I first listened to Rare Earth and their hit “Get Ready” while still in college in the late eighties, on a rock compilation album. One unusual thing about the song was the amazing bass solo that concluded the song. But little did I know that the bass solo was only the tip of the iceberg and that there was more to this amazing song and the album from which it came, which I will get into in a moment. First some details about the band.

“Rare Earth” was a rare thing in the history of Motown because not only were they one of Motown’s few white bands (maybe the second band but not the first) but because they also played rock. Most Motown bands with the exception of a few were, into Pop and R&B. Coincidentally Rare Earth’s big hits were cover versions of songs of other Motown artistes like the The Temptations but they had their own hits too. The beauty of their music was their unique sound, using Saxophone, Bongo’s and a lead guitar played very differently.

Get Ready was their second album, and their first after signing with Motown. The title track is their most requested and played of all their material.

1. Magic Key
Just note how the guitar wakes up on this album and song, just as an engine would, coughing and spitting as it starts. It then wails and howls throughout the song. The electric guitar is used like this throughout the album. Lovely sixties beat and a lovely wake-up call to the album. Lovely drumming too, the main beats reminding you of the typical late 60′s early 70′s rock beats used in songs like Beck’s “New Pollution”.

2. Tobacco Road
Well sung song and sung with style. The song finishes well too with some humorous lines. This is a slower song but one that showcases the talents of the instrumentalists decently well. Nice mini solos from Saxophonist and keyboardist.

3. Feelin’ Alright
Lovely bass riff that holds the song together from the start till the end. Nice guitar solo. Before the second solo you can hear “…excuse me while I play my axe..”

4. In Bed
A short song but the duration justifies the material.

5. Train to Nowhere
The music really starts off like a Train in motion, moves along and concludes in style. The solos in between the singing where the drums is played with a heavier bass beat is lovely and worth listening a second time. Check out the unison of the bass and snare drum during these solos.

6. Get Ready
Welcome to the killer title track and a great rock recording. Normally this song is condensed and played in its 4 minute version but listening to the smaller recording is such a shame when you realise what is in store in the 20 minute plus version. A very rare recording in the history of rock music and for a recording as this for its time, it is probably the first and only song that features solo’s from most of the band’s instrumentalists namely, bass, keys, guitars, sax, and drums. On the LP version this track occuppied all of side B. At around 11 minutes into the song (after the bass, keyboard solos)during the guitar solo, the drummer changes his beats to avoid the monotonous offering from him. Increase the volume on your music system and concentrate on the beats to find out how beautiful they really are. Bass and drum then provide accompaniment culminating with the drum solo in the end. Simply awesome!

The only “corny” thing about this recording is the very artificial applause that is thrown in at the end of every solo to give the song a “live” feel. This could be easily avoided or done better. Let us hope it is corrected in a future release.

The musicians on this album are – Gil Bridges on Flute, Saxophone and Vocals, Kenny James on Keyboards, Rod Richards on Guitar, and Vocals, Pete Rivera on Drums and Vocals and John Parrish on Bass.

Rare Earth is popular in Germany. Though many of the original members are no more they play regularly at the Lady Luck Casino, Bettendorf, Iowa (February/March)and with members of Iron Butterfly and Sugarloaf perform at the Tutty Baker Festival at Freeport, Illinois. I narrowly missed the former but I was there for the festival at Illinois in 1998. I am not sure how regular they are the second venue though.

You can find a live version of “Get Ready” in two parts on You Tube. Check out the links below. The song is done differently and with a different line-up as the band went through several changes over the years.

Part 1
http://youtube.com/watch?v=kUG07cwpDZs

Part 2
http://youtube.com/watch?v=vo5svnNHer4

You can purchase Rare Earth’s Get Ready at Amazon.

Better still download the album for free at UnlimitedDownloadCenter.com.