Rare Earth (band)

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Rare Earth
Image:Rare-earth-20-cen-mast.jpg .
Background information
Origin	USA
Genre(s)	Rock
Years active	1967–1978
Label(s)	Rare Earth/Motown

Rare Earth is an American rock band affiliated with Motown's Rare Earth record label (which was named after the band) who were particularly famous in the late-1960s and 1970s. Although not the first white band signed to Motown, Rare Earth was the first big hit-making act signed by Motown that consisted only of White American members, although a Chicano percussionist would later join the group.

1 History
2 Discography
3 Sample
4 External links

[edit] History

The group formed in 1961 as The Sunliners, and changed their name to "Rare Earth" in 1967. After recording an unsuccessful debut album "Dream/Answers" on the Verve label in 1968, they were signed to Motown in 1969. The band was the first act signed to a new Motown imprint that would be dedicated to white rock acts. The record company didn't have a name for the new label yet, and the band jokingly suggested Motown call the label "Rare Earth." To the band's surprise, Motown decided to do just that.

The main personnel in the group included Gil Bridges (saxophone and vocals ), Pete Rivera a.k.a. Peter Hoorelbeke (lead vocals and drums), John Parrish a.k.a. John Persh (bass guitar, trombone and vocals), Rod Richards (born Rod Cox, guitar), Ray Monette ( guitar ), Edward "Eddie" Guzman (congas and assorted percussive instruments) and Kenny James (born Ken Folcik, keyboards). The personnel lineup changed considerably over the years, with three members of the group dying during the 1980s and 1990s^{[citation needed]}, and the only original member currently left in the group is Bridges.

Rare Earth had a number of Top Ten hits in the 1970-1971 period, including covers of The Temptations' "(I Know) I'm Losing You" (which was used in the documentary video It's Time) and "Get Ready". The cover of "Get Ready" was their biggest hit, peaking at #4 on the US pop charts, a better performance than the original. Other songs include "I Just Want to Celebrate" and "Hey, Big Brother" They did not chart significantly after 1971, although they continued to record into the 1980s. Their 1973 album Ma, written and produced by Norman Whitfield, is considered their best overall work, and features their version of "Hum Along and Dance".

The group gained a bit of notoriety when it was mentioned dismissively in the lyrics to Gil Scott-Heron's landmark 1970 poem "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised," which included the line, "The theme song [to the revolution] will not be written by Jim Webb, Francis Scott Key, nor sung by Glen Campbell, Tom Jones, Johnny Cash, Engelbert Humperdinck, or the Rare Earth."

Rare Earth, which continues to perform at corporate events and on the oldies circuit, appears to have had the last word, however; bits from their recordings have been used as samples on recordings as diverse as Beck's "Derelict", UNKLE and DJ Shadow's "GDMFSOB (feat. Roots Manuva - U.N.K.L.E. uncensored version)", Black Sheep's "Try Counting Sheep", Peanut Butter Wolf's "Tale of Five Cities", Scarface's "Faith", NWA's "Real Niggaz Don't Die" and Eric B. and Rakim's "What's Going On". Their hit "I Just Want to Celebrate" was also used in a major national advertising campaign by Ford Motor Company and in the final episode of TV show Six Feet Under. It is also sampled in the song "We Celebrate" on the new Ghostface Killah album The Big Doe Rehab.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Original albums

1968 Dreams/Answers
1969 Get Ready

Artist:  Rare Earth

Title: Get Ready

Date: 1969

Label: Motown / Rare Earth Records RS 507

Photographs: Jim Hendin

Design: Bob Cato

Notes: Coming out of Detroit Rare Earth played their own version of rock inflected R&B. The story goes that when recording this debut album the band ran a little short of material. Hence side 2's 21 minute 30 second recording of the Temptation's tune "Get Ready". And even as long as it is it doesn't get bogged down or overblown. Just keeps chugging right along. Many an hour performing air guitar to this record in my past. And side one isn't bad either with respectable versions of some good material. Now what do you suppose could be causing all of that smoke in the front cover photo?

Line Up:

Gil Bridges: Flute, Saxophone, Vocals Kenny James: Keyboards Rod Richards: Guitar, Vocals Pete Rivera: Drums, Vocals John Parrish: Bass

Track Listing

Side 1

Magic Key Tobacco Road Feelin' Alright In Bed Train to Nowhere

Side 2

Get Ready

1970 Ecology

RARE EARTH "Ecology" Artist : Rare Earth Album Title : Ecology Date of Release : 1970 Genre : Rock Styles : Soul, Pop/Rock Time : 38:45 Two strong tracks propelled Ecology up the pop charts: the swaggering, bravado-laden "Born to Wander," written by Tom Baird, and a hard-hitting, rocking rendition of the Temptations' "I Know I'm Losing You," written by Cornelius Grant, Eddie Holland, and Norman Whitfield; the epic remake of the latter is almost eleven minutes of pure funk-rock. Lead singer Pete Riviera had a powerful voice, similar to Dennis Edwards, that could sell a song; the percussion and echo vocals accentuate the classic. The guys do a nice job on John Lennon and Paul McCartney's "Eleanor Rigby,"

TRACK SONG 1. Born to Wander (Baird) - 3:20 2. Long Time Leaving (Baird) - 4:42 3. (I Know) I'm Losing You (Grant/Holland/Whitfield) - 10:50 4. Satisfaction Guaranteed (Baird) - 4;34 5. Nice Place to Visit (Persh) - 3:57 6. No. 1 Man (Baird) - 4:48 7. Eleanor Rigby (Lennon/McCartney) - 6:34

ALBUM RELEASES YEAR FORMAT PUBLISHER NUMBER

 	CD 	Motown 	37463-5202-2
 	CD 	Motown 	MOTD-5202
 	CS 	Motown 	37463-5202-4
 	CS 	Motown 	MOTC-5202

1970 LP Rare Earth 6-514 1991 CS Motown 5202

MUSICIANS Gil Bridges Flute, Saxophone, Tabla, Vocals Eddie Guzman Conga Kenny James Organ, Keyboards Rod Richards Guitar, Vocals Pete Rivera Drums, Vocals John Persh Bass, Tambourine, Vocals

PRODUCTION CREDITS Tom Baird Producer Norman Whitfield Producer

1971 One World
1971 Rare Earth in Concert (live)
1972 Willie Remembers
1973 Ma
1975 Back to Earth
1975 Masters of Rock
1976 Midnight Lady
1977 Rare Earth
1978 Band Together
1978 Grand Slam
1993 Different World
2001 Made in Switzerland (live)

[edit] Singles

Generation, Light Up The Sky - 1969 (Rare Earth Records R 5010)
Get Ready - 1970 (Rare Earth Records R 5012)
(I Know) I'm Losing You - 1970 (Rare Earth Records R 5017)
Born To Wander - 1970 (Rare Earth Records R 5021)
I Just Want To Celebrate - 1971 (Rare Earth Records R 5031)
Hey Big Brother - 1971 (Rare Earth Records R 5038)
What'd I Say - 1972 (Rare Earth Records R 5043)
Good Time Sally - 1972 (Rare Earth Records R 5048)
We're Gonna Have A Good Time - 1972 (Rare Earth Records R 5052)
Ma (Vocal) - 1973 (Rare Earth Records R 5053)
Hum Along And Dance - 1973 (Rare Earth Records R 5054)
Big John Is My Name - 1973 (Rare Earth Records R 5056)
Chained - 1974 (Rare Earth Records R 5057)
Keepin' Me Out Of The Storm - 1975 (Rare Earth Records R 5059)
It Makes You Happy (But It Ain't Gonna Last Too Long) - 1975 (Rare Earth Records R 5058)
Midnight Lady - 1976 (Rare Earth Records R 5060)

[edit] Compilations

1976 Disque d'Or
1981 Motown Superstar Series, Vol. 16
1988 Get Ready/Ecology
1991 Greatest Hits & Rare Classics
1994 Earth Tones: Essential
1995 Anthology: The Best of Rare Earth
1996 Rare Earth featuring Peter Rivera
1998 The Very Best of Rare Earth
2001 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Rare Earth

20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: The Best Of Rare Earth (CD - 1994) ( UPC: 00601215960327) Price Range: $12.11 - $13.52 from 2 Sellers

Artist: Rare Earth

Label: Motown Records

Genre: R&B - Motown Album Description:Rare Earth: Peter Hoorelbeke (vocals, drums); Rod Richards, Ray Monette (guitar, background vocals); Gil Bridges (flute, saxophone, percussion, background vocals); John Persh (trombone, bass... Read More

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Album Description Rare Earth: Peter Hoorelbeke (vocals, drums); Rod Richards, Ray Monette (guitar, background vocals); Gil Bridges (flute, saxophone, percussion, background vocals); John Persh (trombone, bass, background vocals); Mark Olson, Kenny James (organ, keyboards); Michael Urso (bass, background vocals); Edward Guzman (congas, percussion).

Producers: Rare Earth, Tom Baird, Norman Whitfield.

Compilation producer: Harry Weinger.

Recorded between 1969 and 1973. Includes liner notes by Tony Green.

Digitally remastered by Suha Gur (Universal Mastering).

This is part of MCA's 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection series. Track Listing 1. Get Ready.(William “ Smooky “ Robertson) (1968) 21:32 2. I Just Want To Celebrate..(Nick Zesses/Dino Fekaris) (1971) 03:40 3. I'm Losing You, (I Know) .(Nick Zesses/Dino Fekaris) (1971) 10:57 4. Born To Wander.(Tom Baird) (1970) 03:23 5. Hey Big Brother.(Nick Zesses/Dino Fekaris) (Single Version) 04:48 6. What'd I Say.(Ray Charles) (1971) 07:23 7. Ma.(Norman Whitfeld) (1973) 17:19 Album Information

UPC: 00601215960327 Release Date: Feb 06, 2001 Type: Performer Genre: R&B - R&B Label: Motown Records Distributor: Universal Di Country of Origin: USA Original Release Year: 1994