Rare Earth (band)
Encyclopedia
Rare Earth is an American
rock band
affiliated with Motown
's Rare Earth record label
(which was named after the band), who prospered in 1970-1972. Although not the first white
band signed to Motown, Rare Earth was the first big hit-making act signed by Motown that consisted only of white members. (The Rustix were signed before them and were an all white act, but did not have any hits.)
label in 1968, they were signed to Motown in 1969. The band was the first act signed to a new Motown imprint that would be dedicated to white rock acts. The record company did not have a name for the new label yet and the band jokingly suggested Motown call the label "Rare Earth." To the band's surprise, Motown decided to do just that.
The main personnel in the group included: Gil Bridges (saxophone
, flute
and vocals
), Peter Rivera a.k.a. Peter Hoorelbeke (lead vocals
and drums
), John Persh a.k.a. John Parrish (bass guitar
, trombone
and vocals
), Rod Richards (born Rod Cox, guitar
, vocals) and Kenny James (born Ken Folcik, keyboards
).
During 1969 the group contributed music to the movie Generation that starred David Janssen
and Kim Darby
. But a proposed accompanying soundtrack album was canceled after the movie bombed at the box office and many of the songs ended up on the band's next album, Ecology, in 1970.
Rare Earth had a number of Top 40 hits in the 1970-1971 period, including covers of The Temptations
' "(I Know) I'm Losing You
" (which was used in the documentary video It's Time) and "Get Ready". The cover of "Get Ready" was their biggest hit, peaking at #4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
chart
, a more successful performance than the original. This disc
sold over one million copies and received a Gold record
awarded by the Recording Industry Association of America
.
The group gained a bit of notoriety when it was mentioned dismissively in the lyrics to Gil Scott-Heron
's 1970 poem, "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
," which included the line, "The theme song [to the revolution] will not be written by Jim Webb
, Francis Scott Key
, nor sung by Glen Campbell
, Tom Jones
, Johnny Cash
, Engelbert Humperdinck
, or the Rare Earth."
In late 1969 Edward "Eddie" Guzman (congas and assorted percussive instruments) was added to the group.
In 1971, Richards left after musical differences and James, weary of their increased touring schedule, split as well. Ray Monette (guitar) and Mark Olson (keyboards, vocals) joined to replace them.
Other hits in 1971 were "I Just Want to Celebrate", which peaked at #7 on the pop charts, and "Hey, Big Brother", which peaked at #19. They did not chart significantly after 1971, although they continued to record into the 1980s.
By 1972 Motown had decided to relocate from Detroit to Los Angeles
and Rare Earth soon followed suit. Persh, however, decided not to make the move and was succeeded in the band by Mike Urso (Persh later died from a hospital staph infection on January 27, 1981).
Their 1973 album Ma, written and produced by Norman Whitfield
, is considered one of their best overall works, and features their version of "Hum Along and Dance
".
Rare Earth was the opening act at California Jam
festival in Ontario, California
on April 6, 1974. Cal Jam attracted over 250,000 fans, and the band appeared alongside 70's rock giants Black Sabbath
, Emerson, Lake & Palmer
, Deep Purple
, Earth, Wind & Fire
, Seals & Crofts, Black Oak Arkansas
, and Eagles. Portions of the show were telecast on ABC
Television in the US, exposing the band to a wider audience.
In 1974 the group divided after Hoorelbeke had severe personal and business disagreements with their manager, Ron Strasner, and departed after the other members sided with Strasner against him. Mike Urso left the group along with Hoorelbeke and they formed a new outfit, HUB, with Rare Earth's 1970-1972 co-producer, Tom Baird, using the initials of their surnames (Hoorelbeke, Urso and Baird). HUB went on to record two albums for Capitol Records
but came to a sudden end in November 1975 after Baird was killed in a boating accident.
The others (minus Olson who left to join the backup band for Jennifer Warnes
) decided to continue as Rare Earth and brought in new players: Jerry La Croix (vocals, sax, harmonica, formerly of Edgar Winter's White Trash and Blood Sweat and Tears), Paul Warren (guitar, backing vocals), Bartholomew("Frosty")Eugene Smith-Frost (formerly with Sweathog and Lee Michaels
, drums), Reggie McBride (ex-Stevie Wonder
, bass) and Gabriel Katona (keyboards).
The new lineup put out Back to Earth in 1975 and went back on the road. However, both Paul Warren and Frosty left during this tour and new drummer Chet McCracken (who would go on to join the Doobie Brothers) was hired to finish out their '75 tour. The band then recorded Midnight Lady (minus Warren, Frosty and Katona), which was released in 1976. Frank Westbrook replaced Katona on keyboards and Ollie Brown
was brought in as session percussionist for Midnight Lady. But neither of these releases sold in the big numbers the band had been used to and they soon found themselves bogged down and unable to tour when they brought a lawsuit against former member Hoorelbeke, falsely claiming that he'd tried to make off with the group's name and retirement monies. The lawsuit was eventually settled in Hoorelbeke's favor and he was given a settlement.
In late 1976 a former Motown bigwig and vice president, Barney Ales, an earlier champion of Rare Earth, returned to the company to head up one of their new offshoot labels, Prodigal Records. He made an offer to the group to reunite with Peter Hoorelbeke. So the 1972-1974 lineup of the band (Hoorelbeke, Bridges, Urso, Olson, Monette and Guzman) were slated to gather together to record a new album on Prodigal. However, Monette & Olson did not agree to the reunion's terms and decided to sit out. Session players Dan Ferguson (guitar) and Ron Fransen(keyboards) were brought in instead to play on Rarearth, which was produced by James Anthony Carmichael (who would go onto huge success with The Commodores and Lionel Richie
) and released in 1977. But it failed to live up to expectations.
Later in 1977 the group assembled again with Chicago
based producer John Ryan (who'd worked with Styx
and others) to begin work on two new albums. This time Monette & Olson agreed to join in and the results were Band Together and Grand Slam, both released in 1978 and featuring more of a late 70s disco
sound, with the former providing the Bee Gees
penned hit "Warm Ride", which peaked at #39. Other than the one fluke hit, neither album was a big seller and the band soon found themselves without a home.
In June 1979 Urso left the band again. On Urso's recommendation, and after hearing several bass players, the group recruited bassist Ken Johnston, who joined the group's road tours for two years until June 1981. Johnston had just completed a stint with jazz singer Maxine Weldon and had rejoined Las Vegas comedian/songster Kenny Laursen. He interrupted his tour with Laursen to join Rare Earth in Florida.
Former Motown writer Dino Fekaris, who'd penned the band's hits "I Just Want to Celebrate and "Hey Big Brother", was next to step back into the group's life in 1980. He'd just come off back to back successes with Gloria Gaynor
and Peaches & Herb
and had won a Grammy for Gaynor's huge hit "I Will Survive". RCA
expressed interest in the band's new project and gave them an advance to go ahead and start recording. The project was originally to be titled King of the Mountain, with the title track slated to be the theme of a 1981 movie of the same name that starred Harry Hamlin
. But the movie people passed on the song, and when the record was done, RCA was not happy with Fekaris' production, so they passed as well. This album, retitled Tight & Hot, saw a very limited release in 1982 in Canada
only.
By the summer of 1981, Mike Urso had returned to Rare Earth after a two year absence, but he left for good by the fall of 1983. By the tail end of that same year, Peter Hoorelbeke was gone from the band as well after disagreements with Gil Bridges (Rivera went on to form The Classic Rock All-Stars
in 1992). By that time most of the members of the band had moved back to Detroit and continued to tour playing clubs despite the lack of a recording contract. One of the band's roadies, Tim McCormick, was brought in as the new bass player and a drummer named Tony replaced Hoorelbeke.
Personnel shuffles abounded in the mid-80s: In September of '84 Bob Weaver took over the drum throne and McCormick was replaced by Andy Merrild, a friend of Weaver's, and yet another of the group's roadies, Randy "Bird" Burghdoff, took over for Merrild in 1985. Jerry LeBloch joined in April of '86 as Weaver left. Mark Olson, who'd taken over much of the lead singing after Hoorelbeke left, was let go in 1986 after increasing personal and substance abuse troubles (Olson died on April 14, 1991, at the age of 41, from liver disease). Rick Warner was then rolled in as the band's new keyboardist and Wayne Baraks, who was brought in in 1987 on rhythm guitar, took over much of the lead vocals as well.
In the late 80s and early 90s the musical chairs slowed down somewhat as things stabilized and the band found itself in demand to play on "oldies" bills with other acts of the 60s and 70s.
Drummer Dean Boucher replaced LeBloch on drums in 1990 and RE signed with the small label Koch International and began work on a new album. The result was Different World (released in 1993) which was a collection containing a few covers of older songs and new material. It was mostly overlooked by the public.
On July 29, 1993, the band suffered the loss of another member when long time percussionist Eddie Guzman (age 49) died at his home in Howell, Michigan after complications from diabetes and alcoholism.
The group kept going, though, and brought in new drummer Floyd Stokes Jr., who also took over for the departing Boucher, and took on lead vocal duties too after guitarist Baraks pulled out of the group in 1994.
Other than Mike Bruner's succeeding Rick Warner in January 1998 and Ivan Greilich's filling in for Ray Monette for five years (beginning in 2004), the lineup has been stable overall during the last decade or so.
Rare Earth continues to perform at corporate events and on the oldies circuit. Bits from their recordings have been used as samples
on recordings as diverse as Beck
's "Derelict", UNKLE
, and DJ Shadow
's "GDMFSOB (feat. Roots Manuva
- U.N.K.L.E. uncensored version)", Black Sheep's "Try Counting Sheep", Peanut Butter Wolf
's "Tale of Five Cities", Scarface
's "Faith", NWA's "Real Niggaz Don't Die" and Eric B. and Rakim's "What's Going On". In 2005, Rare Earth was inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame.
Their hit "I Just Want to Celebrate" has been used in major national advertising campaigns by Ford Motor Company
and AT&T
. It appeared in the final episode of the TV show Six Feet Under and has also been prominently featured in the movie Aurthur Three Kings, A Knight's Tale
and Land of the Lost
, in the trailer for the movie Tropic Thunder
and in the end credits music in episode 24 ("One Day in the Valley") of Entourage
.
It was sampled as well in the opening song, "Sirens", on the 2007 Little Brother album Getback
and was done as "We Celebrate" on the new Ghostface Killah
album The Big Doe Rehab
.
On October 27 & 28, 2007, heavy metal
band Metallica
performed "I Just Want to Celebrate" during their acoustic performances at Neil Young
's Bridge School Benefit
show.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock band
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
affiliated with Motown
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
's Rare Earth record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
(which was named after the band), who prospered in 1970-1972. Although not the first white
White people
White people is a term which usually refers to human beings characterized, at least in part, by the light pigmentation of their skin...
band signed to Motown, Rare Earth was the first big hit-making act signed by Motown that consisted only of white members. (The Rustix were signed before them and were an all white act, but did not have any hits.)
History
The group formed in 1960 as "The Sunliners" and changed their name to "Rare Earth" in 1968. After recording an unsuccessful debut album Dream/Answers on the VerveVerve Records
Verve Records is an American jazz record label now owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded by Norman Granz in 1956, absorbing the catalogues of his earlier labels, Clef Records and Norgran Records , and material which had been licensed to Mercury previously.-Jazz and folk origins:The Verve...
label in 1968, they were signed to Motown in 1969. The band was the first act signed to a new Motown imprint that would be dedicated to white rock acts. The record company did not have a name for the new label yet and the band jokingly suggested Motown call the label "Rare Earth." To the band's surprise, Motown decided to do just that.
The main personnel in the group included: Gil Bridges (saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
, flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
and vocals
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
), Peter Rivera a.k.a. Peter Hoorelbeke (lead vocals
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
and drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
), John Persh a.k.a. John Parrish (bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
and vocals
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
), Rod Richards (born Rod Cox, guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, vocals) and Kenny James (born Ken Folcik, keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
).
During 1969 the group contributed music to the movie Generation that starred David Janssen
David Janssen
David Janssen was an American film and television actor who is best known for his starring role as Dr. Richard Kimble in the television series The Fugitive , the starring role in the 1950s hit detective series Richard Diamond, Private Detective , and as Harry Orwell on Harry O.In 1996 TV Guide...
and Kim Darby
Kim Darby
Kim Darby is an American actress perhaps best known for co-starring with John Wayne and country singer/actor Glen Campbell in the 1969 western True Grit.-Early life and film career:...
. But a proposed accompanying soundtrack album was canceled after the movie bombed at the box office and many of the songs ended up on the band's next album, Ecology, in 1970.
Rare Earth had a number of Top 40 hits in the 1970-1971 period, including covers of The Temptations
The Temptations
The Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
' "(I Know) I'm Losing You
(I Know) I'm Losing You
" I'm Losing You" is a 1966 hit single recorded by The Temptations for the Gordy label and produced by Norman Whitfield.- History :...
" (which was used in the documentary video It's Time) and "Get Ready". The cover of "Get Ready" was their biggest hit, peaking at #4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
, a more successful performance than the original. This disc
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
sold over one million copies and received a Gold record
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
awarded by the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
.
The group gained a bit of notoriety when it was mentioned dismissively in the lyrics to Gil Scott-Heron
Gil Scott-Heron
Gilbert "Gil" Scott-Heron was an American soul and jazz poet, musician, and author known primarily for his work as a spoken word performer in the 1970s and '80s...
's 1970 poem, "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
"The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" is a poem and song by Gil Scott-Heron. Scott-Heron first recorded it for his 1970 album Small Talk at 125th and Lenox, on which he recited the lyrics, accompanied by congas and bongo drums...
," which included the line, "The theme song [to the revolution] will not be written by Jim Webb
Jimmy Webb
Jimmy Webb is an American songwriter, composer, and singer. He wrote numerous platinum selling classics, including "Up, Up and Away", "By the Time I Get to Phoenix", "Wichita Lineman", "Galveston", "The Worst That Could Happen", "All I Know", and "MacArthur Park"...
, Francis Scott Key
Francis Scott Key
Francis Scott Key was an American lawyer, author, and amateur poet, from Georgetown, who wrote the lyrics to the United States' national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner".-Life:...
, nor sung by Glen Campbell
Glen Campbell
Glen Travis Campbell is an American country music singer, guitarist, television host and occasional actor. He is best known for a series of hits in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as for hosting a variety show called The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour on CBS television.During his 50 years in show...
, Tom Jones
Tom Jones (singer)
Sir Thomas John Woodward, OBE , known by his stage name Tom Jones, is a Welsh singer.Since the mid 1960s, Jones has sung many styles of popular music – pop, rock, R&B, show tunes, country, dance, techno, soul and gospel – and sold over 100 million records...
, Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
, Engelbert Humperdinck
Engelbert Humperdinck (singer)
Engelbert Humperdinck is a British pop singer, best known for his hits including "Release Me " and "After the Lovin'" as well as "The Last Waltz" .-Early life:...
, or the Rare Earth."
In late 1969 Edward "Eddie" Guzman (congas and assorted percussive instruments) was added to the group.
In 1971, Richards left after musical differences and James, weary of their increased touring schedule, split as well. Ray Monette (guitar) and Mark Olson (keyboards, vocals) joined to replace them.
Other hits in 1971 were "I Just Want to Celebrate", which peaked at #7 on the pop charts, and "Hey, Big Brother", which peaked at #19. They did not chart significantly after 1971, although they continued to record into the 1980s.
By 1972 Motown had decided to relocate from Detroit to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and Rare Earth soon followed suit. Persh, however, decided not to make the move and was succeeded in the band by Mike Urso (Persh later died from a hospital staph infection on January 27, 1981).
Their 1973 album Ma, written and produced by Norman Whitfield
Norman Whitfield
Norman Jesse Whitfield was an American songwriter and producer, best known for his work with Berry Gordy's Motown label during the 1960s...
, is considered one of their best overall works, and features their version of "Hum Along and Dance
Hum Along and Dance
"Hum Along and Dance" is a soul song written for the Motown label by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong. Originally recorded by The Temptations, the song was later covered by Motown acts Rare Earth and The Jackson 5...
".
Rare Earth was the opening act at California Jam
California Jam
California Jam, also known as Cal Jam, was a rock music festival concert held at the Ontario Motor Speedway in Ontario, California on April 6, 1974. It was produced by ABC Entertainment, Sandy Feldman, Don Branker and Leonard Stogel...
festival in Ontario, California
Ontario, California
Ontario is a city located in San Bernardino County, California, United States, 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. Located in the western part of the Inland Empire region, it lies just east of the Los Angeles county line and is part of the Greater Los Angeles Area...
on April 6, 1974. Cal Jam attracted over 250,000 fans, and the band appeared alongside 70's rock giants Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
, Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Emerson, Lake & Palmer, also known as ELP, are an English progressive rock supergroup. They found success in the 1970s and sold over forty million albums and headlined large stadium concerts. The band consists of Keith Emerson , Greg Lake and Carl Palmer...
, Deep Purple
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
, Earth, Wind & Fire
Earth, Wind & Fire
Earth, Wind & Fire is an American soul and R&B band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1969 by Verdine and Maurice White. Also known as EWF, the band has won six Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards. They have been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of...
, Seals & Crofts, Black Oak Arkansas
Black Oak Arkansas
Black Oak Arkansas is an American Southern rock band named after the band's hometown of Black Oak, Arkansas. The band reached the height of its fame in the 1970s with ten charting albums released in that decade...
, and Eagles. Portions of the show were telecast on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
Television in the US, exposing the band to a wider audience.
In 1974 the group divided after Hoorelbeke had severe personal and business disagreements with their manager, Ron Strasner, and departed after the other members sided with Strasner against him. Mike Urso left the group along with Hoorelbeke and they formed a new outfit, HUB, with Rare Earth's 1970-1972 co-producer, Tom Baird, using the initials of their surnames (Hoorelbeke, Urso and Baird). HUB went on to record two albums for Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
but came to a sudden end in November 1975 after Baird was killed in a boating accident.
The others (minus Olson who left to join the backup band for Jennifer Warnes
Jennifer Warnes
Jennifer Jean Warnes is an American singer, songwriter, arranger and record producer. She is known for her interpretations of compositions written by herself and many others, as well as an extensive playlist as a vocalist on movie soundtracks.Between 1979 and 1987 Warnes surpassed Frank Sinatra as...
) decided to continue as Rare Earth and brought in new players: Jerry La Croix (vocals, sax, harmonica, formerly of Edgar Winter's White Trash and Blood Sweat and Tears), Paul Warren (guitar, backing vocals), Bartholomew("Frosty")Eugene Smith-Frost (formerly with Sweathog and Lee Michaels
Lee Michaels
Lee Michaels plays the Hammond organ, piano, and guitar , and is best known for his 1971 Top 10 pop hit single, "Do You Know What I Mean."-Career:...
, drums), Reggie McBride (ex-Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
, bass) and Gabriel Katona (keyboards).
The new lineup put out Back to Earth in 1975 and went back on the road. However, both Paul Warren and Frosty left during this tour and new drummer Chet McCracken (who would go on to join the Doobie Brothers) was hired to finish out their '75 tour. The band then recorded Midnight Lady (minus Warren, Frosty and Katona), which was released in 1976. Frank Westbrook replaced Katona on keyboards and Ollie Brown
Ollie Brown
Ollie Lee "Downtown" Brown was a Major League Baseball Outfielder from to . He began his career playing for the San Francisco Giants and was the first draft choice for the expansion San Diego Padres in 1968....
was brought in as session percussionist for Midnight Lady. But neither of these releases sold in the big numbers the band had been used to and they soon found themselves bogged down and unable to tour when they brought a lawsuit against former member Hoorelbeke, falsely claiming that he'd tried to make off with the group's name and retirement monies. The lawsuit was eventually settled in Hoorelbeke's favor and he was given a settlement.
In late 1976 a former Motown bigwig and vice president, Barney Ales, an earlier champion of Rare Earth, returned to the company to head up one of their new offshoot labels, Prodigal Records. He made an offer to the group to reunite with Peter Hoorelbeke. So the 1972-1974 lineup of the band (Hoorelbeke, Bridges, Urso, Olson, Monette and Guzman) were slated to gather together to record a new album on Prodigal. However, Monette & Olson did not agree to the reunion's terms and decided to sit out. Session players Dan Ferguson (guitar) and Ron Fransen(keyboards) were brought in instead to play on Rarearth, which was produced by James Anthony Carmichael (who would go onto huge success with The Commodores and Lionel Richie
Lionel Richie
Lionel Brockman Richie, Jr. , is an American singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Since 1968, he has been a member of the musical group Commodores signed to Motown Records...
) and released in 1977. But it failed to live up to expectations.
Later in 1977 the group assembled again with Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
based producer John Ryan (who'd worked with Styx
Styx (band)
Styx is an American rock band that became famous for its albums from the late 1970s and early 1980s. The Chicago band is known for melding the style of prog-rock with the power of hard rock guitar, strong ballads, and elements of American musical theater....
and others) to begin work on two new albums. This time Monette & Olson agreed to join in and the results were Band Together and Grand Slam, both released in 1978 and featuring more of a late 70s disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
sound, with the former providing the Bee Gees
Bee Gees
The Bee Gees are a musical group that originally comprised three brothers: Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio was successful for most of their 40-plus years of recording music, but they had two distinct periods of exceptional success: as a pop act in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and as a...
penned hit "Warm Ride", which peaked at #39. Other than the one fluke hit, neither album was a big seller and the band soon found themselves without a home.
In June 1979 Urso left the band again. On Urso's recommendation, and after hearing several bass players, the group recruited bassist Ken Johnston, who joined the group's road tours for two years until June 1981. Johnston had just completed a stint with jazz singer Maxine Weldon and had rejoined Las Vegas comedian/songster Kenny Laursen. He interrupted his tour with Laursen to join Rare Earth in Florida.
Former Motown writer Dino Fekaris, who'd penned the band's hits "I Just Want to Celebrate and "Hey Big Brother", was next to step back into the group's life in 1980. He'd just come off back to back successes with Gloria Gaynor
Gloria Gaynor
Gloria Gaynor is an American singer, best known for the disco era hits; "I Will Survive" , "Never Can Say Goodbye" , "Let Me Know " and "I Am What I Am" .-Early career:Gaynor was a singer with the Soul...
and Peaches & Herb
Peaches & Herb
Peaches & Herb was an American vocalist duo, once comprising Herb Fame and Francine "Peaches" Hurd Barker...
and had won a Grammy for Gaynor's huge hit "I Will Survive". RCA
RCA
RCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
expressed interest in the band's new project and gave them an advance to go ahead and start recording. The project was originally to be titled King of the Mountain, with the title track slated to be the theme of a 1981 movie of the same name that starred Harry Hamlin
Harry Hamlin
Harry Robinson Hamlin is an American film and television actor, known for his role as Perseus in the 1981 fantasy film Clash of the Titans, and as Michael Kuzak in the legal drama series L.A...
. But the movie people passed on the song, and when the record was done, RCA was not happy with Fekaris' production, so they passed as well. This album, retitled Tight & Hot, saw a very limited release in 1982 in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
only.
By the summer of 1981, Mike Urso had returned to Rare Earth after a two year absence, but he left for good by the fall of 1983. By the tail end of that same year, Peter Hoorelbeke was gone from the band as well after disagreements with Gil Bridges (Rivera went on to form The Classic Rock All-Stars
The Classic Rock All-Stars
The Classic Rock All-Stars is a supergroup composed of hitmaking artists in the 1960s and 1970s. Its lineup:*Pete Rivera: Original drummer and lead singer for Rare Earth*Jerry Corbetta: Keyboardist for Sugarloaf and Frankie Valli...
in 1992). By that time most of the members of the band had moved back to Detroit and continued to tour playing clubs despite the lack of a recording contract. One of the band's roadies, Tim McCormick, was brought in as the new bass player and a drummer named Tony replaced Hoorelbeke.
Personnel shuffles abounded in the mid-80s: In September of '84 Bob Weaver took over the drum throne and McCormick was replaced by Andy Merrild, a friend of Weaver's, and yet another of the group's roadies, Randy "Bird" Burghdoff, took over for Merrild in 1985. Jerry LeBloch joined in April of '86 as Weaver left. Mark Olson, who'd taken over much of the lead singing after Hoorelbeke left, was let go in 1986 after increasing personal and substance abuse troubles (Olson died on April 14, 1991, at the age of 41, from liver disease). Rick Warner was then rolled in as the band's new keyboardist and Wayne Baraks, who was brought in in 1987 on rhythm guitar, took over much of the lead vocals as well.
In the late 80s and early 90s the musical chairs slowed down somewhat as things stabilized and the band found itself in demand to play on "oldies" bills with other acts of the 60s and 70s.
Drummer Dean Boucher replaced LeBloch on drums in 1990 and RE signed with the small label Koch International and began work on a new album. The result was Different World (released in 1993) which was a collection containing a few covers of older songs and new material. It was mostly overlooked by the public.
On July 29, 1993, the band suffered the loss of another member when long time percussionist Eddie Guzman (age 49) died at his home in Howell, Michigan after complications from diabetes and alcoholism.
The group kept going, though, and brought in new drummer Floyd Stokes Jr., who also took over for the departing Boucher, and took on lead vocal duties too after guitarist Baraks pulled out of the group in 1994.
Other than Mike Bruner's succeeding Rick Warner in January 1998 and Ivan Greilich's filling in for Ray Monette for five years (beginning in 2004), the lineup has been stable overall during the last decade or so.
Rare Earth continues to perform at corporate events and on the oldies circuit. Bits from their recordings have been used as samples
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
on recordings as diverse as Beck
Beck
Beck Hansen is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck...
's "Derelict", UNKLE
UNKLE
Unkle are a British musical outfit founded in 1994 by school friends James Lavelle and Tim Goldsworthy. Originally categorized as trip-hop, the group once included producer DJ Shadow and have employed a variety of guest artists and producers.-First incarnation :Lavelle and Goldsworthy were joined...
, and DJ Shadow
DJ Shadow
Joshua Paul Davis better known as DJ Shadow is an American music producer, DJ and songwriter. He is considered a prominent figure in the development of instrumental hip hop and first gained notice with the release of his highly acclaimed debut album Endtroducing....., which was constructed...
's "GDMFSOB (feat. Roots Manuva
Roots Manuva
Rodney Hylton Smith , better known by his stage name Roots Manuva, is a British rapper from Stockwell, South London. He is currently signed to Big Dada.-Biography:...
- U.N.K.L.E. uncensored version)", Black Sheep's "Try Counting Sheep", Peanut Butter Wolf
Peanut Butter Wolf
Chris Manak, aka Peanut Butter Wolf, is a DJ, hip-hop producer and the founder of hip-hop label Stones Throw Records.A native of San Jose, California, He took on the name Peanut Butter Wolf in the late-80s when he realized that a girlfriend’s youngest brother feared the “peanut butter wolf monster”...
's "Tale of Five Cities", Scarface
Scarface (rapper)
Brad Terrence Jordan , better known by his stage name Scarface, is an American rapper, and recording artist from Houston, Texas and a member of the Geto Boys. He is originally from South Park, Houston.-Life and career:...
's "Faith", NWA's "Real Niggaz Don't Die" and Eric B. and Rakim's "What's Going On". In 2005, Rare Earth was inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame.
Their hit "I Just Want to Celebrate" has been used in major national advertising campaigns by Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
and AT&T
AT&T
AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications corporation headquartered in Whitacre Tower, Dallas, Texas, United States. It is the largest provider of mobile telephony and fixed telephony in the United States, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services...
. It appeared in the final episode of the TV show Six Feet Under and has also been prominently featured in the movie Aurthur Three Kings, A Knight's Tale
A Knight's Tale (film)
A Knight's Tale is a 2001 American action-adventure film directed, produced, and written by Brian Helgeland. The film stars Heath Ledger, Shannyn Sossamon, Mark Addy, Alan Tudyk, Rufus Sewell, Paul Bettany as Geoffrey Chaucer, and James Purefoy as Sir Thomas Colville/Edward, the Black Prince.The...
and Land of the Lost
Land of the Lost (film)
Land of the Lost is a 2009 American science-fiction comedy film directed by Brad Silberling and starring Will Ferrell, Danny McBride and Anna Friel, based on the 1974 Sid and Marty Krofft TV series of the same name.-Plot:...
, in the trailer for the movie Tropic Thunder
Tropic Thunder
Tropic Thunder is a 2008 American action satire comedy film written, produced, and directed by Ben Stiller, and starring Stiller, Robert Downey, Jr., and Jack Black. The main plot revolves around a group of prima donna actors who are making a Vietnam War film...
and in the end credits music in episode 24 ("One Day in the Valley") of Entourage
Entourage (TV series)
Entourage is an American comedy-drama television series that premiered on HBO on July 18, 2004 and concluded on September 11, 2011, after eight seasons...
.
It was sampled as well in the opening song, "Sirens", on the 2007 Little Brother album Getback
Getback
Getback is the third studio album from Little Brother, released on October 23, 2007. On October 12, Phonte leaked the album himself to Okayplayer.com-Details:...
and was done as "We Celebrate" on the new Ghostface Killah
Ghostface Killah
Dennis Coles , better known by his stage name Ghostface Killah, is an American rapper and prominent member of the Wu-Tang Clan. After the group achieved breakthrough success in the aftermath of Enter the Wu-Tang , the members went on to pursue solo careers to varying levels of success...
album The Big Doe Rehab
The Big Doe Rehab
The Big Doe Rehab is the seventh studio album by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah, released December 2007 on Def Jam Records.- Album information :The album was released on December 4, 2007...
.
On October 27 & 28, 2007, heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
performed "I Just Want to Celebrate" during their acoustic performances at Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
's Bridge School Benefit
Bridge School Benefit
The Bridge School Benefit is an annual non-profit charity concert held in Mountain View, California, every October at the Shoreline Amphitheatre. The concerts are all organized by musician Neil Young and his wife, Pegi....
show.
Discography
Studio albums
- 1968 Dreams/Answers
- 1969 Get ReadyGet Ready (Rare Earth album)Get Ready is the second studio album by rock band Rare Earth, released in 1969.-Side one:# "Magic Key" – 3:55# "Tobacco Road" Get Ready is the second studio album by rock band Rare Earth, released in 1969.-Side one:# "Magic Key" (Gil Bridges, Kenny Folcik) – 3:55# "Tobacco Road" Get Ready is the...
- 1969 Generation (Unreleased Soundtrack)
- 1970 EcologyEcology (Rare Earth album)Ecology is the 3rd studio album by rock band Rare Earth, which was released in 1970. It includes a cover of "Eleanor Rigby" from The Beatles.-Side one:# "Born To Wander" - 3:20# "Long Time Leavin'" - 4:42...
- 1971 One WorldOne World (Rare Earth album)One World is the fourth studio album by rock band Rare Earth and was released in June 1971. "I Just Want to Celebrate" became a Top 10 Gold certified hit, and the album would become the third Gold album from the ensemble.-Side one:...
- 1972 Willie RemembersWillie RemembersWillie Remembers is the fifth album of the group Rare Earth.-Side one:#"Good Time Sally" – 2:52#"Every Now & Then We Get to Go on Down to Miami" – 3:09...
- 1973 MaMa (Rare Earth album)Ma is the sixth studio album by rock band Rare Earth, which was released in 1973.-Side two:# "Big John Is My Name" – 4:06# "Smiling Faces Sometimes" - 6:20...
- 1975 Back to EarthBack To Earth (Rare Earth album)Back To Earth is the 8th studio album by rock band Rare Earth, which was released in 1975. Jerry La Croix replaced departed lead singer Peter Hoorelbeke and Reggie McBride replaced departed bassist Michael Urso.-Track listing:...
- 1976 Midnight Lady
- 1977 Rarearth
- 1978 Band Together
- 1978 Grand Slam
- 1982 Tight and Hot (Limited Release In Canada Only)
- 1993 Different World
- 2005 Rare Earth (Features re-recording of their most well known songs plus one new song)
- 2008 A Brand New World
Live albums
- 1971 Rare Earth in ConcertRare Earth in ConcertRare Earth in Concert is a live album by rock band Rare Earth, which was released as a double-LP in 1971.-Side one:# "I Just Want to Celebrate" – 4:40# "Hey Big Brother" – 7:26...
- 1974 Live in Chicago
- 1989 Made in Switzerland
- 2004 Rock 'n' Roll Greats RARE EARTH In concert!
- 2008 Rare Earth Live
Singles
- "Generation, Light Up the Sky" - 1969 (Rare Earth Records R 5010)
- "Get Ready" - 1970 (Rare Earth Records R 5012)
- "(I Know) I'm Losing You(I Know) I'm Losing You" I'm Losing You" is a 1966 hit single recorded by The Temptations for the Gordy label and produced by Norman Whitfield.- History :...
" - 1970 (Rare Earth Records R 5017) - "Born to Wander" - 1970 (Rare Earth Records R 5021)
- "I Just Want to CelebrateI Just Want to Celebrate"I Just Want to Celebrate" is a song recorded by American rock band Rare Earth. It served as the lead single from their 1971 album One World and the band's fifth single overall. "I Just Want to Celebrate" peaked at #7 on the pop charts and would be Rare Earth's final top 10 single. It would be the...
" - 1971 (Rare Earth Records R 5031) - "Hey Big Brother" - 1971 (Rare Earth Records R 5038)
- "What'd I Say" - 1972 (Rare Earth Records R 5043)
- "Good Time Sally" - 1972 (Rare Earth Records R 5048)
- "We're Gonna Have a Good Time" - 1972 (Rare Earth Records R 5052)
- "Someone To Love" - 1971 (Rare Earth Records)
- "Any Man Can Be A Fool" - 1971 (Rare Earth Records)
- "Ma (Vocal)" - 1973 (Rare Earth Records R 5053)
- "Hum Along and Dance" - 1973 (Rare Earth Records R 5054)
- "Big John Is My Name" - 1973 (Rare Earth Records R 5056)
- "Chained" - 1974 (Rare Earth Records R 5057)
- "Keepin' Me Out of the Storm" - 1975 (Rare Earth Records R 5059)
- "It Makes You Happy (But It Ain't Gonna Last Too Long)" - 1975 (Rare Earth Records R 5058)
- "Midnight Lady" - 1976 (Rare Earth Records R 5060)
- "Warm Ride" - 1978 (Prodigal Records)
Compilations
- 1975 Masters of Rock
- 1976 Disque d'Or
- 1981 Motown Superstar Series, Vol. 16
- 1988 Get Ready/Ecology
- 1991 Greatest Hits & Rare Classics
- 1994 Earth Tones: Essential
- 1995 Anthology: The Best of Rare Earth
- 1996 Rare Earth featuring Peter Rivera
- 1998 The Very Best of Rare Earth
- 2001 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Rare Earth
- 2004 The Collection
- 2005 Get Ready and More Hits
- 2006 Best of Rare Earth
- 2008 Fill Your Head: The Studio Albums 1969-1974
External links
- Rare Earth World, fan site
- Artist Biography - Rare Earth at BillboardBillboard (magazine)Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...