Description
Just Another Injustice is the gospel debut album by the American singer, songwriter, and guitarist Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad fame, released on Frontline Records in 1988. The album was recorded by Kirt Shearer, Dave Jahnsen, and Bill Baumgart at Asylomar Productions in Huntington Beach, California; and was produced by Baumgart with Tim Heintz and Mark Farner co-producing.
Trivia: In 1971, Mark Farner’s band Grand Funk Railroad set the attendance record at New York City’s Shea Stadium for a concert, as amazingly they sold out the 57,000 plus tickets to the show in an astounding 72 hours, faster than The Beatles in 1966 – a record which stood until the stadium was demolished in late 2008. Over the first half of the 70’s, Grand Funk Railroad was one of the biggest bands not only in the U.S., but all over the world. With 12 gold and 10 platinum records, 19 charted singles, 8 Top 40 hits including two at Number One both selling more than one million each, total sales in excess of 25 million copies sold world wide.
Possibly one of rock ‘n’ roll’s most popular yet critically derided groups was Grand Funk. In the ‘Grand Funk Live’ album, the group juxtaposed a derogatory ‘Rolling Stone’ clipping with attendance figures from one of its massively popular tours. Since Grand Funk threw in the towel for good in the early ’80s, its focal point, Mark Farner, has tirelessly been out on the road playing in small halls and clubs. After having a life-changing experience with Christ, Farner stayed on the road still playing some of his old Grand Funk material, but mixing in his new spiritually-focused material with some of his old hits.
Not until now has a record company gotten Farner to lay this material down on a new solo record. ‘Just Another Injustice’ on Frontline is a wonderful record from a hero of my past. While the record sounds current sonically and the production is clean, there still remains the indelible stamp of Farner. Chord progressions occasionally bring to mind ghosts of Grand Funk, and the voice is immediately recognizable.
Opening the album is «Airborne Ranger», featuring Phil Keaggy on lead guitar, blistering his way through to the end. The album keeps rocking into the heavy blues of «Judgement Day Blues», then lets up for some breathing space with the ballad «Isn’t It Amazing». Simple and sincere, «Isn’t It Amazing» should be a number one Christian radio song.
Side Two opens with a mid-tempo love song, «An Emotional Look at Love», Farner’s response to those who preach ad nauseum that love is a choice and commitment, not a feeling. The title song and «Writing on the Wall» surge with the anger of a righteously indignant rocker. The album finishes with an affirmation of faith in «Only You».
Never a writer who impressed the world with his command of phrases, couplets, and abstract concepts, Farner’s strength is his ability to relate, to communicate his sincerity and his passion. He seems to be writing as well or better than ever on this long-awaiting return. [Devlin Donaldson, CCM, July 1988]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/just-another-injustice/386799150)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Airborne Ranger”
A2. “Judgement Day Blues”
A3. “Isn’t It Amazing”
A4. “Come To Jesus”
A5. “Give Me The Works”
Side Two
B1. “An Emotional Look At Love”
B2. “Workin’ For The Winner”
B3. “Just Another Injustice”
B4. “The Writing On The Wall”
B5. “Only You”
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette, 12-inch vinyl LP, and CD by Frontline Records. Mark Farner’s solo albums Just Another Injustice and Some Kind of Wonderful were later re-issued on one CD as a part of KMG’s Classic Archives Music Value Pak series.
A full-page advertisement for Mark Farner’s Just Another Injustice was featured in the July 1988 issue of CCM Magazine.
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