When I first picked up the bass guitar at age thirteen, my dad took one of his old mix tapes and popped it into our stereo. After a minute of searching, he let the tape play, a punchy little bass line coming through the speakers. “Learn to play this by just listening to it,” he challenged me. For hours I sat in front of those speakers, my fingers tripping along every note until I had mastered that simple yet pivotal riff, the intro to “Nothing is the Same” from Grand Funk Railroad’s album Closer to Home. Fifteen years later, I decided to explore the record that had solidified my love of the bass and of rock ‘n’ roll, and I was not disappointed.
Closer to Home has
the feel of an epic about it, much like Homer’s Odyssey. The sound that this trio puts together is extremely
powerful, blending their signature funk styles with rock ‘n’ roll tones. Even
the mix is tight, allowing enough of Mel Schacher’s overdrive to come through
on his bass without muddying it, while keeping Mark Farner’s guitar at such a
level that he never overshadows the rest of the band, even in his leads. All
three musicians play as if they plan to wear their hands to the bone, and
Farner’s vocals thoroughly explore the ranges of both pitch and attitude.
The tune that best captures the epic feel of the record must
be “I’m Your Captain (Closer to Home),” the album’s finale. Structured over two
movements (hence the two titles), the song relates the incredible yearning a
man can feel when he is far from home, as well as the paranoia that he may never
be able to return. Lyrically, the song is probably some of Mark Farner’s best
work, one that he sees as divinely inspired[1],
as he pleads with an imaginary and apparently mutinous crew to allow him to
return home: “Everybody, listen to me / and return me my ship / I’m your
captain, I’m your captain / though I’m feeling mighty sick”[2].
The first movement reflects Grand Funk’s signature grooving style, the band
jamming gently as Farner’s vocals try to quell a coming rebellion. The song
then opens up as the second movement begins, Mel Schacher’s bass line driving
the song as the band, accompanied now by an orchestra, begins exploring a vast
musical space. The band then seems to take a backseat in the second movement,
with Mark singing his mantra of “I’m getting closer to my home”[3]
while the orchestra slowly develops until the song fades into the horizon. “I’m
Your Captain” epitomizes the epic voyage of the entire album, a tale of
homesickness that seems an echo of Homer’s Odyssey.[4]
While “I’m Your Captain (Closer to Home)” might be put on the same level as poetry, the rest of the lyrics on the record unfortunately fall short of such a comparison. This aspect of the writing is generally simple, so much so that it takes more from the record than it provides. Most of Farner’s verse is plain and often clichéd; the lyrics to “Mean Mistreater” almost beat to death the theme of relationship, such as in the line: “Mean mistreater / you make me cry / you lay around / and watch me die.”[5] Furthermore, the words and ideas often seem disconnected, with adjacent lines and lyrics doing nothing to build a picture, evidenced especially in “Sin’s A Good Man’s Brother.” Fortunately for Grand Funk Railroad, Farner’s impassioned vocals and powerful delivery make up in part for the weak writing, as his soulful singing allows the rock ‘n’ roll energy that the band embodies to flow forth in every song, unabated by any lack of imagination.
While “I’m Your Captain (Closer to Home)” might be put on the same level as poetry, the rest of the lyrics on the record unfortunately fall short of such a comparison. This aspect of the writing is generally simple, so much so that it takes more from the record than it provides. Most of Farner’s verse is plain and often clichéd; the lyrics to “Mean Mistreater” almost beat to death the theme of relationship, such as in the line: “Mean mistreater / you make me cry / you lay around / and watch me die.”[5] Furthermore, the words and ideas often seem disconnected, with adjacent lines and lyrics doing nothing to build a picture, evidenced especially in “Sin’s A Good Man’s Brother.” Fortunately for Grand Funk Railroad, Farner’s impassioned vocals and powerful delivery make up in part for the weak writing, as his soulful singing allows the rock ‘n’ roll energy that the band embodies to flow forth in every song, unabated by any lack of imagination.
With the exception of the power ballad “Mean Mistreater,”
the entirety of this record is up-tempo and jamming. Each song showcases Grand
Funk’s tight musicianship, with all members playing off of each other’s parts
and connecting seamlessly in syncopations and hits. The writing on the record
also reflects the way the band members interact, as all instruments are equally
showcased in almost every tune, with the bass or the drums driving the song as
often as the guitar does. The composition of the songs is evocative of emotion
and groove without being ridiculously complicated, allowing the music to
communicate its intent without overpowering the listener. Indeed, one of the
most endearing facts about this record is that you can tell just by listening
that Grand Funk Railroad is having fun with their music, a fact that
communicates more strongly than any technical decisions in composition can.
Nowhere is this groove and energy more apparent than in “Nothing
is the Same,” that song that is both so pivotal to my musical development and
also my favorite on the record. Immediately, the combined thumping of Mel’s
bass and Don’s drums lures the listener in, while Mark’s guitar hook quickly
sets in our ears. All three musicians wail on their instruments from start to
finish in a jam that plays with traditional song structure, repeating only a
few sections while filling the rest out with musical madness. The song
alternates between a bobbing groove and a heaving rock, always keeping the
listener moving. “Nothing is the Same” is also unique in that it often lays the
spotlight on Mel Schacher’s bass playing, ranging from funky walks to crazy runs
that would leave Chuck Jones’ Road Runner in a cloud of dust. Mel’s ability to
play like a lead while holding the rhythm is exceptionally showcased in this
tune, his heavy basslines rivaling the screaming banshee of Farner’s guitar. After
one listen, it becomes apparent that “Nothing is the Same” is a three stage
rocket that launches the listener far into orbit, leaving him spinning and
soaring.
Closer to Home is
a testament to when rock ‘n’ roll offered both consistent, heady musicianship and
a rockin’ good time. Because of its incredible energy and thumping grooves, it
has been covered relentlessly over the years by countless acts, including well known
artists like Gov’t Mule[6]
and Monster Magnet[7]. It is an album that holds
the record of mine and my father’s musical odysseys, and if you are feeling musically
uninspired, give this record a spin and see if one of its many hooks gets
embedded in your brain like it did mine.
Tunes to Check Out:
1) Nothing is the Same
2) I'm Your Captain (Closer to Home)
3) I Don't Have to Sing the Blues
Tunes to Check Out:
1) Nothing is the Same
2) I'm Your Captain (Closer to Home)
3) I Don't Have to Sing the Blues
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