Again I just love this CD

Is survival GFR best album, Well most GFR Fans will pick either Live Album, We're An American Band or Closer to Home as there best work, but to me it was and will always be survival. This album was and is a whole departure from GFRs early head banging ways, this album has some much soul and is a searching and introspective album. Each song is like bush strokes on a canvas of a brilliant overall work. While there are no songs on this CD that the rock and roll world would consider classic's, there are two absolutely brilliant songs on Survival, that most of the world is missing out on, Mark Farner's great composition Comfort Me and Don Brewers Great composition I Can Feel Him In The Morning (Don;s Lyrics and Marks Music). In Comfort Me what he have is basically a Heavy Rock version of Amazing Grace, "I was found after losing my way, safe and sound after many of day" This song is about the unconditional Love that God has for Us his children. On I can Feel Him In the morning we have a song about Felling God's presence even in the most terrible of circumstances "Bring me Down To The Battle field, let me hear the shells flaying By," such as war. This song is clearly the best written GFR song and one of the best in rock History; the lyrics are so deep and so connected to the heart and spirit. I just love this album from Cover to Cover. Country Road calls out to that simple life and what is important in life. All You Got Is Money is an interesting song about what Having money can cause in ones life. I Want Freedom is a clarion call to Americans to make sure we keep our freedoms the founding fathers gave us. And the cover's Gimme Shelter (a sledge Hammer Version) and Fellin' Alright (a very well done cover) all are both good songs. Those songs alone make this CD a must have, but it is also a remasterred CD that sounds beautiful and has Bonus tracks. The Bonus tracks are I can't get along with society a song about censorship a Jam that is an early version of Footstompin Music that sounds a lot like the way they played it Live on the 71 tour. Country Road, The original unedited version which is almost like a classical composition with four movements, it starts off with the song in its recognizable form with different lyrics and goes on to a cool 60s sounding keyboard heavy movement, then on to a Guitar heavy movement and back to the final movement with is the familiar song with the Familiar vocals, it is very cool, but slightly disjointed movement from one section to another (BUT I LOVE IT). And All you got is Money a very heavy version with different lyrics and no screaming at the end, it is very cool. Lastly an unedited version of Fellin' Alright in which Mark and Don sing in a lower key, very cool stuff. The CD also has new Liner Notes and cool Pictures. This is my favorite Rock Album of all Time and I would highly recommend it to anyone.


"Gotta Make a New World"   March 9, 2003
Jerry Fry (Freeman, MO USA)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful

"Survival" has probably passed the test of time better than any of the other Grand Funk albums. "I Can Feel Him in the Morning", a song that sounds like Farner is singing about God, has to be one of their greatest songs. Remember the first time you ever heard it? Did you know what Brewer was going to do on the drums and did it sound great? "Gimme Shelter" was borrowed from the Stones. I didn't realize it was a Jagger-Richards song until I bought "Hot Rocks". "Comfort Me" and "Country Road" are also highlights on this album. Some of the song "I Can Feel Him in the Morning", sounds like Farner is singing about Vietnam. It was still going on at the time and Grand Funk skirted political issues until "We're an American Band", which I think only a teenager can appreciate.