Rare Earth is an American rock band affiliated with Motown’s Rare Earth record label (named after the band), which prospered from 1970–1972. 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. (More from Wikipedia)
But not all of the bands and artists signed by Motown Records were African-American. Not long after I got to college, the cover of the Smokey Robinson song “Get Ready” by a band called Rare Earth was released. While they were not the first white band signed by Motown, they were the first to have a hit. Originally called the Sunliners, Rare Earth had previously released an album on Verve Records called Dreams/Answers in 1968. When they were signed by Motown Records, the company was starting a new label for white acts. The band jokingly suggested Rare Earth Records, and to their surprise, that is what Motown named the label.
“Get Ready” (which was evidently recorded live) was a million-selling record by Rare Earth that was certified gold; the extended version of this song was also one side of an album called Get Ready (1969). The other side features among its tracks two oft-covered songs on 1960’s albums, “Feeling Alright” and “Tobacco Road”.
Other hits by Rare Earth include another Motown cover, “(I Know) I’m Losing You” plus “I Just Want to Celebrate”. The latter song has recently been used in commercials for Nicoderm, a nicotine patch product, which features a miniature band performing the main chorus after a man passes on an offered cigarette.
Like Rare Earth though, most of the artists who were signed were new to the music scene, such as Kiki Dee; she was the first female artist from England that was signed to Motown Records, though Kiki Dee had better success with Elton John’s label Rocket Records, including the 1974 hit “I’ve Got the Music in Me” and her well-known duet with Elton John on the 1976 hit “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart”.
(April 2015/1)
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Items: Rare Earth
