AMG Review of Trunk of Funk

Greg Prato
All Music Guide

Grand Funk Railroad has certainly had their fare share of compilations released over the years -- tops being the career-encompassing three-disc set from 1999, Thirty Years of Funk. But for longtime Grand Funk fans looking to replace their vinyl with remastered CDs, 2002's Trunk of Funk is a good way to start. Included are the group's first four albums -- their 1969 debut, On Time, and their 1970 trio of releases (something that is unheard of nowadays by modern rock bands), Grand Funk, Closer to Home, and Live Album -- plus previously unreleased tracks. And for those planning on purchasing the other remastered Grand Funk CDs (which were released during the ensuing year), the folks at Capitol were kind enough to leave just the right amount of empty spaces in the case. Although Grand Funk was to enjoy their biggest commercial success a few years down the line (1973's We're an American Band), it's the group's early era that is often considered its peak by the headbanging crowd. And it's easy to understand why after hearing the Black Sabbath-esque "Sin's a Good Man's Brother," the turbo-charged "Are You Ready," and the drum solo showcase "T.N.U.C." If you're still unsure about this set (which was limited edition -- only 10,000 copies manufactured worldwide), here's a special bit that may finally convince you -- the inclusion of a pair of Shinin' On 3-D glasses.