We're an American Band (song)

Last updated
"We're an American Band"
GFO - American Band single.jpg
Single by Grand Funk Railroad
from the album We're an American Band
B-side "Creepin'"
Released July 2, 1973
RecordedJune 1973
Studio Criteria (Miami)
Genre Hard rock [1] [2]
Length3:26
3:31 (2002 remix)
Label Capitol
Songwriter(s) Don Brewer
Producer(s) Todd Rundgren
Grand Funk Railroad singles chronology
"Rock & Roll Soul"
(1972)
"We're an American Band"
(1973)
"Walk Like a Man"
(1973)
Gold vinyl issue
We're an American Band - Grand Funk Railroad.jpg
Limited edition release

Cover versions

"We're An American Band"
Single by Poison
from the album The Best of Poison: 20 Years of Rock
Released 2006
Recorded2006
Genre Rock
Label Capitol
Songwriter(s) Don Brewer
Poison singles chronology
"Shooting Star"
(2003)
"We're An American Band"
(2006)
"What I Like About You"
(2007)

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [14] Platinum1,000,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Farner</span> American musician (born 1948)

Mark Fredrick Farner is an American musician. He was the original singer and guitarist of the rock band Grand Funk Railroad, which he co-founded in 1969, and later as a contemporary Christian musician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walk This Way</span> 1975 single by Aerosmith

"Walk This Way" is a song by the American rock band Aerosmith. Written by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, the song was originally released as the second single from the album Toys in the Attic (1975). It peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1977, part of a string of successful hit singles for the band in the 1970s. In addition to being one of the songs that helped break Aerosmith into the mainstream in the 1970s, it also helped revitalize their career in the 1980s when it was covered by hip hop group Run-D.M.C. on their 1986 album Raising Hell. This cover was a touchstone for the new musical subgenre of rap rock, or the melding of rock and hip hop. It became an international hit, reaching number 4 on the Billboard charts, and won both groups a Soul Train Music Award for Best Rap Single in 1987 Soul Train Music Awards. Both versions are in the Grammy Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sweet Emotion</span> 1975 single by Aerosmith

"Sweet Emotion" is a song by the American rock band Aerosmith, released in 1975 on their third studio album Toys in the Attic by Columbia Records. It was released as a single on May 19, 1975. The song began a string of pop hits and large-scale success for the band that would continue for the remainder of the 1970s. The song was written by lead singer Steven Tyler and bassist Tom Hamilton, produced by Jack Douglas and recorded at Record Plant studio.

<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>Were an American Band</i> 1973 studio album by Grand Funk Railroad

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. 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. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Every Rose Has Its Thorn</span> 1988 single by Poison

"Every Rose Has Its Thorn" is a power ballad by American glam metal band Poison. It was released in October 1988 as the third single from Poison's second album Open Up and Say... Ahh!. The band's signature song, it is also their only number-one hit in the US, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on December 24, 1988, for three weeks. It also charted at number 11 on the Mainstream Rock chart. It was a number 13 hit in the UK. "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" was named number 34 on VH1's "100 Greatest Songs of the 80s", number 100 on their "100 Greatest Love Songs" and number seven on MTV and VH1 "Top 25 Power Ballads". Billboard ranked the song number five on their list of "The 10 Best Poison Songs".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rock and Roll All Nite</span> 1975 single by Kiss

"Rock and Roll All Nite" is a song by American rock band Kiss, originally released on their 1975 album Dressed to Kill as its closing track. It was released as the A-side of their fifth single, with the album track "Getaway". The studio version of the song peaked at No. 68 on the Billboard singles chart, besting the band's previous charting single, "Kissin' Time" (#89). A subsequent live version, released as a single in October 1975, eventually reached No. 12 in early 1976, the first of six Top 20 songs for Kiss in the 1970s. "Rock and Roll All Nite" became Kiss's signature song and has served as the group's closing concert number in almost every concert since 1976. In 2008, it was named the 16th greatest hard rock song of all time by VH1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barracuda (song)</span> 1977 single by Heart

"Barracuda" is a song by American rock band Heart, released in 1977 on their third studio album, Little Queen, and was released as the album's lead single. The song peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2009, "Barracuda" was named the 34th-best hard rock song of all time by VH1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shine (Collective Soul song)</span> 1993 single by Collective Soul

"Shine" is the debut single by American alternative rock band Collective Soul. It served as the lead single for their 1993/1994 debut album, Hints Allegations and Things Left Unsaid. "Shine" would remain the band's most well known song and a hallmark of 1990s alternative rock. It became the number one Album Rock Song of 1994, and won a Billboard award for Top Rock Track. The song also reached the top of the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart for eight weeks. The song then went on to peak at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 for one week.

<i>The Best of Poison: 20 Years of Rock</i> 2006 greatest hits album by Poison

The Best of Poison: 20 Years of Rock is a compilation album from the American glam metal band Poison, released by Capitol Records on April 3, 2006, to celebrate the band's 20th anniversary. It sold more than one million copies to date in the U.S as of September 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cum On Feel the Noize</span> 1973 single by Slade

"Cum On Feel the Noize" is a song by the English rock band Slade which was released in 1973 as a non-album single. It was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and it was produced by Chas Chandler. It reached No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart, giving the band their fourth number one single, and remained in the charts for twelve weeks. The song was included on the band's 1973 compilation album Sladest. In a UK poll in 2015 it was voted 15th on the ITV special The Nation's Favourite 70s Number One.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Give Love a Bad Name</span> 1986 single by Bon Jovi

"You Give Love a Bad Name" is a song by American rock band Bon Jovi, released as the first single from their 1986 album Slippery When Wet. Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, and Desmond Child about a woman who has jilted her lover, the song reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 on November 29, 1986, and became the band's first number-one hit. In 2007, the song re-entered the charts at No. 29 after Blake Lewis performed it on American Idol. Despite the lyrics of the chorus, the song should not be confused with "Shot Through the Heart", an unrelated song from Bon Jovi's 1984 self-titled debut album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maneater (Hall & Oates song)</span> 1982 single by Daryl Hall & John Oates

"Maneater" is a song by American duo Hall & Oates, featured on their eleventh studio album, H2O (1982). It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on December 18, 1982. It remained in the top spot for four weeks, longer than any of the duo's five other number-one hits, including "Kiss on My List", which remained in the top spot for three weeks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Photograph (Def Leppard song)</span> 1983 single by Def Leppard

"Photograph" is a song by the British hard rock band Def Leppard that was produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange. The track served as the lead single from the band's third studio album, which was titled Pyromania and came out in 1983. Although it has frequently been described as being a tribute to the entertainer Marilyn Monroe, the group's lead vocalist, Joe Elliott, has described the song as broadly about "something you can't ever get your hands on".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rock On (David Essex song)</span> Single by David Essex

"Rock On" is a song written by English singer David Essex. Recorded in 1973 and released as a single by Essex, it became an international hit. In 1989, American actor and singer Michael Damian recorded a cover version that went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song has been recorded many times, including a 2006 version by the English hard rock group Def Leppard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Your Mama Don't Dance</span> 1972 single by Loggins and Messina

"Your Mama Don't Dance" is a hit 1972 song by the rock duo Loggins and Messina. Released on their self-titled album Loggins and Messina, it reached number four on the Billboard pop chart and number 19 on the Billboard Easy Listening Chart as a single in early 1973.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Stroke</span> 1981 single by Billy Squier

"The Stroke" is a song written and recorded by American rock artist Billy Squier. It was released in 1981 as the debut single from his 3× platinum album Don't Say No.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Know What Boys Like</span> 1980 single by The Waitresses

"I Know What Boys Like" is a song by the Waitresses, written by guitarist Chris Butler in 1978, while he was still a member of the rock band Tin Huey.

"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. Tucker, Dan (February 28, 2014). "13 Classic Hard Rock Songs That Will Make You Scream "More Cowbell!"". VH1 . Viacom. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  2. Breihan, Tom (November 15, 2022). "Bon Jovi - "You Give Love a Bad Name". The Number Ones: Twenty Chart-Topping Hits That Reveal the History of Pop Music. New York: Hachette Book Group. p. 176.
  3. "We're an American Band (song by Grand Funk Railroad) ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts". Musicvf.com. 1973-07-28. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  4. "Grand Funk Railroad: The story behind 'We're an American Band'". al.com. October 2023. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
  5. "What Really Inspired Grand Funk's 'We're An American Band'". ultimateclassicrock.com. 2 July 2023. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
  6. "VH1 Top 100 Hard Rock Songs". Music.spreadit.org. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
  7. "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. July 14, 1973. p. 24. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
  8. "RPM100 Singles". Library and Archives Canada. 20 October 1973. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  9. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN   0-89820-089-X
  10. "Image : RPM Weekly". Library and Archives Canada. December 26, 2017.
  11. "Top 100 Hits of 1973/Top 100 Songs of 1973". musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  12. "Poison - Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
  13. "Behind the Song: "We're an American Band," by Grand Funk Railroad". 27 February 2020.
  14. "American single certifications – Grand Funk Railroad – We're an American Band". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved July 12, 2022.