Farner, Mark - Wake Up [LP] [PRE-ORDER]

MARK FARNER (of Grand Funk Railroad fame)FIRST TIME ON VINYL / MASTERED FOR VINYLRoxx Records proudly partners with Meis Music to revive and celebrate Mark Farner's classic Frontline Records releases with two new reissues, Wake Up... (1989) and Some Kind of Wonderful (1991). Both albums are being remastered and released on CD and, for the first time ever, on vinyl. Both pressings are on heavyweight color vinyl. (Wake Up... on Opaque Orange Juice vinyl.) The albums are being mastered for vinyl by Rob Colwell (Brother Cane, King's X, Sixpence None The Richer).Mark Farner began his musical career in Michigan during the mid-1960s, playing in local bands and developing a style rooted in blues, rock, and soul. Before achieving national fame, he performed with groups like Terry Knight and the Pack, where he honed his songwriting and guitar skills. His early experiences in the Detroit-area music scene helped shape his raw, energetic approach that would later define his massive success with Grand Funk Railroad in the late 1960s and into the 1970s. Grand Funk released 13 studio albums, 4 live albums, 8 compilation albums, and 25 singles. This includes six platinum and seven gold-certified albums between their recording debut in 1969 and their first disbandment in 1976. The band had a string of hit singles such as "We're an American Band", "I'm Your Captain (Closer to Home)", "Some Kind of Wonderful" (a cover of Soul Brothers Six), "Walk Like a Man", "The Loco-Motion" (a cover of Little Eva), "Bad Time" and "Inside Looking Out" (a cover of the Animals).After his rise to fame with Grand Funk, Farner entered a markedly different phase of his career in the 1980s. This period saw him step away from mainstream rock excess and lean into message-driven songwriting, blending his signature guitar work and bluesy rock approach with spiritually focused lyrics. Farner tied his work closely to Frontline Records during this time, a label known for promoting rock and metal artists with faith-based messages.Farner's second release, Wake Up..., continued this trajectory, urging spiritual awareness and action. Unlike the raw, riff-heavy sounds of classic Grand Funk, Wake Up... leans into blues-rock and heartland rock influences. Farner's gritty, earnest, and slightly weathered vocals carry the record. The guitar work is less about flashy solos and more about supporting the emotional weight of every song. The single "Upright Man" received a ton of airplay on CCM Radio around the globe. Since the mid-1990s, Mark has largely focused on touring under his own name, often billed as "Mark Farner's American Band," a nod to one of Grand Funk's most iconic songs. His live shows have remained his strongest connection to fans, featuring a mix of Grand Funk hits and solo material, delivered with the same high-energy guitar work and vocals that defined his early fame. Farner is currently touring with his American Band in 2026.