I understand how everyone feels about Ma and the album cover art. To me, I loved that album. I used to call it Rare Earth's "white album"...it was so different from their other stuff, and yet I really liked a lot of the album. I just thought it was so cool that the title track was Rare Earth's "jam session length" version of "Papa was a Rolling Stone". I know Pete says in his book that "I never worked so hard on an album in my entire life" and I can see what he means. I can hear the sweat pouring off the tracks. I always felt that the MA album didn't get a fair shake on the album market. The company could have done much, much more to make that album a huge success, but once again...it is history now. I still LOVE that album!!!!!
I thnk Tony means it was Rare Earth's answer to "Papa Was A Rolling Stone". I could be wrong though. Come to think of it, The Temps cut a version of "Ma" too. It's on their 1973 album "Masterpiece". Care to guess who produced it?
Ya know, Ioften wonder how much longer the jam of "Ma" was? I hear a few edits. I love the groove that the song settles into for the last few minutes...complete with some really muscular drum fills from Pete. There are also some tasty guitar licks and some fine piano work too.
I'm sorry if I wasn't clear on that! I meant that MA, at least the way I took it, was Rare Earth's answer to Papa was a Rolling Stone. You were right Mike. You know...Ma...Pa (Papa) Get it?!!!! LOL.Come on...wasn't that what it was supposed to make you think? Or maybe I "smoked" a little too much back in those days!!!
No i thought maybe Gil's band called Rare Earth did an album and maybe did Papa I think Ma was close to about 45 min of playing I just remember going for a long time then Norman cut it up I do think Norman intended to answer Papa with Ma He was always thinking . RIP Norman
OK Peter you weren't teasing and I can see the reasoning in your explanation.
Ma is an album that has grown on me in recent years. My biggest confusion when it was released was the same as other Rare Earth fans. Why did an album featuring Norman Whitfield songs and production follow so quickly on the heels of Willie Remembers which was group written, produced by Tom Baird and sounded so different with its lush harmony vocals? No explanations required as I know the answers thanks to Peter's book and discussions on this forum.
