Mel Schacher, Grand Funk Live Album (1970)

JCM800 · #1 09-16-2009, 07:51 AM

I have been living under a damn rock.

Face meltingly awesome. Another reason why the early '70's is my favorite era for music.

Upon first hearing this last week (on vinyl) I immediately jumped out of my chair and yelled "YES!!! THAT is what I've been trying to do!". Then I bought it on CD to put into my iTunes and learn/play along with it on my iPod.

ROCK N ****ING ROLL!!!

sevenyearsdown · #2 09-16-2009, 07:54 AM

Yes, Mel rules.

JCM800 · #3 09-16-2009, 07:57 AM

^ Understatement!!!!

BIGREDSIX · #4 09-16-2009, 08:13 AM

Yep, Mel smokes, especially live. A Fender Jazz through a West amp stack (back in the day). Pure overdrive heaven!

zombywoof5050 · #5 09-16-2009, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIGREDSIX

Yep, Mel smokes, especially live. A Fender Jazz through a West amp stack (back in the day). Pure overdrive heaven!

Didn't he add a different pickup to his Jazz bass? Here's a pic. Does anyone know if he used this bass on the live album?

Hamrhed · #6 09-16-2009, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCM800

I have been living under a damn rock.

Face meltingly awesome. Another reason why the early '70's is my favorite era for music.

Upon first hearing this last week (on vinyl) I immediately jumped out of my chair and yelled "YES!!! THAT is what I've been trying to do!". Then I bought it on CD to put into my iTunes and learn/play along with it on my iPod.

ROCK N ****ING ROLL!!!

Dude! Ive been jamming w/ Mel also... and I completely agree about the 70's: from beginning to end everything Rock (and Blues, Jazz, Soul, punk) was so much better than 90% of anything thats happened since, imo

Quote:

Originally Posted by zombywoof5050

Didn't he add a different pickup to his Jazz bass?

Looks like a Gibson EBO pup

DeluxeRed · #7 09-16-2009, 08:23 AM

Head straight to the iTunes store and buy "Caught In The Act". GFR's second live album is superior even to their first!

edbass · #8 09-16-2009, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zombywoof5050

Didn't he add a different pickup to his Jazz bass? Here's a pic. Does anyone know if he used this bass on the live album?

It's a Gibson "Mudbucker", and it sure sounds like he used it on the Live album.

electracoyote · #9 09-16-2009, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeluxeRed

Head straight to the iTunes store and buy "Caught In The Act". GFR's second live album is superior even to their first!

Caught In The Act is their third live recording, but you are correct that the live releases get better each time.

The 1970 Live Album is one of the roughest, noisiest live albums I've ever heard. Mel is WAY up in the mix, which is just awesome for us bottom feeders, because the man knows how to cook. It's a primer on bluesy power pop rock bass.

Farner sounds like he's still learning how to play guitar on that one.

By the time Live: The 1971 Tour was released, they had fixed the mix a little and the sound is pretty good. The band still has a lot of energy, but it's a little more refined and Farner sounds like he has a little more control. Don Brewer is still one of the noisiest drummers in rock. And Mel is still Mel. Just listen to the intro to "I'm Your Captain." Tasty.

I met Don Brewer and Mel Schacher once when I was roadying for a Classic Rock tour. Whereas Don is Mr. Personality, very outgoing and approachable, Mel is one of the most humorless, scary men I've ever met. Nothing but business baby, not to be messed with. Like one of those little guys with a chip on his shoulder who would pull out a knife if you looked at him wrong. We all gave him plenty of room.

bigntasty · #10 09-16-2009, 12:03 PM

I am sooooo glad there are others out there that now know what I learned in 1973. He was THE reason I started playing bass.

I think it's a great testament to Mel that 35-40 years later, his playing is still impacting bassists old and new.

Fretless1! · #11 09-16-2009, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeluxeRed

Head straight to the iTunes store and buy "Caught In The Act".

I call "Caught in the Act" testosterone on vinyl.

Just for reference. Let this kick your butt...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZj1uElADZw

Hamrhed · #12 09-16-2009, 03:33 PM

Watch @ 3:10: Mel switches between pick and fingers on the breakdown of 'Captain/Closer'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyF5J7au1jE

Geddyfleaharris · #13 09-16-2009, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fretless1!

I call "Caught in the Act" testosterone on vinyl.

Just for reference. Let this kick your butt...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZj1uElADZw

As one of the youtube posters says......good lord that kicks ass!

Indeed it does.

Caught in the Act is the all-grown-up now live album. The 1970 Live album is hell on wheels. The rawness of it is brutal. But a good brutal!

The Live: 1971 Tour is also very good and still very raw despite being cleaned up. I love where their manager/stage announcer guy asks the crowd to please return Mark's foot pedal so they can play another tune. Bet you won't ever hear that again on a live album.

Peredur · #14 09-16-2009, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fretless1!

Just for reference. Let this kick your butt...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZj1uElADZw

Now THAT is a drummer.

PBass101 · #15 09-16-2009, 04:53 PM

The bass is the only reason I listen to Grand Funk. My band covers "Sin's a Good Man's Brother" and I love it - except for the lowered octave that our singer does the vocals in.