We’re An American Band is the seventh studio album by American rock band Grand Funk Railroad, better known as Grand Funk. The album was released by Capitol Records on July 15, 1973, and went gold in the United States just over a month after its release. Two singles were released from the album. The first, “We’re An American Band”, was released on July 2, 1973, and the second, “Walk Like A Man”, was released on October 29 of the same year. Both singles featured drummer Don Brewer as lead vocalist. There is one addition to the band on this album, that of Craig Frost, who plays organ, clavinet, and moog. Craig had also participated in their album “Phoenix” released the previous year.

The original album cover was originally covered with a gold foil wrapper on the outside and the original pressing was done on clear, dark yellow vinyl. The album has been reissued several times on Compact Disc, of course, but it was also released in a quadraphonic mix that was available on a quadraphonic 8-track cassette.

We’re An American Band was the group’s first collaboration with producer and engineer Todd Rundgren. Rundgren and the band recorded the album at Criteria Studios in Miami, Florida from June 13 to 15, 1973. Rundgren would go on to produce the band’s next album, Shinin’ On in 1974, before the band switched to Jimmy Lenner.

The album’s labels, above the side numbers, instructed listeners to listen at full volume. The packaging also included four stickers, two blue and two red with the Grand Funk logo. In an effort to shorten the band’s name, the word “Railroad” does not appear in the liner notes or anywhere else on the album’s cover, except as the title track of the first song on the album’s second side.

The title song, an autobiographical account of his life on the road, was written and sung by Brewer. It was released before the album and became a gold number one hit, Grand Funk’s first truly successful single. Despite the band’s previous popularity, it must have been the first Grand Funk record they ever bought or heard. The rest of the album features Farner on the usual vocals and guitar, singing his honest, if simple, thoughts as well as his political concerns. We’re An American Band truly belonged to Brewer and Rundgren, and its success was a timely redefinition of the group.

Upon its release, We’re An American Band became the band’s best album to date in terms of critical reception. In a contemporary review of the album for Allmusic, William Ruhlmann stated that the album was a departure from the band’s usual material, due in large part to Todd Rundgren’s production and Don Brewer’s development as the group’s frontman. Ruhlmann also said that the album sounded much more professional than its predecessors.

From this legendary album I select, of course, “We’re An American Band”.

Tracklist

1. We’re An American Band 3:25
2. Stop Lookin’ Back 4:51
3. Creepin’ 7:01
4. Black Licorice 4:43
5. The Railroad 6:07
6. Ain’t Got Nobody 4:19
7. Walk Like A Man 4:03
8. Loneliest Rider 5:19