The 70s was fertile ground for simple guitar hooks and catchy rock songs, battling the disco sound that was all too popular with the ‘non rockers.’ Grand Funk Railroad was Mark Farner, Don Brewer, and Terry Knight (think of this three-man band as an early ZZ Top). They were discovered at the Atlanta Music Festival in 1969, signed, and began selling millions of records. Here are our top three Grand Funk Railroad hits…
“I’m You’re Captain (Closer to Home)” is the longest hit record that radio stations in the new FM band couldn’t play enough. Many critics believe the song was about the Vietnam War.
“The Locomotion” and “We’re an American Band” (okay this was a tie) were from the album “We’re an American Band” was oddly the band’s biggest commercial success. Up and coming producer Todd Rundgren molded both songs to a #1 hits.
The single “Bad Time” by the boys from the album “All the Girls in the World Beware” is one of our favorite tunes for one simple reason; up until that time the band was known as “Grand Funk.” Immediately after that singe hit the charts in 1975, they changed their name to “Grand Funk Railroa.”