Hello to all out all on the forum. I thought it may be intresting to start a thread on when some of us first heard Rare Earth's music and why we became fan's.
For me it was riding in a car in 1969 and hearing "Get Ready" on AM radio. After hearing the song for the very first time I thought to myself "That guy Rare Earth sure has a strange name but man can he sing. When I heard "Im Losing You" also on AM radio I was totally blown away and had to learn more about this awesome band.
It wasn't long before I discovered there was seventeen more minutes to "Get Ready" and another seven minutes to "Im losing You" that were missing on AM radio airplay so I made the leap over to FM radio. After seeing the band in concert I was hooked for good and I've been a life long fan ever since.
How about you? What made you make you want to fill your head with dirt? Jocko D
I was just starting to buy records. I remember buying Ball of Confusion by The Temptations then Give Me Just A Little More Time by Chairmen of the Board. All my friends were buying Deep Purple, Pink Floyd, King Crimson (I got into rock music later on!!) etc but I was taking a liking to anything on Tamla Motown or Invictus at that time.
I was on holiday in the Republic of Ireland staying with relatives. On visiting the local town my Dad and my uncle left me to tour the shops while they went for a couple of pints of Guinness (I got into Guinness later on!!). They didn't really have any record shops that I was aware of. However in one of those shops that sells everything from fishing rods to cuckoo clocks, I spotted a cardboard box containing some sale price singles. I spotted a Motown single and, although I recognised the title "Get Ready" I was unfamiliar with the band "Rare Earth". I just had to buy it, though (seriously) my relatives didn't have electricity never mind a record player, so I had to wait till I got home to play it. My first impression was the great drum sound. I really loved the B side, "Magic Key" and, not recognising the names of the writers, Folcik and Bridges (from memory) I realised they must be band members. That was enough to whet my appetite although my next buy wasn't until the single "Hey Big Brother". Again I loved the B side "The Seed" and decided it was time to buy an LP of theirs. I bought One World, happy in the knowledge that Roger Dean had designed the sleeve. I felt that seeing as Roger was designing covers for all the progressive bands my friends were following, it gave Rare Earth some credibility. I loved One World but when In Concert came out, I was totally blown away and went back to get the first two LPs.
By that time Get Ready and Ecology were a little harder to come by as they'd been deleted. Ha, doesn't that sound familiar! Some things never change!!!
Going back to my first two purchases, Ball of Confusion and Give Me Just A Little More Time, it was very strange finding out recently on this forum from Ray Monette that he was session guitarist on both of those recordings.
A quick amendment before somebody spots my deliberate mistake
Rare Earth fanatics will have noticed that I referred to The Seed as being B side of Hey Big Brother. This is wrong of course. My "next purchase" was obviously I Just Want To Celebrate.
my parents were the persons that got me hooked.......i got to see them live when i was 8 or 9 years old...saw the great bass player john persh in action....i remember them playing 7 or 8 songs....this was about 1971.....as a child i asked for all of the eight tracks for x-mas which was about 3 albums at the time.....i just loved the music and still do......my grown children even like the band......just wish there was more out there......i have all the albums from D/A to grand slam
UK Dave-Great story. I thought this would be an intresting subject, however we need to hear from more of you on this. Dave-Besides "Get Ready" another tune that caught my ear on AM radio was "Give Me Just A Little More Time" by Chairman Of The Board. I too went out and purchased the 45RPM single and I didn't buy many singles at the time. The Ray Monnette connection makes this even more intresting because he wasn't even in Rare Earth at the time but still we were attacted to his guitar playing on another artist's record.
Back in those days my music collection consisted of a few 45's and a few dozen 8 track tapes I got from an older brother and a friend's father. When "In Concert" was released and I saw the double LP packaged in the knapsack I had to have it so I made my very first LP purchase. On sale at the grand opening of a now long out of business department store chain for $2.99. I've said this before and I'll say it again. In Concert for $2.99 was one of the best deals I've made in my entire lifetime. Jocko D
PS-MDF-A Rare Earth concert a eight years old! That's another classic story. Your parents sure knew how to start you off on the right track.
JOCKO D....I HAVE SOME VIVID MEMORIES THAT LATE AFTERNOON.....RARE EARTH WAS A HOUSEHOLD NAME THAT TIME PERIOD....SEEM LIKE EVERYBODY YOU KNEW HAD A RARE EARTH ALBUM.....MY PARENTS WOULD HAVE PARTIES AND RARE EARTH WAS ALWAYS BEING PLAYED ON THEIR STEREO.....DAD WOULD ALWAYS TAKE HIS VACATIONS TWO WEEKS IN JULY AND TWO WEEKS AT THE END OF DECEMBER.......MY GRAND PARENTS RETIRED NEAR ORLANDO AND WE WOULD VISIT DISNEY WORLD EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE.........DAD HEARD THAT RARE EARTH WAS APPEARING IN JACKSONVILLE WITH STEELY DAN OR THE DOOBIES(MOM CAN'T REMEMBER) AND THEY MADE THE TRIP UP TO THERE AND WE STAYED IN A MOTEL WHILE DAD "CAMPED OUT" THE VENUE..........HE PAID SIX BUCKS A PIECE(SCALPERS TRIED TO SELL HIM FOUR TICKETS FOR SIXTY BUCKS WHICH HE DID'NT BUY)........I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE A LOT KIDS MY AGE RUNNING AROUND THERE.....I REMEMBER THE SONG GET READY AND WATCHING JOHN PERSH'S BASS SOLO AND THE DRUM SOLO ALL FROM MY DAD'S SHOULDERS.... MY EARS RUNG FOR THE LONGEST TIME...... I COULD WRITE ON BUT I MIGHT START MY OWN BOOK!! LOL!!
For me it would have to be hearing Celebrate on BBC Radio 1, then finding a copy of it in a local market stall a few months later, it was the orange label that caught my eye, then when reading the label I thought " this is that record I heard on the radio that I liked". So for !0 pence which was a lot of money from my 50 pence a week pocket money from my parents lol. To this day I still consider it to be one of my best investments, I still have the single and you can still see the 10 pence price written on it in pencil ha ha, and the family that owned that market stall still have a record shop just over the road from the market.
Then I started doing research into the band, buying Get Ready, Ecology etc, and all these years on I am still buying Rare Earth records.
You made an interesting point there Richard. I was also taken by the nice orange record label. The same occurred with the blue Invictus label started by Holland Dozier Holland after they left Motown and the Purple label set up by Deep Purple's management. I started collecting anything and everything I could get on these labels. In Rare Earth's case I had singles and albums by XIT, R. Dean Taylor, Stoney and Meatloaf and Dan the Banjo Man as I recall. Even now I still get tempted. Equally there were some very dour record label designs such as Decca, Deram and Polydor.
The best place to buy singles in my town was a little stall run by Richard Felix and his father in the local market hall. After his father died, Richard took on the business but closed it down when CDs started to dominate. Being into history he set up a local heritage centre and started to pursue his childhood interest in ghosts. This led him into a TV career as historian on the UK TV show "Most Haunted". So anyone who watches this show, next time you see Richard Felix, this is the guy who used to supply me with those Rare Earth records. What's more, he usually carried them in stock. It was very rare that he had to specially order them, and if he did, he'd get them for you within a couple of days.
I must have bought loads of singles from him over the years as even to this day he still stops for a chat if I bump into him.
When I was 8 yrs old...summer 1984 we had a garage sale. My aunt brought over a TON of records to sell. My mom bought them for me before we even had the sale. Willie Remembers was in the bunch of LP's...my fave RE album of all time.
My first experience was, Rare Earth performed on a Cleveland, Ohio based show called "Upbeat", with host, Don Webster. They did "In Bed" and Get Ready". I was hooked! I didn't know it until a couple of years later , but, my next door neighbor's' older brother taped them with a movie camera off the TV! Rod Richards is wearing sunglasses! No sound, but it was real treat to watch them on a home movie, despite the low quality.
I don't know what it was the caught my ear/eye, but that was what did it for me. My sister, a couple of years older than I, babysat for a living at the time, and, bought the album, and then, when I heard the 21 minute version of "Get Ready", I was addicted. Pete blew my mind with those fast double bass drum solos, at the end of songs and his solo, and he became my new ''idol''. I couldn't find anyone trying to emulate him, as everyone was playing single bass, or, those who did play double bass couldn't touch him!
When "Ecology" came out, I couldnt wait to hear a 10 minute version of the single " I Know I'm losing you", and could only guess at what I might be in for. Wouldnt you know it that I wasn't anything but mesmerized by what they did in that tune! The echo of Pete's voice just blew me away, and then those solos. That was one of the cleverest ''drum'' solos I had ever heard, doing a solo strictly on the cymbal!
Each time they released a new LP, I couldnt wait to get my hands on it, and would go to the stores, just to read the song lists, knowing that whatever was on the LP was going to be a real treat. Needless to say, I wore my copy of "In Concert" out, turning the black vinyl into white.
Anyway...I can remember this like it was yesterday!
Here's a question which is maybe unfair but not intended to be. Did you still get equally excited with new records once the line up started to change after the Ma album? I can say for myself that I was still excited when new albums came out, even though the newer material contained no jamming tracks.
In those later stages it wasn't the song list I looked at first, it was the line-up.
Hi UK Dave, and thnks. It is so good to be back, and I hope to find time to read--as well s post here frequently. I am just sorry that I missed my one chance in a life time to maybe get to talk with Pete while he was here. I want to get a copy of his book, badly, but to have been able to ask him a couple of questions would've been a dream come true.
In answer to your question...
I am embarassed and ashamed to say that after the "Ma" album, I lost interest in the band and didn't buy any more LP's after that.
I can't recall what exactly happened, but, I know that after I saw them on the "California Jam", and then after Pete left the band, I lost interest in them, and bought nothing after "Ma".
No need to be embarrassed or ashamed Steve. I was just wondering how you felt about the later material. I've gone on record here as saying Ma wasn't one of my favourite albums, especially arriving so soon after the excellent Willie Remembers. I just feel the Motown powers got it all wrong when they sent the band back to the studios with Norman Whitfield. Maybe if they'd have had ten good new songs it might have been different.
After that, the revolving doors worked overtime with ins and outs but I still found plenty to enjoy on the later albums.
One of these days, I am going to buy some of the later albums, and give them a listen. I actually can't believe the amount of times I have had the opportunity to do so, seeing them at places like "Half Priced book stores" in the past. Instead, I always bought the copies of "Ecology" or "Get Ready" that were in the bin. I remember going to a record convention here in Ohio one time, back in the 80's and I bought a still sealed copy of "Willie Remembers" that contained the sticker stating that the album"Contains the hit 'Good Time Sally' " paying an outrageous price for it. I would later discover that there is a reason for that; it is one of those hard to find albums. I never saw it in a Half Priced Book Store, for example!
I do recall seeing the band after Pete left, with a drummer whose name is "Frosty" or something like that... and I just couldnt get used to that. I recall they played on Don Kirshner's In concert, and that he had a fast foot on his single bass drum, during his solo, but he just didn't have the ability or showmanship to play like Pete does.
One of these days, I am going to buy some of the later albums, and give them a listen. I actually can't believe the amount of times I have had the opportunity to do so, seeing them at places like "Half Priced book stores" in the past. Instead, I always bought the copies of "Ecology" or "Get Ready" that were in the bin. I remember going to a record convention here in Ohio one time, back in the 80's and I bought a still sealed copy of "Willie Remembers" that contained the sticker stating that the album"Contains the hit 'Good Time Sally' " paying an outrageous price for it. I would later discover that there is a reason for that; it is one of those hard to find albums. I never saw it in a Half Priced Book Store, for example!
I do recall seeing the band after Pete left, with a drummer whose name is "Frosty" or something like that... and I just couldnt get used to that. I recall they played on Don Kirshner's In concert, and that he had a fast foot on his single bass drum, during his solo, but he just didn't have the ability or showmanship to play like Pete does.
Which of the post Ma albums is the best?
Thanks much, Steve
Steve,
Once I finish my needledrops you'll not need to hunt any of them down. See my thread about needledrops.
Of the post Ma albums, I recommend Back To Earth and Rarearth (1977 LP).
Thanks so much for the heads up on your needledrops project! This is a fantastic idea on your part, and one that everyone here should truly appreciate your taking the time and effort to produce! Thank you ever so much!
I was interested in reading the discussion concerning the 45 singles, compared to LP releases, because I had started a thread earlier this year on the 45's, mentioning that there were ''added'' features when they released "Magic Key"(with additional vocals) (I Know) I'm losing you (which features additional keyboard, guitar and drums), etc., making them unique. It will be great to have the 45 version of "Magic Key" on CD!
I truly hope that you are able to locate the items that you mentioned you need help with. Unfortunately, I do not have any of them, or I would gladly help.
I anxiously await your project whenever it is finished, and I hope everyone else here does so as well. This is very, very kind of you.
I was just thinking about a parallel idea to the needledrop project that Mike is initiating. I'd love it if a compilation of press cuttings and photos (all eras) was put together on a CD or whatever.
Over the years I'm sure there must have been lots of national and local coverage including record and concert reviews, interviews etc.
We had just about zero coverage in the UK music press, so it would be nice to have some articles to read, particularly from those early years.
This is a fantastic idea. I wish we could have something with a collection of the itmes you mentioned.
I remember a nice piece, if my memory serves correct, that appeared in a sort of Teen magazine ( not "16 Magazine") that had a full page color photo of the band, as I recall, 3 of them standing on a riser, and 3 of them on the ground. Ray, Mark and John were in the photo, and Pete had on bergundy colored slacks. There was also black and white pics of some of the band members, singularly, in action, Pete and Ray, I remember distinctly. At one point in the article, John Persh and I think Pete, were discussing various types of music, and John made mention of how people who are into country music are usually from rural type settings. About the only other sentence that sticks out other than that is "...as Pete drained his cup of coffee to the bottom...''
Other than this, I have never seen anything on the band, as far as magazine articles.
It would also be great if we could get some of those clips on YouTube on CD Rom, or DVD. Or, how about their performance at the California Jam on DVD. I remember when talking with Ed Guzman in 1992, and asking him about that footage, and at that time, he said they were trying to get that footage, but that Dick Clark Productions hold the rights to it, and the expenses were out of this world, or something like that. As many times as the guys appeared on TV, there should be quite an archive of them on film. I'd love to see their perormance on Ed Sullivan, doing (I Know) I'm losing you. I'll never forget that as well as the time(s) they appeared on "Don Kirshner's In Concert" .
Is there anyone within this forum who ould produce such a CD as you mention? It would be a great thing to have.
Those are great ideas! let's all work together to see what we can do. I know Rare Earth did enough shows to get some good press coverage, including a short article in Rolling Stone...and there are also the album reviews as well. This will be quite a task.
Those are great ideas! let's all work together to see what we can do. I know Rare Earth did enough shows to get some good press coverage, including a short article in Rolling Stone...and there are also the album reviews as well. This will be quite a task.
1972 I was in high school .For all the good RARE EARTH fans I just found an great copy of GET READY in a second hand store for $1.99 ,sounds like it just came out of the wrapper.I couldn't believe my eyes or my ears when I got home and played it. Always liked TOBACCO ROAD and finding this copy takes me back to those days
