GRAND FUNK RAILROAD - Inside Looking Out 1969 (Reaction)

[@kathleenkarsten5739]

It’s 1969! The mic is what they had. It’s quite amazing considering it’s THREE PEOPLE! Nothing fancy, just what hey had! Singing and playing instruments too! So tight! They were incredible!

[@ralfcarstensen2280]

Well I guess its kathy ,forgive me,just wanted to add to the sound back then,that's what it all made it awesome a kinda dirty heavy heavy rock with these funky elements I just replied it's all coming back the past 10 to 15 years these minimum rock bands,like black keyes and on and on,two to three persons that's all,oohh how I love that sound amazing,cheers here dear kathy,hope I'm right,however loads of love and light coming to ya from overseas from holland

[@ElissaStark514]

They were only 19-20 here. That amazes me. Explains the energy, though. Lol.

[@westpalmtom3461]

They were my first rock concert in 1970 and this is in my top 20 KZbin music performances today. Kickass. Great time for music.

[@PixelPro-4000]

That is awesome! Can't imagine seeing these guys live!

[@larrymiller9698]

I saw them in 1973 in Wichita, KS. Awesome show!! The ticket was $5…

[@lucasroth7922]

Mine to live at Shea Stadium!

[@RobertDavisAdman]

Same here. The Omni in Atlanta.

[@frame3139]

This is true musicianship, a song that holds your attention for almost 10 min would be impossible in today’s auto-tuned world

[@cindyshawver9986]

Honey, to just add a tiny fact.....the bass guy was only 19 yrs old here and the other two were 21........that, to me, is incredible !!.....one of my all-time fav songs and performances !!!

[@47tooter]

Also a used guitar with masking tape on it and a 3 piece toy drum set.

[@djfingersflores]

Another thing all these guys were about 18 - 20 years old right here.

[@mikewarker4445]

Music was at its best back then. All the all timers. From back then. Even the lesser groups better than the stars today. No auto tune, computer gizmos, just pure. Heart and Talent

[@TheDivayenta]

They’re babies here playing for record company execs. Bassist Mel Schacher had just turned 18. You can tell they loved soul like Sly and the Family Stone.

[@hii-rr9uj]

that was his style of singing with that gritty sound

[@johndrake3472]

One of my favorite live performances of all time - just too good

[@ronanhetherington8583]

IT’S CALLED AN ENDING BRO!, THAT’S HOW PEOPLE END LIVE SONGS, love your reaction Bro, you talk a lot of sense!

[@GasserGlass]

More GRAND FUNK RAILROAD PLEASE, They will blow your mind!

[@MRxMADHATTER]

"American Band" is probably their biggest hit.

[@ElissaStark514]

I agree. I like this song better, though!

[@lxhobson]

It was referred to as funk rock ... and this is the best LIVE funk fock performance you'll ever see. His voice was cracking because he was straining/screaming -- it was supposed to sound that way -- RAW and REAL -- and we WANTED it that way. It wasn't about the perfection of vocals .... It was about the emotion and excitement it stirred in the listener. And this was just THREE guys -- playing with the limitations of musical instruments back in the 60's ... and they STILL sounded amazing. So your reactions are honest, and I assume you then allow others to be honest with you. OK, then, here goes -- We're barely 2 minutes into the song and you have paused this 4 or 5 times already! I've never seen another reactor pause NEARLY as much. All of the reactors I've watched have paused ONLY a couple of times, just to keep the video from being blocked. One of the reasons I watch these reaction videos is not just to see your reaction, but to also enjoy the performance with you. You ever try to watch a movie and have someone pausing it right when you were getting into it?? Enuf said.

[@PaulSter]

Sorry man, I completely disagree with you. He is doing 'his' analysis and when he feels something on the spot, he stops and talks about it then and there. There are plenty of places to listen to it interrupted.

[@coonshine1]

@@PaulSter I've heard of reactors being lost in the music, but analysis or not ShakaShine is just lost....

[@PaulSter]

@@coonshine1 I disagree

[@jjflash1645]

This is the 1st time you’re hearing this? I cry for you. Saw this back in the late 60’s.

[@cmel714]

Nothing wrong with the mics. Thats Mark Farner singing he's great. They filled Shea Stadium faster than the Beatles.

[@FreddyLopez-v6u]

Young people do not know how group close their song. If you were mediocre people knew. Talent meant a better band a better song.

[@markmcguire9953]

The best rock trio amongst greats. These were three blue collar guys bent on getting out of Flint, Michigan, and in '69 were really hitting their stride.

[@lindadilworth8259]

Yes!! It was a phenomenal time to be alive!!! It was wild. I loved it.

[@jeffeyman5535]

This IS a live performance and equipment like mics were whatever you could find. These guys left it all on the stage.

[@donalddixon6541]

"I'm Your Captain" is probably their biggest hit as far as I know, but they dont make a bad song at all.

[@katiedaniels3304]

Long songs back in those days was because they were pure jamming musicians. They had actual real talent. I really miss those Wonderful days.

[@mikewarker4445]

This is what their live shows were like

[@jgilbertify]

How about you don't see any musical talent like this anymore!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@robertstoner8244]

Loved growing up at that time period

[@PixelPro-4000]

The ending of the song was a popular technique, where all the musicians went nuts. Think of it as like a fireworks finale, but in musical form.

[@neilm896]

It's referred to as "Pandemonium" among bands.

[@waterlec8718]

*It's called a "Crescendo" ending in musical terms.*

[@PixelPro-4000]

@@waterlec8718 An increase in volume is a crescendo. This is more than that. This is an introduction of multiple instruments in sustained improvisational fashion. In this case, the volume remains constant once it begins.

[@waterlec8718]

@@PixelPro-4000 I said a *Crescendo ending.*

[@PixelPro-4000]

@@waterlec8718 Fair enough. :)

[@TheScavenger71]

There is no easy answer to your questions and here is why. When Grand Funk Railroad first became popular they were panned by the critics but their fans loved them. Several songs, including Inside looking Out were played on FM radio stations but there were no definitive hits in the traditional sense. Legal issues with their manager led to them changing their name to just Grand Funk and they went commercial and had several singles that ranked high on the Top 40 charts. Their music was commercial and sold a lot of 45s and albums but it still had that edge and the sound that made them Grand Funk Railroad so they didn't lose too many of their original fan base since most of us knew the change was done for legal purposes. It was a case of change or disappear so they changed because of loyalty to their fans. The drummer and bass player tricked Mark Farner, the singer, songwriter, and guitarist into signing away his interest in the band and as a result he is forbidden from using the name Grand Funk Railroad. The drummer and bass player appear as Grand Funk Railroad but everyone knows that Farner was the heart and soul of the group and when people go to see them and they don't see Mark Farner they know they are not seeing the original group. Mark Farner, who has always been a born again Christian, has renewed his commitment to his faith and still plays and tours as Mark Farner and has been able to perform some of his original songs along with newer material he has written both secular and Christian. He invites fans to talk with him after his shows and he talks about his faith and how it has affected his life. They are all much older now and Farner has suffered a tragedy with the death of his son but he's not done yet, and for those of us who loved them we would like to see them mend the bridges and appear again as the original Grand Funk Railroad who made being young in the late 60s and early 70s so much fun.

[@MrRoach-yo3mz]

*You Have It Wrong, this is a LIVE performance, Microphones were not as good as today's mics are...Today most bands lips sing anyway!... However, the record or recorded version is smooth & clean sounding!... NO LIP SINGING HERE....The singer MARK FARNER still has concerts to this very day...and the other two members have a TRIBUTE Grand Funk band without the singer who wrote & sang 98% of the music!* ... this rock with a funk tone to it.

[@GasserGlass]

This Badass Band Had Many Hits---> Heartbreaker, Im Your Captain, American Band, Foot Stompin Music, Loco Motion, Bad Time To Be In Love and many more hits!!!!

[@alexlynch2870]

It's his voice dude...this is a mixture of soul...funk...blues...and kick ass rock and roll...this is probably the most underrated band of all time... Listen to " heartbreaker " next...then if you want something a little softer listen to " I'm your captain " this really brought back some fond memories from when I wore a younger man's clothes. You need to react to some Pink Floyd....

[@davidbutcher2976]

It truly doesn't matter what GRAND FUNK song you play off of any of their albums. I don't believe they ever did a bad song. The most underrated band ever. They were the DONALD TRUMP of ROCK AND ROLL. THE PEOPLE LOVED THEM AND the press literally hated them. They truly were the PEOPLE'S BAND. And to a lot of people, they still are.

[@snewhouse13]

Loved your reaction...musicians back in the day had more passion and soul for theor music...the music was more important than the money, the swag or the deals...and no auto-tune or electronics...it was all up to them...i miss those days!

[@wesleysnow4561]

Such Soul filled passion. They just played their hearts out for you. Grand. Funk. Railroad. Three guys.

[@Cherokeelion]

Yeah it was a thing of the time… 52 years ago now. But do you see the stage energy today? No autotune, no nothin but three ppl JAMMIN.

[@PaulSter]

Great analysis. I appreciate your honesty and detail! From a HUGE GFR fan!

[@MaikKellerhals]

Genres fade into each other. Not every song can be put in a single genre. Let's just call it great music ;)

[@PixelPro-4000]

All 3 of them were feeling their song. What a great performance! Yes, that was a harmonica Mark was playing. And I agree... I have no idea where he put it when he finished. That was just 10 minutes of nonstop energy. It may not be "soul" music, but man is it soulful.

[@PixelPro-4000]

Here is another musical trio you HAVE to see. These 3 dudes are putting out some amazing and powerful sound. Featuring the greatest drummer in the world. Rush - the official video for Tom Sawyer. I'll send a PayPal donation right now. Link in my reply. You will rarely find such a technical mastery in instrumentation as this.

[@PixelPro-4000]

Rush - Tom Sawyer kzbin.info/www/bejne/l6avc3-hac6Vd80

[@PixelPro-4000]

You asked about other hits, they had a few. Of the more notable: 'I'm Your Captain' and 'We're an American Band'.

[@TheDivayenta]

Lol - those pants are way too tight to hide stuff😂

[@twwtjohns]

You're absolutely right about the mic. That wasn't even their equipment. This was a performance for a small studio audience and there was only about 2 dozen people in attendance. Their biggest hit was either 'We're an American Band' or their remake of 'The Locomotion.'

[@keefmack]

Always keep in mind that a huge majority of the time a band's most popular radio 'hit' is rarely their 'best' song.

[@brucecronin6396]

Great reaction !! GFR played "Rock n' Soul" music !! In their day, they ROCKED !! When they opened a show for someone, they always "Up-Staged" the main act, even Led Zep !! When they opened for Rod Stewart and the Faces, the crowd Boo'ed Rod Stewart off the stage !! GFR was the originalers of "Stadium Rock" they sold out Shea, in 24-hours !! The Beatles took 3-days to sell-out Shea !! I saw them in '71 at Pirates World in Dania, Fl. Promoters sold 15.000 tickets for a 10,000 venue and the people rioted and over-turned 3 Miami police cars !! If their manager (a friend) hadn't taken every penny and left them NOTHING, they would have been the biggest Band EVER !! Mark Farner is still rock'in today, after decades of legal battles to finally, get the "rights" back enough to play GFR songs again !! GFR is the best thing to ever come out of Flint, Michigin (except maybe the GM Buick)

[@Opx958r]

Great reaction! Only 3 guys!! live performance

[@redindenver6666]

This is what used to be called "HARD ROCK", (with, admittedly quite a bit of funk) and I don't think it's the mikes that are making his voice sound that way. This was a live performance and he (and the drummer) were screaming their butts off -- it's supposed to sound raw .... it IS raw, intense and exhausting! And yes, this was the time of hippies, peace & love, free love, etc. etc. They had lots of hits that were played on the radio back in the day .... but THIS song was NEVER played on the radio. I actually only discovered it about a month ago .... didn't even know it existed and now I can't stop revisiting the video. GFR was IMMENSELY popular -- so much so that I heard it caused riots if they were taken off the stage before finishing their set (that's a long story....). And I have to say I LOVED your reaction. It usually bugs me when a reactor keeps interrupting the video, but in your case, I enjoyed your running commentary. It was fun to watch you slowly get more and more into the music and the energy of this performance. I TOO wished you could find this kind of intensity in today's music.

[@MrRoach-yo3mz]

*IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU'LL LOVE "HEARTBREAKER" BY THIS SAME BAND!!!*

[@GasserGlass]

The baddest 3 piece band in the USA, ever! Sold out the Beatles faster at Shea Stadium in New York

[@MrRoach-yo3mz]

@@GasserGlass BINGO!

[@stevenmonte7397]

you mention the 70's... i think every genre was FIRE back then. seems like everything was good!

[@detroitlady9282]

So glad to have lived through these times. Saw GFR many times, fantastic concerts! 10 min songs were the norm and bands knew how to jam! Best music came late 60s early 70's, and today's music doesn't even compare to the talent that we were blessed to see back then! Mark Farner(singer) was GFR and he's still going!!

[@ralphwatts8993]

That’s rock and roll!🤘🏻

[@josephclarke4244]

This is the music of my youth, started high school in 1977 ! I am always amazed when someone your age gets it ! These guys where on point ! The base player is still out there. One point you made and stopped to point out was spot on...these guys loved music. I know most people will say they do not play for the money they play for the art of music. The artists of this error did not have to say " we don't play for the money" you sir saw that, when you said " these guys are feeling Thier music" that's it ! That is why you can listen to a 9 minute 36 secound song. I grew up on the best musical error. I've listen to everything from Classical to rock to rap and country music for fifty years now 1967-1975 was the sweet spot for rock !

[@paulpipkin3554]

We’re and American Band and I’m your Captain … some kind of wonderful.. remake of the loco-motion …

[@erinevans9113]

Give it up to that drummer homie putting in work

[@ElissaStark514]

Oh, that is a NASTY riff! Whoooo…..

[@EvilSnipa]

I would say it's Funk. Most people today don't feel their music cause it's done on a PC. Holding and playing the instrument makes you feel part of it.

[@teresamartin4735]

A little piece of GFR trivia. They sold out Shea Stadium in 72 hours; quicker than even The Beatles.

[@TheDivayenta]

Didn’t they fear the bouncing audience would break the stands?

[@jansummerford1050]

I absolutely love GFR! You have to remember that this was before auto tune and everything else that is used in music right now

[@bassman5123]

Yes, the mic is what made the crackle, not Mark's voice. However, keep in mind that this is a true live performance on a TV show. And obviously, they didn't have the best equipment and/or engineer for it. It seems to have been a lesser known show and thus, one with a lower budget rather than say the Tonight Show, David Letterman, SNL, etc.

[@kathleenkarsten5739]

Rock and Roll baby! 😍😍😍

[@faithjones881]

Love your reaction and your breakdown of this song! Such a great group and each one playing off each other and having a great time jamming! Sure do miss those days!

[@ceciliarivera9513]

this is the Rock genre. Wait a little and you'll see great lead guitar music

[@alexlynch2870]

I think he put the harmonica in a pocket on his vest

[@PixelPro-4000]

I'm pretty sure that's his voice, and not the mic distorting.

[@PixelPro-4000]

I think you might be right. At 3:20 I think his audio peaked above 0 on that one note he was holding. But I don't think it messed up his voice... I mean, later he was playing harmonica right up next to, and into, the microphone.

[@aramhamparian9641]

Possibly the greatest rock & roll performance, ever.

[@ronnielamar3473]

My older brother got sent to Veitnam for his Sr. Trip. He left his vinyl collection to me and my brother. Several of which were Grand Funk Railroad . Just listening to them they were a rock band heavily influenced by soul and funk. In Junior High they probably covered Chuck Berry, Mavin Gay. The critics HATED them. I read in Rolling Stone one critic wrote" the bass is too FUZZY" Figure out what Amp and which bass he used. There might be a gold mine there , they had several albums that went platinum.

[@TheDivayenta]

I despise Rolling Stone. Too stuck up to inducT these brothers into the RRHOF.

[@johnschofield9496]

Mark Farner, Donnie Brewer, and Mel Schacher are all still making great music today. Mark has Mark Farner's American Band, Donnie and Mel still under the label Grand Funk Railroad. They were the most powerful trio ever ! Mel ( bassist) was known as the god of thunder and for good reason. Their biggest radio songs were Closer to Home (I'm Your Captain ), and We're an American Band , and IMHO their best work was BEFORE 1973 when they went all AM on everybody !! I REALLY appreciate your comments about the length of songs. It seems people no longer have the attention span for anything over 3 minutes, and yes, mark's voice is REALLY that gravelly !!! :-)

[@cwlindsey2881]

I agree with you…..🇺🇸

[@Flashbackjacko]

Songs were all short when 45 rpm records were the technology of the day, they didn't get longer until albums, and 8 track tapes came out.

[@coreyhodge3770]

Rock, funk!

[@joecrone9862]

Saw them the first time in 1974. Seen them alot since then. Mark Farner still jamming today.

[@mickparly]

Does it really matter what genre it is, if it just works what they are doing and if it sounds good??

[@keithtannenbaum1717]

Reason you’ll see original rock bands (analog)wailing at the end of the songs well just can’t keep lightning in a bottle

[@jeddodon]

This shit was 🔥 hot 🔥...😎🚬💨💨💨💨

[@ronaldolson6210]

His pants are so tight don't think he could put it in his pocket

[@TheDivayenta]

Maybe that’s not his harmonica!

[@abitwolf6506]

Vests have pockets, he had on a vest. lol Now where you think it went?

[@bugvswindshield]

No one is ever prepared for this song. Its a one of kind. Total the "shit" . as in ...this song is the shit man.

[@johnschofield9496]

Been my favorite song for 50 years !!!!

[@skydogfan4671]

Glad you enjoyed Grand Funk. They were a great band. Mark Farner is my favorite front man. He sang and wrote the vast majority of their songs. He played lead guitar, harmonica and organ. He also had really good stage presence. This song is about being in prison. I recommend you listen to Heartbreaker live by them next.

[@lxhobson]

Mark Farner is my favorite front man too. He was just naturally great on stage!

[@teresamartin4735]

Or Black Licorice live.

[@ScottC-y4v]

This performance was recorded in Hershey, PA at the Hershey Community Center by WITF-TV channel 33 (PBS station) in 1969 for their show titled "The Show". There were only a few handfuls of people watching it live.

[@Trucker231610]

WOW you love to hear yourself talk!! CYA!

[@ronnielamar3473]

Paranoid, I'm your captain, locomotion, rock and roll soul, foot stomping music, high flootin woman, heart breaker are some of the best songs. Remember all bands of that Era tapped into a giant vein of creativity. That vein has grown fat from lack of use. You said it's rare to see a song that lasts longer than 2 1/2 minutes. That vein of gold is fat and oozing. Remember there's people out there turning music into G O L D .

[@colleennovak1558]

No alto tune here and they killed it they are better then the groups today !!!!!!

[@starburstppl]

If people don't move to this music, they must be dead. Great reaction!

[@jeddodon]

Congrats on cracking 3 k 🙏

[@Mike-kv5pl]

I think you gotta check out Edgar Winter Group - Frankenstein (live).

[@TheDivayenta]

And Tobacco Road with Johnny!

[@SA-bq1us]

For the most part no rehearsal needed for GFR

[@bruceheckerman7343]

Damn! Was that tight or what?

[@robertacolarette1594]

This is three people tearing up this song and filling that stage. The mic was the technology available at the time. This is the late 60’s. This was a time when you had to really have talent and really play your instruments. Today it’s a lot of computers.

[@twwtjohns]

You've got to hand it to Mark Farner the lead vocalist whobalso played guitar and harmonica on this song. The guitar was a 1967 Messenger which had a magnesium aluminum compound neck and had a bad feedback problem. Mark mostly solved the problem by stuffing as much foam rubber as he could into the body and taping over the sound holes with masking tape. But he still got all the sound he could from the guitar despite its obvious shortcomings.

[@champton911]

Genre doesn’t matter. I find the focus on it annoying. It’s just good music to enjoy

[@usertr13phinsup]

I bet you on your best day you cant even come close to this

[@teresamartin4735]

Harmonica (aka mouth organ) isn't easy as it looks. Actually, any musical instrument that relies on an embouchure isn't easy. You mentioned not hearing harmonica often in music. Refer to *early* Rolling Stones. Brian Jones and Mick Jagger played harmonica quite a bit. Brian taught Mick. He was a blues purist. Another musician who utilizes harmonica is Neil Young. He plays guitar simultaneously with a harmonica holder on his shoulders. An abrupt ending to a composition gives the piece a definitive ending. It is used often in classical music. Just a little input from a former classical pianist, flautist and piccoloist.

[@davidhinkle7374]

so many reactors want to hear themselves and not the song .. way to many pauses

[@bayareathrasher666]

People do feel music like this still, only now are you beginning to open your eyes and mind

[@georgekininmonth2070]

Thanks for seeing the 'feeling' of the music! People don't see that in today's music. You want to see 'feel'? Must check out the Winter's Brother's live version of "Tobacco Road" and see all the instruments, skat and vocals. Honest.

[@davidcruz8667]

Yes, and "Frankenstein" by them is a must-see, displaying talent with multiple instruments and delivering a groove that is unforgettable. Make sure you watch the live studio jam.

[@laurafrancis2104]

Yeah it's a reaction channel but they only pause once or twice not ten times!

[@gerardarrillaga7450]

It's Rock

[@elricmoorcock]

They were live in a ABC studio, with maybe 10 people in the audience.

[@brianbrown2266]

The music industry snubbed them,but they were so good that thr mighty Led Zepplin had them booted off tour with them because thier Manager didn't like the attention they were getting !!NU FF SAID

[@TheDivayenta]

I believe this was an audition performance for a record company. 1968.

[@djfingersflores]

good stuff hermano, i gotta check out YOUR music now... PEACE !

[@bovunic7988]

These reactors r impossible with the pauses

[@patriciab825]

great reaction! Subbed on this one. Yep it's the real deal!

[@crazypainter56]

ERIC BURDON & Chas Chandler wrote the song and recorded it in 1966 -with The Animals --it's in the disney film "Cruella-it's straight up--""ROCK"""

[@tweebthelerker3952]

Southern Rock.

[@TheDivayenta]

Michigan Rock

[@norbertojorge3910]

If they were playing in todays era they would sell out in any concert and with todays musical equipment they would sound way better

[@markhammond933]

Dude thats what we did when music was real

[@davidcruz8667]

I know this is a reaction video, but Jesus Christ, you pause more than aircraft on the taxiway at JFK. The point about rock music is emotional, you need to feel each mood and how it meshes with the next sections through the transitions. You're right, today's "music" is formulaic, homogenous, minimal talent obscured by studio tricks and voice enhancements. Grand Funk Railroad comes from a time when what you saw is what you got, when artists not only had to be skilled players but each song was unique, special, with the ability to reach into your soul and leave a memorable impression. And yes, a lot of music was a lot longer, with sufficient time to deliver the entire message before it ended. By the time Queen came out with "Bohemian Rhapsody", radio stations were leery of playing longer songs since they had become accustomed to playing music that lasted about three minutes. Of course it was a hit, it was just too good. Grand Funk Railroad was probably the hardest working band in the late sixties and early seventies (this performance is from 1969), and they were only three of them. Don't worry too much about "genres", there are distinctions and a multitude of styles, but rock is rock, they all influenced each other with roots in jazz, blues, raegae, soul, bluegrass, country, classical, everything under the sun. Just enjoy it, no need to over-analyze it. Probably their most played song was "We're An American Band". So I agree with the guy who mentioned watching a movie with someone in a slightly different way: what would you think if that person talked all through the movie while you were trying to absorb the story? A commentary of surprise or laughter or enlightenment is understandable, but a constant critical disection ruins the whole thing. I like reactions from people discovering our music for the first time, but I'm not sure I can sit through another twenty minute reaction on one song. Good luck, though.

[@timfincher4978]

Went to many GFR concerts as well as Skynyrd SRV Zeppelin

[@larrywalling2844]

🤘🏻😎 BRILLIANT

[@scotteustice6230]

Best live band. And yes, the Big Finish was a thing then.