SEPTEMBER 29, 1973
After spending nine prior weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, the hard rock band Grand Funk finally climbed to the top of the heap by replacing the Marvin Gaye classic, Let’s Get It On.
But after just seven days, Half-Breed by Cher claimed the top spot (her second solo and third overall #1 hit).
The group, formed in Flint, MI in 1969, was comprised of guitarist Mark Farner, drummer Don Brewer, bassist Mel Schacher and keyboardist Craig Frost.
Written by Brewer, the song was produced by veteran singer, songwriter, and prolific record producer Todd Rundgen, who’s credits include albums by The Band, Badfinger, Meatloaf, Daryl Hall & John Oates, among others.
Between 1969 and 1972 the band was only a trio (minus Frost) and went by the name Grand Funk Railroad. (The name is a play on words of the railway line that ran through the band’s hometown in Flint – Grand Trunk Western Railroad).
During that time, they released 10 commercially unsuccessful singles (the highest-charting was Closer To Home [I’m Your Captain], which reached #22 in 1970).
And, despite better sales success with their albums in that same time period, the group fired their long-time manager, the strong-willed Terry Knight (below) in late ’72.
In 1973, free from Knight’s control, GFR shortened their name to just Grand Funk, added the fourth member, Frost (now keyboardist for Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band) and began making more commercially appealing (and radio-friendly) records.
Grand Funk: (Clockwise from Top/Left)
Frost, Brewer, Schacher, Farner
The changes yielded immediate results, with the band finally breaking through in 1973 with this one – which also was their first of two million-sellers.
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[Note] Some audio song files may not play on smartphones, tablets or connected devices. A laptop, desktop PC or Mac may be required for optimal enjoyment.
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WE’RE AN AMERICAN BAND
Grand Funk
[1973]
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Grand Funk’s biggest hit would follow in early 1974 – their hard rock-style makeover of the Little Eva 1962 dance-craze hit, The Loco-Motion (written by Carole King and also produced by Rundgren). It would top the Hot 100 for two weeks and sell a million copies.
And two of their next three singles also made it into in the Top 5; a cover version of an obscure 1967 record by the Soul Brothers Six called Some Kind Of Wonderful (1974 • #3) and the GF original, Bad Time (1975 • #4).
In 1976, they reverted back to their previous moniker, Grand Funk Railroad, but the change garnered no further commercial success; their next three records charted very poorly, which led to the dissolution of the quartet. However, in 1981, Farner and Brewer, along with new bass player Dennis Bellinger, revived GFR. But after one failed single with the new lineup (Stuck In The Middle) they again called it quits – this time for good.
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DEEP TRAK!
The history of Grand Funk Railroad/Grand Funk goes back to 1964.
Future GFR manager Terry Knight began as a radio DJ in Flint, MI, notably at WTAC, and then at the 50,000 watt Top 40 AM powerhouse, CKLW (Detroit/Windsor). He was a huge fan of the Rolling Stones – obsessive might be a better adjective – and his love of the British Invasion band came through on his radio shows.
Knight (real name: Terry Knapp) was also a struggling musician who wanted to emulate the Stones – Mick Jagger in particular. He managed to work his way into a Flint-area group called the Jazz Masters by becoming their lead singer. Two of the other band’s members were the future Grand Funk Railroaders Mark Farner and Don Brewer.
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Knight, a “Type A” personality, convinced the group to change its name to Terry Knight and The Pack (after the hit record Leader Of The Pack by the Shangri-Las).
Then, through his connections, Knight secured a record deal with a regional Michigan label called Lucky Eleven (which eventually was distributed by Philadelphia’s famed Cameo-Parkway Records).
The band ended up recording two full albums that produced six singles on the label – and only one made the Billboard Hot 100 (1967 • #46).
It’s a cover of the Ben E. King original, I (Who Have Nothing).
I (WHO HAVE NOTHING)
Terry Knight and The Pack
[1966]
In 1969, Knight, along with Pack members Farner and Brewer, morphed into Grand Funk Railroad.
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Tragically, Terry Knight (above) was murdered on November 1st, 2004 at his home in Tempe, AZ, after interceding in a fight between his daughter and her drug-addicted boyfriend.
Four years after his death, Terry Knight and The Pack were voted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends (online) Hall of Fame.
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Songs Source: The Music Vault of HouseoftheHits, Inc.
Billboard® Chart Data: Joel Whitburn’s Record Research (eBook Editions)
Record Sleeve & Label Graphics: Courtesy of 45cat
