We're An American Band

Album: We're An American Band (1973)
Charted: 1
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  • Out on the road for forty days
    Last night in Little Rock put me in a haze
    Sweet, sweet Connie, doin' her act
    She had the whole show and that's a natural fact
    Up all night with Freddie King
    I got to tell you, poker's his thing
    Booze and ladies, keep me right
    As long as we can make it to the show tonight

    We're an American band
    We're an American band
    We're comin' to your town
    We'll help you party it down
    We're an American band

    Four young chiquitas in Omaha
    Waitin' for the band to return from the show
    Feelin' good, feelin' right, it's Saturday night
    The hotel detective, he was outta sight
    Now these fine ladies, they had a plan
    They was out to meet the boys in the band
    They said, come on dudes, let's get it on
    And we proceeded to tear that hotel down

    We're an American band
    We're an American band
    We're comin' to your town
    We'll help you party it down
    We're an American band

    We're an American band
    We're an American band
    We're comin' to your town
    We'll help you party it down
    We're an American band

    We're an American band
    We're an American band
    We're comin' to your town
    We'll help you party it down
    We're an American band

    We're an American band
    We're an American band
    We're comin' to your town
    We'll help you party it down
    We're an American band

    We're an American band, wooo
    We're an American band, wooo
    We're an American band, wooo Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 22

  • Just Me from UsaMust be a political thing that GFR isn't in the RRHOF. They've earned it and deserve it. Even the over-whelming majority of the fans know and believe this, so somebody (people) are holding them back. I will boycott the RRHOF until they get in.
    Just my little rant!
  • Lilysnana from ConwaySadly she passed away. And she was a teacher. Sad she was barred from a return concert. RIP to her. The 70s were wild!
  • Mister_mojo_risin from Atlanta UsaLOVE this Riff, one of the first ones I learned to play when I was a kid on a cheap Univox Les Paul copy through a crappy Sears Amp.
    Blew out the speaker.... What memories!
  • Ozo from OhioTodd Rundgren...you had to explain who he is? lol. You also forgot to mention the whole Utopia thing. *sigh*
  • Sharon from BostonCan anyone answer this for me? I know Todd Rundgren produced and engineered the song (and that "dit dit dit dit dit" morse-code effect in the background sounds like something straight out of his "A Wizard/A True Star,") but it also sounds like's he's singing backup on the choruses, too. Is that true, or am I just hearing things because I know Rundgren was involved?
  • Anonymous from UsaI have been reading about GFR lately and Connie. Tonight I read there was an album cover photographed in a barn with the guys naked among some hay bales. But Farner kept his "britches" on. So he said. That got me to thinking about him and I figured he wasn't in on the Connie situation because he sounds modest. Or maybe he would go privately somewhere else. Now I read in Debby from USA's comment he is a Christian. He seems like an authentic person. It's easy to see he is proud of his Native American heritage. Also, I picked up that the band were super talented young men who wanted this so badly that they put every ounce of energy into their work. I feel like they put the band first when they could have gotten discouraged. They were smart enough to look for help when things were going bad. They found Rundgren. And even when he was super eccentric they weren't put off by it, but kept a positive outlook. It paid off. Now they need to get into the RRHOF because they are foundational to the Rock and Roll story. That's unfinished business.
  • Debby from UsaThe line "Sweet Sweet Connie was doin' her act. She had the whole show and that's a natural fact" was in reference to a backstage activity during a concert in Little Rock, Arkansas in which Sweet Connie Hamzy reportedly gave b jobs to everyone in the crew and two band members. Not Mark Farner, who she claims was a born again Christian.
  • Paul from Southern Pines, NcThis song was recorded in Florida and Produced by Todd Rundgren on June 12, 1973.

    Grand Funk had ended their earlier 1972/1973 Tour on February 3, 1973.
    Grand Funk now with Craig Frost as Keyboardist.

    The truth, is that the Band was dry for material in 1973 when they hooked up with Todd Rundgren.
    Producer Todd Rundgren then told Don Brewer to write something about Grand Funk's experiences on the road.
    Don wrote the song that night, and the next day they started to record portions of the song.
  • Paul from Southern Pines, Nc* The reference to "Sweet Sweet Connie" did her act. Was regarding an August 14, 1970 concert in Little Rock, Arkansas.
    * The reference to "Freddie King, poker's his thing". Was regarding touring with Freddie King in 1972. Freddie a 'Rhythm and Blues' guitarist from Texas, opened up for Grand Funk. in
    many Concerts, was a notorious Poker Player who never lost.
    * The reference "Out on the road for 40 Days". Regarding the late-1972 Phoenix Tour (October 11, 1972 thru December 23, 1972).
    * The reference "4 young Chiquita's in Omaha". Regarding the Hotel scene in Omaha, Nebraska on October 28, 1971.
  • Paul from Southern Pines, NcWhen this song first came out, it didn't sound like a Grand Funk song. I know the critics ripped it apart as a Pop-Type Anthem Rock Song.

    But within weeks, it was on the top of the AM Playlist. It was 'the' song for a long time.
  • Camille from Toronto, OhC.L.A.S.S.I.C. rock. This is an anthem for all times. It just rocks out and makes you feel good anytime you hear it.
  • Yvonne from Hastings, MnDon't forget the nude shot inside the album cover. Very risqué for the times. From interviews with the band all they complained about was how much the hay itched.

    Also a tidbit on Connie Hamsey, when the band played in Little Rock years later during their reunion tours in the mid 90's Connie tried to get in back stage and see the band but was barred. Can you believe it she claimed to be a school teacher but still liked to hang out with rock stars.
  • Mark from Byrdstown, TnHomer Simpsons favorite song(with the possible exception being "It's Raining Men") by his favorite band.
  • Scott from Palm Desert, CaGreat band, great song. Nuff said.
  • Brandon from Peoria, IlAwesome cowbell :)
  • Robert from West Hartford, CtBlotto does a great cover to this song, personalizing the lyrics "we proceeded to tear Poughkeepsie down!" nicely.
  • Nick from Roch, Nygrand funk rocks
  • Barry from New York, NcListen to Don when he sings "Feeling good feeling alright it's Saturday night." Sounds like he has a frog in his throat for a second!!
  • Mike from Mountlake Terrace, WashingtonSeptembr 28th. 1973, Grand Funk went to No.1 on the US singles chart with this song, the groups first of two US chart toppers.
  • Joel from Montreal, CanadaPhish played this with Kid Rock on vocals in Las Vegas on 09-29-2000.
  • Jonnie from St. Louis, MoConnie Hamsey and her friend Sherry were friends of mine when I was at KAAY Radio in Little Rock. They were both really cute, sweet young girls from good families and lived in North Little Rock.
    They used to visit me on remote broadcasts and at the station sometime. Connie got a bit of a wild streak going, but Sherry didn't follow along. Connie's parents were nice people, but Connie just needed a lot of attention. Later, when she started some of her exploits with the groups that came into town I wasn't shocked...just saddened. We met again on one of my visits back to L.R. after I moved to St. Louis and she told me about one of the TV shows she was going to be interviewed on and an article that was coming out in Cosmo on her. She didn't look the same. Most
    of the sweetness was gone, a harsher look took its place. But somewhere underneath I could still see that cute little girl who I had met years earlier...I just wished that it was the same "Connie". The "new" Connie, I don't think, was truly very happy with herself.
  • David from Lubbock, TxSome "We're an American Band" albums were also released in gold vinyl. This started a trend with other artists releasing albums in colored vinyl and picture discs(Mr Mister, Journey, Living Colour and Sphinx, among others)
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