/"Creepin'"
    Released: July 2, 1973 [2]
  2. "Walk Like a Man"/"The Railroad"
    Released: October 29, 1973 [2]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [3]
Christgau's Record Guide B− [4]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [5]

We're an American Band is the seventh studio album by American hard rock band Grand Funk Railroad, credited as Grand Funk. The album was released by Capitol Records in July 1973, and was certified gold by the RIAA a little over a month after its release. [1] Two singles were released from the album. The title track was the first single from the album released on July 2, 1973 and the second, "Walk Like a Man", was released on October 29, 1973. [2] Both were sung by drummer Don Brewer. There was also an addition to the band's membership with this release - Craig Frost - who played the organ, clavinet and Moog. Prior to We're an American Band being released, Grand Funk Railroad had been a power trio. Craig was credited as an additional musician on Phoenix , which was released the previous year.

Contents

The album cover was originally covered in gold-colored foil on the outside, and the initial run of pressings were pressed in clear, dark yellow vinyl to simulate or suggest a "gold" record. The album has been reissued many times and is currently available in the Compact Disc format. A Quadraphonic mix of the album was available in the Quadraphonic 8-Track cartridge format.

The album is #200 of the National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM) Definitive 200 albums of all time.

Recording, production, artwork, and packaging

We're an American Band was the group's first collaboration with producer-engineer Todd Rundgren. Rundgren and the band recorded the album at Criteria Studios in Miami, Florida on June 13–15, 1973. Rundgren would go on to produce the band's next album, Shinin' On (1974), before the band switched to Jimmy Ienner.

The album's original issue, as well as the "We're an American Band" single, was on translucent yellow vinyl, symbolic of a 'Gold record'. The album labels, above the side numbers, instructed listeners to play "at full volume". It included four stickers (two blue, and two red) with the Grand Funk "Pointing Finger" logo. Emphasizing the shortening of the group's name, the word "Railroad" does not appear anywhere on the album sleeve, liner, or vinyl record, except as the title of the first song on side two of the album.

Reception

Upon the album's release, We're an American Band became the band's best-received album by critics, so far. Robert Christgau gave the album a B−, his highest rating for a Grand Funk Railroad album at the time (although Shinin' On (1974) and Grand Funk Hits (1976) would receive a B and B+, respectively). [4] A modern review of the album by William Ruhlmann for AllMusic stated that the album was a departure from the band's usual material, which was mostly due to Todd Rundgren's production and Don Brewer's increase in lead vocal work. Ruhlmann also said that the album sounded more professional than their previous ones. [3]

It peaked at number 2 on the Billboard 200, the band's highest position on the chart, but spent one week at number 1 on the Cash Box, and Record World album charts. [6]

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
1."We're an American Band" Don Brewer Brewer3:27
2."Stop Lookin' Back"Brewer, Mark Farner Brewer4:52
3."Creepin'"FarnerFarner7:02
4."Black Licorice"Brewer, FarnerBrewer4:45
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
5."The Railroad"FarnerFarner6:12
6."Ain't Got Nobody"Brewer, FarnerFarner4:26
7."Walk Like a Man"Brewer, FarnerBrewer4:05
8."Loneliest Rider"FarnerFarner5:17
2002 bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
9."Hooray"Brewer, FarnerBrewer and Farner4:05
10."The End"Brewer, FarnerBrewer2:49
11."Stop Looking Back" (acoustic mix)Brewer, FarnerBrewer3:04
12."We're an American Band" (2002 remix)BrewerBrewer3:32

Personnel

Per sleeve notes [7]

Grand Funk Railroad (credited as Grand Funk)

Production

Per sleeve notes [7]

2002 Remaster

Charts

Chart (1973)Peak
position
Australia [8]
27
Canadian Top Albums [9] 4
German Albums [10] 46
Norwegian Top 40 Albums [11] 12
US Billboard 200 [12] 2
US Cash Box Top 100 Albums [6] 1
US Record World Album Chart [13] 1
Singles
YearSingleChartPosition
1973"We're an American Band" Billboard Hot 100 [14] 1
Canada 4
Australia 87
"Walk Like a Man"Billboard Hot 100 [15] 19
Canada16

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grand Funk Railroad</span> American band

Grand Funk Railroad is an American rock band formed in Flint, Michigan, in 1969 by Mark Farner, Don Brewer and Mel Schacher (bass). The band achieved peak popularity and success during the 1970s with hit songs such as "We're an American Band", "I'm Your Captain ", "Some Kind of Wonderful", "Walk Like a Man", "The Loco-Motion", "Bad Time" and "Inside Looking Out". Grand Funk released six platinum and seven gold-certified albums between their recording debut in 1969 and their first disbandment in 1976.

<i>Stage Fright</i> (album) 1970 studio album by the Band

Stage Fright is the third studio album by Canadian-American rock band the Band, released on August 17, 1970, by Capitol Records. It featured two of the group's best known songs, "The Shape I'm In" and "Stage Fright", both of which showcased inspired lead vocal performances and became staples in the group's live shows.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don Brewer</span> American drummer and singer (born 1948)

Donald George Brewer is an American drummer and singer who is a founding member and longtime original drummer of the rock band Grand Funk Railroad.

<i>On Time</i> 1969 studio album by Grand Funk Railroad

On Time is the debut studio album by American rock band Grand Funk Railroad, released on August 25, 1969, by Capitol Records. It was recorded at Cleveland Recording Company, the album was produced by Terry Knight. "Time Machine", the band's debut single release, made it into the top 50 in the singles charts, reaching #48.

<i>Grand Funk</i> (album) 1969 studio album by Grand Funk Railroad

Grand Funk is the second studio album by American rock band Grand Funk Railroad. It was released on December 29, 1969, by Capitol Records, just four months after their debut album On Time. Recorded at Cleveland Recording Company, the album was produced by Terry Knight and engineered by Ken Hamann. The album was certified gold by the RIAA, the first for the group. It includes a cover of the Animals' 1966 song "Inside Looking Out", which is still a staple of the band's live concerts.

<i>Closer to Home</i> 1970 studio album by Grand Funk Railroad

Closer to Home is the third studio album by American rock band Grand Funk Railroad. The album was released on June 15, 1970, by Capitol Records. Recorded at Cleveland Recording Company, the album was produced by Terry Knight. This album reached RIAA gold record status in 1970, making it the group's third gold record in one year. The album's inside artwork shows a live photo of the band performing at Madison Square Garden in February 1970.

<i>Survival</i> (Grand Funk Railroad album) 1971 studio album by Grand Funk Railroad

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).

<i>E Pluribus Funk</i> 1971 studio album by Grand Funk Railroad

E Pluribus Funk is the fifth studio album by American rock band Grand Funk Railroad. The album was released on November 15, 1971, by Capitol Records. Like previous Grand Funk Railroad albums, it was recorded at Cleveland Recording Company and is the final album produced by Terry Knight. The title is a play on the Latin motto of the United States of America, E pluribus unum and translates as "Out of many, Funk". The original release cover was completely round and covered with a silver-like film to resemble a large coin. The back side of the cover of this album included a die cast picture of Shea Stadium to celebrate Grand Funk beating The Beatles' Shea Stadium attendance record by selling out in just 72 hours.

<i>Phoenix</i> (Grand Funk Railroad album) 1972 studio album by Grand Funk Railroad

Phoenix is the sixth studio album by American rock band Grand Funk Railroad, released on September 15, 1972, by Capitol Records. The album was produced by the band and marks their first album without producer by Terry Knight. "Rock & Roll Soul" was released as a single and peaked at #29 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1972.

<i>Caught in the Act</i> (Grand Funk Railroad album) 1975 live album by Grand Funk Railroad

Caught in the Act is Grand Funk Railroad's second live album and was released in August 1975 by Capitol Records as a double album. It was recorded live on tour in 1975 and features "The Funkettes" – Lorraine Feather and Jana Giglio.

<i>Live Album</i> (Grand Funk Railroad album) 1970 live album by Grand Funk Railroad

Live Album is the first live album by American hard rock band Grand Funk Railroad, originally released by Capitol Records on November 16, 1970. The first single released from the album, "Mean Mistreater", was released on November 23 and the second, "Inside Looking Out", was released in January 1971.

<i>Classic Masters</i> (Grand Funk Railroad album) 2002 greatest hits album by Grand Funk Railroad

Classic Masters is a compilation album from Grand Funk Railroad. Released in 2002, it is one in a series by Capitol Records.

<i>All the Girls in the World Beware!!!</i> 1974 studio album by Grand Funk Railroad

All the Girls in the World Beware!!! is the ninth studio album by American hard rock band Grand Funk Railroad. The album was released by Capitol Records in December 1974 and was the group's second album released that year. The first single from the album, "Some Kind of Wonderful", was released on December 16, 1974, and its follow-up, "Bad Time", was released on March 24, 1975. A Quadraphonic mix of the album was available on the Quadraphonic 8-Track cartridge format.

<i>Shinin On</i> 1974 studio album by Grand Funk Railroad

Shinin' On is the eighth studio album by American rock band Grand Funk Railroad. The album was released in March 1974, by Capitol Records. Although not as successful as its predecessor, We're an American Band (1973), it peaked at #5 in the US and was certified gold, and its first single, a cover of "The Loco-Motion" topped the U.S. charts. The original cover was done in bi-visual 3-D and included the required blue and red lense glasses to view it. The 3D art was done by renowned graphics artist Neal Adams, based on an idea by Lynn Goldsmith and Funk's manager Andrew Cavaliere. Goldsmith worked not only as the band’s photographer, but had also directed the 1973 promotional film for We’re An American Band and created a number of other Grand Funk covers. A Quadraphonic mix of the album was available in the Quadraphonic 8-Track cartridge format. The title song was featured in The Simpsons' 7th season episode "Homerpalooza" on May 19, 1996.

<i>Thirty Years of Funk: 1969–1999</i> 1999 box set by Grand Funk Railroad

Thirty Years of Funk: 1969–1999 is a 1999 box set by Grand Funk Railroad, containing three new songs and several previously unreleased songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">We're an American Band (song)</span> 1973 single by Grand Funk Railroad

"We're an American Band" is a No. 1 single by American rock band Grand Funk Railroad. Released on July 2, 1973, from the band's album of the same name, it became the band's first single to top the Billboard charts. Written by Don Brewer and produced by Todd Rundgren, its huge chart success broadened Grand Funk's appeal. In a 2023 interview, Brewer said the song, which stiches together snippets of events from the band's touring life, was written in an effort to garner the band more hits as FM radio stations were transitioning into singles-oriented formats.

<i>Grand Funk Hits</i> 1976 greatest hits album by Grand Funk Railroad

Grand Funk Hits is a greatest hits compilation by Grand Funk Railroad originally released in 1976 on Capitol Records (LP-ST-11579). It peaked at number 126 on the Billboard 200.

<i>Capitol Collectors Series</i> (Grand Funk Railroad album) 1991 compilation album by Grand Funk Railroad

Capitol Collector Series is a compilation album from Grand Funk Railroad released in 1991. It was the first compilation covering the bulk of the band's career on Capitol Records. The songs are arranged chronologically.

This article is a discography of American rock musician Todd Rundgren.

"Walk Like a Man" is a song written by Don Brewer and Mark Farner and performed by Grand Funk Railroad. It reached number 16 in Canada and number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1974. It was featured on their 1973 album, We're an American Band.

References

  1. 1 2 "Gold & Platinum Searchable Database" (PHP). Recording Industry Association of America . Search for "Heartbreakers" to see results.
  2. 1 2 3 Tedds, David K. (2006). Greatest Hits (CD liner). Grand Funk Railroad. Hollywood, California, United States: Capitol Records. 509992-34915-26.
  3. 1 2 Ruhlmann, William. "Review: We're an American Band by Grand Funk Railroad". AllMusic . United States: Rovi Corporation . Retrieved July 8, 2011.
  4. 1 2 Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: G". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies . Ticknor & Fields. ISBN   089919026X . Retrieved February 24, 2019– via robertchristgau.com.
  5. ↑ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. pp. 286–287.
  6. 1 2 "CASH BOX MAGAZINE: Music and coin machine magazine 1942 to 1996". worldradiohistory.com. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
  7. 1 2 We're An American Band (vinyl sleeve). Grand Funk Railroad. Capitol Records. 1973. inner left sleeve.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 128. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  9. ↑ "100 Albums" (PHP). RPM . Vol. 20, no. 10. October 20, 1973. p. 10. ISSN   0315-5994 . Retrieved July 8, 2011.
  10. ↑ "Album – Grand Funk, We Are an American Band" (ASP). Media Control Charts (in German). Retrieved July 8, 2011.[ dead link ]
  11. ↑ "Grand Funk – We Are an American Band (Album)" (ASP). Norwegian Charts . Hung Medien. Retrieved July 8, 2011.
  12. ↑ "Grand Funk Railroad: Charts & Awards – Billboard Albums". Allmusic . United States: Rovi Corporation . Retrieved July 8, 2011.
  13. ↑ "RECORD WORLD MAGAZINE: 1942 to 1982". worldradiohistory.com. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
  14. ↑ Grand Funk Railroad, "We're An American Band" Chart Position Retrieved March 24, 2015
  15. ↑ Grand Funk Railroad, "Walk Like a Man" Chart Position Retrieved March 24, 2015
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.