| "We're an American Band" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Grand Funk Railroad | ||||
| from the album We're an American Band | ||||
| B-side | "Creepin'" | |||
| Released | July 2, 1973 | |||
| Recorded | June 1973 | |||
| Studio | Criteria (Miami) | |||
| Genre | Hard rock[1][2] | |||
| Length | 3:26 3:31 (2002 remix) | |||
| Label | Capitol | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Don Brewer | |||
| Producer(s) | Todd Rundgren | |||
| Grand Funk Railroad singles chronology | ||||
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| Gold vinyl issue | ||||
&sq=&lang=&file=File:We%27re_an_American_Band_-_Grand_Funk_Railroad.jpg) Limited edition release | ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "We’re an American Band" on YouTube | ||||
"We're an American Band" is a No. 1 single by American rock band Grand Funk Railroad. Released on July 2, 1973, from the band's album of the same name, it became the band's first single to top the Billboard charts.[3] Written by Don Brewer and produced by Todd Rundgren, its huge chart success broadened Grand Funk's appeal. In a 2023 interview, Brewer said the song, which stiches together snippets of events from the band's touring life, was written in an effort to garner the band more hits as FM radio stations were transitioning into singles-oriented formats.[4]
According to Brewer, the song was not a rebuke to British band Humble Pie, who Grand Funk had previously toured with.[5]
It is the 99th song on VH1's list of the 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs.[6]
- ^ Tucker, Dan (February 28, 2014). "13 Classic Hard Rock Songs That Will Make You Scream "More Cowbell!"". VH1. Viacom. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
- ^ Breihan, Tom (November 15, 2022). "Bon Jovi - "You Give Love a Bad Name". The Number Ones: Twenty Chart-Topping Hits That Reveal the History of Pop Music. New York: Hachette Book Group. p. 176.
- ^ "We're an American Band (song by Grand Funk Railroad) ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts". Musicvf.com. 1973-07-28. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
- ^ "Grand Funk Railroad: The story behind 'We're an American Band'". al.com. October 2023. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
- ^ "What Really Inspired Grand Funk's 'We're An American Band'". ultimateclassicrock.com. 2 July 2023. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
- ^ "VH1 Top 100 Hard Rock Songs". Music.spreadit.org. Retrieved 2009-02-04.