Created in 1977, after all the tumult that Pete & Co. went through, the album was prodcued by James Carmichael, renowned for his work with Lionel Richie & The Commodores.
Ray Monette & Mark Olson were "A.W.O.L." on this one, for reasons that *all* historians have hitherto duly documented..their places were replaced by session players guitarist Dan Ferguson (who guested with folk like Paul Anka) and Ron "The Wizard" Fransen (who played on albums by artistes like Tommy Bolin amongst others).
When I was but a naive, fairly sheltered suburban High School kid back then, I happily picked up the LP, seeing Pete's Grand Return to the band, and after opening and looking at the label listing, promptly said to myself: "Where's the 7, 8, & 30 minute jams here?"
At first I was kinda disappointed by lack of said marathon-length magnum opus material...but that soon changed.............
"Love Has Lifted Me" is nothing short of a comeback masterpiece. written by Late-'70's Jobete writers Mike & Brenda Sutton, the lyrical content is so *uber-cool* and the performance is a GAS!
"Is Your Teacher Cool?", written by the Marvin Gaye camp of Anna Gaye, Elgie Stover and friends, was eagerly anticiapted by Yours Truly, just to see what kinda treatment Pete & Co. did with material from said camp..OK, I supose, but Motown kinda missed the boat by having this be the "A"-Side single..when the "B"-side shoulda been promoted...more on that later. As an aside, Jerry Knight, who would later be the bass player in Ray Parker, Jr.'s "Raydio", and then become a solo artiste in his own right ("Overnight Sensation"), was a co-composer for this.. Gaye, Stover, & Co. were to do *much* better with....
"Foot Loose And Fancy Free" is the archetypal "Hit-Single-That-Shoulda-Been-But-Never-Was"..I always dug how Pete does the lyrics kinda like a Marine Drill Sergeant Commanding The Troops.... the song is just one Stone Cold roove, nothing less. As an aside (Part II), Michael Torrance, a Marvin Gaye "LIVE!" Backup vocalist, isn the co-composer replacing Jerry Knight on this one; the other co-composer for both songs, was Terrance Harrison.
Excellent.
"When I Write" was the only Non-Motown song (Or arther "Non-Jobete") featured here. Written by Pete Rivera & Tom Baird, it was apparently meant for "H.U.B.", but Baird died before H..B. could record it..and so it appeared here instead.
The lyrics "I want to write a happy song...but I can only write sad songs"...is kinda ironic...seeing that it was recorded after the loss of a great musical scribe (Baird).
"Share My Love" is nothing short of superb...and yet another "Hit-Single-That-Shoulda-Been-But..." example. Composed by Gloria Jones and Janie Bradford (Hobbs)...I really dug Gil's soprano sax solo punctuated by Ed Guzman timbales (Unless, I'm mistaken, Gil also did soprano sax on "Funhouse" as well...are these the only two [commercially relaesed] things on which Gil played soprano?).
"Tin Can People", another Gloria Jones-penned tune (Ths time in partnership with Beverley Gardner) woulda been a suitable flip for "Share"...or even the two coulda been promoted as a "Double 'A'- Side". Good as Gloria's 1973 original was....*this* version **BLOWS HERS AWAY**, IMHO....
"I Really Love You" was kinda neat...co-composed by Anna Story, Allen Story, and the Head Man himself, Berry Gordy...this was obviously a 1971 ditty..as the Storys' material was prior heard on Jackson 5ive tunes - well, one at least.."(Ya Better Make Way) For The Young Folks". As an aside, Allen Story was to later resurface, as a Motown artiste in his own right, under the name "SHADEE", with his late 1979 Tamla LP "I Just Need More Money"..
"Crazy Love"...now *THIS* funky little ditty, I have **issues** with....as far as it's reprehensible lack of promotion on the part of The Hitsville Empire is concerned..
This *SHOULD* have been the "A"-Side of the 45 release...as opposed to "Teacher"..And at least *two* regional radio stations were of the same opinion Back In The Day...as they played this flip side - and got considerable chart action as a result. Mind you, with disco rearing its semi-ugly head Back In The Day...*this* woulda been a more appropriate single release...and I'll bet it woulda shot to the heights of the charts if it *were*..
The closing track, "Ah Dunno" is kinda cool. Sorta makes me think of a hybrid between The Beatles "You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)" and Hoyt Curtin Hanna-Barbera/Carl Stalling "Merrie Melodies"/"Looney Tunes" ditties.
As an aside, the latter two were co-penned by Pete with Ron Fransen (Mike Urso also contributed to "Ah Dunno")...in retrospect, judging from these two gems, it's just sorta sad that Pete & Ron didn't collaborate on at least a few more....
Mebbe there's sumthin' in the can from these sessions....But *that* subject is for another time..
In conclusion, it's soooooooooooooooooooooooo much the sad thing that this did not do as well on the charts as it *SHOULD'VE*..But, as Tim Lott said in his liner notes on Harvest's "Best Of Babe Ruth" anthology:
The reasons are only known to *you*, the fickle public....Listen, and *cry shame!*
In my opinion, this album is truly an underrated gem in the Rare Earth catalog.
I do miss the musical input of Ray & Mark on this one. But it's a solid and funky album. And Pete really sings his arse off on this album.
There's not a weak track on this album as far as I am concerned. One of my favorites from this album is "When I Write". The arrangement and production is superb. Those strings on that song are mixed perfectly and blend well and do not overwhelm. I'll bet it was a song Pete and (the late, great) Tom Baird intended to record at some point before fate intervened.
And Mike, Gil and Eddie play some great stuff on this album as well. I wish the band had worked more with producer James Carmichael and engineer Cal Harris. Maybe I just dig the work they did with The Commodores.
And let's not forget Ron Fransen and Daniel Ferguson either. I think Daniel Ferguson lives in Utah nowadays and is in a country-rock band called Rawhide. Unless it's another Daniel Ferguson. I'm not too familiar with Ron Fransen.
A few anecdotes about this album and I hope Pete & Ray don't mind me repeating this. Guys, if I shouldn't have recalled the following stuff, please chew me out and let me know.
Pete told me that one day while working on the album, James Carmichael fell to the floor and he had a stroke or something like that. I'll bet that was scary.
Ray told me that he & Mark were involved in the intial sessions for the album. But there "political issues" that came about and they decided to not be involved. Pete's book touches on that so no need to delve deeper on that one. I wonder if the multitrack tapes still exist and if so, I wonder if there's any recorded stuff with Ray & Mark.
Ray told me that some of the guys referred to this one as "the mexican album" because of the colorful front cover. I think I know what he means
Ah Dunno makes me laugh. There's some tape trickery that makes Pete sound like he inhaled helium.
Mike: I had written most of the song (When I Write) and I showed it to Tom Baird. We didn't have any plans to record it. I played it for James and he wanted to do the tune. I loved working with James and Cal. I wish Ray and Mark were on the album. Ron Fransen and Dan Ferguson were last min additions. They both did a great job with such little notice. James didn't have a stroke, he was (as I understand) diabetic, and he had a meltdown It was scary but he came out of it ok. I did the lead vocal to AH Dunno with the tape slowed down as I dubbed. When it was played back it came out like what you hear on the record. It was just a crazy idea and we kept it. I miss everyone so much. Tom, Ray, Mark, Eddie, James, Cal, Gil, John, Kenny, Rod, Ralph, Fred, Russ, well just everyone. I think about it mostly when I read posts on the Forum. Maybe I should stop reading.
I miss a lot of it too, Pete. Every once in a while I'll think of something funny and I'll imagine me saying it to the guys in the band. You remember the scenario...Something funny would get said, and then evryone would start embellishing whatever it was that made us laugh, until we were "Raking it over the coals". Sure were some outrageous moments though, that still make me smile.
I live in Windsor,Ontario,but comute every morning through Detroit to my work in New Hudson. It is hour drive and, after my kids install subwoofers with good cd player, it is a pleasure music ride through the Motorcity.
After reading Your thread ,This mornig i gave a spin to Rare Earth 1977 on maximum level bass,sub,treble, and i can tell you guys.....absolutelly great production and fantastic sound mix.
"Share my love" was my fav song,but today i was blown away with opening tune
"Love Has Lifted me"....wow,...FIVE STARS*****I knew Mike Urso as great bass player,but here he is amazing!..And who ever did final mix has great sense in positioning aand colouring bass,drums and ..cowbell(????) ...WHAT A JAM !!!!I wish this was 10m minute song!
TEACHER and Foot Loose are very good,but i will be honest,other song doesen`t work for me so much as.................RARE EARTH classics.
I also enjoy Titan`s comments and so cool that Peter is very active on forum.
Mike: I had written most of the song (When I Write) and I showed it to Tom Baird. We didn't have any plans to record it. I played it for James and he wanted to do the tune. I loved working with James and Cal. I wish Ray and Mark were on the album. Ron Fransen and Dan Ferguson were last min additions. They both did a great job with such little notice. James didn't have a stroke, he was (as I understand) diabetic, and he had a meltdown It was scary but he came out of it ok. I did the lead vocal to AH Dunno with the tape slowed down as I dubbed. When it was played back it came out like what you hear on the record. It was just a crazy idea and we kept it. I miss everyone so much. Tom, Ray, Mark, Eddie, James, Cal, Gil, John, Kenny, Rod, Ralph, Fred, Russ, well just everyone. I think about it mostly when I read posts on the Forum. Maybe I should stop reading.
Thank you sharing Peter.
I stand corrected about James. You had told me about what happened last spring before the CRAS show om Clear Lake, IA.
I can't imagine the strong feelings you have for your friends and band brothers. All of you went through good and bad times. But the music...oh man, does it ever hold up! Very few bands I listen to have the effect on me that Rare Earth does.
Oh no Peter, don't stop reading. We all appreciate you, Ray, Gil and Ralph sharing your thoughts and insights.
Mike: I had written most of the song (When I Write) and I showed it to Tom Baird. We didn't have any plans to record it.
I miss everyone so much. Tom, Ray, Mark, Eddie, James, Cal, Gil, John, Kenny, Rod, Ralph, Fred, Russ, well just everyone. I think about it mostly when I read posts on the Forum. Maybe I should stop reading.
You know when we die I plan on seeing you and everybody so we can continue the laughter.
Thank you sharing Peter.
Oh no Peter, don't stop reading. We all appreciate you, Ray, Gil and Ralph sharing your thoughts and insights.
Note to Mr. Hoorelbeke (And all else concerned):
Um....I think I'm going to cry..
I was, in fact, reliving the young sheltered suburbanite teen naiivite of my youth when I opined about the album..(I was as jubilant over the seeing the LP at "Rose Records" back home...as I was when "Scooby's All-Star Laff-A-Lympics" premiered on telly that same year..
And...(*gulp*)....Pete, well...remembrances of friends seperated and pals departed...it all sounds so....so.....sad..
But ya know....I *do* understand....wholeheartedly....how ya fell; Particularly Tom, Eddie, & John..
But as I have philosophically said about them...as well as other departed musical luminaries Motown & Non-Motown alike..
They're playing to the **biggest audience ever** (Heaven).
As far as "When I Write"...nice tidbit to know that it was not intended for H.U.B.--but I'm very glad that it *did* find a home..
Note to Mike:
HEAR! HEAR!
I totally and utterly *concur* and *agree!*
Uh, mebbe to kinda lift everyone's spirit's here...a little intermission...till the next contribution to these discussions:
BATFINK - Created, Produced & Directed by HAL SEEGER (1966-1968)
.. the song is just one Stone Cold roove, nothing less. As an aside (Part II), Michael Torrance, a Marvin Gaye "LIVE!" Backup vocalist, isn the co-composer replacing Jerry Knight on this one; the other co-composer for both songs, was Terrance Harrison. 
