Grand Funk Railroad - Live: The 1971 Tour (1971)

"Live: The 1971 Tour" is a live album from Grand Funk Railroad, which was recorded over several performances in 1971

This Grand Funk Railroad concert recording from Detroit, Chicago, and Shea Stadium on the band's enormously successful 1971 tour captures them in all their mega-stadium excess. Extended beyond the breaking point versions of "T.N.U.C." (nearly 18 minutes), "Inside Looking Out" (over 15 minutes, including a pro-pot intro), ten minutes of "Into the Sun," and nine minutes of what has to be the most plodding version of the Stones' "Gimme Shelter" ever recorded for better or worse portray this trio in all their over-the-top glory. In concert, the least funky band ever to have the word "funk" in their name pounded out tough, workingman rock with as little subtlety as possible, aiming to please the fan sitting in the last row of the stadium. While that may have made for an invigorating concert experience, having to endure this music without the live stage show as distraction is a headache-inducing chore. The sound, while acceptable for 1971 standards, is still brittle and harsh, and Mark Farner's wah-wah-heavy guitar is exactly what Spinal Tap had envisioned with their amps that went to 11. Since this was recorded in the band's earliest period, none of the more pop elements that gave them the hits that softened their sound are in the set. That leaves this as the definitive live document of these years.

Track listing

01.  Intro (Also sprach Zarathustra  (Richard Strauss)  - 1:39: Date/venue not listed.

02.  Are You Ready  - 3:11: Recorded at The Syndrome, Wabash Avenue, Chicago, Illinois on May the 1st. 1971.

03.  Footstompin' Music  - 5:24: Recorded at The Cobo Arena, Jefferson Ave, Detroit, Michigan on the 29th. of April 1971.

04.  Paranoid  - 6:03 : Recorded at The Cobo Arena, Jefferson Ave, Detroit, Michigan on the 29th. of April 1971.

05.  I'm Your Captain/Closer to Home  - 5:48: Recorded at The Shea Stadium, Roosevelt Avenue, Flushing, New York on the 9th. of July 1971.

06.  Hooked On Love  - 2:45: Recorded at The Shea Stadium, Roosevelt Avenue, Flushing, New York on the 9th. of July 1971.

07.  Get it Together  - 2:46: Recorded at The Shea Stadium, Roosevelt Avenue, Flushing, New York on the 9th. of July 1971.

08.  T.N.U.C  - 17:12: Recorded at The Cobo Arena, Jefferson Ave, Detroit, Michigan on the 29th. of April 1971.

09.  Inside-Looking Out  - 15:30: Recorded at The Cobo Arena, Jefferson Ave, Detroit, Michigan on the 29th. of April 1971.

10.  Gimme Shelter  (Mick Jagger, Keith Richards)  - 8:44: Recorded at The Shea Stadium, Roosevelt Avenue, Flushing, New York on the 9th. of July 1971.

11.  Into the Sun  - 9:50: Recorded at The Cobo Arena, Jefferson Ave, Detroit, Michigan on the 30th. of April 1971.

Release:  1971

Recorded:  Live between April 29 & July 9, 1971

Label:  Capitol Records

Genre:  Rock

Length:  1:18:52

Producer:  Terry Knight

Personnel

Mark Farner - vocals, guitar, harmonica, organ, percussion

Don Brewer - vocals, drums

Mel Schacher - bass, percussion