Good Singin', Good Playin'
Encyclopedia
Good Singin', Good Playin' is the final 1970s album by Grand Funk Railroad
, released by MCA Records (MCA 2216) in 1976.
The band had actually broken up, but after Frank Zappa
expressed interest in producing an album for them, they managed to reassemble for one more attempt to regain a high chart position, which had become elusive as pop music became increasingly dominated by disco
.
Recorded in 1976 for MCA Records
, this album showed freshness and sheer dynamics, including a guest performance by Zappa himself, playing lead guitar on the song "Out to Get You".. Although the pairing of pop stars Grand Funk and the esoteric Zappa seemed bizarre, Grand Funk drummer Don Brewer said, "His whole viewpoint on what rock and roll is all about is basically the same as ours.... Keep it as simple as possible and really bring the balls out of this thing." Zappa said, "All I did was in a documentary way make a record which tells you exactly what they really sound like. For the first time on record you can hear Grand Funk Railroad ... and they're fantastic, fan-tastic with an F three times taller than you!" In spite of all this, or maybe because of it, Grand Funk decided on the first day of overdubs to split up again, although Zappa stayed up until 4 AM trying to talk them out of it.
The album wasn't a commercial success, only making it to #52 in the Billboard
Top 200. Soon after, Grand Funk Railroad folded.
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...
, released by MCA Records (MCA 2216) in 1976.
The band had actually broken up, but after Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
expressed interest in producing an album for them, they managed to reassemble for one more attempt to regain a high chart position, which had become elusive as pop music became increasingly dominated by disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
.
Recorded in 1976 for MCA Records
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
, this album showed freshness and sheer dynamics, including a guest performance by Zappa himself, playing lead guitar on the song "Out to Get You".. Although the pairing of pop stars Grand Funk and the esoteric Zappa seemed bizarre, Grand Funk drummer Don Brewer said, "His whole viewpoint on what rock and roll is all about is basically the same as ours.... Keep it as simple as possible and really bring the balls out of this thing." Zappa said, "All I did was in a documentary way make a record which tells you exactly what they really sound like. For the first time on record you can hear Grand Funk Railroad ... and they're fantastic, fan-tastic with an F three times taller than you!" In spite of all this, or maybe because of it, Grand Funk decided on the first day of overdubs to split up again, although Zappa stayed up until 4 AM trying to talk them out of it.
The album wasn't a commercial success, only making it to #52 in the 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...
Top 200. Soon after, Grand Funk Railroad folded.
Track listing
- "Just Couldn't Wait" (Farner) – 3:28
- "Can You Do It" (StreetRichard StreetRichard Allen Street is an American soul and R&B singer, most notable as a member of The Temptations from 1971 to 1993...
/T. Gordy) – 3:17 - "Pass It Around" (Farner/Brewer) – 4:59
- "Don't Let 'Em Take Your Gun" (Farner) – 3:40
- "Miss My Baby" (Farner) – 7:20
- "Big Buns" (Farner) – 0:30
- "Out To Get You" (Brewer/Frost) – 4:44
- "Crossfire" (Farner) – 4:19
- "1976" (Farner) – 4:20
- "Release Your Love" (Farner) – 3:52
- "Goin' For The Pastor" (Farner) – 5:24
- "Rubberneck" (Brewer) (CD bonus track) – 5:15
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:...
: Guitar, Vocals, Piano on "Don't Let 'Em Take Your Gun" - 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....
: Drums, Percussion, Vocals - 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, Backing 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...
: Bass, Backing Vocals - Frank ZappaFrank ZappaFrank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
: Guitar on "Out To Get You", Backing vocals on "Rubberneck"