Has anybody heard of this???...Got to be the best Rare Earth ever released....Gil, Ray,Eddie,Bird,Wayne,Rick and Jerry...This is Rare Earth in there Prime !!!!!
Interesting post. Its good to see that one of the later line-ups can still get the thumbs up.
I play this CD from time to time and its particularly nice to hear a live version of Big John Is My Name. I would describe the album as good rather than best ever. Whilst not a criticism of his playing, I wish Rick had been using a Hammond organ and a Fender Rhodes piano. Those 80s and 90s synth based pianos sound so weak and dated now. However, that's just a minor point, and one of personal preference. Personally, I prefer the 1971 "In Concert" album with the lengthy jams.
As regards the band's prime, I would argue that this was the "71-74" period when they were at their most creative. Then again, as you can tell, I'm getting old!
WE RECORDED THAT C.D. LIVE IN SWITZERLAND WHILE WE WERE TOURING EUROPE.IT'S A GOOD SOLID ALBUM.I THINK WE CAPTURED A VERY GOOD LIVE PERFORMANCE.
WE GOT WAYNE IN THE BAND BECAUSE HE SOUNDED SO MUCH LIKE PETER.BIRD,RICK,AND JERRY ARE ALL VERY GOOD MUSICIANS.THAT LINEUP WAS SOLID,AND CONSISTANTLY PRODUCED GOOD LIVE SHOWS.
BUT.....THE SPIRIT AND CREATIVITY OF THE 71-74 LINEUP NEVER COULD BE TOPPED.
I have an audience recording from a show by possibly this line-up, recorded at Roschinsky in Hamburg January 14th 1989. Second date into the tour. I was 15, and it was the first time I heard a hammond organ sound intro (right after the first little intro jam), and my mouth dropped open. It was quite a revelation for me, and I would say the startpoint of myself becoming a musician. Actually, during the show I bummed a cigarette from Ray Monette, and kept in in my wallet (the smoked down butt!!!) as a souvenir, hahaha. Teenage stuff. I don´t remember that the hammond was not real.....always thought it was, but then again, I had never seen one , how should I have known. In the end, the synth hammond sound was enough for my ears to freak out. My first sense of Funk and Soul. Thank you so much guys! PS: I became a drummer though
Just been listening to this CD for the first time in a while. Wayne Baraks' voice is much closer to Peter's voice. Whether or not the organ is a Hammond or not I'm not sure, but it doesn't sound quite as good as the one Mark Olson used on "In Concert". Maybe it dominates too much in the mix? Possibly not a genuine Hammond as they were a roadie's nightmare to carry around compared to current light synths.
Credit to Rick, he plays some great keyboards, including some tasty piano on "Get Ready". Also, I love Ray's guitar solo on the 7 minute version on "I Just Want To Celebrate".
Made In Switzerland is a fine album representing the essence of Rare Earth.
I still feel we were cheated when Motown pulled the plug on the "Live In Chicago" album. It was given a catalogue number, so it must have been a last minute hitch. I heard that the sound quality wasn't good enough but I wonder if that was just an excuse? Even if it was true, is the technology available now that could clean up the sound to make it fit for releae now?