Rare Earth (band)
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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
In 1961 a group of high school buddies formed a band and called it "The Sunliners".After playing for about seven years the group decided to change the name of the band. Hence forth comes "Rare Earth".
Motown Record Corporation approached Rare Earth in the latter part of 1968 to sign a recording contract. At first the group was reluctant to sign because of knowing of other white groups and artists before them that had not had any success because Motown was geared for promotion and distrubution in the black market only. It was when Motown decided they wanted to launch a new division of Motown to cater to white artists that Rare Earth started to seriously consider signing.
Motown did not have a name for the new division and label so jokingly the band suggested the name Rare Earth. Unbelievably they agreed. That convinced the band that Motown was serious about making Rare Earth their first successful white band and they were going to sign more white acts to be on the "Rare Earth" Label. To clear up a long time false statement that Rare Earth was the only white act to ever be signed with Motown, Rare Earth was the one and only successful white band to be signed with Motown. Rare Earth was with Motown from 1968 to 1978.
Motown wanted an album from Rare Earth immediately after signing.
Rare Earth was playing bars for several years prior to signing with Motown. Motown music at that time was very strong on the radio so Rare Earth was playing a lot of Motown songs in clubs. Thus the bands roots developed from R&B music. Most people in the beginning thought Rare Earth to be black. Surprise, surprise. The band had been playing the song "Get Ready" in clubs for about a year or two prior to recording it. It started out a 3 minute song until one member took a solo and then everyone wanted a solo so over time the song became 21 minutes long. It became the closing song each night and people liked it so much they would stay just to hear it.
The band decided that "Get Ready" would be Rare Earth's first recording, to be 21 minutes long and to be one whole side of the first album. Motown was leary about doing this but the band insisted because radio was starting to play album cuts which were longer than the normal 3 minute single. "Get Ready" first broke in Washington D.C. in the black market, spread across the country and eventually into the white market. It was a huge hit selling millions of records and remaining on the charts for almost 3 years. Some of Rare Earth's other hits from 1969 to 1974 were songs such as "Big Brother","Born to wander", "Tobacco road", "Losin You", and "I Just Want To Celebrate".
Above information from RareEarth.com[1]
Discography
- 1968 Dreams/Answers
- 1969 Get Ready
- 1970 Ecology
- 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)
- 2008 A Brand New World
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