Rare Earth Songs Ranked
Rare Earth is an American soul band affiliated with Motown’s Rare Earth record label. Although not the first white band signed to Motown, Rare Earth was the first big hit-making act signed by Motown that consisted only of white members. (None of the previously signed all-white acts, The Rustix, The Dalton Boys, or The Underdogs, had any hits.) Rare Earth continues to perform at corporate events and 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”. Here are all of Rare Earth songs ranked.
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10. Tobacco Road (Get Ready, 1969)
“The slowed down version of Tobacco Road is very much done in the vein of Blood Sweat and Tears, featuring a nice jazzy brass section together with a sleazy organ setting the tone.”
9. Big John Is My Name (Ma, 1973)
“Heard this for the first time today… the music is rockin’ funky and I’m very interested to check out the rest of Rare Earth’s catalogue from this initial listen. Good stuff.”
8. Ma (Ma, 1973)
“Ma” is not necessarily my favorite Rare Earth recording but it still is a good listen. There is some nice fuzz guitar from Ray Monette and some well written funky-soulful-bluesy-solid harmonizing-toe tappers on this long player.”
7. Magic Key (Get Ready, 1969)
“Magic Key,” is another fast tempo that makes use of mixolydian chord progressions (Mixolydian mode refers to one of three things: the name applied to one of the ancient Greek harmoniai or tonoi, based on a particular octave species or scale; one of the medieval church modes; a modern musical mode or diatonic scale, related to the medieval mode.”
See more: Rare Earth Albums Ranked
6. Hey, Big Brother (Rare Earth in Concert, 1971)
“For the song itself, it begins with insistent high-hat tapping, a neat bass lick, and a bit of psychedelic trickery, which is all very enticing. Then the organ comes in, and, well, meh. The lyrics are not really anything special either, they’re too vague to actually merit quoting here.”
5. Born to Wander (Ecology, 1970)
“I didn’t find this to be an interesting album, but it did have a few cool moments. It was consistently good throughout, and also notably had an excellent version of Eleanor Rigby. I also enjoyed the vocalist a lot. Overall a good album, and I will check out some more of their work as I feel they had the potential to do a lot better than this.”
4. We’re Gonna Have a Good Time (Willie Remembers, 1972)
“We’re Gonna Have a Good Time” is music for the dancefloor and lots of great harmonies. This song makes me feel really in a good mood.”
See more: Dixie Dregs Albums Ranked
3. Get Ready (Get Ready, 1969)
“Amping up The Temptations classic “Get Ready” into a rock track may sound a little strange, but Rare Earth did just that and passed with flying colors.”
2. I Just Want to Celebrate (One World, 1971)
“Penned by Dino Fekaris and Nick Zesses, “I Just Want to Celebrate” is one major ass kickin’ cut of Motor City get-down and get-with-it attitude! The sonic distorted fuzztone riff that drives the high-octane, energized summertime classic rages from the off.”
1. I’m Losing You (Ecology, 1970)
“If the song sounds relatively friendly in the original Temptations, Rare Earth’s version of the song gives the song the necessary anger and aggression of the horned lover, who is performed really nicely by his (supposed) love.”