Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge
    Just one of inkFrog's Creations

Description

GRAND FUNK RAILROAD

MARK, DON & MEL

1972 US GATEFOLD ORIGINAL

INCLUDES RARE ORIGINAL POSTER

"RARE LAMINATED 1ST COVER"

CUSTOM INNER SLEEVES & LABELS

CAPITOL

SMAS-11042

• RARE US CAPITOL original TRUE STEREO 1972 gatefold PRESSING of this double album on the NON FLEXIBLE custom "GFR" label (see photo). This copy includes the first press LAMINATED COVER and a beautiful original large poster of the band (see photos). The vinyl comes protected by the original GRAND FUNK RAILROAD custom paper inner sleeves (see photo). The 9 minute LIVE version of "Closer To Home" on this LP is incredible. This copy is from my personal collection.
• Please take a look at my other Rock, Psychedelic, British Invasion, and R & B LP auctions on the ABC, ARISTA, ASYLUM, ATCO, ATLANTIC, CAPITOL, CHRYSALIS, COLUMBIA, DUNHILL, ELEKTRA, EPIC, FONTANA, GRUNT, HARVEST, HICKORY, IMMEDIATE, KAPP, KING, MERCURY, MGM, NAUTILUS, ODEON, RCA, REPRISE, RIVIERA, SHEFFIELD LAB, SWANSONG, UNI, UNITED ARTISTS, VERVE, WARNER BROTHERS and WINDFALL labels.

Grand Funk Railroad (also known as Grand Funk) is an American rock band that was highly popular during the 1970s. Grand Funk Railroad toured constantly to packed arenas worldwide. A popular take on the band during its heyday was that, although the critics hated them, audiences loved them.[1] The band's name is a play on words of the Grand Trunk Railroad, a railroad line that ran through the band's home town of Flint, Michigan.

The band was formed in 1969 by Mark Farner and Don Brewer from Terry Knight and the Pack and Mel Schacher from Question Mark & the Mysterians; Knight soon became the band's manager. Knight named the band after the Grand Trunk Western Railroad, a well-known rail line in Michigan. First achieving recognition at the 1969 Atlanta Pop Festival, the band was signed by Capitol Records. After a raucous, well-received set on the first day of the festival, the group was asked back to play two additional days. Patterned after hard rock power trios such as Cream, the band, with Terry Knight's marketing savvy, developed its own popular style. In 1969, the band released its first album titled On Time, which sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold record in 1970.[2] In the same year, a second album, Grand Funk (aka "The Red Album"), was awarded gold status.[2] The hit single "I'm Your Captain (Closer to Home)", from the album Closer to Home, also released in 1970, was considered stylistically representative of Terry Knight and the Pack's recordings. The band spent $100,000 on a New York Times Square billboard to advertise Closer to Home.[3] In 1970, they sold more albums than any other American band and became a major concert attraction. By 1971, Grand Funk broke The Beatles' Shea Stadium attendance record by selling out in just 72 hours.
Despite critical pans and a lack of airplay, the group's first six albums (five studio releases and one live album) were quite successful. In 1970, Knight launched an intensive advertising campaign to promote the album Closer To Home. That album was certified multi-platinum despite a lack of critical approval.[2] Following Closer To Home, Live Album was also released in 1970, and was another gold disc recipient.[2] Survival and E Pluribus Funk were both released in 1971. E Pluribus Funk celebrated the Shea Stadium show with an embossed depiction of the stadium on the album cover's reverse.
. Mark, Don & Mel: 1969–71 is a rock album by Grand Funk Railroad, released in 1972. It is a compilation of early highlights from both studio and live performances while the band was managed by Terry Knight. It peaked at number 17 on the Billboard 200 and has been certified gold by the RIAA (Wikipedia).

Bid according to the condition stated below
FOR IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT MY GRADING SEE POLICY BELOW

Record Condition: Side 1 to 4: Near Mint Minus...the thick non flexible FIRST PRESS vinyl has full LIKE NEW gloss with almost no evidence of wear or play. The beautiful custom GFR labels are clean without wear, writing, stickers, stains or tears (See photos). The vinyl comes protected in the original GFR custom paper inner sleeves. This copy is from my personal collection.

Cover/Jacket Condition: Very Good++ ...The beautiful black US laminated GATEFOLD cover is really clean with light wear in the sheen of the laminate (see photos). The seams and spine are intact with just light wear (see photos). A beautiful cover to match the high grade vinyl. The large original poster is intact with no writing, tears or stains (see photo).

Thanks for looking!!!

WHY BID ON THIS ITEM?

HERE'S WHY!

ALL MY LISTINGS INCLUDE:

UNDERSTANDABLE GRADING DESCRIPTIONS My cover/vinyl condition descriptions have NO AMBIGUOUS TERMS Words such as "JUST A HINT OF, ASSUMED TO BE, COULD BE, SHOULD NOT, MAY HAVE, MIGHT BE, BELIEVED TO BE, USUALLY, PROBABLY, BARELY, FAIRLY INSIGNIFICANT, MODERATELY VISUALLY DISTRACTING, WE ESTIMATE, OR WE SUSPECT THAT" do not exist in my descriptions. CLEAR PHOTOS My listings always include individual front cover, back cover (both showing the seams) and record label photos at a minimum, with no CROPPING or RETOUCHING EVER. SATISFACTION GUARANTEED RETURN POLICY No once in a lifetime return policy gauntlets to navigate through, no debates, no questions, no hassles, no problems. THE ULTIMATE GOAL Know what you are bidding on! It REALLY is the only way to bid! Don't you agree! BID WITH CONFIDENCE! PLEASE SEE THE PICTURES INCLUDED IN THIS LISTING WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET GUARANTEED! All images shown are ACTUAL PHOTOS OF THE ITEM you are bidding on. NO recycled photos of better condition copies from prior auctions to confuse you.  

Vinyl Grading Policy:

• All records and jackets are visually graded unless noted otherwise. CAUTION: Please be aware that the play grade may differ from the visual grade. If you want me to play a particular song and give you an assessment of background noise, etc. Please email me. We all have records that look worn but play great and vice versa. It is not possible to play as well as visually grade each LP listed. I TRY TO GRADE CONSERVATIVELY under the guidelines on this page, which generally follow the GOLDMINE standards. Although I try to be conscientious as a grader, there is the possibility that something could slip by me. In the event an item is not as described, REST ASSURED I will always offer a money back guarantee for purchase price of the item if returned safe and secure and requested within seven days of receipt.
• Mint = A mint item must be absolutely perfect. Certainly never been played if not still sealed. This would be an item where it was opened but not played maybe just to check the label variation.
• Near Mint = The record shows no obvious signs of wear. The vinyl should show no wear from playing only the slightest of paper scuffs are acceptable. The jacket should look as if you just got it home from a new record store and removed the shrink-wrap.
• Near Mint-/Very Good++ = The record or cover is clearly better than VG+ but not Near Mint. There should be some signs that the vinyl was played infrequently and otherwise handled P)ï¿&frac1fr ac)ïILesinquestc1fr acprevious owner who took excellent care of it. Record surfaces may show some slight signs of wear and may have light scuffs and or very minor light%2ïILesinquestc1fr aciuml;ILesinquestc1fr aciuml;ILesinquestc1fr aciuml;ILesinquestc1fr acs that do not affect the listener experience at all. The label and spindle hole will be without flaws other than the lightest of spindle trails from being played only a few times if at all. The cover should be bright and sharp and will have only the very first evidence of discoloration or ring wear or creased corners. Although there may be some evidence of seam/spine wear, seam splits are not permitted for this grade. The jacket may be marked as a cut out by a drill hole, saw mark, cut corner or punch hole. I will try to list any cover flaws of significance.
• Very Good+ = This is equivalent of the VG+ grade in Goldmine. The record will show signs that the vinyl was played but taken care of. Record surfaces will show signs of wear including some light scratches/scuffs that do not significantly affect the listener experience. Slight warps that do not affect the sound are OK. Spindle holes will have some wear but not be enlarged or damaged in any way. The cover will have general wear/ring wear but not to the extent that it materially impairs enjoyment of the picture cover. Slight seam splits are OK for this grade. Again I will try to list any cover flaws of significance.
• Very Good = Unless it is a rare collectible, I usually will not sell records where both the cover and vinyl are below a VG+ grade PERIOD. This grade is included since some times there may be either a cover or record that the flaws in VG+ grade above are more pronounced but the other part of the package is of a higher grade. If it is the vinyl I will play grade it to be sure that the listener can still enjoy the music.
• BID WITH CONFIDENCE! All items are FULLY GUARANTEED. If requested within five days of receipt, I will refund your full purchase price (excluding refund of shipping costs) upon return of the item if you are not satisfied, period. If you want protection related to lost or damaged shipments you must insure your winnings. I pack all records removed from the jacket, sandwiched between corrugated cardboard before insertion into the mailer box. Many times I will also use bubble wrap or a box inside a box packing method to further protect your item.
• I do not grade inner sleeves but will let you know if there are any inserts, posters, stickers or other items included with the RECORD or TAPE.
• Items that do not sell are usually not re-listed. Please contact me if interested and provide sufficient information to identify the item.

Payment and Shipping

Payment & Shipping Terms:

• All payments in US dollars only, Paypal, Cashiers Checks, Bank Checks According to ebay policy, I can also no longer accept cash by mail as a form of payment even if the buyer is using registered mail and is willing to accept the risk of loss. All non personal check acceptable payment methods get shipping within 2 business days of receipt. Personal checks are accepted if drawn on a US bank and buyer is willing to wait for me to ship until your check clears. Please contact me if you have any questions regarding acceptable payment methods.
• Please wait for an invoice before checkout. Winning Bidder must contact me or make payment within 3 days (72 hours) from receipt of my auction closing invoice..MY AUCTION TERMS ARE THAT PAYMENT IS REQUIRED WITHIN 7 DAYS FROM CLOSE OF AUCTION.
• I follow the ebay non payment rules so if you have not made payment do not be surprised if you get a eBay non paying bidder notice after 7 days. I agressively work to get my final value ebay fees back if the item is not paid for within the auction terms.
• IF YOU CANNOT PAY WITHIN THE DESIGNATED TIME FRAME PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE BIDDING!
• All winners will receive the following: Winning confirmation (within 1 day after auction end), Payment confirmation (upon its arrival), and shipping confirmation (upon its departure).



• Buyer pays all Shipping and Handling charges. Media Mail shipping in the US generally runs $4. Priority Mail is quoted at cost upon request.
• PLEASE READ THIS: For buyer protection, I only ship priority airmail with insurance and tracking for international destinations unless the total value of the shipment is below $50. In this case, upon buyer request I will ship First Class Airmail quoted at actual postage cost based upon weight. INTERNATIONAL First class airmail generally runs $18.50 for the first LP and $3 for each additonal LP. CANADA runs $9 for the first LP and $3 for each additional LP.
• PLEASE NOTE: RATES MAY CHANGE WHEN SHIPPING MORE THAN 6 LP's or 4 POUNDS SHIPMENT WEIGHT. I will also require that ALL orders over $50 include the cost of registration or some form of tracking (priority mail international shipping) so that both the buyer and seller have a tracking number for the parcel.
• Registered mail costs $11.50 additional beyond basic shipping costs.
• I also reserve the right to require that orders are shipped via express international mail in special situations depending on details of the transaction and the buyers feedback rating.
• If you cannot agree to pay for priority mail postage or registered international mail for orders over $50, please do not bid on these auctions.

inkFrog Analytics