Rare Earth
Band members Related acts
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line up 1 (1966-69) - Gil Bridges -- flute, sax, vocalscl - Peter Hoorelbeke (aka Peter Rivera) -- vocals, drums, percussion - Kenny James (aka Ken Folcik) -- keyboards - John Persh (aka John Parrish) (RIP 1981) -- bass, horns - Rod Richards (aka Rod Cox) -- lead guitar, backing vocals
line up 2 (1969-71) - Gil Bridges -- flute, sax, vocals - Peter Hoorelbeke (aka Peter Rivera) -- vocals, drums, percussion NEW - Edwin Guzman (RIP 1993) -- percussion - Kenny James (aka Ken Folcik) -- keyboards - John Persh (aka John Parrish) (RIP 1981) -- bass, horns - Rod Richards (aka Rod Cox) -- lead guitar, backing vocals
line up 3 (1971-72) - Gil Bridges -- flute, sax, vocals - Edwin Guzman (RIP 1993 -- percussion - Peter Hoorelbeke -- vocals, drums, percussion NEW - Ray Monette -- lead guitar (replaced Rod Richards) NEW - Mark Olson (RIP 1991) -- keyboards, backing vocals (replaced Kenny James) John Persh (aka John Parrish) (RIP 1981) -- bass, horns
line up 4 (1972-74) - Gil Bridges -- flute, sax, vocals - Edwin Guzman (RIP 1993 -- percussion - Peter Hoorelbeke -- vocals, drums, percussion - Ray Monette -- lead guitar - Mark Olson (RIP 1991) -- keyboards, backing vocals NEW - Mike Urso -- bass, backing vocals (replaced John Persh)
line up 5 (1974-76) - Gil Bridges -- flute, sax, vocals NEW - Barry Frosty Frost -- drums, percussion (replaced Peter Hoorelbeke) - Edwin Guzman (RIP 1993 -- percussion NEW - Gabriel Katona -- keyboards (replaced Mark Olson) NEW - Jerry LaCroix -- vocals, sax, harmonica (replaced Peter Hoorelbeke) NEW - Reggie McBride -- bass (replaced Mike Urso) - Ray Monette -- lead guitar NEW - Paul Warren -- lead guitar
line up 6 (1976) - Gil Bridges -- flute, sax, vocals - Barry Frosty Frost -- drums, percussion (replaced Peter Hoorelbeke) - Edwin Guzman (RIP 1993) -- percussion - Jerry LaCroix -- vocals, sax, harmonica (replaced - Reggie McBride -- bass (replaced Mike Urso) - Ray Monette -- lead guitar - Paul Warren -- lead guitar NEW - Frank Westbrook -- keyboards (replaced Gabriel Katona)
line up 7 (1977) - Gil Bridges -- flute, sax, vocals NEW - Don Ferguson -- lead guitar NEW - Ron Fransen -- keyboards NEW - Edwin Guzman (RIP 1993) -- percussion NEW - Peter Hoorelbeke -- vocals, drums, percussion NEW - Mike Urso -- bass, backing vocals
line up 8 (1977-78) - Gil Bridges -- flute, sax, vocals - Edwin Guzman (RIP 1993) -- percussion - Peter Hoorelbeke -- vocals, drums, percussion NEW - Ray Monette -- lead guitar NEW - Mark Olson (RIP 1991) -- keyboards, backing vocals - Mike Urso -- bass, backing vocals
line up 9 (1978-79) - Gil Bridges -- flute, sax, vocals - Edwin Guzman (RIP 1993) -- percussion - Peter Hoorelbeke -- vocals, drums, percussion NEW - Ken Johnston -- bass (replaced Mike Urso) - Ray Monette -- lead guitar - Mark Olson (RIP 1991) -- keyboards, backing vocals
line up 10 (1980-83) - Gil Bridges -- flute, sax, vocals - Edwin Guzman (RIP 1993) -- percussion - Peter Hoorelbeke -- vocals, drums, percussion - Ray Monette -- lead guitar - Mark Olson (RIP 1991) -- keyboards, backing vocals NEW - Mike Urso -- bass, backing vocals (replaced Ken Johnston)
line up 11 (1983-84) - Gil Bridges -- flute, sax, vocals - Edwin Guzman (RIP 1993) -- percussion NEW - Tim McCormick -- bass (replaced Mike Urso) - Ray Monette -- lead guitar - Mark Olson (RIP 1991) -- vocals, keyboards NEW - Bob Weaver -- drums (replaced Peter Hoorelbeke)
line up 12 (1984-85) - Gil Bridges -- flute, sax, vocals - Edwin Guzman (RIP 1993) -- percussion NEW - Andy Merrild -- bass (replaced Tim McCormick) - Ray Monette -- lead guitar - Mark Olson (RIP 1991) -- vocals, keyboards - Bob Weaver -- drums (replaced Peter Hoorelbeke)
line up 13 (1985) NEW - Randy "Bird" Burghdoff -- bass (replaced Andy Merrild) - Gil Bridges -- flute, sax, vocals - Edwin Guzman (RIP 1993) -- percussion - Ray Monette -- lead guitar - Mark Olson (RIP 1991) -- vocals, keyboards NEW - Bob Rock -- drums (replaced Bob Weaver)
line up 14 (1985-86) - Randy "Bird" Burghdoff -- bass - Gil Bridges -- flute, sax, vocals - Edwin Guzman (RIP 1993) -- percussion NEW - Jerry LeBloch -- drums (replaced Bob Rock) - Ray Monette -- lead guitar - Mark Olson (RIP 1991) -- vocals, keyboards
line up 15 (1986-87) - Randy "Bird" Burghdoff -- bass - Gil Bridges -- flute, sax, vocals - Edwin Guzman (RIP 1993) -- percussion NEW - Jerry LeBloch -- drums (replaced Bob Rock) - Ray Monette -- lead guitar - Rick Warner -- keyboards (replaced Mark Olson)
line up 16 (1987-90) NEW - Wayne Baraks -- vocals, rhythm guitar - Randy "Bird" Burghdoff -- bass - Gil Bridges -- flute, sax, vocals - Edwin Guzman (RIP 1993) -- percussion - Jerry LeBloch -- drums - Ray Monette -- lead guitar - Rick Warner -- keyboards
line up 17 (1990-94) - Wayne Baraks -- vocals, rhythm guitar NEW - Dean Boucher -- drums (replaced Jerry LeBloch) - Randy "Bird" Burghdoff -- bass - Gil Bridges -- flute, sax, vocals - Edwin Guzman (RIP 1993) -- percussion - Ray Monette -- lead guitar - Rick Warner -- keyboards
line up 18 (1994-98) - Randy "Bird" Burghdoff -- bass - Gil Bridges -- flute, sax, vocals - Edwin Guzman (RIP 1993) -- percussion - Ray Monette -- lead guitar NEW - Floyd Stokes Jr. -- drums (replaced Dean Boucher) - Rick Warner -- keyboards
line up 19 (1998-2004) NEW - Mike Bruner -- keyboards (replaced Rick Warner) - Randy "Bird" Burghdoff -- bass - Gil Bridges -- flute, sax, vocals - Edwin Guzman (RIP 1993) -- percussion - Ray Monette -- lead guitar - Floyd Stokes Jr. -- drums
line up 20 (2004-2009) - Mike Bruner -- keyboards - Randy "Bird" Burghdoff -- bass - Gil Bridges -- flute, sax, vocals NEW - Ivan Greilich -- lead guitar (replaced Ray Monette) - Edwin Guzman (RIP 1993) -- percussion - Ray Monette -- lead guitar - Floyd Stokes Jr. -- drums
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- Blood, Sweat and Tears (Jerry LaCroix) - The Boogie Kings (Jerry LaCroix) - Classic Rock All Stars (Peter Rivera) - HUB (Peter Hoorelbeke and Mike Urso) - Jerry LaCroix (solo efforts) - The Sunliners - Sweathog (Lee Frost) - White Trash (Jerry LaCroix)
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Genre: rock Rating: 3 stars *** Title: Willie Remembers Company: Rare Earth Catalog: R543L Country/State: Detroit, Michigan Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: three panel sleeve Available: 1 Catalog ID: 2332 Price: $20.00
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A Rare Earth album that initially sailed by me without leaving much of an impression, but over time has grown on me more and more ...
Co-produced by Tom Baird and the band, 1972's "Willie Remembers" found the group taking tentative steps towards creative independence. There were still a couple of covers, including producer Baird's 'Good Time Sally', but six of the album's eight tracks featured band-penned originals. At least to my ears singer Peter Hoorelbeke's instantly recognizable voice remained the band's defining element, but on this outing Rare Earth finally displayed they were a fully functioning band, capable of working outside of Motown's centrally controlled management structure. In that process they demonstrated they could handle a wide variety of genres, including pop ('Would You Like to Come Along'), white boy funk ('We're Gonna Have a Good Time') and convention FM rock and roll ('I Couldn't Believe What Happened Last Night'). Admittedly the album was a bit short on originality and the set lacked a truly killer hit in the style of their earlier Motown covers. That said, as much as I'm a sucker for a good Motown cover, I'll tell you this made for a nice change of pace. Shame it didn't do a great deal commercially.
full three panel album sleeve
"Willie
Remembers" track listing: 1.) Good Time Sally (Tom Baird) - 2:52 rating: *** stars Geez, did I put a Grand Funk railroad album on by mistake ? Good, clean, mindless, rock and roll fun that really did sound like Mark Farner and company. That probably explains why it was tapped as a single:
- 1972's 'Good Time Sally' b/w 'Love Shines Down' (Rare Earth catalog number R-5048 F) 2.) Every Now & Then We Get to Go on Down to Miami (Dino Fekaris, - Nick Zesses) - 3:09 Just my opinion, but with a breezy melody and one of their funkier performances, 'Every Now & Then We Get to Go on Down to Miami' would have been a better selection as a single than the bland rocker 'Good Time Sally'. One of their overlooked classics. rating: **** stars 3.) Think of the Children (Ray Monette - Mark Olson - Peter Rivera) - 5:47 rating: ** stars Pretty, but relatively forgettable ballad ... keyboardist Mark Olson at least got a moment in the spotlight. 4.) Gotta Get Myself Back Home (Gil Bridges - Eddie Guzman - Ray Monette - Mark Olson - Peter Rivera) - 3:03 rating: *** stars Kicked along by Olson's barrelhouse piano, the rollicking 'Gotta Get Myself Back Home' was another tune that grew on me after a couple of spins. Docked a star for Gil Bridges' perfunctory sax solos. 5.) Come With Your Lady (Gil Bridges - Eddie Guzman - Ray Monette - Mark Olson - Peter Rivera) - 5:50 rating: **** stars Perhaps my pick for the standout performance, 'Come With Your Lady' showcased the band's multiple strengths, including a memorable rock melody, Rivera's instantly recognizable voice, the band's surprisingly sweet harmony vocals, and Ray Monette's overlooked lead guitar.
(side 2) 1.) Would You Like to Come Along (Gil Bridges - Edwin Guzman - Ray Monette - Mark Olson - Peter Rivera) - 2:50 rating: **** stars With an atypical, upbeat and poppy sound, 'Would You Like to Come Along' always surprises me. It just doesn't sound like your typical Rare Earth song ... Strong top-40 potential on this one, though nobody seems to have been paying attention. Curiously, six years later the song appeared as the flip side to the 1978 single 'Warm Ride'. 2.) We're Gonna Have a Good Time (Tom Baird - Gil Bridges - Edwin Guzman - Ray Monette - Mark Olson - Peter Rivera) - 3:21 rating: **** stars Judging by this slice of white-boy funk, you can only hope that The Average White Band paid their fair share of royalties to Rare Earth. Quite propulsive with bassist Michael Salvatore Urso deserving credit for a bass line that would have made James Jamerson envious. The tune was tapped as a single:
- 1972's 'We're Gonna Have a Good Time' b/w 'Would You Like Me To Come Along' (Rare Earth catalog number R 5052F) 3.) I Couldn't Believe What Happened Last Night (Gil Bridges - Edwin Guzman - Ray Monette - Mark Olson - Peter Rivera) - 12:10 rating: *** stars 'I Couldn't Believe What Happened Last Night' served as a classic example of how to take a good song and stretch it beyond the breaking point. Opening up with Peter Hoorelbeke's instantly recognizable voice and an irresistible Ray Monette guitar riff, the first four minutes of this were were fantastic. And then around the four minute mark the song morphed into an extended platform for needless solos and pointless jamming. Shame they didn't cut it off after the first four minutes. A judiciously edited version would have gotten five stars.
© Scott R. Blackerby May, 2022
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Genre: rock Rating: 3 stars *** Title: Ma Company: Rare Earth Catalog: R546L Country/State: Detroit, Michigan Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: gatefold, embossed covers; includes mint poster Available: 1 Catalog ID: 2311 Price: $25.00
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So if you're going to dip your toe into the Rare Earth catalog I'd suggest looking for a 'best of' package, or this 1973 collection ...
After giving Rare Earth creative leeway to record an album of original material and watching the results tank commercially (1972's "Willie Remembers"),, Motown insisted on some adult supervision for the next Rare Earth release. That supervision took the form of having Norman Whitfield step in as producer Whitfield also wrote, or co-wrote all five tracks with long time collaborator Barrett Strong. Unexpected the band's sixth studio collection "Ma" turned out to be one of their most consistent and enjoyable releases. Not perfect by any stretch, but still worth tracking down since you can find affordable copies. As an in-demand commodity, you couldn't fault Whitefield for having decided to recycle some of his earlier product, including the title track (previously recorded by The Temptations and 'Smiling Faces Sometimes' which The Undisputed Truth had scored a major hit with. The revamped versions were both pretty good. In contrast, two of the new numbers were forgettable throwaways. 'Hum Alone and Dance' was an aptly titled and forgettable rock-oriented numbers. 'Come with Me' was mostly notable for serving as a blueprint for Donna Summer's forthcoming chart successes as a moaning diva.
"Ma" track listing: 1.) Ma (Norman Whitfield) - 17:17 rating: **** stars Sporting Whitefield's patented blend of pop, soul, and psychedelic moves, I'd be hard pressed to name another side long track that's nearly as good as 'Ma'. Yeah, Whitefield's tribute to mothers wasn't as creative as 'Papa was a Rolling Stone' and any song going on for over seventeen minutes was bound to have a bit of fluff in it (and this was no exception), but with Michael Urso providing the amazingly propulsive bass line, Ray Monette adding waves of fuzz guitar, and drummer/singer Peter Hoorelbeke sounding more soulful than any white guy had the right to, this was simply one of Whitefield's crowning achievements. Their version simply crushed The Temptations earlier stab at the song (and that version wasn't bad to start with). The tune was released as an edited single:
- 1973's 'Ma' b/w 'Ma (instrumental) (Rare Earth catalog number R 5053F)
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2) Certainly a bit short in the originality department, 'Big John Is Me Name' was still suitably funky for a bunch of white guys ... beats the hell out of Wild Cherry. It was also released as the album's third and final single:
- 1973's 'Big John Is My Name' b/w 'Ma' (Rare Earth catalog number R 5056F) 2.) Smiling Faces Sometimes (Barrett Strong - Norman Whitfield) - 6:20 rating: *** stars - I grew up with The Undisputed Truth's version of 'Smiling Faces Sometimes' so that colors my opinion a bit. The opening Spanish snippets were interesting reminding me a bit of something out of the War catalog. It took awhile for this one to get going and when it did this version wasn't bad. Still, when all was said and done, it couldn't match the original. 3.) Hum Alone and Dance (Barrett Strong - Norman Whitfield) - 5:15 rating: ** stars A throwaway number, 'Hum Alone and Dance' sported the album's most rock-oriented feel. Forgettable and hard to figure out why it was tapped as a single.
4.) Come with Me (instrumental) (Norman Whitfield) - 4:30 rating: ** stars I'm guessing the instrumental 'Come with Me' was fairly risqué when it came out in 1974. If you've ever heard Donna Summer's 'Love To Love You Baby', you'll know exactly what to expect on this one ... four minutes of listening to a woman fake ecstasy amidst a forgettable, pseudo-jazzy slice of elevator music. yeah, it was pretty lame and about as much of a turn-on as changing the oil in your Jeep.
© Scott R. Blackerby May, 2022
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