Born to Die (Grand Funk Railroad album)

Last updated
Born to Die
Born to die Grand Funk.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJanuary 1976
Length48:17
Label Capitol Records
Producer Jimmy Ienner
Grand Funk Railroad chronology
Caught in the Act
(1975)
Born to Die
(1976)
Good Singin', Good Playin'
(1976)
Singles from Born to Die
  1. "Take Me"/"Genevieve"
    Released: January 1976
  2. "Sally"/"Love Is Dyin'"
    Released: February 1976
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]

Born to Die is the tenth studio album by American hard rock band Grand Funk Railroad, released in January 1976.

Contents

The album's title is considered to be one of the group's more somber, straying away from the upbeat and cocky attitude that was so prevalent on previous albums, such as All the Girls in the World Beware!!! (1974), and focusing on darker musical and lyrical content concerning death, politics, and personal relationships. The title track was written by Farner in memory of his cousin who had died in a motorcycle accident. [2] The more upbeat pop single, "Sally", released on 3 April, was written by Mark Farner for his then love interest, the actress/singer Sally Kellerman.

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead VocalsLength
1."Born to Die" Farner Farner5:35
2."Dues" Brewer/Frost Brewer5:36
3."Sally"FarnerFarner3:16
4."I Fell for Your Love"Brewer/FrostBrewer4:12
5."Talk to the People"Farner/FrostFarner5:33
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead VocalsLength
6."Take Me"Brewer/FrostBrewer5:10
7."Genevieve"Farner/Brewer/Schacher/FrostInstrumental6:12
8."Love Is Dyin'"BrewerBrewer4:14
9."Politician"FarnerFarner3:54
10."Good Things"FarnerFarner4:35
Total length:47:05
Bonus Tracks - CD Release
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead VocalsLength
11."Bare Naked Woman" (Live Rehearsal)(unknown)Farner3:40
12."Genevieve" (Live Rehearsal)Farner/Brewer/Schacher/FrostInstrumental6:28

Personnel

Charts

Chart (1976)Peak
position
Canadian Albums ( RPM ) [3] 31
US Billboard 200 [4] 47

Singles

YearSingleChartPosition
1976"Take Me" Billboard Hot 100 53 [5]
Canada58
"Sally"Billboard Hot 10069 [6]
Canada35

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References

  1. AllMusic review
  2. Billy James An American Band: The Story of Grand Funk Railroad 1999 - Page 128 "Concerning the title track Farner said, '"Born To Die' was written for my cousin who passed away in a motorcycle accident. It was early the next morning after his death and I had the piano there. I just felt the song coming to me and I wrote it.
  3. Grand Funk Railroad, Born to Die Canadian Chart Position Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved March 25, 2015
  4. Born to Die charts at AllMusic
  5. Grand Funk Railroad, "Take Me" Chart Position Retrieved March 25, 2015
  6. Grand Funk Railroad, "Sally" Chart Position Retrieved March 25, 2015