In Concert (1971)
If there's an album that proves my theory about Rare Earth never letting loose, it's In Concert. When finding this CD I had hoped that perhaps in a live setting, Rare Earth would bring a new level of intensity. Sadly they do not. I'd submit they are of a lower energy than the studio versions. They proved this point the most on 'I Know I'm Losing You', a track that should send chills up the spine.
Not to say they sleep walked through these tracks either, just that they did not bring the oomph they need. One only has to listen to Judas Priest's Unleashed in the East to know what a kinetic live album can add to studio recordings.
Though In Concert remains their highest rated album (according to RYM), I'm not convinced it achieves the high marks. I would think the only reason to seek this out is for the near 11 minute jam 'Thoughts' which I believe is the only place the track exists.
Source: Motown (CD)
1/28/26 (review)
One World (1971)
The big hit here is 'I Just Want to Celebrate' which is definitely the best song on the album for my tastes. This is a good album but somewhat "generic Rare Earth" sounding. They were to rebound nicely on Ma, but this title is a bit mundane.
Source: 1971 Rare Earth (LP)
9/11/24 (notes)
Another solid hard rock funk album from Rare Earth who seem to specialize in heavy psych covers of soul classics. B3 is a killer, one of their best ever. B4 is oddly erotic but a very good track and a different direction for the group. I can do without B2. The side long track is like a lot of the Rare Earth catalog - always on the cusp of something big, and yet they hold back. They never really did let loose for that one psychotic Krautrock styled freakout. I'll keep this one.
Ownership: 1973 Rare Earth (LP). Acquired in 2024.
6/13/24 (review)
Ecology (1970)---5/9/22
OK, this is the Rare Earth album I've been looking for. Non stop kickass hard rock and organ. My copy is trashed (like all the ones I've seen), so I'll need to upgrade before commenting more. The only reason I have this copy at all is that I took a chance on one of those Goodwill auctions. It was predictably not a great experience. Fortunately the two records I thought I could resell turned out pretty good and will more than pay for the lot. But I'm not doing that again. I had to throw away the Eagles' Hotel California album it was in such bad shape. Goodwill sucks really.
---5/19/23
So that day has finally come. There was an interim copy with the cover in shrink, but the vinyl once again barely made the VG level. I finally found a German copy, itself visually a VG, but it plays much better. So let's analyze the album a bit further.
In a lot of ways Rare Earth reminds me of Iron Butterfly. Not so much in sound, but lost opportunity. While both of these bands reached their peak long before my time, any kind of historical study will show that they were both huge in their day and highly influential. Motown named a sublabel after Rare Earth, as but one example. Had they been based in Europe they likely would have had more creative freedom, but the major labels here were laser focused on the next hit, and it appears that both of these legendary bands were all too willing to play ball. Bad for their legacy, and ultimately bad for their pocketbook. Rare Earth arguably fared better with their most known song coming one year later in 'I Just Want to Celebrate'.
While the previous Get Ready had a side long track, it's here on Ecology where the band experiments the most. And the one track where that really becomes apparent is a cover of The Temptations' '(I Know) I'm Losing You'. Everything about it is so perfect, yet it feels like it should be so much more. It's on the verge of psychotic madness but holds back just enough to keep within sane levels. It's use of quiet space inside the proposed boundaries is brilliant. And while it does have some wicked guitar, one wishes for it to have gone off the rails while the impassioned vocals are being echoed throughout the halls. The whole album maintains this feel that they're holding back something special, yet it's still an excellent album. It should have been a masterpiece though. For 1970 America, Ecology was considerably ahead of its time. If only Del Jones had walked in and had some influence. Hoo-boy, wouldn't have that been something? Today dogeared copies of Rare Earth albums sit unwanted in dollar bins, awaiting their ultimate fate to the trashcan. A mere historical footnote in the annals of rock music.
Ownership: 1970 Rare Earth Germany (LP). Acquired in 2023.
5/9/22 (first acquired / notes); 5/19/23 (review)
Here is Rare Earth's breakthrough 1969 release. Like with Iron Butterfly, Rare Earth were a band that was positioned for a long great career, only to let it slip through their hands. Similarly their albums are relatively easy to find, and demand remains light. All the same, they are to hard to find in nice condition, as they are usually partied out by now. And taking the comparison further, one could look at Get Ready as Detroit's response to Southern California's In-a-Gadda-da-Vida. Some rockin' tracks on Side 1 followed by a near 22 minute opus on the flip. It's more direct than the oftentimes esoteric Iron Butterfly, but that speaks to the region itself. This isn't my first go round with Get Ready, an album I first picked up back in the late 80s. I thought it was OK, but it should have been better, and moved it out. Some 40 years later, and I still agree with my original assessment. The songwriting is a little light, and the cover tracks aren't particularly compelling. But it's also hard not to appreciate the excellent fuzz guitar throughout. I'm appreciating Get Ready more today than prior, but it isn't near the level - or as influential - as Iron Butterfly's masterwork.
Ownership: Motown (CD). 90s issue. Acquired in 2023.
1989 (first acquired); 5/12/21 (review); 6/23/23 (update)
5/19/23 (new entry)
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