Rare Earth - Get Ready

180-gram vinyl

The first really major album from Rare Earth — issued on their own self-named subsidiary of Motown! The set's a perfect blend of the rich undercurrents of the heady Detroit scene of the late '60s — at one level a tripped-out rock record with styles that almost hint at MC5, at another level a batch of blue-eyed funky soul, with keen appreciation for the grooves coming out of the headier end of the Motor City indie spectrum!

There's lots of tripped-out guitar work on the set — reminiscent of contemporary work by Dennis Coffey and George Clinton — mixed with a Mitch Ryder, R&B-inspired vocal style that actually comes across pretty darn well. Added to this is the group's flat-out ability to jam — showcased best in the side-long title cut "Get Ready" — a massive jammer which runs for nearly 22 minutes, and takes up all of side two! Other tracks include "Train To Nowhere," "Magic Key," "Tobacco Road," and "In Bed."