Some times getting a compilation album on vinyl or CD was an introduction to a band I would really like, or allowed me to hear a bit more of their catalogue without shelling out for every album, in the event I wasn’t sure.

Growing up, for years once I began picking up records early on (be it used or new) I always looked forward to Christmas, even when I got older and Record shops still existed. For many years my uncle Jim would get me a gift certificate, usually for the Sam The Record Man outlet at the Pen Center, in St Catharines (maybe later Sunrise, after Sam’s closed out). That was usually a highlight for me at Christmas time, and I wouldn’t waste any time getting to the Pen when the stores reopened after the holiday. I had fought switching to CDs until about 1991 (never totally switched, but…) I knew a few GFR songs by then, as many of the hits still got played on the radio, and I think I’d picked up a VHS compilation of the band at the flea market! (Still got boxes of these things).

Anyway, following the Christmas of (either) 1991 or 92, I headed over to Sam’s and selected 2 Grand Funk compilations, both of which were issued in ’91, and retailed for about $18.99 back then – Collector’s Series (on Capitol) and More Of The Best (on Rhino). I don’t how close these 2 were coordinated and released, but they were/are the perfect pair of GFR compilations 16 hits on one, and 15 on the other, with no repeated tracks. While the Collector’s Series includes all the band’s biggest singles from 1969’s “Time Machine” and ending with 1975’s lighter “Bad Time”, More Of The Best includes the early live favorites like “Are You Ready”, “Into The Sun’: and “Loneliness” , as well as later lesser hits, like “To Get Back In”, “Sally”, and a few from the band’s early ’80s comeback albums. So, these 2 really cover something from the band’s entire career.

Each CD comes with extensive liner notes, images, chart placings, etc.. So, for someone just looking at getting in to the band at the time, these were perfect. Of course I went on to pick up the rest of the band’s catalogue on vinyl, I still grab these for the car ride on occasion.