Closer to Home [Bonus Tracks] [Remaster]

Notes

Grand Funk Railroad: Mark Farner (vocals, guitar, keyboards); Don Bewer (vocals, drums); Mel Schacher (bass). Recorded at Cleveland Recording Company Studios, Cleveland, Ohio in March 1970. Originally released on Capitol (471). Includes liner notes by Steve Roeser. All tracks have been digitally remastered. Personnel: Mark Farner (vocals, guitar, keyboards); Don Brewer (vocals, drums). Audio Mixer: Jimmy Hoyson. Liner Note Authors: Steve Roeser; Terry Knight . Recording information: Cleveland Recording Company Studios (03/09/1970-06/25/1970); The Orlando Sports Center, FL (03/09/1970-06/25/1970). Grand Funk's third studio album, 1970's CLOSER TO HOME, was the album that catapulted the band into the big time and placed it at the top of the hard rock heap. One of GFR's most consistent albums, the most recognizable song remains the title track, which deals with the nightmare of getting drafted into the then still raging Vietnam war. Add to it such other solid rocking ditties as "Sin's a Good Man's Brother," "Nothing is the Same," and "Hooked on Love," and you have arguably Grand Funk's finest album. This was the record that sent Grand Funk over the top. Throwing strings into the hard rock mix on the epic "I'm Your Captain," it also contained the show-stopper "Mean Mistreater." Although the production leaves something to be desired, this record is quite a statement even by today's standards. [The 2002 reissue adds four bonus tracks: an alternate mix of "Mean Mistreater" and versions of "In Need," "Heartbreaker," and "Mean Mistreater" recorded live at the Orlando Sports Center on June 25, 1970.] ~ James Chrispell