Rare Earth

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Rare Earth
General information
Genre (s) Rock , jazz , blues
founding 1961
Website www.rareearth.com
Founding members
Pete Rivera
Gil Bridges
Keyboard , vocals
 Kenny James
Guitar , vocals
 Rod Richards
Bass , vocals
 John Parrish (†)
Current occupation
Drums, vocals
 Floyd Stokes
Keyboard, vocals
 Mike Bruner
Bass, vocals
 Randy Burghdoff
Guitar, vocals
 Ray Monette
Saxophone, flute, vocals
 Gil Bridges

Rare Earth is an American rock band from Detroit .

Originally formed in 1961, the band made their first recordings in 1967 as The Sunliners , but soon changed the name to Rare Earth . This band name has its origins in a group of chemical elements called rare earth metals . At that time the band consisted of Pete Rivera (drums and lead vocals) (actually Peter Hoorelbeke), Gil Bridges (saxophone and vocals), John Parrish (bass), Rod Richards (guitar) and Kenny James (keyboards); thereafter the line-up changed frequently.

Rare Earth has had a number of top ten hits since the 1960s, including (I Know) I'm Losing You and especially Get Ready (1969). With a 21-minute version of the title written for the Temptations , the band secured a place in rock history, which was topped by the almost 24-minute version on the 1971 live album "In Concert". Her hit I Just Want to Celebrate was used in a Ford commercial and was released in 2005 in a revised version on the MotownReMixed sampler .

The musical influence of Rare Earth can be seen in the fact that the band's samples are still used in various recordings by other bands and musicians. E.g. in Derelict by Beck , Try Counting Sheep by Black Sheep , Tale of Five Cities by Peanut Butter Wolf , Faith by Scarface , Real N **** z Don't Die by NWA , Smiling Faces by KRS-One and What's Going On by Eric B. & Rakim .

The band is still touring today, mostly across the United States. From the original line-up, however, only saxophonist Gil Bridges is still there. Three former members have since passed away: John Parrish, Mark Olson, and Edward "Eddie" Guzman. Pete Rivera, drummer and former lead singer is still active today.

Discography

Albums

year title Top ranking, total weeks, awardChartsChart placements
(Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) 		Remarks
US US
1969 Get ready US12
platinum
platinum

(77 weeks)US
1970 Ecology US15th
gold
gold

(49 weeks)US
1971 One World US28 (25 weeks)
US
1972 Willie Remembers US90 (20 weeks)
US
1973 Ma US65 (23 weeks)
US
1975 Back to Earth US59 (11 weeks)
US
1977 Rare Earth US187 (6 weeks)
US
1978 Band together US156 (6 weeks)
US

more publishments

  • 1968: Dreams / Answers
  • 1969: Generation (Soundtrack)
  • 1976: Midnight Lady
  • 1978: Grand Slam
  • 1982: Tight and Hot
  • 1993: Different World
  • 2008: A Brand New World

Live albums

year title Top ranking, total weeks, awardChartsChart placements
(Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) 		Remarks
US US
1971 Rare Earth in Concert US29
gold
gold

(21 weeks)US

more publishments

  • 1974: Live in Chicago
  • 1989: Made in Switzerland
  • 2004: Rock 'n' Roll Greats RARE EARTH in concert!
  • 2008: Rare Earth Live

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
  • 1995: 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

Singles

year Title
album 		Top ranking, total weeks, awardChartsChart placements
(Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes) 		Remarks
US US
1970 Get Ready
Get Ready 		US4th
gold
gold

(20 weeks)US
(I Know) I'm Losing You
Ecology 		US7 (14 weeks)
US
Born To Wander
Ecology 		US17 (11 weeks)
US
1971 I Just Want to Celebrate
One World 		US7 (13 weeks)
US
Hey big brother
 US19 (10 weeks)
US
1972 What'd I say
 US61 (5 weeks)
US
Good Time Sally
Willie Remembers 		US67 (8 weeks)
US
We're Gonna Have a Good Time
Willie Remembers 		US93 (3 weeks)
US
1978 Warm ride
 US39 (11 weeks)
US

more publishments

  • 1969: Generation, Light Up The Sky
  • 1971: Someone To Love
  • 1971: Any Man Can Be a Fool
  • 1973: Ma
  • 1973: Hum Along and Dance
  • 1973: Big John Is My Name
  • 1974: Chained
  • 1975: Keepin 'Me Out of the Storm
  • 1975: It Makes You Happy
  • 1976: Midnight Lady

Web links

swell

  1. ↑ a b c Chart sources: US
  2. ↑ a b c Music Sales Awards: US