I am currently listening to all the Rare Earth albums in my car. I've reached the beginning of the Rarearth LP which you and Mark were not featured on of course. I was wondering about the earlier Back to Earth album though and, I can't ever recall asking this, but what was the thinking when taking Paul Warren on? Was there a requirement for an extra guitar or was it for other reasons e.g. songwriting ability? Or was there a music connection between Gabriel Katona and Paul warren so they were taken on as a pair? I only ask because Paul didn't stick around for long.
THAT'S ONE OF THE ODDEST THINGS THAT EVER HAPPENED WITH THE BAND. I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER THE REASONING BEHIND IT. BUT THE REASON IT DIDN'T LAST LONG, WAS BECAUSE THE WHOLE BAND, ESPECIALLY PAUL COULD SEE THERE WAS NO FIT OR REASON MUSICALLY OR OTHERWISE FOR THE MOVE. THE ONLY THING THAT I CAN THINK OF WAS FROSTY TRYING TO TURN THE BAND INTO SOMETHING OTHER THAN RARE EARTH, AND THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE IT.
ANYWAY....IT WAS MERCIFULLY SHORT LIVED. I REMEMBER RUNNING INTO PAUL YEARS LATER AND HE PRETTY MUCH SAID THE SAME THINGS I JUST SAID.HE'S A GOOD GUY ,AND A GOOD PLAYER, BUT RARE EARTH......NO.
Hi Ray...yes, it's been a while. I'm OK thanks, just some additional wear and tear that comes with age lol. How about yourself? How is your back these days? Also I hope Judy is well.
Looking at your comment in the last post, as a newcomer I wouldn't have thought that Frosty would have such influence. We've never discussed Frosty on here. At least I can't recall anything. Was he a strong character within the band? It's easy to assume that Gil, yourself and Eddie would have had the biggest say, but it must have been like joining a new band suddenly having so many new people on board.
On a separate note, these last few days I've been listening to a lot of Invictus stuff. Mainly COTB, and their solo projects, Freda Payne and her sister Scherrie. I definitely picked out some of your guitar on one or two songs. I saw a video on You Tube featuring Danny Woods. I was upset to see he's lost a leg :(( though he still seemed full of enthusiasm and life.
WOW....MY WRITING IS GETTING BIGGER...MUST BE GETTING OLD TOO..LOL.
WHAT I SAID ABOUT FROSTY WAS MOSTLY CONJECTURE,BUT....I HAVE TO SAY HE'S ONE OF THE CRAZIEST DUDES I'VE EVER MET. HERE'S AN EXAMPLE: WE GET TO A HOTEL...A WHILE LATER I GO TO HIS ROOM. EVERYTHING IN THE ROOM IS CHANGED. NOTHING IS LIKE THE REST OF THE ROOMS. THE MAIDS MUST HAVE LOVED HIM...NOT!!
IT REALLY WAS A DIFFERENT BAND WHEN THE NEW GUYS CAME WITH US, AND THERE DEFINITELY WAS A BIT OF A PUSH FROM ALL TO MAKE SOME CHANGES. BUT...THEY WERE DIFFERENT PEOPLE. EASY TO SEE IT COMING, BUT A BIG MISTAKE WHEN ALL THE FANS WANTED WAS SOME MORE GOOD OLE R.E. BUT THAT WASN'T POSSIBLE ANYWAY.
DANNY WOODS ALWAYS HAS A TON OF VITALITY AND STAGE PRESENCE. NEVER MET ANYONE WITH MORE.GREAT GUY!!
MY WIFE IS DOING FINE,THANK GOODNESS, BECAUSE I MOST CERTAINLY AM NOT. I HATE TO MAKE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, BUT I HAVE RETIRED. I HAVE 3 MAJOR ISSUES, SEVERAL BACK PROBLEMS THAT WILL GET WORSE AS TIME GOES ON. RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS, AND ATRIAL FIBRILLATION. I'M USING A CANE AND WHEELCHAIR THE FEW TIMES I GET OUT, AND I RECEIVED STRICT ORDERS FROM MY CARDIOLOGIST AND OTHER DOCTORS TO NOT EVEN THINK OF GOING ON THE ROAD.
IT'S AMAZING HOW WE ALL TAKE OUR LIVES AND MOBILITY FOR GRANTED WHEN YOU CAN WAKE UP ONE DAY AND IT'S BASICALLY OVER. THE OLD SAYING ...LIVE EVERY DAY LIKE IT'S YOUR LAST REALLY ARE WORDS OF WISDOM.
ANYWAY....I'M STILL KICKING,AND THE FINGERS ARE STILL WORKING.
My heart goes out to you. It hurts to know you have to retire. But, if those are the doctor's orders... . I pray you stay happy and healthy. I can't convey how much the music of Rare Earth has meant to me since I was a kid, and especially your guitar work on the albums you contributed to. You've done a lot of for me over the past 10 years...sharing a copy of "Tight And Hot", 2 opportunities to meet The Funk Brothers and Rare Earth and being a good friend. Above and beyond the call of duty.
In my opinion, Rare Earth has never received their due respect from the music world at-large, but hey...they're like our little secret, I suppose. They'll always be one of my favorites.
First I'd like to say it's an absolute honor to be able to talk to you here. And secondly, I'm sorry to hear about your back-that's awful. Live every day like it's your last is so true-time has a way of creeping up on us. But I sure am glad to hear you're in good spirits and that your fingers are able to play! I've always loved your guitar parts on all of the Rare Earth songs-especially the live stuff. I just got the newer release Live in Chicago c.d. and you are on fire! I always loved the live album from 1971 as well. Just watched the California Jam show- man you were making that Strat sing. I'm sorry to bother you with a question-and maybe you've answered this before and I just can't find it, but what was the wah pedal that you used on all of those recordings? Was it the same one? Was it a Vox or a Crybaby? I've tried to look at photos and video but could never see enough. You have one of the greatest wah techniques and always get the best sound out of it. I see that you mentioned a Fender Blender and I can hear that on the Live in Chicago show on some solos-it really kicks it up!
As a young guitar player when I bought IN CONCERT all those years ago, I always loved your parts on that album and One World particularly. I also really dig your funky wah playing.
Saying a prayer for pain relief and peace for you. Just know that you touched many lives through your music over the years, and since those fingers are still working hoping to hear some more soulful playing form you soon.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR ALL THE KIND WORDS GUYS. YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW TOUCHED I AM,AND HOW MUCH IT ALL MEANS TO ME.
YOU GUYS ARE THE GREATEST!!
IT'S SO WEIRD NOT GOING ON THE ROAD AND PLAYING LIVE. IT'S ALL I'VE EVER DONE BESIDES THE EARLY SESSION WORK. BUT,AS THEY SAY,ALL GOOD THINGS MUST END ONE DAY,AND I'M OK WITH IT. TALKED TO PHIL COLLINS A WHILE AGO TO SEE HOW HE'S DOING. HE'S GOT SOME OF THE SAME ISSUES AS MYSELF. HE'S ENJOYING HIS FAMILY,AND HE WILL DO A FEW SHOWS SOON. THEY'RE REHEARSING IN MIAMI. BUT JUST AS A SINGER. THE PHYSICAL PART OF DRUMMING IS OUT. ANYWAY...HE'S JUST AS OPTIMISTIC AS I AM AND IT WAS GOOD TO TALK TO HIM. WE HAD A BLAST DOING THE MOTOWN ALBUM WITH HIM. IT'S NOT JUST MY BACK THAT'S KEEPING ME OFF THE ROAD.
THE REAL WORD CAME FROM MY CARDIOLOGIST....HEART ISSUES. BUT ENOUGH ABOUT THAT.
TO ANSWER RICK'S QUESTION..THE WAH WAS THE CLASSIC SILVER TOPPED VOX. ALWAYS MY FAVORITE. OF COURSE THEY WENT AWAY AND THE CRYBABY CAME IN WHICH WASN'T A BAD SUB. PROBABLY THE BEST ONES THEY MADE
WERE THE RE-ISSUE OF THE VOX AND THE LITTLE HALF SIZE CRYBABY. THAT LITTLE THING PUTS OUT SOME GREAT SOUNDS,ONCE YOU GET USED TO IT..LOL.
First, Rare Earth is one of Americas most under rated bands. I have the live album, and it one of the best live albums ever. I play guitar and am dying to know what brand wah wah peddle you used? You peddling is extraordinairy.
. I pray you stay happy and healthy. I can't convey how much the music of Rare Earth has meant to me since I was a kid, and especially your guitar work on the albums you contributed to. You've done a lot of for me over the past 10 years...sharing a copy of "Tight And Hot", 2 opportunities to meet The Funk Brothers and Rare Earth and being a good friend. Above and beyond the call of duty.
