Ma

Performer: Rare Earth
Engineer: Russ Terrana
Producer: Norman Whitfield
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: This is part of Motown's Great Sounds series. Personnel: Mark Olsen (vocals, keyboards); Michael Urso (vocals, bass guitar); Peter Hoorelbeke (vocals, drums); Ray Monette (guitar); Gilbert Bridges (flute, woodwinds, voice box, percussion); Eddie Guzman (congas, timbales). Rare Earth's most satisfying LP, Norman Whitfield wrote and produced all five songs. "Ma," the title track, had been done by Temptations and Undisputed Truth but nobody rocked the sucker like Rare Earth; they jam for 17:17 on the funkiest mama song ever. "Hum Along and Dance," first appeared on the Temptations' Psychedelic Shack; Rare Earth gives the groover and update, a rolling organ sets it off. Lead, Gil Bridges brags about his musical ability on the loud, horn dominated stomper "Big John In My Name."A haunting arrangement of "Smiling Faces Sometimes" will make you shiver. And you don't get much more sensual than the soft and lush "Come With Me," where a female simulates an orgasm that puts Donna Summers' exhibition on "Love to Love You Baby" to shame; it's the only new song on the LP, but who's quibbling, MA is da bomb! ~ Andrew Hamilton

Rare Earth were one of the few all-white acts to record for the Motown label, releasing albums on the subsidiary named after them. The band's creative high-water mark was arguably their epic, acid-tinged 20-minute-plus cover of the Temptations' "Get Ready." Though the band recorded throughout the 1970s, and teamed up with ace producer Norman Whitfield for 1973's acclaimed MA, Rare Earth never again achieved the success they had with their initial Temptations cover versions. The band continued to tour as a revival act for decades to come, and their records have become sought-after by rare groove DJs and collectors.

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