Cool 70's Rock #1: Overlooked proto metal classic: Grand Funks "Survival"

A New Series covering awesome 70s Rock bands, most (not all) forgotten.

I'm gonna stop you right there. "Grand Funk Railroad?" You're thinking. "That cornball 70s band that did the locomotion?" "Proto METAL?" No way. And I would agree with you before 2006, when I first read Lester Bangs articles that remarked upon there heaviness. He specifically mentioned this album cover, which I went and sought out (on Vinyl, as far as I know it wasn't on CD at the time.) From the opening track "Country Road" I was floored. The bass alone was sabbath worthy. The Drums, at times, prefigure Topper Headon of The Clash's clipped style.And then the guitar sound. So guttural, so Driving,even proto ramones chug at times. This was 1971 remember. The absolute standout track though is there cover of "Gimme Shelter". This is garage rock turned up past 10million, the graveliest Graveyard Guitar tone and snakeskin Rhythm you will ever hear. For real, this is a fucking Basement Burner Of an album. Its on Spotfiy of course. Smoke your brains out and give it a listen. When people talk about "Cool 70's Rock" they are talking about albums like this.

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