I found in my stash a copy of California Jam 1-part 2, with Pete and the guys doing Celebrate.
It's on vhs tape in b/w. I would like to share it, but I need some help on howto.
I have for a couple of years been reading this forum. I concur with everybody who really digs Rare Earth.
In fact, Pete has been one of my #1 greatest drummer influence when I started drumming and doing vocals back in the day. My professional music career was uplifted by digging and jamming on Rare Earth.
Now I'm over half 100 in age, I went back into my teens and I have put together a Rare Earth Tribute Band with my brothers.
Hey! Pete, Ray, Gil and Rod thank you very much. You guys are still the best.
I recognise that guy's voice who is speaking to the audience at that point on the video. Isn't he the guy who speaks those immortal words "Ok, will y'all listen to me now. The people in the water go to the island or get to the sides. There's a chance of somebody getting shocked in the water. We gotta lotta 'lectricity round here" etc etc.?
I keep hoping for a DVD of the Cal Jam. They did one for Woodstock.
I recognise that guy's voice who is speaking to the audience at that point on the video. Isn't he the guy who speaks those immortal words "Ok, will y'all listen to me now. The people in the water go to the island or get to the sides. There's a chance of somebody getting shocked in the water. We gotta lotta 'lectricity round here" etc etc.?
I keep hoping for a DVD of the Cal Jam. They did one for Woodstock.
There deserves to be a Cal Jam DVD. The footage/performances of Deep Purple and ELP have been officially released. The footage does exist. The show was recorded on 24 track tape for a possible live album. The same thing can be said for the 2nd Cal Jam in 1978...there was an album from that event.
If there's money to be made from it then I'm sure its only a matter of time before it finds a release. Unless of course it's being kept in the Motown vaults
As for the "Nah, I don't think that's the same guy Dave" comment.....Mr Moderator please take note that Mike is taking the p*** out of me!!! LOL (By the way, some of those emoticons below look scary. What's that one on the second left of the bottom row supposed to represent?)
Thanks, Mike, for the link to The Making of The Cal Jam!
I spotted RE's stuff, right off, just as you mentioned! Also, I got a glimpse of some of ELP's stuff, Carl Palmer's 16'' church bell, camel bells, and a shot of his 15 inch concert tom. He and Pete were the only two drummers who used concert toms at that concert! This is a gift, indeed, THANK YOU!
By the way...many efforts have been made by many people trying to get ABC to release the unedited Cal Jam in its entirety, which would have captured all performances in their entirety, but, all efforts have failed. It is said that ABC re used the video tape that they used to tpe this event, therefore erasing everything. Most of the bands who have released their performances at the concert, i.e. Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Deep Purple, have done so using 1st or 2nd generation footage, from what I was told. ELP's footage of the performance using the twirling piano during "Pitctures at an Exhibition" which is included in their documentary "Beyond the Beginning" DVD is very poor quality compared to the other footage included of the Cal Jam, which seems to confirm that the original stuff is no more.
Some guy names "Scott" or "Scotti" claims to have the entire thing which he recorded from the radio, but, I don't know if that is the entire concert, or just waht was broadcast on TV. Anyway, he seeems to have caused a lot of grief at forums where he has posted, telling people about this, so much so that he has been banned and so forth. I wonder if what he has is worth a listen? Anyone know anything about that?
By the way...many efforts have been made by many people trying to get ABC to release the unedited Cal Jam in its entirety, which would have captured all performances in their entirety, but, all efforts have failed. It is said that ABC re used the video tape that they used to tpe this event, therefore erasing everything. Most of the bands who have released their performances at the concert, i.e. Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Deep Purple, have done so using 1st or 2nd generation footage, from what I was told. ELP's footage of the performance using the twirling piano during "Pitctures at an Exhibition" which is included in their documentary "Beyond the Beginning" DVD is very poor quality compared to the other footage included of the Cal Jam, which seems to confirm that the original stuff is no more.
Some guy names "Scott" or "Scotti" claims to have the entire thing which he recorded from the radio, but, I don't know if that is the entire concert, or just waht was broadcast on TV. Anyway, he seeems to have caused a lot of grief at forums where he has posted, telling people about this, so much so that he has been banned and so forth. I wonder if what he has is worth a listen? Anyone know anything about that?
Kind Regards, Steve
Steve,
For all we know, ABC-TV may have very well dumped the raw tapes of all of the footage. A very foolish decision of course.
That guy "Scott" has only the FM broadcast of the event, which was a simulcast of the TV special. Seriously, that guy is full of it. He doesn't have the full event/every band's set. I do know for a fact that Cal Jam 74 was recorded on 24 track tape by the Wally Heider mobile unit for the purpose of releasing a live album. So, what this guy Scott has is not much at all. Plus, he has a site where he's charging a buck for mp3 downloads. Not to worry, I was able to get audio of Big Brother and Celebrate from Jocko. He has a friend who tapes that same broadcast if I recall correctly.
I'm trying to get the videos of Big Brother & Celebrate on DVD by the way.
Check this out...this one is great! Eddie on the drums during the latter half of the song. Eddie could really play the drums too! Thsi is GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Man, did this bring back memories! I remember, vividly, the part you mentioned, where Pete brushes against Ray's guitar, like it was yesterday! I NEVER thought I would see this again! What a GRAND PERFORMANCE by Rare Earth! It was so cool to see Ray playing that Fender guitar, up close!
I wrote to the You Tube poster of the California Jam videos, and, asked him if he would post some more of ELP's performance, and, he was overly kind to me, and posted two more of them, and even sent me 20 Jpeg's of images of ELP from their performance at the California Jam, along with ticket stubs! I encourage you all to write this gentleman and thank him for posting the Rare Earth California Jam clip. He told me where he got the videos from, and also told me how , many times, he has become discouraged with writing his book about this historic event. We should all encourage him not to stop. I never , ever thought I would see such sharp, clean, copies of this ever again, and here we have them popping up, one by one, on You Tube. How many songs did they broadcast of RE on TV? I only remember the two songs, but I'm probably wrong. If you look at the clip "California Jam 1974 Live 8mm Film", there is some footage of Rare Earth included in that, taken from behind Mike Urso, and then a shot from the side of the stage showing the guys.
I feel like I have taken a step back in time, to the weekend when this was broadcast in April 1974, then again November of 1974, Thanksgiving weekend. I'll never forget it. I hope it took you guys back, too.
Now a question about the video. Am I right in hearing congas still playing after Eddie takes the drum stool and Pete goes out front? Can I hear organ playing whilst Mark is out front? Has some overdubbing taken place?
Hey Steve, you're the man in the know. Maybe you can answer this?
Yes, you hear congas after Eddie moves to the drums while Pete is out front. Perhaps it was a roadie who moved to the congas to keep the sound fuller.
Yes, I hear organ going while Mark is out front. Watch when Mark makes his way back to the organ. He hits a button and the note/chord changes. At some point before he went out front he must've used some sort of sustian switch. I'm not fully knowledgeable about Hammond organs mind you. At one point you can see Pete was over behind Mark's rig. But to my knowledge, Pete doesn't play keyboards. Or maybe he knows a few chords and he was noodling on the keys while Mark was front & center. Pete & Ray would know best.
I still get a kick out of seeing Eddie on drums and Pete almost bumping into the neck of Ray's strat! How dare he touch Ray's axe...just kidding.
I'm sorry, but I couldn't find help to upload my Cal Jam 1 Pt2 with Rare Earth performing "I Just To Celebrate" on You Tube. But somebody has done it. And its in color and almost flawless.
The person is called (california jammer 1974) and it is on You Tube Now! I think this is the link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmdKTFKpWk4). California Jammer 1974 also has Rare Earth doing Big Brother that is much cleaner and colorful. You can see Pete playing his Red (not black) Ludwig drum kit. Its a deep red (see-thru) drum kit that Ludwig made back in the day.
You mentioned that you are also a drummer. What do you think of the stainless steel drum set Carl Palmer is playing, and what do you think of Carl's playing? That set weighs a ton and a half, and was valued at around $30,000, back in 1974. I can't imagine what it would be valued at today. I am replicating the drum set from woooden Ludwig shells. I have lacquered the inside shells with chrome lacquer, and the outer shells with chrome drum wrap. All my 2002 Paiste cymbals and drums are the same dimensions he useded with that set. The only thing I won't be able to do is have them engraved, and, building the consoles which the drum and cymbal stands extend from, is difficult, because there aren't many close up shots of them, even in the "Beyond the Beginning" DVD. The bass drum is 28X20, which I had built from 2 28 inch basses. His bass drum , alone, weighs 180 pounds! It has a handle on each side of it so the roadies can carry it! That's hilarious!
Anyway...I don't mean to get off the Rare Earth topic, here, I just wondered what you thought of Palmer's drum set.
To this day......I have not ever played with a guitar player that played with as much groove as Ray. I miss his playing a lot. It's been years since I've played with him but I know that he is timeless and I can hear him in my head anytime I want to.
Hi guys, I was at the California Jam, and saw the whole show up front next to the stage. I am the one who ownes, put together and posted these videos. My YouTube page is: http://www.youtube.com/user/californiajammer1974 . I made this compilation from the four ABC "In Concert" show of the California Jam show. Yes, I have ALL FOUR SHOWS! And they are in color. I have the California Jam Scriptbook too, and it shows Rare Earth's set in this ABC Scriptbook. See it at my MySpace page at: http://www.myspace.com/_californiajam1974 . It's set to private, but you can ask for a friend request you can see all the photos and archives from this show. There is also a brand new California Jam 1974 group at: http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/CaliforniaJam/ . This group is composed of friendly folks. The Rare Earth songs played at the 1974 California Jam "In Order" are: 1. Hey Big Brother, 2. Big John is My Name, 3. I Know I'm Losing You, and finally 4. I Just Want to Celebrate. There you go guy, enjoy! allen pamplin