Originally Posted By: Notes Norton
Motown didn't own the name The Sunliners, but they did own the name Rare Earth.


Minor factual inaccuracy there. After Rare Earth signed, and they were already Rare Earth (changed from The Sunliners because the old name was not "hip" with bands like Iron Butterfly around), Motown needed a name for their all white artist label. Gil Bridges said "How about Rare Earth?" so they named the label Rare Earth.

Gil Bridges is still playing with them. 2 of them are permanently retired with no intention of ever playing again. 3 are dead. Bridges is 71 (I am a month from 70!!) but he look s like he is 117.

Rare Earth is also NOT represented in the Motown Hall of Fame, and were not invited to be on the 25th Anniversary show. (They WERE invited to be on the 50th year show.)

They lost me when they put a 21 minute version of Get Ready on a whole album side, justifying it because Iron Butterfly did it with In A Gadda Da Vida. Never liked Rare Earth, Vanilla Fudge or any white band trying to be black. But I was already a horn band guy, with Chicago, TOP, Lighthouse and BS&T on my list of faves of the time. Lighthouse, those crazy Canadians, ROCKED. Great horn players and huge arrangements.