Rare Earth: Get Ready 1969

 

Hailing from Detroit, Rare Earth were a band inspired by the Motor City's twin legacies in hard rock and soul. Their biggest hits saw them covering classic Motown songs of the past, while their sound 

found a middle ground between full-bodied rhythm & blues and tough bar band rock & roll. This dichotomy was reinforced by the fact they were the only white act signed to the Motown Records organization that regularly achieved chart success, and their tight musicianship found room for them to transform their songs through extended jams, with their biggest hit, "Get Ready," often clocking in at 30 minutes in concert.
                                                 

1969's Get Ready was their most successful album and defined their approach, 1973's Ma was written

and produced by one of Motown's greatest behind-the-scenes figures, Norman Whitfield, and 1978's Grand Slam took their music into the funk and disco era. Their 1973 album, Ma, written and produced by Norman Whitfield, is considered one of their best overall works, and features their version of "Hum Along and Dance". But the record did not sell well, and produced no hits.
                                          

Rare Earth was the opening act at California Jam festival in Ontario, California on April 6, 1974. The

festival attracted over 250,000 people, and the band appeared alongside 1970s rock groups Black Sabbath; Emerson, Lake & Palmer; Deep Purple; Earth, Wind & Fire; Seals and Crofts; Black Oak Arkansas and Eagles. Portions of the show were broadcast on ABC Television in the U.S., exposing the band to a wider audience.
                              

In July 1974, the group divided. Mike Urso left the group along with Hoorelbeke and they formed a new band, HUB, with Rare Earth's 1970–1972 co-producer, Tom Baird, using the initials of their

surnames (Hoorelbeke, Urso and Baird). HUB went on to record two albums for Capitol Records (HUB and Cheata) but came to a sudden end in November 1975 after Baird was killed in a boating accident. The others (minus Olson, who left to join the backup band for Jennifer Warnes) decided to continue as Rare Earth and brought in new players. The new line-up recorded Back to Earth in 1975 and went back on the road. In June 1979 Urso left the band again. By the summer of 1981, Mike Urso had returned to Rare Earth after a two-year absence, but he left again in mid-1983, and has not returned to the band since then. Tim Ellsworth was then brought in as new bassist/vocalist in September 1983.
                                

On July 29, 1993 the band suffered the loss of another member when long time percussionist Eddie Guzman (age 49) died at his home in Howell, Michigan. Other than Mike Bruner's succeeding Rick Warner in January 1998 and Ivan Greilich's filling in for Ray Monette for five years (2004–2009), the

line-up was stable overall until Monette's final departure in 2017. In March 2017 long time guitarist Ray Monette announced his retirement from the band due to recurring back troubles. His replacement was Jerry "Lew" Patterson. Rare Earth continued playing events such as Disneys Anniversary- Hippie Fest, The Moody Blues Cruises and Classic Rock Festivals. Gil Bridges, the last original member appearing in the current Rare Earth lineup, died from complications arising from COVID-19 on December 8, 2021, aged 80.
                                                 

MEMBERS

 
                    

John Persh – vocals, bass guitar, trombone
Pete Rivera – lead vocals, drums
Rod Richards – vocals, guitar
Kenny James – vocals, organ, electric piano
Gil Bridges – vocals, saxophone, tambourine

Rare Earth – Get Ready
Label: Motown – 3746352292
Format:    CD, Album, Reissue
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre:Rock, Funk / Soul
Style:Soul, Psychedelic Rock

TRACKS

 
                             

01. Magic Key   3:50
(Written-By – Gilbert Bridges, Kenny Folick)
02. Tobacco Road   7:10
(Written-By – John Loudermilk)
03. Feelin' Alright   5:00
(Written-By – Dave Mason)
04. In Bed   3:00
(Written-By – Lynn Henderson, Tom Baird, Wes Henderson)
05. Train To Nowhere   3:20
(Written-By – Chris Youlden, Kim Simmons)
06. Get Ready   21:30
(Written-By – William "Smokey" Robinson)

MP3 @ 320 Size: 102 MB
Flac  Size: 287 MB