"Thanks" and "Funk 49"

[sodascouts]

I was listening to my iPod and "Thanks" by the James Gang came on. The opening chords struck me as kind of an acoustic version of the famous opening riffs of "Funk #49." They're both on the same album, 1970's James Gang Rides Again, but for some reason I never caught it before.

Anyone else notice this or am I off-base?

[MikeA]

After you get past the signature riff in Funk #49, there is definitely a similarity in the "funk beat" that both tunes carry. I'd have to go back and study it a bit to see if they are in the same key (Funk #49 is in "A"; I'm not sure what key "Thanks" is in but it sort of sounds the same to me). I'm not one of those blessed with a good ear for tone. How I wish I was.