For years I completely dismissed GFR as that band that does that mushy-sounding "We're An American Band" and other ham-fisted cock-rock. Looks like I was only mostly right. What I never heard were a small collection of scrappy early garage-rock songs. "Getting Into The Sun"****, credited to The Pack,is nearly-frantic jam, and would have sounded at home at Woodstock. "High On A Horse"**** (On Time-1969), is based around a Zeppelin-esque riff, and is appropriately overdriven. But the big-production "I'm Your Captain...."***** (Closer To Home-1970) is an escapist masterpiece, which I only appreciated after seeing Roger And Me. The creatively named Live Album (1970) includes "Are You Ready"****, an obvious but energetic surge, and "Paranoid"****, based around a one melodic walking bass line and a surprisingly jangly guitar riff. GFR's version of "Gimme Shelter"**** (Survival-1971) is significantly less subtle (and muddy) than the quintessential original Stones version, but strangely more intense in its stripped-down propulsiveness. From the seminal We're An American Band (1974), there is..... nothing of note. The ubiquitous title song is vague and muddy, but the unreleased "The End"**** resembles earlier songs, and while typical 70's hard rock, has some cool slinky transition riffs. The hit parade continues with "Some Kind of Wonderful" (All The Girls Of The World Beware-1974), a slight, minimalist kind of soul imitation. Of course, "Some Kind...." is gritty compared to the cheesy cover of "The Locomotion" (Shinin' On-1974). This is not a rock band, rather a 'sunshine' band. In this period, GFR was favoring a slickly-produced radio-rock that I hated all along. The one exception I make is for "Bad Time"**** (All The Girls....), yes, the lite rock, AM staple. As long as you're not expecting rock music it's not a bad song; listen to The Jayhawks' cover. The title song "Shinin' On' is also not a bad album track. Also, they still managed to sound pretty good live on "Caught In The Act" (1975), especially "Rock n Roll Soul"****, a short sweet Stones-y rocker (the Stones "Going To A Go Go" would sound strangely similar and come later). Of course, GFR would soon become a full-blown dance band with "Take Me" (Born To Die-1976). 'Gonna get in deep.....gonna lose our heads tonight' (get it?). Inexplicably, Good Singin' Good Playin (1976), produced by Frank Zappa of all people, features "Can You Do It" a multi-layered party song that collapses, either from the lyrical silliness or endless layers of vocals. The bluesy "Crossfire" **** seems bit out of left field, but the Zappa treatment is evident in the prevalent mixing of some nice licks throughout. "Queen Bee" (Grand Funk Lives-1981) sounds like the 80's (for good reason - 81? still recording in 81?). Never thought I'd associate GFR with Toto.
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