Mark Farner’s American Band w/ very special guest Sweet

One of rock’s true legends, Mark Farner is back on the recording scene with a new EP, 432. The four-song disc revisits previous Farner classics with fresh productions that find the pioneering singer-songwriter/guitarist, who fronted the historic 1970s rock power trio Grand Funk Railroad, in vintage form—and with an addition to his immensely influential signature sound. The key is in the numerical EP title. In recording the four songs on 432, Farner deviated from the tuning standard for musical pitch that is designated as A440 to a different one, A432. “A440 is what tuning forks in the U.S. are tuned to,” Farner explains, trying not to sound too technical. “But different countries and regions in the world use different musical pitch standards. I’d heard about the A432 tuning, and when I tuned my Guild acoustic guitar to it, it was like a new toy! The sound seemed bigger—out louder, but there was more of it. So I got three acoustic guitars and a dobro and tuned them all to A432, and they all love it: The wood loves it! It’s the frequency of the universe, Brother! I tried out the new tuning while on tour last year and we ended up playing the entire tour [50 shows] in A432 and everyone was happy,” says Farner. “It just sounds better because your ear loves it. The only problem is that they don’t make harmonicas tuned in 432!” Inspired by the newly discovered tuning, Farner rerecorded what is now the 432 focus track “Take You Out,” which he wrote and then released as a digital single two years ago. The song, which encourages guys to get out on the dance floor with the gals, was originally with keyboard backing, but in light of the fresh A432 sonics, is now sweetened by cello and violin. "Take You Out" was Farner's first release since his For the People album of 2006. On 432, it is joined by a new ballad, “Never and Always,” which also features cello; “Testify,” which first appeared on 1981’s Grand Funk Lives album and never received a fair shot on its own; and a remake of “Some Kind of Wonderful,” Grand Funk’s 1974 hit cover of the 1967 R&B hit by Soul Brothers Six. Grand Funk Railroad, of course, broke ground as America’s preeminent pre heavy metal band, establishing itself in the ‘70s with landmark hits like "I'm Your Captain (Closer to Home)," "Bad Time (To Be In Love)," "Footstompin' Music," "Rock & Roll Soul," "The Loco-Motion," and "Some Kind of Wonderful," as well as such celebrated album tracks as "Hooked on Love," "Mean Mistreater," "Heartbreaker," “Inside Looking Out,” “Are You Ready” and “Paranoid,” all written and/or sung by Farner, unquestionably the band’s heart and soul. “We’re An American Band” topped the Billboard Hot 100 charts in 1973 on Farner’s birthday (September 29) and remains one of several Funk songs that hold strong as staples of rock radio. Grand Funk sold over 40 million albums, and as a touring act was so big that it sold out Shea Stadium faster than The Beatles! So it’s only fitting then that Farner, who’s never sounded better, should be signed now to a label called Legend Group Records. “I actually recut ‘Testify’ because the president of the label has been a fan for years and requested it,” says Farner, who hails from Grand Funk’s hometown of Flint, Michigan, and still lives in the northern part of the state. Legend Group is actually based out of guitar great Steve Vai’s former Mothership Studio in the Hollywood Hills, where Farner recorded 432. “I recorded on an old Trident board that had so many hit singles they can’t count them all!” says Farner. “It was really old-school: Everything was analog and warm and ear-friendly. Digital just isn’t for my ears, Dude. I’m spoiled.” Metal maven Tom Fletcher, who’s worked with the likes of Ozzy Osbourne, Yes, Jeff Beck and Scorpions, produced 432. Meanwhile, Farner, who continues to perform 80 shows annually, is getting ready to return to the road with his band NRG and also with the '70s Time Machine Tour, where he teams up with fellow marquee artists and a core band. And he’s hoping to rerecord more of his classic catalog in A432 tuning. “I didn’t even know there was anything outside of 440!” he concludes. “But even at my age, one can still learn.”