• Voto:
“Noi dobbiamo restituire ciò che abbiamo preso dalla Terra”.
Questo è uno dei messaggi che ci lanciano i Grand Funk Railroad, un gruppo che ha scritto alcune delle pagine più emozionanti dell’hard rock a stelle e strisce. E affondando le mani nelle viscere della propria Terra, quello che ci hanno restituito è pura energia. Un sound ruvido, quasi primitivo, ma di un impatto devastante.
Amplificatori a palla, chitarre al vetriolo ed una sezione ritmica compatta e travolgente. Le melodie create dagli splendidi impasti vocali a fuoriuscire come raggi di sole da questo muro sonoro. I Grand Funk conquistano l’America grazie ai propri live shows adrenalinici e debordanti. In faccia alla critica, ancora annebbiata dai fumi pseudo-intellettuali dell’estate psichedelica, che li definisce come apostoli di una musica rozza e volgare. La gente invece li ama proprio per questo, per il loro distanziarsi dalle pose intellettuali e per la sincera ingenuità che li erge a paladini della working class e delle cause umanitarie.
Ma la loro non è una violenza sonora fine a se stessa, quanto una sorta di auto-catarsi, un mezzo per convogliare la rabbia in energia positiva. Se il precedente “Live Album” fu l’esaltazione di quel suono primordiale, il successivo “Caught in the Act” invece fotografa il gruppo all’apice della propria popolarità. Il power-trio da anni ormai è diventato un quartetto, con l’introduzione del tastierista Craig Frost, e con l’ultimo studio album "All the Girls in the World Beware!!!" ha appena imboccato la svolta verso un pop-rock che decreterà l’inizio della parabola discendente.
Nonostante questa dovuta premessa, l’opera in questione risulta essere per il sottoscritto la migliore testimonianza lasciata dal gruppo. Dai ritmi pulsanti di "Footstompin' Music" e “Some Kind of Wonderful” fino allo splendido inno antimilitarista “Gimme Shelter”. “La guerra è lontana solo uno sparo”. Scorrono i capolavori di una carriera. “I’m your Captain / Closer to Home” è uno splendido viaggio nei mari dell’emozione, con le sue molteplici stagioni e lo splendido intervento di un mellotron. “Heartbreaker” scava invece nelle radici rhythm’n’blues, alternando momenti delicati e sofferti a scariche di elettricità. Elettricità che resta sempre il filo conduttore, sia nelle hit più fortunate “We’re an American Band” e “The Loco-Motion” che negli orgasmi strumentali di “Inside Lookin’ Out” e “T.N.U.C.”. Ad impreziosire il valore di questo disco ci sono infine due canzoni spesso trascurate in sede live, come la autocelebrativa “The Railroad” e la selvaggia “Black Licorice”, nella quale le urla selvagge di Brewer sono degne del miglior Ian Gillan.
Se non vi lasciate spaventare dai ruggiti di un basso distorto ed incalzante.
Se pensate di poter reggere alla violenza percussiva di un martello pneumatico.
Se infine credete di essere in grado di resistere anche ai riff tellurici e alle grida lancinanti dell’indio Mark Farner, allora questo è il gruppo che fa per voi!
"A cosa servono tutte le rock band di oggi se ci sono già stati i Grand Funk Railroad?" Homer Simpson
Elenco tracce testi samples e video
02 Rock & Roll Soul (04:02)
We're having a party, yeah, yeah, everybody's invited,
The new generation along with the old.
If you could get with it just a little more, it don't take much tryin',
You'll find out if you've got some rock & roll soul, baby.
Ain't everybody in the world. So when you know what you got, let everybody know,
You got some rock & roll soul.
So when you know what you got, let everybody know,
You got some rock & roll soul.
I know it when I'm feelin' groovy,
It's kind of funky like an old-time movie.
I can feel it and it's really something,
It's really something when my heart starts pumpin', yeah.
Tell everybody you know, you got some rock 'n roll soul.
Tell everybody you know, you got some rock 'n roll soul.
Tell everybody you know, you got some rock 'n roll soul.
Tell everybody you know, you got some rock 'n roll soul.
Tell everybody you know, you got some rock 'n roll soul.
Tell everybody you know, you got some rock 'n roll soul.
Tell everybody you know, you got some rock 'n roll soul.
03 Closer to Home (07:26)
Everybody, listen to me,
And return me, my ship.
I'm your captain, I'm your captain,
Although I'm feeling mighty sick.
I've been lost now, days uncounted,
And it's months since I've seen home.
Can you hear me, can you hear me,
Or am I all alone.
If you return me, to my home port,
I will kiss you mother earth.
Take me back now, take me back now,
To the port of my birth.
Am I in my cabin dreaming, or are you really scheming,
To take my ship away from me?
You'd better think about it, I just can't live without it.
So, please don't take my ship from me.
Yeah, yeah, yeah ...
I can feel the hand, of a stranger,
And it's tightening, around my throat.
Heaven help me, Heaven help me,
Take this stranger from my boat.
I'm your captain, I'm your captain,
Although I'm feeling mighty sick.
Everybody, listen to me,
And return me, my ship.
I'm your captain, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
I'm your captain, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
I'm your captain, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
I'm your captain, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
I'm getting closer to my home ...
I'm getting closer to my home ...
I'm getting closer to my home ...
I'm getting closer to my home ...
Ohhhh ...
I'm getting closer to my home ...
I'm getting closer to my home ...
I'm getting closer to my home ...
I'm getting closer to my home ...
04 Heartbreaker (07:26)
Once I had a little girl,
Sometimes I think about her,
But, buddy, you know
She's not really there.
When memories do call,
I just, I just can't live without her
But tryin' all the time
Is so hard to bear.
Heartbreaker, can't take her,
Heartbreaker, bringing me down.
Heartbreaker, can't take her,
Heartbreaker, bringing me down.
I don't cry no more,
I live while I'm flying,
But I'll think back,
And you can hear me say:
Heartbreaker, can't take her,
Heartbreaker, bringing me down.
Heartbreaker, can't take her,
Heartbreaker, bringing me down.
Heartbreaker, can't take her,
Heartbreaker, bringing me down.
Heartbreaker, can't take her,
Heartbreaker, bringing me down.
Heartbreaker, can't take her,
Heartbreaker, bringing me down.
Heartbreaker, can't take her,
Heartbreaker, bringing me down.
Heartbreaker, can't take her,
Heartbreaker, bringing me down.
05 Some Kind of Wonderful (04:30)
I don't need a whole lot's of money
I don't need a big fine car
I got everything that a man could want
I got more than I could ask for
And I don't have to run around
I don't have to stay out all night
'Cause I got me a sweet, a sweet loving woman
And she know just how to treat me right
CHORUS:
Oh, my baby, she's alright
Oh, my baby, clean out of sight
Don't you know that she's
She's some kind of wonderful
She's some kind of wonderful
Yes, she is, she is
She's some kind of wonderful
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
When I hold her in my arms
You know she sets my soul on fire
Oh, when my baby kisses me
My heart becomes filled with desire
When she wraps her loving arms around me
It 'bout drives me out of my mind
Yeah, when my baby kisses me
Chills run up and down my spine
CHORUS
Now is there anybody
Got a sweet little woman like mine
There's got to be somebody
Got a, got a sweet little woman like mine
Yeah, well can I get a witness
Can I get a witness
Can I get a witness
Can I get a witness
Can I get a witness
I'm talking, talking about my baby
(She's some kind of wonderful)
I'm talking about my baby
(She's some kind of wonderful)........repeat until fade
06 Shinin' On (05:32)
We are winners and losers, bedfellow choosers
Put here to pass by the time
We are space-age sailors, all had our failures
Now everybody gonna' shine
Keep it shinin' on
Keep it shinin' on
See the fire within them burnin'
Touch the fire, make me feel so fine
Keep the fire within you livin'
Everybody gonna' shine, shine, shine
Keep it shinin' on
Keep it shinin', shinin' on
Keep it shinin' on
Shinin' on
Shinin' on
What?
Alright
Keep it shinin' on
Keep it shinin', shinin' on
Keep it shinin' on
Keep it shinin' on, shinin' on, shinin' on
Keep it shinin', keep it shinin', keep it shinin' on
Keep it shinin', keep it shinin', keep it shinin' on
Keep it shinin', keep it shinin', keep it shinin' on
Keep it shinin', keep it shinin', keep it shinin' on
Keep it shinin', keep it shinin', keep it shinin' on
Keep it shinin', keep it shinin', keep it shinin' on
Keep it shinin', keep it shinin', keep it shinin' on
07 The Loco-Motion (03:20)
Everybody's doin' a brand new dance now
(Come on baby, do the Loco-Motion)
I know you'll get to like it if you give it a chance now
(Come on baby, do the Loco-Motion)
My little baby sister can do it with ease
It's easier than learnin' your ABCs
So, come on, come on, and do the Loco-Motion with me
You've got to swing your hips now
Come on
Jump up
Jump back
Oh well, I think you've got the knack
Woah, woah
Now that you can do it, well let's make a chain now
(Come on baby, do the Loco-Motion)
A chuga-chuga motion like a railroad train, now
(Come on baby, do the Loco-Motion)
Do it nice and easy now, and don't lose control
A little bit of rhythm and a lot of soul
So, come on, come on, and do the Loco-Motion with me
Woah, woah
Move around the floor in a loco-motion
(Come on baby, do the Loco-Motion)
Do it holdin' hands if'n you get the notion
(Come on baby, do the Loco-Motion)
There's never been a dance that's so easy to do
It even makes you happy when you're feelin' blue
So, come on, come on, and do the Loco-Motion with me
(Come on baby, do the Loco-Motion)
So, come on, come on, and do the Loco-Motion with me
(Come on baby, do the Loco-Motion)
So, come on, come on, and do the Loco-Motion with me
(Come on baby, do the Loco-Motion)
(Come on baby, do the Loco-Motion)
(Come on baby, do the Loco-Motion)
(Come on baby, do the Loco-Motion)
(Come on baby, do the Loco-Motion)
08 Black Licorice (04:52)
Whooo ... wheee!
You there, comin' up the stair, the feelin' is ice-blue cold.
Shake, it's more than I can take, I'm startin' to lose control.
Watch out, what's that noise, there's somebody at the door.
It must be Black Licorice, she come back to make me cry some more.
Time, ain't on my side, I'm losin' it more each day.
Licorice, licorice.
She's got evil in her eyes, and catnip is her taste.
Licorice, licorice.
She wraps me up in her slender legs, her hot black skin to mine.
Licorice, licorice.
Ple ... ple ...please, don't touch me, oh, I know I'm dead this time.
Oh, oh, yeah ... Licorice, yeah, Black Licorice.
Licorice, licorice.
Licorice, yeah, Black Licorice.
Licorice, licorice.
Licorice, Black Licorice.
Licorice, licorice.
Licorice, yeah, Black Licorice.
Licorice.
Licorice.
Licorice.
Licorice.
Licorice, yeah, Black Licorice.
Licorice, licorice.
Licorice, yeah, Black Licorice.
Licorice, licorice.
Licorice, licorice, Black Licorice.
Licorice, licorice.
Licorice, woah, Black Licorice.
09 The Railroad (06:18)
Up each morning at five o'clock,
Seem like the noon-day sun ain't never gonna' stop.
The work is hard in a railroad yard,
Hey, hey, gotta' make it today to punch a time card.
Workin' on the railroad.
CHORUS
Oh, you know, the railroad is a mighty good line,
Come on and ride the railroad, one more time.
Oh, you know, the railroad is a mighty good line,
Come on and ride the railroad, one more time.
Dirt and sweat, runnin' down my back,
Workin' on the railroad.
Work all day long up and down the railroad tracks.
Workin' on the railroad.
I'm a God fearing man, and with many I stand,
Workin' on the railroad.
And with God we've been working, all hand in hand.
Workin' on the railroad.
CHORUS
Oh, you know, the railroad is a mighty good line,
Workin' on the railroad.
Come on and ride the railroad, one more time.
Workin' on the railroad.
Oh, you know, the railroad is a mighty good line,
Come on and ride the railroad, one more time.
10 We're an American Band (03:26)
Out on the road for forty days
Last night in Little Rock put me in a haze
Sweet, sweet Connie, doin' her act
She had the whole show and that's a natural fact
Up all night with Freddie King
I got to tell you, poker's his thing
Booze and ladies, keep me right
As long as we can make it to the show tonight
We're an American band
We're an American band
We're comin' to your town
We'll help you party it down
We're an American band
Four young chiquitas in Omaha
Waitin' for the band to return from the show
Feelin' good, feelin' right and it's Saturday night
The hotel detective, he was outta sight
Now these fine ladies, they had a plan
They was out to meet the boys in the band
They said, "come on dudes, let's get it on"
And we proceeded to tear that hotel down
We're an American band
We're an American band
We're comin' to your town
We'll help you party it down
We're an American band
We're an American band
We're an American band
We're comin' to your town
We'll help you party it down
We're an American band
We're an American band
We're an American band
We're comin' to your town
We'll help you party it down
We're an American band
We're an American band
We're an American band
We're comin' to your town
We'll help you party it down
We're an American band
We're an American band, wooo
We're an American band, wooo
We're an American band, wooo
11 T.N.U.C. (04:40)
You won't find me, knockin' at your door.
I've known forever, you don't love me no more.
If you don't want to lay there, with your mouth shut tight,
I'm gettin' myself together, yes, I'm leavin' tonight
You ain't gonna' find nobody, to treat you like I do.
I been down on my knees, you treat me like a fool.
Now, I know what you're tryin' to do, awww, it ain't gonna' happen.
'Cause I just done got hip to you, I'm gonna' walk out laughin'.
12 Inside Looking Out (12:08)
I'm sitting here lonely like a broken man.
I serve my time doin' the best I can.
Walls and bars they surround me.
But, I don't want no sympathy.
No baby, no baby,
All I need is some tender lovin'.
To keep me sane in this burning oven.
And, when my time is up, you'll be my reefer.
Life gets worse on God's green earth.
Be my reefer, got to keep smokin' that thing.
No, no, no, no, no, no.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
I said now baby ... baby ..., let me smoke it ... smoke it ...
Makes me feel good ... feel good, yes, I feel good ... ahhhhh ...
Yes, I feel alright ... feel alright ..., yes, I feel alright ... feel alright ...
Yes, I feel alright ... Ahhhhh ...
Ohhhhh ...
Ice cold water is runnin' through my veins.
They try and drag me back to work again.
Pain and blisters on my mind and hands.
I work all day making up burlap bags.
The oats they're feeding me are driving me wild.
I feel unhappy like a new born child.
Now, when my time is up, you wait and see.
These walls and bars won't keep that stuff from me.
No, no, baby,
Won't keep that stuff from me.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
I need you right now mama.
I need you right now baby.
Right by my side, honey.
All night long.
Make me feel alright ...
Yes, all ..., yes, all ..., yes, all ... alright.
You better come on up and get down with me.
I'll make you feel real good, just you wait and see.
Make me feel alright ..., yes, I feel alright ...
Yes, all ..., yes, all ..., yes, alright.
13 Gimme Shelter (06:31)
Oooo, oooo, oooo.
Oooo, oooo, oooo.
Oooo, a storm is threatenin', my very life today.
If I don't get some shelter, oh, I'm gonna' fade away.
CHORUS
War children, it's just a shot away, it's just a shot away.
War children, it's just a shot away, it's just a shot away.
Oooo, see the fire sweeping, up every street today.
Burns like a red-coal carpet, mad bull lost it's way.
CHORUS
Rape, murder, it's just a shot away, it's just a shot away.
Rape, murder, it's just a shot away, it's just a shot away.
Rape, murder, it's just a shot away, it's just a shot away.
Oooo, a storm is threatenin', my very life today.
If I don't get some shelter, oh, I'm gonna' fade away.
War children, it's just a shot away, it's just a shot away.
It's just a shot away, it's just a shot away, it's just a shot away.
I said a love sister, it's just a kiss away, it's just a kiss away.
It's just a kiss away, it's just a kiss away, kiss away, kiss away.
CHORUS
CHORUS
Love sister, it's just a kiss away, it's just a kiss away.
Love sister, it's just a kiss away, it's just a kiss away.
War children, it's just a shot away, it's just a shot away.
Love sister, it's just a kiss away, it's just a kiss away.
War children, it's just a shot away, it's just a shot away.
Love sister, it's just a kiss away, it's just a kiss away.
(repeat alternation to fade)
Carico i commenti... con calma
Altre recensioni
Di JonnyORiley87
Il ritorno a un approccio aggressivo, viscerale, ma al tempo stesso elegante, del loro genuino quanto efficace Hard Rock.
Un eccellente lavoro del trio che, nonostante i ben 45 anni trascorsi dalla sua uscita, ancora profuma decisamente di quell'Hard Rock vivo e pulsante.
