On Time
Grand Funk Railroad
℗ 1969 Capitol Records ST 307 / © EMI Records
Grand Funk Railroad's 1969 debut is a wildly uneven affair. Although the exuberant energy and power-trio theatrics that would fuel their 1970s hits are in place, the group's songwriting and arranging abilities are very much in their infancy. The biggest problems in terms of songwriting are the often-amateurish lyrics: "Anybody's Answer" is a sincere but muddled attempt at a message song that expends a lot of energy without ever focusing on a particular target and "Heartbreaker" is a love lament that is content to trot out a series of well-worn heartbreak cliches. In terms of arrangements, the band often places an aimless jam where a tight instrumental break should be. The standout example of this problem is "TNUC," a loose-limbed tune that wears out its welcome with an overlong and unstructured drum solo. Despite these problems, there are some strong tunes in the mix: "Are You Ready" is an exuberant rocker built on one of Mel Schacher's trademark walking bass lines and "Into the Sun" is a clever tune that starts as a mellow mid-tempo jam before blossoming into a stomping rocker with a funky guitar riff. Both of these sturdy tunes appropriately became mainstays of Grand Funk Railroad's live show for many years to come. "Time Machine" is another highlight, a bluesy shuffle built on Mark Farner's wailing vocals and a catchy, stuttered guitar riff. All in all, On Time is way too patchy of an album to please the casual listener but provides a few hints of and contains enough worthwhile moments to please the group's fans. — Donald A. Guarisco. |
- 1. Are You Ready? (Mark Farner) [03:28]
- 2. Anybody's Answer (Mark Farner) [05:17]
- 3. Time Machine (Mark Farner) [03:44]
- 4. High on a Horse (Mark Farner) [02:56]
- 5. T. N. U. C. (Mark Farner) [08:42]
- 6. Into the Sun (Mark Farner) [06:29]
- 7. Heartbreaker (Mark Farner) [06:34]
- 8. Call Yourself a Man (Mark Farner) [03:05]
- 9. Can't Be Too Long (Mark Farner) [06:34]
- 10. Ups and Downs (Mark Farner) [05:02]
- 11. High on a Horse [original version] [04:34]
- 12. Heartbreaker [original version] [06:53]
Участие в альбоме:
- Don Brewer: drums, vocals
- Mark Farner: guitar, piano, harmonica, vocals
- Mel Schacher: bass
- Barry Edmunds: cover photos
- Kenneth Hamann: engineer
- Terry Knight: producer
Тексты:
Are You Ready?
(Mark Farner)
Are you ready? You can trust me all the way. Are you ready? Well, then let me hear you say That you're ready, and the world will know it's right. Yes, you're ready, and you know it's out of sight. Now you're ready, well, then what you waitin' for? If you're ready, you just open up your door 'Cause I'm ready, for everything you got. Yes, I'm ready, come and get it while it's hot.
Anybody's Answer
(Mark Farner)
If you find yourself looking for someone To make good the bad things that you've done. Do you think you're looking straight ahead? And, will you find the answer when you're dead? Well, then you should listen now to me. And, I'll tell you how I think it should be. No one tells you why you're here to live. This is why it's you who must forgive. No! You can't kill your brother ... No! Because you love each other. No! You can't steal his pennies ... No! 'Cause you didn't leave him any. Ahhhhhh ... Ahhhhhh ... Ahhhhhh ... Ahhhhhh ... And if reason tells you not to live, But you feel there's something left to give. You can't leave this place until it's done, So you'll see one more rising of the sun. Sun ... Sun ... You're gonna' see it one more time. Sun ... Oh you can't get away from it. Sun ... You're gonna see it, oh, one more time.
Time Machine
(Mark Farner)
Well, hey there, baby, do you want to make the scene? I said a-hey there, baby, do you want to make the scene? Awww, well, come on over, baby, step into my time machine. You better jump into my action, I'm gonna' make you feel right. Awww, jump into my action, I'm gonna' make you feel right. Don't worry 'bout tomorrow 'cause I'm gonna' love you tonight. Step into the front row, I'm gonna' show you how. Step into the front row, I wanna' show you how. Don't worry 'bout no time we can always come back to right now. Awww, I'm gonna' give it to you ... When you wanna' come back, we just turn about. When you wanna' come back, we just turn about. But we ain't gonna' come back, 'till there ain't no doubt. Now don't it get good to you? Do you know what I mean? Now don't it get good to you? Don't you know what I mean? Well, come on over, baby, jump into my time machine.
High on a Horse
(Mark Farner)
Ain't no doctor, who can help the way I feel. Once you got her, boy, she let's you know it's real. Learn to love her, or the opposite is right. To rise above her, you'll be so high you're out of sight Feel so good, yeah! That you never want to come down. But you should, yeah! If you want to stay around.
T. N. U. C.
(Mark Farner)
You won't find me, knockin' at your door. I've known forever, you don't love me no more. If you don't want to lay there, with your mouth shut tight, I'm gettin' myself together, yes, I'm leavin' tonight You ain't gonna' find nobody, to treat you like I do. I been down on my knees, you treat me like a fool. Now, I know what you're tryin' to do, awww, it ain't gonna' happen. 'Cause I just done got hip to you, I'm gonna' walk out laughin'.
Into the Sun
(Mark Farner)
Rising, setting, been trying to get into the sun, yeah. Wanting, getting, gonna' get more, baby, when I'm done. All my life I had been waiting, then you turn me on. Now there'll be no hesitating, I'm getting into the sun. Growing, knowing, you learn more everyday, yeah. Needing, succeeding, sun, don't go away. Things are changing for the better, now I'm not afraid. I'll be writing you a letter, 'cause I just got paid. Growing, knowing, you learn more everyday, yeah. Needing, succeeding, sun, don't go away. Things are changing for the better, now I'm not afraid. I'll be writing you a letter, 'cause I just got paid.
Heartbreaker
(Mark Farner)
Once I had a little girl, sometimes I think about her, But, buddy, you know she's not really there. When memories do call, I just, I just can't live without her But tryin' all the time is so hard to bear. Heartbreaker, can't take her, Heartbreaker, bringing me down. Heartbreaker, can't take her, Heartbreaker, bringing me down. I don't cry no more, I live while I'm flying, But I'll think back, and you can hear me say: Heartbreaker, can't take her, Heartbreaker, bringing me down. Heartbreaker, can't take her, Heartbreaker, bringing me down. Heartbreaker, can't take her, Heartbreaker, bringing me down. Heartbreaker, can't take her, Heartbreaker, bringing me down. Heartbreaker, can't take her, Heartbreaker, bringing me down. Heartbreaker, can't take her, Heartbreaker, bringing me down. Heartbreaker, can't take her, Heartbreaker, bringing me down.
Call Yourself a Man
(Mark Farner)
Everybody's laughin', loud as it can be, But please don't point your finger, especially not at me. 'Cause I'm not tryin' to be somebody, I just do what I can, But you just keep on laughin', call yourself a man! I'm not lookin' for somebody, to defend my case. I've been scorned by more than one, so stop this paper chase. If you can't accept me, just for what I am, Go ahead, reject me, call yourself a man! Tell me who you're foolin', is it not yourself? Go ahead, be cool, and, I'll just be myself. And if you can't accept me, just for what I am, Go ahead, reject me, call yourself a man!
Can't Be Too Long
(Mark Farner)
Ahhh ... Ahhh ... Ah, Ah, Ahhh ... Ahhh ... The heat of a summer day, poundin' down on my back, Work like a dog in the sunlight, tryin' to pay the people back. I killed a man in the spring time; Had to work hard just to make a dime, To buy my baby the things that she needs. I guess I didn't think twice, and now I have to pay the price, For killing a man of another creed. Ahhh ... Ahhh ... Ah, Ah, Ahhh ... Ahhh ... I guess I'll have to be strong, the rest of my life can't be too long. I know I'll die some day, and be going far away, And you won't remember the things that I've done. I feel a shedding tear, it's only been a year, But I know I'll be dead when the evening comes. Ahhh ... Ahhh ... Ah, Ah, Ahhh ... Ahhh ... I guess I'll have to be strong, the rest of my life can't be too long. Ahhh ... Ahhh ... Ah, Ah, Ahhh ... Ahhh ...
Ups and Downs
(Mark Farner)
If you can't feel it keep on tryin', 'Cause that's the way it's got to be. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's comin' down and I ain't buyin', It's gonna' take a long time, to catch up with me. And when you notice your condition, Maybe you'll want to stay with me. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Then we can find the true definition, The answer's here, right here with me. Row, row, row your boat... Row, row, row your boat... Row, row, row your boat... Row, row, row your boat... Row, row, row your boat... Row, row, row your boat... Row, row, row your boat... Row, row, row your boat... Row, row, row your boat... Row, row, row your boat... Row, row, row your boat... Row, row, row your boat... I want the world to know my reason. And, if you help me find a way, yeah, yeah, yeah, I'll bring my own and keep on pleasin'. But, baby, this is the way I'm gonna' stay.