We're an American Band
Encyclopedia
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
on July 15, 1973 (see 1973 in music
) and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America
a little over a month after its release. Two single
s were released from the album. The first single, "We're an American Band
", was released on July 2, 1973 and the second, "Walk Like a Man", was released on October 29, 1973.
The album has been reissued many times and is currently available in the Compact Disc
format.
The album is #200 of the National Association of Recording Merchandisers
(NARM) [Definitive 200] albums of all time.
/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
, before the band switched to Jimmy Ienner
.
The original issue was on a translucent yellow disk. The label, 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, largely for legal reasons, the word "Railroad" does not appear anywhere on the album sleeve, liner, or vinyl record.
gave the album a B-, his highest rating for a Grand Funk Railroad album, although Shinin' On and Grand Funk Hits would both receive higher ratings. 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.
2002 reissue bonus tracks:
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by American
People of the United States
The people of the United States, also known as simply Americans or American people, are the inhabitants or citizens of the United States. The United States is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
band Grand Funk Railroad
Grand Funk Railroad
Grand Funk Railroad is an American rock band that was highly popular during the 1970s. Grand Funk Railroad toured constantly to packed arenas worldwide. A popular take on the band during its heyday was that, although the critics hated them, audiences loved them...
, credited as Grand Funk. The album was released by Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
on July 15, 1973 (see 1973 in music
1973 in music
-January–April:*January 9 – Mick Jagger's request for a Japanese visa is rejected on account of a 1969 drug conviction, putting an abrupt end to The Rolling Stones' plans to perform in Japan during their forthcoming tour.*January 14...
) and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
a little over a month after its release. Two single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
s were released from the album. The first single, "We're an American Band
We're an American Band (song)
"We're an American Band" is a 1973 song by the band Grand Funk Railroad. It was the group's first number one single. Written by Don Brewer and produced by Todd Rundgren, the huge chart success of this single broadened Grand Funk's appeal to a much wider audience...
", was released on July 2, 1973 and the second, "Walk Like a Man", was released on October 29, 1973.
The album has been reissued many times and is currently available in the Compact Disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
format.
The album is #200 of the National Association of Recording Merchandisers
National Association of Recording Merchandisers
The National Association of Recording Merchandisers is a United States not-for-profit trade association based in Marlton, New Jersey that serves music retailing businesses in lobbying and trade promotion...
(NARM) [Definitive 200] albums of all time.
Recording, production, artwork, and packaging
We're an American Band was the group's first collaboration with producerRecord producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
/engineer
Audio engineering
An audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
Todd Rundgren
Todd Rundgren
Todd Harry Rundgren is an American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and record producer. Hailed in the early stage of his career as a new pop-wunderkind, supported by the certified gold solo double LP Something/Anything? in 1972, Todd Rundgren's career has produced a diverse range of recordings...
. Rundgren and the band recorded the album at Criteria Studios
Criteria Studios
Criteria Studios is a music-recording studio in Miami, Florida, started in 1958 by Mack Emerman.In 1999, The Hit Factory purchased Criteria Studios, revamping and reopening the studios under the new name The Hit Factory Criteria Miami.-Notable artists:...
in Miami, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
on June 13–15, 1973. Rundgren would go on to produce the band's next album, Shinin' On
Shinin' On
Shinin' On is the eighth album by Grand Funk Railroad, released in 1974. Although not as successful as its predecessor, We're an American Band, it peaked at #5 in the US and was certified gold. The original cover was done in bi-visual 3-D and included the required blue and red lensed glasses to...
, before the band switched to Jimmy Ienner
Jimmy Ienner
Jimmy Ienner is an American music producer, best known for producing albums for such artists as John Lennon, Bay City Rollers and Three Dog Night. He went to Stamford High School and graduated in the Class of 1963. He grew up in the Cove section of Stamford and while still in High School,...
.
The original issue was on a translucent yellow disk. The label, 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, largely for legal reasons, the word "Railroad" does not appear anywhere on the album sleeve, liner, or vinyl record.
Reception
Upon the album's release, We're an American Band became the band's best received album by critics, so far. Robert ChristgauRobert Christgau
Robert Christgau is an American essayist, music journalist, and self-proclaimed "Dean of American Rock Critics".One of the earliest professional rock critics, Christgau is known for his terse capsule reviews, published since 1969 in his Consumer Guide columns...
gave the album a B-, his highest rating for a Grand Funk Railroad album, although Shinin' On and Grand Funk Hits would both receive higher ratings. 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
Don Brewer
Don Brewer is the drummer and co-lead singer for American rock band Grand Funk Railroad.- Early life :Brewer was born in Flint, Michigan on September 3, 1948 and is a graduate of Swartz Creek High School....
's increase in lead vocal work. Ruhlmann also said that the album sounded more professional than their previous ones.
Track listing
- "We're an American BandWe're an American Band (song)"We're an American Band" is a 1973 song by the band Grand Funk Railroad. It was the group's first number one single. Written by Don Brewer and produced by Todd Rundgren, the huge chart success of this single broadened Grand Funk's appeal to a much wider audience...
" (Don BrewerDon BrewerDon Brewer is the drummer and co-lead singer for American rock band Grand Funk Railroad.- Early life :Brewer was born in Flint, Michigan on September 3, 1948 and is a graduate of Swartz Creek High School....
) – 3:27 - "Stop Lookin' Back" (Brewer, Mark FarnerMark FarnerMark Fredrick Farner is an American singer, guitarist and songwriter, best known as the lead singer and lead guitarist for Grand Funk Railroad, and later as a Contemporary Christian Musician.-Early life and career:...
) – 4:52 - "Creepin'" (Farner) – 7:02
- "Black Licorice" (Brewer, Farner) – 4:45
- "The Railroad" (Farner) – 6:12
- "Ain't Got Nobody" (Brewer, Farner) – 4:26
- "Walk Like a Man" (Brewer, Farner) – 4:05
- "Loneliest Rider" (Farner) – 5:17
2002 reissue bonus tracks:
- "Hooray" (Brewer, Farner) – 4:05
- "The End" (Brewer, Farner) – 4:11
- "Stop Lookin' Back (Acoustic Mix)" (Brewer, Farner) – 3:04
- "We're an American Band [2002 Remix]" (Brewer) – 3:32
Personnel
- Mark FarnerMark FarnerMark Fredrick Farner is an American singer, guitarist and songwriter, best known as the lead singer and lead guitarist for Grand Funk Railroad, and later as a Contemporary Christian Musician.-Early life and career:...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s, keyboardKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
s, harmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
, vocalSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
s - Don BrewerDon BrewerDon Brewer is the drummer and co-lead singer for American rock band Grand Funk Railroad.- Early life :Brewer was born in Flint, Michigan on September 3, 1948 and is a graduate of Swartz Creek High School....
– drumDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
s, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
, vocals - Mel SchacherMel SchacherMel Schacher is best known as the bassist for rock band Grand Funk Railroad.- Early career :Schacher was born in Flint, Michigan. He became interested in music at the age of seven playing with his father's banjo. By age twelve he had moved to playing guitar and then bass...
– bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Craig FrostCraig FrostCraig Frost is the keyboardist for Bob Seger's Silver Bullet Band. However, he is best known as keyboardist for 1970s hard rock band Grand Funk Railroad....
– keyboards - Todd RundgrenTodd RundgrenTodd Harry Rundgren is an American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and record producer. Hailed in the early stage of his career as a new pop-wunderkind, supported by the certified gold solo double LP Something/Anything? in 1972, Todd Rundgren's career has produced a diverse range of recordings...
– producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, engineerAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
Charts
| Chart (1973) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian Top Albums | 4 |
| German Albums | 46 |
| Norwegian Top 40 Albums | 12 |
| US Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
2 |