Whilst looking up some music related information I stumbled on this interview with Graham Bonnet (ex Rainbow) on his website. He was at one time involved with Robert Stigwood and the Bee Gees so it seems. He made a recording of Warm Ride and mentions that the Bee Gees gave it to Earth Wind and Fire in America and, as far as he knew, it did nothing. (Earth Wind & Fire? Did Nothing?Another two additions to John and Richard's list of Rare Earth factual errors and ignorance).
Anyway, rather than upset anyone by copying any unauthorised material, here is the link http://www.bonnetrocks.com/mctk.htm The Warm Ride comments are about halfway down.
I notice a contradiction though. Referring to the fact that the song is by the Bee Gees, first Bonnet claims that Robin Gibb came up with the idea and "Barry polished it" but a few lines later he says Robin had an idea and "Maurice tailored it". A minor issue because he was basically saying Robin doesn't play an instrument but he had the shape of the song and put it to one of the others to work out the chords.
The bottom line is that Robin didn't like Bonnet's version. i wonder what he thought of Earth Wind and, oops sorry, Rare Earth's version?
Bonnet is getting mixed up because of the word Earth. His reached No 3 I believe in Australia. Rare Earth's peaked at around 39 in USA, it was on every radio stations playlist in the UK at the time but remained outside the UK charts despite of great airplay.
Bee Gees version .......In September 18, 2007, Reprise Records released a remastered and expanded version of Greatest. Many of the tracks on Greatest have been previously remastered, but the album contain the first release for remastered versions of "You Stepped Into My Life", "Rest Your Love on Me", "Wind of Change", "Spirits (Having Flown)" and "Children Of The World". In addition, there are extended versions of "Stayin' Alive" and an unreleased Bee Gees track, "Warm Ride", which was written for the groupRare Earth.
The 4 versions I know of are.....
Rare Earth
Andy Gibb from the After Dark Album
Bee Gees - Unreleased and added to the CD version of Greatest Hits
Graham Bonnet
-- Edited by admin on Friday 17th of December 2010 01:43:31 AM
Yes, just another one in a long line of people who get Rare Earth confused with Earth Wind & Fire or Rare Bird.
Rare Earth is the best version in my opinion. Peter sings it with more passion. out of the other versions i'm quite taken with Andy Gibb's version. I like the economical bass line. Bonnet's version is nothing special and the Bee Gee's version sounds like a demo, which it probably was.
