Customer Reviews

The Best of Rare Earth: 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection (Eco-Friendly Packaging)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

There have been an absolute plethora of Rare Earth CD's released over the past two decades. However, this CD, excellently remastered by Suha Gur, has not only the best audio, but is the only one to include "Get Ready", "Ma", "(I Know) I'm Losing You" & "What'd I Say", in their original, full-length-jam LP versions.

If you are looking to build yourself the best-sounding Rare Earth anthology, you should purchase not only this CD, but The Very Best Of (now OOP, but used copies are still available), and Ma.

These three discs will get you the essential Rare Earth repertoire.

Lastly, you may have seen, and may be tempted to purchase, the new 2008 Rare Earth - Fill Your Head: The Studio Albums 1969-1974 box. However, if audio quality is a primary desire for you, I would strongly suggest you read my review of that set. There are some important caveats you should be aware of before excitedly plopping $60 down for it; I impulsively purchased one upon its release, and was extremely disappointed with it.

This is the best of the greatest hits cds Rare Earth has out mainly because it contains the long versions of Get Ready and I Know I'm Losing You--their biggest hits. The musicians in the band at the time were top notch and it shows on ther long versions of these two songs. Peter, the drummer and lead singer is really great on vocals and on his drum solos. You should catch him live with the Classic Rock Stars band who are still touring various county fairs and blues festivals. All though Peter is alot older, he still has that unmistakeable voice and excellent drum playing. They play the long versions of both of these songs during their set. Try to find their cd they made a few yrs back--you will not be disappointed. Mike Pinera (guitar player from Blues Image and Iron Butterfly) and Jerry Corbetta (keyboards from Sugarloaf and The Four Seasons) are also in the band. See them when they come around your area--you will not be disappointed. Try and find their CD and get this one also. Great music on both!!!! Long live rock, blues, and soul.

This Rare Earth CD showcases great musicianship and the long, flowing concert-style arangements which charaterized many early '70s rock groups. The soulful vocals, tight-precise percussion, and tasteful instrumental work are a treat! If you're looking for 3 minute commercial radio studio versions, this is not it.

Back when I was a 1980s teenage whipper snapper and did not know my David Ruffin from my Eddie Kendricks, I thought I was listening to late-1960s Temptations whenever I heard Rare Earth on the radio. Those rocked up, psychedelic versions of "I'm Losing You" and "Get Ready" were quite the jams.

To be frank, I didn't know the whole history Norman Whitfield giving Motown a few tabs in the late 1960s, and didn't even realize the Temps and Rare Earth versions were different takes of the same songs. To show you how ignorant I was, I thought Soul was conservative, and Yes and ELP were the place to be.

Well, I have learned a thing or 5000 about music since: the most important that you can love nearly all of it because a big thread runs through the music universe

And so we dock on the wonderful Rare Earth. These guys were one of few white bands landing on Motown around the time Armstrong was landing on the moon, 1969.

Earth's specialty was taking soul songs, retaining to said vibe, but making them work as hard rock Well, Barry Gordy or whoever signed these guys to Motown must have had their finger in the Woodstock air, because it was an absolute stroke of genius

Soul, psych, hard rock, dance: Rare Earth had the synergy of all a young band could need to make it big on both AM and FM circa 1970, and with the Beatles breaking up and Gary Pucket Vs. King Crimson in an AM/FM straight/hip death match, that is no small feet.

But these long, acid-y, essay like takes on Motown tracks pull it off, and if you think you have heard it all before, think again.

Back in the day, AM radio would extract the jams out songs from bands like Rare Earth to fit a three minute format, where FM gave you the whole planet--and you know what, those Rare Earth tracks you hear on 2010 oldies format radio are still victimizing you with the exact same slices and dices that were constructed forty years ago.

So you really SHOULD be buying all the albums, but if that is a little drastic, for now, get this, which has the main goods of Rare Earth in all their long ago, progressive regalia.

This is one smokin' hot group! The extended versions of their pop hits are incredible. I can understand why Motown signed them- the pop/rock/soul sound is stunning. The vocals/ guitar work and percussions are second to none. I can't say enough good things about them. The other reviews give you the technical and who's who info- my simple rating is to buy this CD and enjoy! No disappointment with this group!

Classic CD with perfect sound quality. Brought back so many memories of "getting ready" to go out on the town.

I have enjoyed listening to this. I bought it when they took Rare Earth off of YOUTUBE

This CD is a great anthology of one of Motown's first, and finest, self-contained bands, Rare Earth, whose blend of soul, rock, and the classic Motown sound made even their long songs (three over ten minutes, "Get Ready" over 21 minutes) never seem self-indulgence. The fact that a white band played African-American music so convincingly and reverently is a precursor to the episode of THE GHOST WHISPERER in which the lead character helps the ghost of a black man killed by a white co-worker get justice. If you've seen that episode, or if you're simply a fan of both soul and rock, buy this CD.

Overall: okay. The first cut is the loooong version of "Get Ready", with endless, interminable, instrumental solos. I have yet to listen to the entire song. The album version may not always be the best.

I ordered this as a Christmas Present but my brother did not receive it. I could not figure out how to check on this but UPS said they delivered it to the correct address. Maybe someone stole it from the doorstep. Thats been happening a lot this year.