So, what have you been listening to lately?

[Basvarken]

  But Farner never sang lead on this song...

[westen44]

That doesn't matter.  In general, I don't like Grand Funk without Mark Farner regardless of the song or when it was sung or who sang it.  But songs like "i'm You're Captain/Closer to Home" and "Inside Looking Out" are among my favorites.  "We're An American Band" is one of my least favorites.  I won't go so far to say that it sucks, but compared to a number of other GFR songs, it's not particularly any good.  I mention it because it's one of the best known songs without Mark Farner singing.  To me the song isn't a good example of an American rock band at its best.   I'd rather hear Rob Zombie sing the song than Don Brewer.

[Basvarken]

Ironically their most succesful song (at least in The Netherlands) is Some Kinda Wonderful. Which was also sung by Brewer. 

[doombass]

Ironically their most succesful song (at least in The Netherlands) is Some Kinda Wonderful. Which was also sung by Brewer. 

And it's a cover song.

[westen44]

Ironically their most succesful song (at least in The Netherlands) is Some Kinda Wonderful. Which was also sung by Brewer. 

I haven't listened to it in so long, I can't be sure.  But I think Farner and Brewer shared vocals on that.  Personally, though, regardless of who sang it, it is also one of my least favorite Grand Funk songs. 

[westen44]

And it's a cover song.

On the other hand, "Inside Looking Out" which I've mentioned, is also a cover song.  It would be debatable which is the better version, the one by the Animals or Grand Funk.  As far as I'm concerned, both are great.  For the sake of accuracy, I suppose it should be noted that Eric Burdon and Chas Chandler are only given co-songwriting credit for "Inside Looking Out" (along with John and Alan Lomax.)

[Basvarken]

Their song Sin's A Good Man's Brother was a staple in the setlist of the last band I played in.

[uwe]

I like both Farner's and Brewer's voices, they were totally different, but sounded good on their own and together. Sure, Farner has the more impressive range, but Brewer's voice is more natural. I knew quite a lot of people who couldn't stand Farner's overly dramatic vocals though I'm not one of them. He always did remind me a bit of Uriah Heep's David Byron and vice versa, they had a similar tone and intensity. Close your eyes and its easy to imagine Farner singing Byron's vocal lines in
Stealin' at 17:54 (Farner sings less bum notes live though!):



The first verse of Some Kind of Wonderful is taken by Brewer, the second one by Farner, chorus is sung by both, the third verse has them trading lines - and it's IMHO the best version of that song done ever!

[Pilgrim]

I just listened to one of the most lovely albums I've ever heard: Getz/Gilberto from 1963.

This is the entire album with bi-language versions of The Girl From Ipanema and Corcovado (Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars).  The female singer is Joao Gilberto's wife Astrud, who was talked into singing - she was not a singer, just Gilberto's wife. But her voice is piercingly lovely and perfect for the music. And this is Stan Getz at his best.

The entire album is 38 minutes.  If you want to hear something minimal, relaxing and perfect in its musicality, I invite you to listen to the whole thing.  This is the album that put Bossa Nova on the map in the US.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJJKDzqVpvE&list=PL7gp579CMkT8Bx7wrlczLUZ-AZApsyFUk 

[morrow]

40 minutes of bossa nova is a good thing!

I'll give this a listen this afternoon.

[Dave W]

[uwe]

I didn't know you were a Cure fan, Dave!

[Dave W]

I didn't know you were a Cure fan, Dave!

What does this have to do with the Cure?

[uwe]

The music is very similar. Or call it The Smiths.

Not saying it's bad.

[uwe]

Auntie Alice ages like fine red wine.




And copiously cites herself, like with the bass run from Elected at 01:23 or the descending chromatic line at 03:23 - I forgot from which Alice Cooper Group 70ies hit that was!