Rare Earth
Welcome to Rare Earth, perhaps the first AOFR (album oriented funk-rock) band.
The Detroit band had its origins in 1960 as The Sunliners. Not a lot of success followed in the next eight years. In 1968, the band changed its name to Rare Earth and scored a deal with Verve Records. They released their first album (Dreams/Answers) that same year and it did squat on the charts.
Nonetheless in 1969 they hitched up with their hometown label, Motown. Looking to move firmly into the realm of rock, Motown made Rare Earth the first group on a label specially tailored for rock audiences. Except the sublabel didn’t have a name yet. Jokingly, Rare Earth suggested Motown name the sublabel after them. The joke was taken seriously, thus Rare Earth’s subsequent albums were released on Rare Earth records.
Anyhoo, they stormed out the Motown gate with four gold albums and several hit singles from 1969 to 1971. Three of the singles reached the pop top 10. Rare Earth had a great appreciation for Black music and always mixed in heavy doses of funk and R&B into their rock sound. Indeed, two of their three smash singles were covers of Temptations classics. If it weren’t for their obvious love for the source material, one would think them very cynical in covering the tracks.
Cynicism was further snuffed out by the fact they sometimes worked with Norman Whitfield, one-time producer for the Temptations. And also these guys were from Detroit.
NOTABLE MEMBERS
Gil Bridges (sax and flute): 1968 - 2017
Eddie Guzman (percussion): 1969-1993
Peter Hoorelbeke (lead vocals, drums): 1968-1974; 1976-1983
John Persh (bass): 1968-1972
Mike Urso (bass): 1972-1974; 1976-1979
Rod Richards (guitar): 1968-1971
Ray Monette (guitar): 1971-2004; 2009-2017
Kenny James (keyboards): 1968-1971
Jerry LaCroix (lead vocals): 1974-1976
Mark Olson (keyboards): 1971-1974; 1977-1986
What couldn’t be snuffed out was the slow decline in their record sales after 1971. By the mid-1970s, Motown had rebranded the Rare Earth label as Prodigal, but that didn’t help matters as the band’s gritty sound simply didn’t adjust well to the rise of disco as well synthesized music more broadly.
By the late 1970s, they were out of steam and out of luck.
A couple albums sparingly followed in the ensuing decades and the band kept touring, but there’s no doubt that those early ‘70s years were their golden age. Rare Earth’s albums, as you’ll see from my grades, were generally good in that era, but never reached greatness. There was always a song or two that misfired on each album.
Furthermore, the band never had a superstar soloist on any instrument, but the combined power of the members was special enough. They could lock into a serious groove to keep the funk working mightily.
So whenever I take in the totality of their work, it is extremely enjoyable. Especially my favorite song of theirs, “Born to Wander”.
PLAYLIST on Tidal
ALBUM REVIEWS
Dreams/Answers: D+
Get Ready: B-
Ecology: C+
One World: B-
Willie Remembers: B-
Ma: B
Back to Earth: n/a
Midnight Lady: C+
Rarearth: D+
Grand Slam: D