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Also included is a pair of "Shinin' On" 3-D glasses, guitar pick and a sticker reproducing a concert ticket. The song has been recorded by the German power metal band Helloween as a track on their 1995 CD single "Sole Survivor". An unusual 'performance' of it was an improvised one with altered lyrics by an American Airlines pilot over a plane's PA system while awaiting permission to leave the gate, which drew much applause from passengers. But after a while they had no ending for the second movement. Inspired by groups like The Moody Blues, they came upon the idea of using an orchestra, and hired Tommy Baker, an arranger and trumpet player who was working on the Cleveland television series Upbeat.
This album reached RIAA gold record status in 1970, making it the group's third gold record in one year. The album's inside artwork shows a live photo of the band performing at Madison Square Garden in February 1970. Tamara is 100% correct as Mark was never addicted to heroin.
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It is considered to be the standout track on the Closer to Home album, and considered by both Farner and others to be his best work as a songwriter. With its melodic strengths and dramatic feel, it is often considered one of the best rock songs of all time. Estimated delivery dates - opens in a new window or tab include seller's handling time, origin ZIP Code, destination ZIP Code and time of acceptance and will depend on shipping service selected and receipt of cleared payment. At the time, rock bands had experimented with orchestras, and we said, 'Let's put an orchestra on this thing, we'll just play endlessly, and we'll get Tommy Baker, our friend down in Cleveland, to write the score for it, and we'll put an orchestra on it. It was a new thing for us, kind of new for the day - there hadn't been too many bands using orchestras. When we finally heard the song about two weeks later, it just blew us all away.
There are plenty of studies showing social isolation in humans can lead to panic, fear, extreme paranoia, depression, and suicide. In 2002 Closer to Home was remastered on compact disc with bonus tracks and also released in a limited-edition box set Trunk of Funk that contained the band's first four albums. The "trunk" has slots for twelve CDs to house the future release of the remaining eight albums that were released by Capitol.
About This Artist
These guys are under rated as far as rock and roll history books go. I think it's because Brittish bands of the 60's and 70's had darker lyrics. But these guys had a rawness that defines what rock should be, youg,not too polished and dangerously fun. Mark Farner is a great singer and a great guitarist in his own right.
Delivery time is estimated using our proprietary method which is based on the buyer's proximity to the item location, the shipping service selected, the seller's shipping history, and other factors. The song also found a following among American personnel in Vietnam, in part because the band's working-class Flint origins were similar to those of many Americans serving in the war. It resonated with them as they tried to stay alive while waiting for the time when they could get closer to home, and then when they were finally returning from the war.
Track: Slap Bass 1Last edit on:11/20/2009
A truncated version of the song was a modest hit single when first released, but the full album track achieved greater airplay on progressive rock radio stations of the time. It has since become a classic rock staple and has appeared on several audience-selected lists as one of the best rock songs of all time. Released as a single with the title "Closer to Home", it was modestly successful in early fall 1970, reaching number 21 in Canada and number 22 on the U.S. pop singles chart as the group's first top 40 hit single. It was far more successful on progressive rock radio stations, such as those in New York, where its length and epic feel were an asset and where it became a mainstay that appealed to a broad spectrum of rock fans outside Grand Funk's immediate listener base. Its airplay helped the album reach the Top 10 of the U.S. albums chart within a month of its release. When a friend of mine gave me the album "Closer to home", he said that it sucked and I thought it would but when I put it on my sears turn table, I loved it.I was in high school and the truth is, I learned how to improvise by listening to Grand Funk.
He is having a bit of a bumpy ride in his mind and is trying to regain control of his senses, (I'm your captain)and he is afraid of losing his mind he seeks help from God and slowly regains control (I'm getting closer to my home). I think this is at least a plausible interpretation to the meaning of this song. This realization makes him sick and he pleads to heaven for help. In 1973, Grand Funk exploded with their #1 hit "We're An American Band" and became one of the top live acts in the US.
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It's one of those extremely rare awesome songs that tell a bitchin' story any way you slice it. When this song was released in 1970, the Vietnam War was still going on but there seemed to be no path to victory for the American soldiers fighting there. "If you're in a foxhole in Vietnam, you're pinned down by so much fire coming in, you want to be Closer To Home," Mark Farner told Songfacts. "That song 'Closer To Home' just really registered with our Vietnam brothers and sisters." I got up and I wrote it, and as I'm writing it, I'm between the state of subconscious and conscious. I've got one foot in dreamland and my pen is writing these words down.
"I'm your captain, I'm your captain" could be relating to Mark Farner considering himself the leader or "captain" of the band and so being felt that he should be able to do what he wants even if it was self destructrive. It makes me think of a ships captain in the 1600 or so, where they are lost. He has tried to get them to the new land, but he's lost from being sick for so long. He can't keep control of the ship any longer and the crew are taking over from despair and anger from sailing for months.
The original version with his group Brinsley Schwarz was kind of somber, but Elvis Costello made it a classic with his 1978 uptempo take. Of the many times I had seen GFR in concert, it was just the 3 of them. I first heared this song when I was going into 7th grade & a friend of mine was killed as she crossed the street hit by a motorcycle. Every time I hear it , It always is in memory of Tracy & I wonder how her life would have been . It was my first real experience with someone passing & the song gave me comfort & reflection. I think this song has some psychedelic aspects, he is basically on some kind of hallucinogenic such as LSD maybe even and is having a bit of a bad trip, this can happen to somebody with something as benign as weed.
I am a professional musician today in part because of his influence. But these guys had a rawness that defines what rock should be, like Chuck Berry young,not too polished and dangerously fun. Decades later, "I'm Your Captain" remains a staple of many classic rock radio stations.
The seller has specified an extended handling time for this item. I think of it as a story about the captain of a haunted ship that is being taken over by those evil spirits. I picture him in his cabin, curled up with his knees against his chest, rocking back and forth and repeating over and over, "I'm getting closer to my home..."
This song was recorded in Cleveland and orchestra was conducted by Tommy Baker. I've always known that the song is about war-times...whatever battle you may be IN. It was written in the 70's and the Vietnam crisis was an unavoidable concern. Especially for those of draft age with their friends and cousins being taken. I believe the Who still hold the record for the loudest band . Two that come to mind right a way are the Allman Bros, and Phil Collins.
I'm Your Captain (Closer to Home)
Again the bass line carries the music, with now a flute line accompanying it. Soon the strings from the orchestra, make their entrance, featuring violins, violas, cellos, and basses. The second movement starts at a fairly slow tempo, then launches into a relatively upbeat guitar break before the captain resumes singing. The movement's single lyric repeats over and over as a mantra.
Weird how songs seem to have different meanings when you listen to them through the lens of different times... I haven't heard this song in many years but I ran into it today in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic.. And it captures the isolation and anxiety of those of us high risk individuals kind of trapped in our homes indefinitely are feeling.
