IN SEARCH OF CD BOX SETS - VOLUME II

I originally started this series with the idea of just adding to an ongoing thread. But as I often do these days, I've changed my mind. I'm gonna add a new, separate post for each box set I listen to. I'm also gonna change the rules slightly (since I made 'em up, I can change 'em). I plan to add reviews of any type of box set. Yep, anything at all. The only rules now are that it must be a box set and I have to listen to all music discs, view all video discs and read all of the print material included before I review it. Remember, I just decided to do this to inspire myself to actually listen to all of the box sets that I have purchased.

Volume II finds me listening to some Grand Funk Railroad. Grand Funk Railroad: 30 Years Of Funk 1969-1999 The Anthology is a three disc set that was released back in 1999. For those of you that have never heard of Grand Funk Railroad, the band was an American power trio that released it's first album back in 1969. The band was formed by Mark Farner (guitar and vocals), Don Brewer (drums and vocals) and Mel Schacher (bass). The band was named by Terry Knight (manager). It was a play on words referencing the Grand Trunk Western Railroad. The band is also often referred to as Grand Funk.

The set comes in a small box as opposed to a long box, like many of the other three and four disc box sets. There is an outer box that houses the inner, quad-fold tray inlays. There is a separate disc tray for each of the three discs. These trays contain a picture of each of the three principle band members (the pictures are up to date at the time, so around 1999). Each disc has a band member's image on it as well, but these were pictures from the band's early days. There is also a fifty page booklet with a nice band history, written by Jim Bessman, photos, complete track listing and band discography. I picked this set up on March 11, 2015 for 14 dollars. The current lowest price on Amazon is about 85 dollars.

As far as the music goes, I have to give a big approval. The first two discs are absolutely fantastic, while the third disc may suffer a slight drop off in quality, but it's still a very nice listen. Included on the discs are several unreleased songs, including three tracks by The Pack (Grand Funk's predecessor), as well as three new songs, recorded specifically for this release. The hits are present, songs like I'm Your Captain (Closer To Home), Walk Like A Man (You Can Call Me Your Man), We're An American Band, The Loco-Motion and Some Kind Of Wonderful. You also get some great album tracks, like Aimless Lady, Loneliness, Creepin' and covers of Feelin' Alright and Gimme Shelter.

If you'd like to read a complete track listing, click HERE.

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Permalink Reply by Scott on February 18, 2018 at 7:26pm

Once upon a time a post was made on here titled Mark, Don and Mel (and Craig if you wanna get technical), what a great post if I do say so myself. Anyway, this band was playing in my brothers room from the earliest time I can remember. We owned "E Pluribus Funk" - this was a vinyl release with a silver coin as the cover and yes it was round. And then there was "Survival" when all 3 band members (I guess Craig wasnt around yet) ... Then came the colg sleeved "We're An American Band" and there you have a killer trifecta for teaching a young impressionable kid about rock and roll. It worked well!

I don't think anyone could go wrong with any album up to Born To Die. You're right though, there is quality drop as the 80's dawned, but they didn't drop way off. Is it really terrible if they did not adopt any punk, new wave or disco influence?

Good pick up Boss! oh yeah... Happy late birthday!