Rare Earth (band)
Template:Short description Template:For Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:More citations needed Template:Infobox musical artist
Rare Earth is an American rock band from Detroit, Michigan. According to Louder, "Rare Earth's music straddles genres and defies categorisation, slipping seamlessly between the two seemingly disparate worlds of classic rock and R&B."<ref name="louder">Template:Cite web</ref> The band was signed to Motown's subsidiary label Rare Earth. Although not the first white band signed to Motown, Rare Earth was the first successful act signed by Motown that consisted only of white members.<ref name=ALLMUSIC>Template:Cite web</ref>
The original band lasted from 1968 to December 2021, during which only saxophonist Gil Bridges remained throughout; when Bridges died in December 2021, keyboardist Mike Bruner (who joined in 1998) had Bridges' wife's blessing to form a new Rare Earth band with a new lineup, including previous member Wayne Baraks.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
History
1960s
The group formed in 1960 as the Sunliners and changed its name to Rare Earth in 1968.<ref name="ALLMUSIC" /> The band felt the name "Rare Earth" was more in keeping with the names other bands were adopting, such as Iron Butterfly, more "with it".<ref name=louder/>
After recording an unsuccessful debut album, Dream/Answers, on the Verve label in 1968, the group was signed to Motown in 1969.<ref name="ALLMUSIC" /> The band was one of the first acts signed to a new Motown imprint that would be dedicated to white rock acts;<ref name=louder/> many of the subsidiary's newly signed acts played blues-oriented and progressive rock styles, including Rare Earth themselves.<ref name=Flory/> The record company did not have a name for the new label yet and the band jokingly suggested Motown call the label "Rare Earth". To the band's surprise, Motown decided to do just that.<ref name="ALLMUSIC" />
The main personnel in the group were Gil Bridges, saxophone, flute, vocals; Peter Hoorelbeke (also known as Peter Rivera),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> lead vocals, drums; John Parrish (aka John Persh), bass guitar, trombone, vocals; Rod Richards (born Rod Cox), guitar, vocals; and Kenny James (born Ken Folcik), keyboards. The group's recording style was hard-driving.
In late 1969, Edward "Eddie" Guzman (congas and assorted percussive instruments) was added to the group.
During 1969, the group contributed music to the film Generation that starred David Janssen and Kim Darby. An accompanying soundtrack album was released, but quickly withdrawn after the film failed commercially, with only a small number of copies sold. Several tracks were remixed and included on the next LP, Ecology, in 1970. The soundtrack album was reissued as a limited edition LP for Record Store Day 2020. The issue was pressed on hot pink vinyl and limited to a run of 2,000 copies.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1970s
Rare Earth had a number of top 40 hits in 1970–71, including remakes of the Temptations' "(I Know) I'm Losing You" and "Get Ready". Each was more successful than the Temptations original, with "Get Ready" being their biggest hit, peaking at number 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. This disc sold over one million copies and received a gold record awarded by the Recording Industry Association of America.<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs">Template:Cite book</ref>
The group gained a bit of notoriety when it was mentioned dismissively in Gil Scott-Heron's 1970 poem "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised", which included the line "The theme song [to the revolution] will not be written by Jim Webb, Francis Scott Key, nor sung by Glen Campbell, Tom Jones, Johnny Cash, Engelbert Humperdinck, or the Rare Earth."<ref name="ALLMUSIC" />
In 1971 Richards left due to musical differences and James, weary of the group's increased touring schedule, also departed. Ray Monette (guitar) and Mark Olson (keyboards, vocals) joined to replace them.
The group's hits from late 1970 to early 1972 were "Born to Wander" (number 17), "I Just Want to Celebrate" (number 7) and "Hey, Big Brother" (number 19). There were no significant hits thereafter. Nevertheless, the band continued to record into the 1990s.
By 1972, Motown had decided to relocate from Detroit to Los Angeles and Rare Earth soon followed suit. Persh, however, decided not to make the move and was succeeded in the band by Mike Urso.
NBC reported that, at about this time, the police found "reputed mob enforcer" Joe Ulloa started financing the band, which seems to have resulted in the band members being eventually harassed by "strangers" several years later asking if they were hiding money.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Their 1973 album, Ma, written and produced by Norman Whitfield, is considered one of their best overall works and features their version of "Hum Along and Dance".<ref name="ALLMUSIC" /> But the record did not sell well and produced no hits.
Rare Earth was the opening act at California Jam festival in Ontario, California, on April 6, 1974. The festival attracted over 250,000 people,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the band appeared alongside 1970s rock groups Black Sabbath; Emerson, Lake & Palmer; Deep Purple; Earth, Wind & Fire; Seals and Crofts; Black Oak Arkansas and Eagles. Portions of the show were broadcast on ABC Television in the U.S., exposing the band to a wider audience.
Also in 1974, the group began working with Motown producer Frank Wilson. But this proved to be short lived. The Wilson sessions, which would have been the follow-up to Ma, were completed but remained in the vaults of Motown. A proposed double live record, recorded in 1974, and another live set, Live in Chicago, were also shelved.
In July 1974 the group divided, mostly due to Hoorelbeke's falling out with band manager Ron Strasner and most of the others supporting Strasner. Hoorelbeke left the group, along with Mike Urso, and they formed a new band, HUB, with Rare Earth's 1970–1972 co-producer, Tom Baird, using the initials of their surnames (Hoorelbeke, Urso and Baird). HUB went on to record two albums for Capitol Records but produced no hits. The project came to a sudden end in November 1975 after Baird was killed in a boating accident.
The rest of the band (minus Olson, who left to join the backup band for Jennifer Warnes) decided to continue as Rare Earth and brought in new players: Jerry LaCroix (vocals, sax, harmonica, formerly of the Boogie Kings, Edgar Winter's White Trash and Blood, Sweat & Tears), Paul Warren (guitar, backing vocals), Bartholomew ("Frosty") Eugene Smith-Frost (formerly with Sweathog and Lee Michaels, drums), Reggie McBride (ex-Stevie Wonder, bass) and Gabriel Katona (keyboards).
The new lineup recorded the album Back to Earth in 1975 and went back on the road. However, both Paul Warren and Frosty left during this tour and new drummer Chet McCracken (who would go on to join the Doobie Brothers) was hired to finish out their 1975 tour. The band then recorded Midnight Lady (minus Katona and McCracken), which was released in 1976. Frank Westbrook replaced Katona on keyboards, whilst McCracken was not replaced, instead session musician Ollie Brown handled percussion duties for Midnight Lady. But neither of these releases sold as well as the band had been used to and they soon found themselves bogged down and unable to tour when they brought a lawsuit against former member Hoorelbeke, claiming that he tried to make off with the group's name and retirement monies. Hoorelbeke was found to be innocent and was given a settlement, while the others were given the rights to the name "Rare Earth", which Bridges eventually trademarked under Gilbert Bridges Enterprises and the band continued on.
In late 1976, a former Motown vice president, Barney Ales, an earlier champion of Rare Earth, returned to the company to head up one of their new offshoot labels, Prodigal Records. He made an offer to reunite the 1972–1974 members of the band, Bridges, Guzman, Hoorelbeke, Urso, Olson and Monette, to record a new album on Prodigal. Monette and Olson did not agree to the terms and abstained, but the rest of the band agreed to record the album. Session players Dan Ferguson (guitar) and Ron Fransen (keyboards) were brought in to play on Rarearth, which was produced by both James Anthony Carmichael and Cal Harris (both of which later had success with the Commodores and Lionel Richie). It was released in 1977 but failed to live up to expectations.
Later in 1977, the group reassembled with Chicago-based producer John Ryan (who worked with Styx and others) to begin work on two new albums. This time, Monette and Olson agreed to join in and the results were Band Together and Grand Slam, both released in 1978 and featuring more of a late 1970s disco sound, with the former providing the Bee Gees-penned hit "Warm Ride", which peaked at number 39. Other than the one solitary hit, neither album was a big seller. Gap Band bassist Robert Wilson contributed to some of the tracks on Band Together.
In June 1979 Urso left the band again. On his recommendation, and after hearing several bass players, the group recruited bassist Ken Johnston, who joined the group's road tours for two years until June 1981. Johnston had just completed a stint with jazz singer Maxine Weldon and had rejoined Las Vegas comedian/songster Kenny Laursen. He interrupted his tour with Laursen to join Rare Earth in Florida.
1980s and 1990s
Template:Unreferenced section Former Motown writer Dino Fekaris, who had penned the band's hits "I Just Want to Celebrate" and "Hey Big Brother", was next to step back into the group's life in 1980. He had just come off back to back successes with Gloria Gaynor and Peaches & Herb and had won a Grammy Award for Gaynor's hit "I Will Survive". RCA expressed interest in the band's new project and gave them an advance to go ahead and start recording. The project was originally to be titled King of the Mountain, with the title track slated to be the theme of a 1981 movie of the same name that starred Harry Hamlin. But the movie people passed on the song, and when the record was done, RCA was not happy with Fekaris' production, so they passed as well. This album, retitled Tight & Hot, saw a very limited release in 1982 in Canada only.
By the summer of 1981, Mike Urso had returned to Rare Earth after a two-year absence, but he left again in mid-1983, and has not returned to the band since then. Tim Ellsworth was then brought in as new bassist/vocalist in September 1983. By the tail end of that year, Peter Hoorelbeke had left the band again after disagreements with Gil Bridges. (Hoorelbeke went on to form the Classic Rock All-Stars in 1992.) Drummer Tony Thomas replaced Hoorelbeke on drums. After Hoorelbeke's departure, Ellsworth and Olson took over lead vocals. By that time most of the members of the band had moved back to Detroit, and the group continued to tour.
Personnel shuffles abounded in the mid-1980s. In September 1984 Bob Weaver took over the drum throne and played with the group into 1985. He was temporarily succeeded by Bob Brock, whose professional name was Bobby Rock (not Bob Rock, the famous Hard rock/Heavy metal producer from Canada), but returned only to be replaced by Jerry LeBloch in mid-1985. Also in September of '84, Andy Merrild replaced Tim Ellsworth as bassist until the end of June 1985. Ellsworth then returned and toured with the group until the end of August of '85. The group's road manager, Randy "Bird" Burghdoff, then took over as Rare Earth's bassist in September 1985 and remained in that position until 2021. Mark Olson was let go in 1986 after increasing personal and substance abuse troubles. Rick Warner was then brought in as the band's new keyboardist and Wayne Baraks, who was recruited in 1987 on rhythm guitar, took over much of the lead vocals as well.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s the personnel changes slowed down somewhat as things stabilized and the band found itself in demand to play on "oldies" bills with other acts of the 1960s and 1970s.
Drummer Dean Boucher replaced LeBloch on drums in 1989 and RE signed with the small foreign label Koch International and began work on a new album. The result was Different World (released in February 1993) which was a collection containing a few covers of older songs and new material. It was mostly overlooked by the public and not even issued in the U.S.
On July 29, 1993 the band suffered the loss of another member when long time percussionist Eddie Guzman (age 49) died at his home in Howell, Michigan.
The group kept going, though, and brought in new drummer Floyd Stokes Jr., who also took over for the departing Boucher, and took on lead vocal duties too after guitarist Baraks pulled out of the group in 1994.
The band was doing well, touring, with Mike Bruner succeeding Rick Warner in January 1998 and Ivan Greilich's filling in for Ray Monette from 2004 to 2009 until Monette's final departure in 2017.
Rare Earth continued to perform at corporate events on the oldies circuit. Bits from their recordings have been used as samples on recordings as diverse as Beck's "Derelict", UNKLE, and DJ Shadow's "GDMFSOB (feat. Roots Manuva - U.N.K.L.E. uncensored version)", Black Sheep's "Try Counting Sheep", Peanut Butter Wolf's "Tale of Five Cities", Scarface's "Faith", NWA's "Real Niggaz Don't Die" and Eric B. and Rakim's "What's Going On".
2000 and beyond
Their hit "I Just Want to Celebrate" has been used in US-wide advertising campaigns by Ford Motor Company, AT&T Corporation, and Nicoderm.
In 2005 Rare Earth was voted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The album A Brand New World was released on CD in 2008 on Rare Earth Music.
In March 2017 long time guitarist Ray Monette announced his retirement from the band due to recurring back troubles. His replacement was Jerry "Lew" Patterson.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Rare Earth continued playing events such as Disneys Anniversary- Hippie Fest, The Moody Blues Cruises and Classic Rock Festivals.Template:Citation needed
Rare Earth officially ended in December 2021, following the death of Gil Bridges, the last original member still in the group. Since 2022, keyboardist Mike Bruner has performed with a revamped Rare Earth lineup that includes returning singer/rhythm guitarist Wayne Baraks and new members Dan Medawar (lead guitar, backing vocals), Ronnie Nelson (percussion), Michael "Rollo" Rollin (lead vocals, flute, saxophone), Ron Cousineau (bass, backing vocals} and Keith Christian (drums, backing vocals).
In 2022 Metallica released a live recording from the MusiCares MAP Fund Benefit Concert at Club Nokia in Los Angeles on May 12, 2014. The performance includes a cover of "I Just Want to Celebrate" by Rare Earth.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2023 several artists performed Rare Earth's "I Just Want to Celebrate" to kick off the 2023 Grammy Awards.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Deaths
John Persh (born John Parrish, 1942) (Rare Earth member from 1968 to 1972) died from a hospital staphylococcal infection on January 27, 1981.
Mark Olson (born 1949/1950) (Rare Earth member from 1971 to 1986) died on April 14, 1991, at the age of 41, from liver disease.
Eddie Guzman (born 1944) (Rare Earth member from 1969 to 1993) died on July 29, 1993 in Howell, Michigan aged 49.
Jerry LaCroix (died October 10, 1943) (Rare Earth member from 1974 to 1976) died on May 7, 2014 aged 70.
Barry Frost (born Barry Smith, March 20, 1946, Bellingham, Washington) (Rare Earth member from 1974 to 1975) died at home on April 12, 2017 from a long illness aged 71.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Gil Bridges (born Gilbert Bridges, July 14, 1941<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>) (Rare Earth member from 1968 to 2021) died from complications arising from COVID-19 on December 8, 2021, aged 80.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Bridges was the only member that recorded on every single track from beginning to end.
Members
Current members
Source:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Wayne Baraks – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1987–1994, 2022–present)
- Mike Bruner – keyboards (1998–present)
- Michael "Rollo" Rollin – saxophone, backing and lead vocals, flute (2022–present)
- Dan Medawar – lead guitar, backing vocals (2022–present)
- Ron Cousineau – bass, backing vocals (2022–present)
- Keith Christian – drums, backing vocals (2022–present)
- Ronnie Nelson – percussion (2022–present)
Former members
- Gil Bridges – saxophone, flute, backing and lead vocals (1968–2021 [his death])<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="louder" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Peter Rivera – drums, lead vocals (1968–1974, 1976–1983)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="louder" />
- John Persh – bass, trombone, vocals (1968–1972; died 1981)<ref name=":1" />
- Rod Richards – lead guitars, vocals (1968–1971)<ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref>
- Kenny James – keyboards (1968–1971)<ref name=":1" />
- Eddie Guzman – percussion (1969–1993; died 1993)<ref name=":1" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Ray Monette – lead guitars, vocals (1971–1976, 1977–2004, 2009–2017)<ref name=":2" />
- Mark Olson – keyboards, lead vocals (1971–1974, 1977–1986; died 1991)<ref name=":1" />
- Mike Urso – bass, vocals (1972–1974, 1976–1979, 1981–1983)<ref name=":1" />
- Jerry LaCroix – vocals, saxophone, harmonica (1974–1976; died 2014)<ref name=":1" />
- Reggie McBride – bass (1975)<ref name=":1" />
- Gabriel Katona – keyboards (1975)<ref name=":1" />
- Barry "Frosty" Frost – drums (1975; died 2017)<ref name=":1" />
- Paul Warren – rhythm guitars, backing vocals (1975)<ref name=":1" />
- Chet McCracken – drums (1975)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Jimi Calhoun – bass (1976)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Frank Westbrook – keyboards (1976)<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3">Template:Cite web</ref>
- Ken Johnston – bass, vocals (1979–1981)<ref>Johnson tells a Rare Earth forum: "Hi - my name is Ken Johnston and I played bass for Rare Earth from June, 1979 until June 1981."</ref>
- Tim Ellsworth – bass, lead vocals (1983–1984, 1985)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Tony Thomas – drums (1983–1984)
- Bob Weaver – drums (1984–1985)<ref name=":3" />
- Andy Merrild – bass (1984–1985)<ref name=":3" />
- Randy "Bird" Burghdoff – bass, vocals (1985–2021)<ref name=":3" />
- Bobby Rock – drums (1985)<ref name=":3" />
- Jerry LeBloch – drums (1985–1990)<ref name=":3" />
- Rick Warner – keyboards (1986–1998)<ref name=":3" />
- Dean Boucher – drums (1989–1994)<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4">Template:Cite web</ref>
- Floyd Stokes Jr. – drums, lead vocals (1994–2021)<ref name=":3" />
- Ivan Greilich – lead guitars, vocals (2004–2009)<ref name=":3" />
- Jerry Lew Patterson – lead guitar (2016–2021)<ref name=":4" />
Lineups
| 1968–1969 | 1969–1971 | 1971–1972 | 1972–1974 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
| 1975 | 1975–1976 | 1976 | 1976–1977 |
|
|
|
|
| 1977–1979 | 1979–1981 | 1981–1983 | 1983 |
|
|
|
|
| 1983–1984 | 1984–1985 | 1985 | 1985 |
|
|
|
|
| 1985 | 1985–1986 | 1986–1987 | 1987–1990 |
|
|
|
|
| 1990–1993 | 1993–1994 | 1994–1998 | 1998–2004 |
|
|
|
|
| 2004–2009 | 2009–2017 | 2017–2021 | 2022–present |
|
|
|
|
Timeline
<timeline> ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:18 PlotArea = left:100 bottom:100 top:5 right:10 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1968 till:{{#time:d/m/Y}} TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:3 ScaleMajor = increment:5 start:1968 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1968
Colors =
id:lvocals value:red legend:Lead_vocals id:bvocals value:pink legend:Backing_vocals id:guitar value:green legend:Guitar id:bass value:blue legend:Bass id:keys value:purple legend:Keyboards id:drums value:orange legend:Drums id:sax value:skyblue legend:Brass_and_woodwind_instruments id:percussion value:claret legend:Percussion id:studio value:black legend:Studio_album id:bars value:gray(0.93)
BackgroundColors = bars:bars
LineData =
layer:back color:studio at:01/11/1968 at:30/09/1969 at:01/06/1970 at:02/06/1971 at:01/10/1972 at:01/04/1973 at:31/12/1975 at:31/12/1976 at:31/12/1977 at:01/06/1978 at:31/12/1978 at:31/12/1982 at:31/12/1993 at:31/12/2008
PlotData =
width:12 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(11,-4) bar:Peter Rivera from:start till:01/07/1974 color:drums width:4 bar:Peter Rivera from:01/10/1976 till:01/06/1983 color:drums width:4 bar:Peter Rivera from:start till:01/07/1974 color:lvocals bar:Peter Rivera from:01/10/1976 till:01/06/1983 color:lvocals bar:Jerry LaCroix from:01/07/1974 till:01/10/1976 color:sax width:4 bar:Jerry LaCroix from:01/07/1974 till:01/10/1976 color:lvocals bar:Tim Ellsworth from:01/01/1983 till:01/06/1984 color:bass width:4 bar:Tim Ellsworth from:01/01/1985 till:01/08/1985 color:bass width:4 bar:Tim Ellsworth from:01/01/1983 till:01/06/1984 color:lvocals bar:Tim Ellsworth from:01/01/1985 till:01/08/1985 color:lvocals bar:Wayne Baracks from:01/01/1987 till:01/06/1994 color:guitar width:4 bar:Wayne Baracks from:01/01/1987 till:01/06/1994 color:lvocals bar:Wayne Baracks from:01/01/2022 till:end color:guitar width:4 bar:Wayne Baracks from:01/01/2022 till:end color:lvocals bar:Floyd Stokes from:01/06/1994 till:08/12/2021 color:drums width:4 bar:Floyd Stokes from:01/06/1994 till:08/12/2021 color:lvocals
bar:Rod Richards from:start till:01/06/1971 color:guitar bar:Rod Richards from:start till:01/06/1971 color:bvocals width:4 bar:Ray Monette from:01/06/1971 till:31/12/1976 color:guitar bar:Ray Monette from:01/06/1977 till:01/06/2004 color:guitar bar:Ray Monette from:01/04/2009 till:31/12/2017 color:guitar bar:Ray Monette from:01/06/1971 till:31/12/1976 color:bvocals width:4 bar:Ray Monette from:01/06/1977 till:01/06/2004 color:bvocals width:4 bar:Ray Monette from:01/04/2009 till:31/12/2017 color:bvocals width:4 bar:Paul Warren from:01/01/1975 till:31/12/1975 color:bvocals width:4 bar:Paul Warren from:01/01/1975 till:31/12/1975 color:guitar bar:Ivan Greilich from:01/04/2004 till:01/04/2009 color:guitar bar:Ivan Greilich from:01/04/2004 till:01/04/2009 color:bvocals width:4 bar:Jerry Lew Patterson from:01/01/2016 till:08/12/2021 color:guitar bar:Dan Medawar from:01/01/2022 till:end color:guitar bar:Dan Medawar from:01/01/2022 till:end color:bvocals width:4 bar:John Persh from:start till:01/06/1972 color:bass bar:John Persh from:start till:01/06/1972 color:bvocals width:4 bar:Mike Urso from:01/06/1972 till:01/06/1974 color:bass bar:Mike Urso from:01/01/1976 till:01/06/1979 color:bass bar:Mike Urso from:01/01/1981 till:01/06/1983 color:bass bar:Mike Urso from:01/06/1972 till:01/06/1974 color:bvocals width:4 bar:Mike Urso from:01/01/1976 till:01/06/1979 color:bvocals width:4 bar:Mike Urso from:01/01/1981 till:01/06/1983 color:bvocals width:4 bar:Reggie McBride from:01/01/1975 till:31/12/1975 color:bass bar:Jimi Calhoun from:01/01/1976 till:31/12/1976 color:bass bar:Ken Johnston from:01/06/1979 till:01/01/1981 color:bass bar:Ken Johnston from:01/06/1979 till:01/01/1981 color:bvocals width:4 bar:Andy Merrild from:01/06/1984 till:01/01/1985 color:bass bar:Randy Burghdoff from:01/08/1985 till:08/12/2021 color:bass bar:Randy Burghdoff from:01/08/1985 till:08/12/2021 color:bvocals width:4 bar:Ron Cousineau from:01/01/2022 till:end color:bass bar:Ron Cousineau from:01/01/2022 till:end color:bvocals width:4 bar:Kenny James from:start till:01/06/1971 color:keys bar:Mark Olson from:01/06/1971 till:01/06/1974 color:keys bar:Mark Olson from:01/01/1977 till:31/12/1986 color:keys bar:Mark Olson from:01/06/1971 till:01/06/1974 color:bvocals width:4 bar:Mark Olson from:01/01/1977 till:01/06/1984 color:bvocals width:4 bar:Mark Olson from:01/06/1984 till:01/01/1985 color:lvocals bar:Mark Olson from:01/06/1984 till:01/01/1985 color:keys width:4 bar:Mark Olson from:01/01/1985 till:01/08/1985 color:bvocals width:4 bar:Mark Olson from:01/08/1985 till:31/12/1986 color:lvocals bar:Mark Olson from:01/08/1985 till:31/12/1986 color:keys width:4 bar:Gabriel Katona from:01/01/1975 till:31/12/1975 color:keys bar:Frank Westbrook from:01/01/1976 till:31/12/1976 color:keys bar:Rick Warner from:31/12/1986 till:01/01/1998 color:keys bar:Mike Bruner from:01/01/1998 till:end color:keys bar:Gil Bridges from:start till:08/12/2021 color:sax bar:Gil Bridges from:start till:01/06/1983 color:bvocals width:4 bar:Gil Bridges from:01/06/1983 till:08/12/2021 color:lvocals width:4 bar:Michael Rollin from:01/01/2022 till:end color:sax bar:Michael Rollin from:01/01/2022 till:end color:lvocals width:4 bar:Barry Frost from:01/01/1975 till:31/12/1975 color:drums bar:Chet McCraken from:01/01/1975 till:31/12/1975 color:drums bar:Tony Thomas from:01/06/1983 till:01/06/1984 color:drums bar:Bob Weaver from:01/06/1984 till:01/01/1985 color:drums bar:Bobby Rock from:01/01/1985 till:01/06/1985 color:drums bar:Jerry LeBoch from:01/06/1985 till:01/06/1990 color:drums bar:Dean Boucher from:01/01/1989 till:01/06/1994 color:drums bar:Keith Christian from:01/01/2022 till:end color:drums bar:Keith Christian from:01/01/2022 till:end color:bvocals width:4 bar:Eddie Guzman from:01/01/1969 till:29/07/1993 color:percussion bar:Ronnie Nelson from:01/01/2022 till:end color:percussion
</timeline>
Discography
Studio albums
| Year | Album | Chart positions | Certification | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US <ref name="Awards">Template:Cite web</ref> |
US R&B <ref name="Awards"/> |
AUS <ref name=aus>Template:Cite book</ref> | ||||
| 1968 | Dreams/Answers | — | — | — | ||
| 1969 | Get Ready | 12 | 4 | — |
| |
| 1969 | Generation (Soundtrack) | — | — | — | ||
| 1970 | Ecology | 15 | 4 | — |
| |
| 1971 | One World | 28 | 12 | 30 |
| |
| 1972 | Willie Remembers | 90 | 46 | — | ||
| 1973 | Ma | 65 | 12 | — | ||
| 1975 | Back to Earth | 59 | — | — | ||
| 1976 | Midnight Lady | — | — | — | ||
| 1977 | Rarearth | 187 | — | — | ||
| 1978 | Band Together | 156 | — | — | ||
| 1978 | Grand Slam | — | — | — | ||
| 1982 | Tight and Hot | — | — | — | ||
| 1993 | Different World | — | — | — | ||
| 2008 | A Brand New World | — | — | — | ||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. | ||||||
Live albums
| Year | Album | Chart positions | Certification | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US <ref name="Awards"/> |
US R&B <ref name="Awards"/> |
AUS <ref name=aus/> | ||||
| 1971 | Rare Earth in Concert (double album) | 29 | 19 | 26 |
| |
| 1974 | Live in Chicago | — | — | — | ||
| 1989 | Made in Switzerland | — | — | — | ||
| 2004 | Rock 'n' Roll Greats RARE EARTH in concert! | — | — | — | ||
| 2008 | Rare Earth Live | — | — | — | ||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. | ||||||
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart positions | Certification | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US <ref name="Awards"/> |
US R&B <ref name="Whitburn R&B">Template:Cite book</ref> |
AUS <ref name=aus/> |
CAN | |||
| 1969 | "Generation, Light Up the Sky" | — | — | — | — | |
| 1970 | "Get Ready" | 4 | 20 | — | 1 |
|
| "(I Know) I'm Losing You" | 7 | 20 | — | 15 | ||
| "Born to Wander" | 17 | 48 | — | 12 | ||
| 1971 | "I Just Want to Celebrate" | 7 | 30 | 83 | 10 | |
| "Someone to Love" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Any Man Can Be a Fool" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Hey Big Brother" | 19 | 40 | — | 20 | ||
| 1972 | "What'd I Say" | 61 | — | — | — | |
| "Good Time Sally" | 67 | — | — | — | ||
| "We're Gonna Have a Good Time" | 93 | — | — | — | ||
| 1973 | "Ma" | 108 | — | — | — | |
| "Hum Along and Dance" | 110 | 95 | — | — | ||
| "Big John Is My Name" | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1974 | "Chained" | — | — | — | — | |
| 1975 | "Keepin' Me Out of the Storm" | — | — | — | — | |
| "It Makes You Happy" | 106 | — | — | — | ||
| 1976 | "Midnight Lady" | — | — | — | — | |
| 1978 | "Warm Ride" | 39 | — | 68 | 33 | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. | ||||||
Compilation albums
- 1975 Masters of Rock
- 1976 Disque d'Or
- 1981 Motown Superstar Series, Vol. 16
- 1984 Rare Earth & Grand Funk: Best of 2 Superstar Groups
- 1988 Get Ready/Ecology (Double CD)
- 1991 Greatest Hits & Rare Classics
- 1994 Earth Tones: Essential
- 1995 Anthology: The Best of Rare Earth (2 CD & 2 Cassette Set)
- 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
References
External links
- Template:Official website
- Template:AllMusic
- Template:Discogs artist
- [https://www.imdb.com/{{#if: 1998966
| name/{{#if:{{#invoke:ustring|match|1=1998966|2=^nm}}
| Template:Trim/
| nm1998966/
}}
| {{#if: {{#property:P345}}
| name/Template:First word/
| find?q=%7B%7B%23if%3A+%0A++++++%7C+%7B%7B%7Bname%7D%7D%7D%0A++++++%7C+%5B%5B%3ATemplate%3APAGENAMEBASE%5D%5D%0A++++++%7D%7D&s=nm
}}
}}{{#if: 1998966 {{#property:P345}} | {{#switch:
| award | awards = awards Awards for | biography | bio = bio Biography for
}}}} {{#if:
| {{{name}}}
| Template:PAGENAMEBASE
}}] at IMDb{{#if: 1998966{{#property:P345}}
| Template:EditAtWikidata
| Template:Main other
}}{{#switch:{{#invoke:string2|matchAny|^nm.........|^nm.......|nm|.........|source=1998966|plain=false}}
| 1 | 3 = Template:Main otherTemplate:Preview warning | 4 = Template:Main otherTemplate:Preview warning
}}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:IMDb name with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|showblankpositional=1| 1 | 2 | id | name | section }}
- [[[:Template:BillboardURLbyName]] Artist Biography - Rare Earth] at Billboard
- [Detroit historical Society; Rare Earth | https://detroithistorical.org/learn/encyclopedia-of-detroit/rare-earth ]
- Pages with broken file links
- Progressive rock musical groups from Michigan
- Psychedelic rock music groups from Michigan
- Psychedelic soul music groups
- American blues rock musical groups
- American funk rock musical groups
- American soul musical groups
- Motown artists
- Musical groups established in 1960
- Musical groups established in 1968
- Musical groups from Detroit
- 1960 establishments in Michigan