This may sound crazy, stupid, or both, but I wondered if any one in here ever had a particular tune by other artists that they would have loved to have heard Rare Earth record? Since they, in my opinion, did many versions much, much better than the originals by the original artists, I would have loved to have heard them record their own version of the Bar Kays (Do it) til youre satisfied. Even though I object to the implications in the song ( or, perhaps my mind is in the gutter) every time I hear that song, I hear Rare Earth. The sax playing reminds me so much of Gils sax sound, that at times, I wondered if they didnt hire him to play on that recording.
Another tune I would have loved to have heard them record is Aint no woman like the one I got, by the Four Tops. The guitar playing reminds me of Ray Monnettes sound on the Stratocaster, and the lead singer sounds like Pete.
These tunes, at least, have Rare Earth written all over them!
I could imagine Pete singing "Time Has Come Today" by The Chambers Brothers. I love that track. I think Pete has the chops to sing practically anything.
Hey UK Dave -- I know what you mean about Grand Funk. I think they're terrific. I think RE and Pete could do justice to many songs in their catalog. Imagine some of the GF songs with Gils sax in them.
Yea, Keeper of the Castle was released over here at the end of 1972. The Fours Tops moved over to ABC Dunhill records and I believe you're right in that it was their first post motown release.
I agree, time has come today would sound great by pete. I was thinking, really the material of any r and b pop, rock, soul group form the early 70's could have been used by RE with great results...the spinners, the o'jays, war, and any wilson pickett song. I often wondered how much pete was influanced by wilson pickett what with pete's style of vocal fills such as "well," "hey," "listen!"
I recall Grand Funk made two live albums and I liked them both. However the second one called "Caught in the Act" I really like. Maybe the addition of a keyboard player gave them wider scope. It has that great intro recorded in the changing room (Mark Farner looking for guitar strings in the spare rack?), then they take the stage with those two great opening numbers. Brilliant!
As for "Keeper of the Castle", yes it was ABC Dunhill they signed to. For some reason ABC Dunhill's catalogue was released on "Probe Records" in the UK.
Going back to Grand Funk, I bet they shared the same bill with Rare Earth back in their prime, especially at festivals?
HERE'S SOME MORE TO THINK ABOUT.... MUSTANG SALLY....GOOD FOR PETE'S VOICE AS WELL GIL'S HOT SAX AND RAY'S FUNKY GUITAR....
HAS ANY ONE HEARD BOB SEGER'S VERSION OF COME TO POPPA?? NOW THINK...WHAT WOULD THAT SONG SOUND WITH PETE'S VOCALS? MAKES YOU WANT TO GO HMMMM.... MARK M
THAT'S TRUE BOB....HERE'S THE DEAL....R.E. PUT THEIR NAME ON THE MAP(AND WHEN THEY WERE THE SUNLINERS) PLAYING THE COVERS TUNES SOMETIMES BETTER THAN THE ORIGINALS!! MOTOWN ALLOWED THE BAND TO WRITE THIER OWN STUFF...I.E....ONE WORLD AND WILLIE REMEMBERS..FYI
It's funny that someone said I could sing "We're an American Band". Recently Mark Farner did about 5 shows with us "classic rock all stars" and I sang American Band for Mark. It was fun. Mark is a great guy but for some reason he doesn't want to sing A. Band......I was glad to do it for him.....
Mark doesn't sing American Band because it was Don Brewer's song. I've attended numerous Grand Funk gigs and also Mark's own solo shows and I don't believe I've ever seen Mark sing American Band.
At some of Mark's earlier solo shows in the late 1980's and early 90's American Band may have not even been on the set list.
In later years it was usually the bass player from Mark's solo band who received the honors of singing American Band.
Pete I would have loved to see you sing AB at that gig with the All Star's. I'm sure you did the song justice and that must have been one awesome show with the CRAS and Mark on the same bill. Jocko D
YES!! "We're an American Band," definitely. I thought it was RE, and thought, it's great to hear those guys again. "Livin' in the USA" by Steve Miller. "Hum Along & Dance." I'm sure I'll think of more.
