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Grand Funk - Phoenix (1972/2002)
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 Grand Funk dropped the Railroad from their name and added a band member for their “Phoenix” release. Their album cover was symbolic for the band as they were initiating a new beginning by adding a full time fourth member to play keyboards, Craig Frost. They would never turn back to the hot, sweaty, and grinding trio they once were. I for one loved this album. I think by adding Frost to the mix made the group more flexible, and it freed up Mark Farner to concentrate more on his guitar playing and singing.
The album kicks off with an upbeat progressive instrumental called “Flight of the Phoenix,” which was also recorded as a different version and added as the bonus track on this CD. Starting things off this way was a great opportunity to introduce Frost to everyone. He served as the featured member on the cut and an important cog in the grand scheme of things. As it turned out, by adding Frost, they were able to spread their wings musically and that would lead to the pinnacle of their success in the near future.
The moody and ever changing “Someone” was a close-up look at the new GF and “Rock & Roll Soul” is what this band projected so well. It seemed like an anthem for them. They were full of rock ‘n’ roll soul and their music was a mirror of that. They put the grand in funk.
Their songs always had a soulful rhythm and blues inflection, at times more pronounced than others did. “Freedom Is for Children” struck a chord in my heart. The words are so true about the innocence and unknowing of being a child. They do not know how good they have it until they grow up to see the realities of life through the eyes of an adult.
As their music fleshed out with prominent keyboards, their lyrics grew exponentially. Although it was a big change across the board for the band, they continued to move forward in developing their sound, and very successfully.
© Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck |
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