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Rare Earth (band)

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Rare Earth

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.

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; in 2008, it is being used in a commercial for AT&T. It is also sampled in the opening song "Sirens" on the 2007 Little Brother album Getback as well as "We Celebrate" on the new Ghostface Killah album The Big Doe Rehab.

Discography

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)

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
  • 2004 The Collection
  • 2005 Get Ready and More Hits
  • 2006 Best of Rare Earth

Sample

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