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to Gel Away," on ( he other hand, it almost a troubles away.
post- Beatles ballad. The chorus and the hook* So during Occupational Therapy 0101
line after the AM ! verse make it an almost they began to make hits instead of weaving
certain single hit "Freedom is For Children " baskets. They made one hit. twro hits, many
is the most eloquent possible statement of hits. They were mellowed from their sedate
rock ’ n ' roll juvenile delinquent alienation, as life at the Home and their music reflected iL
are several of the other songs. Farner will Pretty soon they were acclaimed as "the get it
obviously become a major tongs nting force, on hand for nice people. " Here was the group
*
his positive populism in contrast to the that could pry our more academic brothers
term- collegute scribbling * of the pseudo- from their reclusion in the Studcn Unions and
folk- rock set. Grad Libraries, shelling out their book money
There are tcveui other cuts which work - for 3DN albums , which they played between
notably "Ram Keeps Failin ’ * and "RockV classes and then immediately stuck between
Roll Soul " - and only one which throws me. BtHtkends and Theme From Lost Story.
Why " So You Don’t Have to Die. " a Three Dog Night was every Joe and Mary
ridiculous Jesus ballad, had to mar a group College ' s dream of the ultimate rock band.
with an otherwise rational, humanist posture Not a frantic musical phenomenon, but an
is beyond me. uncomplicated Sound that was easy to sing
Maybe it ' s a Joke. Here ' s Farner. otherwise and dance to. More and more Liberal
a tough stud (another bnef. but blatant Artisians began discovering 3DN and soon
PHOENIX objection) who knows where his brothers ' and they had a mass following. They became
*
'
GRANO FUNK RAILROAO asters sensibilities lie. claiming that Jesus has America s Number One lilt Makers.
come
in
a
say
him
to
vision
to
But alas, this new status reproduced that
CAPITOL " Overpopulation is the problem of today/ whole set of neuroses the Three were trying
Here ' s an interesting new group. Straight Ihcrc ' t too many children and more on the to flee from. Then new- found fame has
from the heartland of punk. Grand Funk way/ | f you don ' t start some birth control you rocketed them into the category of Pop Stan
Railroad play that interesting brand of won't last much long longer." Obviously not a (who everyone knows are different from real
people ! , and they felt isolated all over again.
heavy-metal rock the Motor City has long Catholic. Perhaps this h the price paid for
does.
been famous for. Thetr roots show a little - such engaging naivete in all else the group Dr. Zimmerman suggested that the weight of
-
Black Sabbath.Cream. MC5. certain brands of fame might be lightened if they found more
RAB but then S JIKC h unique. They arc Aside from "You Don ' t Have to Die, " and members to share their malady. So they
'
the fust populist rock band and they manage a few production lapses ( which might be returned to the Retired Dope Dealers ’ Home
to pull both politics and music off. attributable to the group performing that and scouted for outpatients with potential
Capitol has such high hopes for the group function for themselves), Phoenix b a greaf and the umc affliction (which wasn ' t hard to
'*
peei group).
they ' ve granted them then own ("honorary ) record. find, since paranoia b common among this
label, featuring a photo of each member, and For those of us who can remember, it is an
no wonder. Lead singer and guttanit Mark interesting fantasy to imagine Shea Stadium Soon they were seven and well on their
Farner has certain vocal weaknesses, but on at becoming a rock ballroom once again, with a way to recovery. To keep their collective
minds off their problem they made an album.
*
"
least one song here (" Tiyin to Get Away. a group as talented and honest as Grand l unk Well , at least they said it was an album.
Railroad commanding the stage.
beautiful rock ballad ) he comes through
cards.
perfectly, and the rest of the way. the band is Terry Knapp Strangely enough, it looks like a deck of
powerful as a locomotive.
Organist Craig ITost b the instrumcntally SEVEN SEPARATE FOOLS
dominant member, and coupled with the THREE DOG NIGHT
( bass).
more than competent rhythm section of Don DUNHILL a
Brewer (drums) and Mel Schacher
Grand Funk b as instrumcntally solid as any It was on a Friday rught duiing Doctor
group around. lar net s guitar lines arc Zimmerman ' s goup therapy session that
'
sometimes derivative but always in place, less Danny, Corey and Chuck first made a
excessive than many more celebrated players. * breakthrough at the South Cal Home for
" Flight of the Phoenix," which opens the Retired Dope Dcalcrv Since they aU shared
record, is an instrumental out of the great similar symptoms of acute paranoia and
midwYttern bar- hand tradition. It is full of subscribed to that old axiom " One is the
brewer ’ s yeast and boob grab, and you can lonlicst number that you ll ever do. " they
'
imagine a couple hundred thousand sweaty decided to join together in a hand with the
kids dancing to it at any pop fcsttvaL ’ Tryin * blessing of Doc Zimmerman and sing their
"Doctor, dear Doctor. I think we have a
problem here. "
Dr. Zimmerman suddenly appeared,
wearing the traditional horn rimmed glasses
and white lab coat, radiating inflexible
authority even if he is shorter than you might
expect. "Yes? , he inquired.
"
" Seven of your former patients have
claimed to be making an album, but all I see b
an oversized deck of cards. " I said.
"My dear friend. 1 implore you to have
more compassion for my boys! They have
spent a great deal of tune trying to recover
from their culture shock. What with Acid
Novtmbuf. 1972 63