Survival is the fourth studio album by American rock band Grand Funk Railroad, released in April 1971 by Capitol Records. Recorded at Cleveland Recording Company, the album was produced by Terry Knight. Drummer Don Brewer was not happy with the drum sound on the album, due to Knight's insistence of having Brewer cover his drum heads with tea-towels, after seeing Ringo Starr use the technique in the Beatles' film Let It Be (1970).
Survival | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 15 April 1971 | |||
Recorded | March 1–3, 1971 | |||
Studio | Cleveland Recording Company, Cleveland | |||
Genre | Rock[1] | |||
Length | 40:55 | |||
Label | Capitol | |||
Producer | Terry Knight | |||
Grand Funk Railroad chronology | ||||
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Singles from Survival | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Christgau's Record Guide | C[3] |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Track listing
editAll tracks written by Mark Farner unless noted.
Side one
- "Country Road" – 4:22
- "All You've Got Is Money" – 5:16
- "Comfort Me" – 6:48
- "Feelin' Alright" (Dave Mason) – 4:27
Side two
- "I Want Freedom" – 6:19
- "I Can Feel Him in the Morning" (Don Brewer, Farner) – 7:15
- "Gimme Shelter" (Mick Jagger, Keith Richards) – 6:29
Bonus Tracks – CD release
- "I Can't Get Along with Society (Remix)" – 5:41
- "Jam (Footstompin' Music)" – 4:40
- "Country Road" (Original Version) – 7:37
- "All You've Got is Money" (Original Version) – 8:18
- "Feelin' Alright" (Original Version) – 5:57
Differences in bonus tracks
editThe bonus tracks on the 2002 reissue labeled "Original Version" have extended sections and extra lyrics compared to the tracks as released on the original LP.
"Feelin' Alright" is a different take of the song, as heard by the different inflections in the lead vocal, placement of the instruments in the stereo mix, and musical differences in the playing. Additionally, a third verse is included that is not in the LP version.
"Footstompin' Music" became a staple at Grand Funk Railroad's concerts, having been recorded at the Survival sessions but not included on the original release. It was brought into their next album setlist, E Pluribus Funk (1971), with a slightly different arrangement and without the word "Jam" on its title. The song is featured on the live albums Caught in the Act (1975), Bosnia (1997), and Live: The 1971 Tour (recorded in 1971, released in 2002).
Personnel
edit- Mark Farner – vocals, guitar, harmonica, keyboards
- Mel Schacher – bass
- Don Brewer – vocals, drums
LP extras
editThe original LP release came with 8x10 photos of each of the three bandmembers, in similar poses as the caveman image of the three from the album cover.
Charts
editAlbum
Chart (1971) | Peak position |
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US Billboard Top LPs[5] | 6 |
Australian National Charts[6] | 9 |
Canada RPM Top Albums[7] | 4 |
Singles
Year | Single | Chart | Position |
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1971 | "Feelin' Alright" | Billboard Hot 100[8] | 54 |
Canada | 20 | ||
"Gimme Shelter" | Billboard Hot 100[9] | 61 | |
Canada | 49 | ||
Germany[10] | 42 |
References
edit- ^ Anon. (May 1, 1971). "Album Reviews". Billboard. p. 46. Retrieved July 2, 2019 – via Google Books.
- ^ AllMusic review
- ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: G". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved February 24, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- ^ Rolling Stone review[dead link]
- ^ Grand Funk Railroad, Survival US Chart Position Retrieved March 23, 2015
- ^ Grand Funk Railroad, Survival Australian Chart Position Archived 2013-02-12 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved March 23, 2015
- ^ Grand Funk Railroad, Survival Canadian Chart Position Retrieved March 23, 2015
- ^ Grand Funk Railroad, "Feelin Alright" Chart Position Retrieved March 23, 2015
- ^ Grand Funk Railroad, "Gimme Shelter" US Chart Position Retrieved March 23, 2015
- ^ Grand Funk Railroad, "Gimme Shelter" German Chart Position Retrieved March 23, 2015