Motown's Rare Earth label

[no_place_like_motown]

There were quite a number of songs that I bought on the RE label when they were released that I really enjoyed and still play today.

The first song I purchased was "Temptation 'Bout To Get Me" by the Virgil Brothers in 1969, which was originally recorded by the Knight Brothers on Chess. Unfortunately, the song was not included on TCMS, Vol. 9 because it was licensed by Motown at the time and unavailable for inclusion on the CD series. The song was recorded in 1968 and was a top 30 hit in Australia. I have 4 versions of this song in my collection; the other three are by the Knight Brothers, Billy Stewart and the Rascals. To my ears all 4 are great!

Feel free to add your favs from the RE label!

[no_place_like_motown]

This was my favorite RE single release, hands down!

[no_place_like_motown]

From the "Great Expectations" album and issued as a RE single in 1971. I love Kiki's ersion of the Deon Jackson classic. Great male b/g vocals - anyone know who's singing behind Kiki??

[no_place_like_motown]

Nice pop/rock cover of King Harvest's "Dancing In The Moonlight" by Wolfe, released in 1972.

[no_place_like_motown]

Another treat - one of the producers is someone we all know!

[roger]

There were quite a number of songs that I bought on the RE label when they were released that I really enjoyed and still play today.

The first song I purchased was "Temptation 'Bout To Get Me" by the Virgil Brothers in 1969, which was originally recorded by the Knight Brothers on Chess. Unfortunately, the song was not included on TCMS, Vol. 9 because it was licensed by Motown at the time and unavailable for inclusion on the CD series. The song was recorded in 1968 and was a top 30 hit in Australia. I have 4 versions of this song in my collection; the other three are by the Knight Brothers, Billy Stewart and the Rascals. To my ears all 4 are great!

Feel free to add your favs from the RE label!

That was a surprisingly good version of "Temptation 'bout To Get Me" no_place_like_motown and the moment the opening bars started I thought it sounded very much like THE WALKER BROTHERS. It seems that it was originally recorded for EMI in Australia and was released on their Parlophone label in both Australia and The UK.

I've found an interesting article on THE VIRGIL BROTHERS which has some fascinating insights into the Australian music scene in the 1960s and the acceptance [[or otherwise) of "Soul" music in that country, which led to the formation of THE VIRGIL BROTHERS.

http://www.milesago.com/artists/virgil.htm

I did find a glaring error in the article however ... the writer seems to think that H-D-H's "Shake Me, Wake Me" [[which THE VIRGIL BROTHERS covered) was originally done by THE TEMPTATIONS, whereas I'm sure that all SDF members know it was by THE FOUR TOPS. THE VIRGIL BROTHERS version of "Shake Me, Wake Me" has been posted on You-Tube but having given it a listen I didn't think it was very good.

There weren't very many releases on the label that really made me sit up and listen but if I had to choose a favourite it would be a toss up between the RARE EARTH version of "Get Ready" and this one .....



Roger

[no_place_like_motown]

Roger said:

I thought it sounded very much like THE WALKER BROTHERS.

Yes. The VB also remind me of the Righteous Brothers. Both groups have been referred to as "Blue Eyed Soul" acts.

[MIKEW-UK]

Re The Virgils, I have a little personal insight here. Bruce Welch of the Shadows brought The Virgils to the UK. On arrival, they were booked by my pal to play 7 nights at The Cavendish in Sheffield. Hank Marvin of the Shadows wrote material for The Virgils and for Peter Doyle, the lead singer, when he went solo.
Peter recorded Doris Troy's Watcha Gonna Do About It.

[MIKEW-UK]

And Peter Doyle's version of The Four Tops "There's Something About You". Typical of the covers of motown songs in the 60s. Never went for these covers, but I guess they served a purpose in promoting the Motown sound in territories outside the USA.


I can see why The Virgils and Peter Doyle would have been a good fit for Rare Earth....

[Philles/Motown Gary]

I had a few albums on Rare Earth:

1. All of the group Rare Earth’s albums with Pete Rivera;

2. The Rustix’ first album "Bedlam", which I loved, and which was pure Motown including horn and string arrangements. [[Rustix were also from Rochester, NY, near my hometown.) I keep hoping for a reissue on CD, or, at least, a download. I heard that their second album was more rock oriented, minus the Motown horns and strings, so I didn't bother to buy it.

3. "Stoney & Meatloaf" LP. I love their "What You See Is What You Get" and "It Takes All Kinds of People" [[available on "The Complete Motown Singles 11A&B [[1971)" CD set, as well as "She Waits By The Window" and "I’d Love To Be Heavy As Jesus" – several of which were co-written and co-produced by our own Ralph Terrana! [[Go, Ralph!!!) "Stoney & Meatloaf" is another hot item on my Motown CD/Download wishlist, although "....Heavy As Jesus" is already available on Motown's "Key To The Kingdom" CD.

4. The Impact Of Brass LP;

5. R. Dean Taylor - "Indiana Wants Me" LP;

6. Kiki Dee’s "Love Makes The World Go ‘Round" 45, which, of course, was later released on Tamla for the album version.

That’s all that I’m remembering off-hand. The other groups advertised on Rare Earth were way too hard-rock oriented for my musical tastes [[Toe Fat, Power Of Zeus, Sunday Funnies, etc.)

BTW, I was just reading in Ralph’s book, "The Road Through Motown", that Ralph’s near and dear friend, Harry Balk, was responsible for starting Motown’s Rare Earth label. Interesting to note is that Harry’s wife, Patti Jerome, was actually Motown artist P.J. who recorded "T.L.C. [[Tender Loving Care)" on Tamla. I bought the 45 back in the day and still love the recording to pieces! So glad it’s included on "The Complete Motown Singles" Vol. 11B [[1971) CD boxed set. It should have been a huge hit, but being released just before Motown was moving to California practically guaranteed that it, and other deserving Motown product that year and next, would slip through the cracks unnoticed by the majority of Joe Q. Public.

[honest man]

And Peter Doyle's version of The Four Tops "There's Something About You". Typical of the covers of motown songs in the 60s. Never went for these covers, but I guess they served a purpose in promoting the Motown sound in territories outside the USA.


I can see why The Virgils and Peter Doyle would have been a good fit for Rare Earth....

Well i never Peter Doyle has got to be the same person who recorded with The New Seekers in the early 70s had a lot of hits in the UK [very much in background]never knew Peter had Motown connection,cheers

[MIKEW-UK]

Honest man, precisely the same guy and a very good singer... my pal was his manager!

[MIKEW-UK]

Don't laugh! ......... painful!

[kenneth]

Who says white guys can't dance? Actually, not a bad rendition but yes, watching the "choreography" is painful!

I think Johnny Rivers did this song better because he didn't imitate the Tops or other R&B singers...he did it in his own rock/country style and gave his own style to the song.

[no_place_like_motown]

This was a nice instrumental version of NCSB released in 1971:

[no_place_like_motown]

A big pop hit for R. Dean Taylor on RE:

[no_place_like_motown]

Another big hit for Rare Earth that's also one of my favs by the group:

[no_place_like_motown]

From their 1969 RE album, the Messengers' take of "Gotta See Jane" produced by R. Dean:

[no_place_like_motown]

"Get Ready" by Rare Earth was a huge hit climbing to #4 on Billboard's Pop Chart:

[no_place_like_motown]

I love this song! Also covered by Rare Earth on their "Get Ready" LP:

[no_place_like_motown]

When I'm in the mood for some nice, soft rock from Motown!

Crystal Mansion - Boogieman from 1972:

[no_place_like_motown]

And when I wanna hear some great dance-oriented rock...

"Magic Key" by Rare Earth from 1969:

[kenneth]

I really like the Crystal Mansion track. Never heard of this group. Would love to hear more from them. Thanks for posting, No_Place!

[Bokiluis]

[QUOTE=no_place_like_motown;256830]This was a nice instrumental version of NCSB released in 1971:

Nice version of "Never Can Say Goodbye"....

So with the very diverse music on the Rare Earth label, was the creative concept of the label just to sign non-black artists?

I was a big fan of the first 3 Rare Earth [[group) albums. I bought the Xit album because of their guest appearance on Smokey's "Pure Smokey" and R. Dean Taylor's "Indiana Wants Me".

I wonder why "Motown 25" made no reference to the groundbreaking success of the Rare Earth group with a very respectable commercial repertoire? Surely, until Teena Marie it demonstrated the label's ability to break non-black acts.

[no_place_like_motown]

Bokiluis said:

So with the very diverse music on the Rare Earth label, was the creative concept of the label just to sign non-black artists?

From TCMS, Vol. 9:

"It was proposed that a new division should be created within Motown to concentrate on white-oriented product," Gil Bridges, co-founder of local rock-soul band Rare Earth, told Blues & Soul magazine.

However, Wes Henderson, former bass player for Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers, was Black and had that one single [["In Bed") released on RE in 1969.

[no_place_like_motown]

I really like the Crystal Mansion track. Never heard of this group. Would love to hear more from them. Thanks for posting, No_Place!

I'm glad you enjoyed it, Kenneth. It's one of my favorite songs from the RE label.

[blkfrost]

I really like the Crystal Mansion track. Never heard of this group. Would love to hear more from them. Thanks for posting, No_Place!

It was released on CD. I have a copy.

[MotownLover]

Back in 1969/1970 time frame the launching of the Rare Earth label and it's initial roster of stars was a big deal. I believe the first 5 albums were released with the album covers' tops shaped to match the half-circular vinyl records. I bought them all at the same time. And, having already been a big Motown fan, I proceeded to buy many of the 45 rpm releases on RE as well as some of the albums that were evident to me.

Over the years I have purchased all of the CD reissues of which I am aware. Many were later issued on CD on other reissue labels.

But, being a driven completist, since we will probably never see all the RE vinyl released on CD, I decided about a year ago to utilize some of the RE album listings that are available and after a little research, found an internet site where sellers offer their vinyl albums which are priced in accordance with availability, condition of the record as well as that of the album cover, etc., similar to EBAY: Discogs Marketplace. Most of the albums were purchased from sellers via Discogs, but I wised up after awhile realizing the many of the same RE alums were available from other Internet sites at better prices, like amazon, ebay, etc. All in all, I was VERY satisfied with my purchases and was successful in purchasing every single RE label vinyl album and listened to all the album cuts, most of which I had never heard before. I even ended up purchases albums that a recording artist may have later released on another Motown subsidiary label.

I was so jazzed about what I had acquired so I sent a message to Midnight Johnny who hosts the weekly Nightflight radio program which specializes in Motown music as its major emphasis. I thought if I could record/convert all the RE vinyl albums to CD on my special phonograph equipment and did a bit of research for a possible Nightflight program that would feature this little known music and the artists, wouldn't that be really special and worthwhile to some of WOMR's Nightflight listeners?

I have to admit that John Perrone's almost immediate rejection of the suggestion was disappointing to me. I don't recall his exact words, but he felt that although the RE label was a Motown subsidiary label, its roster of artists was primarily rock, acid rock, various oddities in the Motown catalog that he believed any interested listening audience would be quite small and probably not worthwhile for Nightflight. He also added that his own lack of personal knowledge of the artists and the music would make it an awkward show to host and then too there was the issue of licensing which ultimately affected The Complete Motown Singles Collection series for many cuts on the RE label.

I just thanked JP for having kindly considered my suggested future RE label Nightflight show.

I still have yet to enter thorough records on my computer for the RE collection and I've not proceeded to bother with the conversion from vinyl to CD.

That will be a future focus once I have more time on my hands, which will be about 9 months from now, as I am aiming to retire come 1 August 2015.

Howard in Long Beach, CA

[Philles/Motown Gary]

Motownlover, it's a bummer that your proposed offer fell on deaf ears. I would haved enjoyed the chance to hear some of the obscure Rare Earth groups. By all means, go ahead with your Vinyl-To-CD dubbing project. You'll be amazed at how quickly the process will go once you get started and sink your teeth into it. And, hey, best of luck with that pending retirement! - Gary

[MIKEW-UK]

kenneth, you might find interesting this live video performance by Crystal Mansion of their Rare Earth track Let me Be Straight Again..... Mike

[MIKEW-UK]

Leas singer of Crystal mansion was Johnny Caswell, who recorded Philly stuff along with Len Barry etc... here he is on a Northern Soul minor hit, written by Leon Huff...

[MotownLover]

Philles/Motown Gary - Thanks for the encouraging words. I just might seriously consider to get going on this after all. Best, Howard

[144man]

One of my favourite tracks by Rustix is "We All End Up In Boxes".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyY6AUOebpk

[Philles/Motown Gary]

Philles/Motown Gary - Thanks for the encouraging words. I just might seriously consider to get going on this after all. Best, Howard

You're welcome, Howard. Have fun with your project!

[booty]

Out on 27th of this month is Rare Earth's "Live In Chicago"

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...ilpage_o00_s00

[XitMac]

My Name is Mac Suazo of XIT and I was in the Original Group ...Motown and Ralph Terrarana were very Good People to work for...I enjoyed Ralph's Book...[QUOTE=Bokiluis;256893]

This was a nice instrumental version of NCSB released in 1971:

Nice version of "Never Can Say Goodbye"....

So with the very diverse music on the Rare Earth label, was the creative concept of the label just to sign non-black artists?

I was a big fan of the first 3 Rare Earth [[group) albums. I bought the Xit album because of their guest appearance on Smokey's "Pure Smokey" and R. Dean Taylor's "Indiana Wants Me".

I wonder why "Motown 25" made no reference to the groundbreaking success of the Rare Earth group with a very respectable commercial repertoire? Surely, until Teena Marie it demonstrated the label's ability to break non-black acts.

[XitMac]

I'm Glad that people were open to a new and different way to express their inner feelings with Music "Plight of the Red Man" was a Ground breaking album that introduced Native American Problems Through Music..It actually made the Government Nervous to let a People speak through music..It was a time of Change..The 1970's...Mac Suazo.. XIT Band

[Philles/Motown Gary]

I'm Glad that people were open to a new and different way to express their inner feelings with Music "Plight of the Red Man" was a Ground breaking album that introduced Native American Problems Through Music..It actually made the Government Nervous to let a People speak through music..It was a time of Change..The 1970's...Mac Suazo.. XIT Band

Hey Mac! Welcome to the Motown Forum! It’s great to have you here! I’ve been looking forward to talking with you, but your presence here happened kind of spur-of-the-moment. Unfortunately, we have company here at the house tonight and I’m tied up at the moment. In a nutshell, I knew that XIT was a Motown group with two album releases, but I never had a chance to check out your music until this week when I bought your "Plight Of The Red Man" and "Silent Warrior" Motown CD’s which I just learned were available. Great stuff!

I’ve brought the other Rare Earth link up to the top of the list [[at least for the moment). It's titled "MOTOWN's Rare Earth-label Album Titles Available On CD". [[This older thread keeps freezing up anyway.) Feel free to go into that link and see all of the glowing reviews for XIT! Just post a reply in the other thread and I’ll get back to you later tonight. I’m really excited about the opportunity to talk with you. I’m sorry that I can’t talk right now. - Gary

[ralpht]

"END" from Plight of the RED Man http://youtu.be/sMdALV5gxNw
Hey Mac, do you remember we had to lace Michael with a little "fire water" to get him into the emotional mood needed to deliver the song? I think he nailed it.