Rare Earth- Get Ready

Get Ready is the platinum-selling second studio album by American blues-rock band Rare Earth, released on September 30, 1969 by Motown Records. The album spawned a hit single, a short version of “Get Ready”, which reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970, staying on the charts for 20 weeks, beating the original version with the Temptations. The track was written by William “Smokey” Robinson of the famous Motown Records group, Smokey Robinson And The Miracles.

The album itself entered the Billboard charts on December 6, 1969, peaking at No. 12 and remaining on the Top 200 album chart for 77 weeks. Band members appearing on the album consist of Pete Rivera on drums and lead vocals, Gil Bridges on sax, flute, percussion and vocals, John Persh on bass, trombone and vocals, Rod Richards on guitar and vocals and Kenny James on organ and keyboards.

The versatility the band members had on the instruments gave them great jams on songs like “Get Ready”. The irony was that the track was only included on the album because the band had run out of extra songs.

Rod Richards’ fiery, psychedelic guitar punctuates the heavy, rhythmic and bluesy sound the band has created, with Bridges’ sax and flute as well as Persh’s trombone adding a more jazzy aura to the music.

In an era of lighter sounding bands, Rare Earth seem very lonely. Each piece stands very nicely on its own, as if it were on a fashion rack and what’s more they give their concerts and they do it very well.

Remaining haughtily on the sidelines, the band begin to smooth out their tempo on ‘In Bed’ and turn it into a locomotive beat on ‘Train To Nowhere’.

In any case, “Get Ready” is the core of this album and is driven by the incredible live crowd response, which has been pre-mixed in the studio, as well as the various solos, such as Gil Bridges’ serpentine sax on which can easily be considered along with Pete Rivera’s percussion, the centerpiece of the album.

Through this historic album we I select the over 21 minute title track “Get Ready”.

Tracklist

1. Magic Key 3:57
2. Tobacco Road 7:11
3. Feelin’ Alright 5:03
4. In Bed 3:01
5. Train To Nowhere 3:23
6. Get Ready 21:30