Search - Rare Earth :: Fill Your Head: The Studio Albums 1969-1974

A HIP-O SIZED HEARTBREAKER

BOB | LOS ANGELES, CA | 09/09/2008

(2 out of 5 stars)

"
For 25+ years, Rare Earth fans have been subjected to a slew of CD catalog reissues, bootlegs and compilations, all featuring a wide variance of mastering quality. Therefore, the announcement of this set by Hip-O Select was a fortuitous portent: We, the long-suffering, would FINALLY have the five primary Motown studio albums (Get Ready, Ecology, One World, Willie Remembers & Ma), plus singles and rare tracks, in remastered, matched audio. That Hip-O has developed a decent rep for reissues made the imminent release even more welcome.



Unfortunately, in just about every department, this set falls depressingly short.



First, and most importantly, the audio. I have always used the excellent 2001 Millennium Collection remastered compilation CD (the only one to include "Get Ready", "Ma", "(I Know) I'm Losing You" & "What'd I Say", in their original, full-length-jam LP versions) as a comparison disc. However, A/B'ing against that disc, it was immediately obvious the Hip-O versions were mastered without regard to the dynamic range of the original material. This is most apparent in the long version of "Get Ready": On the Millennium CD, all the instruments are perfectly balanced, with none being dominant, and Pete Rivera's kick drum providing a great bottom.



On the Hip-O, the drums are buried, the kick is muffled, and the individual instruments have been magnified in volume. Accordingly, the previously slight, artificial echo added in the studio to simulate a live performance is also increased, but to the point of annoyance: "Get Ready" now sounds like it was engineered by the Tidy Bowl Man.



Superior audio versions of Rare Earth material are not limited to the Millennium CD: "Tobacco Road", and 13 other tracks, appear in much better clarity on the 1998 The Very Best Of (unfortunately, now OOP, but available used). Even Motown's own Ma CD, released in 1994, sounds better; with modern digital mastering, how do you miss not improving on a near-15-year-old target? Incredibly, and the most damning of all, the Rare Earth tracks on Hip-O's own, 2008 The Complete Motown Singles Volume 10 are superior to this set!!!!



In fact, the mastering on this box is suspiciously identical to the 2004 The Collection compilation (which I also don't recommend), but that disc has no production credits for confirmation.



(Although I have referred to my A/B set-up in previous Amazon reviews, I should reiterate: My comparisons are made on two Sony XA7 transports running simultaneously into a Camelot Uther DAC via matched-length Acoustic Zen coax cables and monitored thru Sennheiser 590's.)



Then there's the set itself, made entirely from cardboard and paper. It probably made for a cool-sounding concept during a design meeting, but in execution, popping the shrinkwrap on this set is like scraping the pancake makeup off a 50-year-old drag queen; it isn't pretty.



The exterior "box" is just a flimsy-and-I-mean-flimsy (remember cardboard CD long-boxes? Even thinner) two-piece sleeve. The removable cardboard inner section containing the discs is a single-piece, five-part, multi-fold affair, each section replicating the original front and rear LP artwork. However, the sections don't really line up straight when folded. Also, as the insert is accordion-like, it naturally wants to un-compress, so each end pressure-rubs against the inside of the box when removed/reinserted. The resultant friction on the art (the front of the "Get Ready" LP & the rear of "Ma) obviously didn't occur to the two credited designers; mine's already showing minor wear, and I've barely touched it. All of the exact same album art is unnecessarily repeated in the booklet, a blatant padding of an otherwise emaciated document, which only additionally delivers a five-page essay, one non-album archival photo, and each LP's inner sleeve art.



I'm all for "eco-friendly packaging", but this set just screams "CHEAP!", and is the antithesis of its exorbitant cost: a $60 list price (Hip-O-direct, Amazon is even higher) for three discs, cardboard, a meager booklet and sub-par remastering? I'm sorry, but I own 100+ box sets, and I can't think of one which is such a low-grade production at this price point (the equally-shoddy Beatles "Capitol Years" boxes are within $10, but they both had better sound, far more robust booklets, four discs each, and, let me think... oh yeah, THE BEATLES). Also, Rare Earth did a lot of television during its heyday, so would have an added DVD with those performances been that hard to license/assemble/include at this cost?



Unfortunately, this will probably be the last word for Rare Earth aficionados, and it's a limited edition to boot. If you've ever wanted the complete primary repertoire, this will probably be the only way you'll ever get it... You almost HAVE to buy the bloody thing. Or, you could compromise and opt for the afore-mentioned The Millennium Collection, The Very Best Of & Ma titles, then assemble your own anthology, like I did: Ultimately, less satisfying in total content, but you get the core, essential tracks in both original LP length, superior sound, and with far less wallet-stress. To be honest, on this entire 43-track set, I only found seven additional songs I would listen to with any regularity, but none which I would consider essential.



You really have to hope other reissue houses aren't taking a page from Hip-O's book on this one, as it establishes a new low on the expectations scale. Indeed, I have a hard time reconciling this release being produced by the same outfit who birthed the amazing Complete Motown Singles series. One could observe there's a 40% street-price delta between this set and any one of the Motown volumes (I've puckered up for all ten released to date), but that percentage is certainly not representative of the dichotomy in the quality or content received when both are purchased. Quite simply, Hip-O's $59.99 list price for this Rare Earth Set just sucks. IMHO, and comparing it to all my other box sets, for what you get, anything north of a $35 list (not street) is sheer highway robbery.



When this set was first announced, I moved all of my Rare Earth CD's to the "sell" shelf, then eagerly, impulsively and idiotically ordered it direct from Hip-O (and paying shipping, which would have been free thru Amazon), rather than wait the extra two weeks for it to debut here. However, as I glower at it sitting here in front of me, I inhabit the same frame of mind when handing over my credit card for an expensive meal I didn't enjoy: Extreme, disappointed annoyance. I have since restored the older CD's to my collection, and the "Millennium" disc will remain my primary source disc. This set? I'll hang on to it for a year after it's OOP, then sell it for big bucks on eBay to some poor sod who hasn't read this review, will never know the difference and will be SO HAPPY he finally found one which had only been played once... well, actually, because I sooooo couldn't believe what I was hearing that I had paid list price for (plus shipping!), I had to "audio-pinch" myself and play it twice, just to be sure. Yep, unfortunately, I was right the first time.



Hip-O, you blew this one and you broke my heart. Hopefully, it's not an omen of all things Hip-O to come.



"

About the Price

Vail Ryan | 09/10/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"As regards the price of this set: I assume Motown had something to do with that. As an example, check out the $120+/- for the 6 CD Singles boxes. Berry Gordy was never known for his generosity. Just be glad you never worked for him. He screwed many of those people."

5 Albums + Many Singles - All Remastered - But There Are Som

Mark Barry at Reckless Records, Lon | UK | 09/30/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"There's a lot on offer here, so let's get straight to the details (all release dates are USA)...



Disc 1 (77:45 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 6 are the debut album "Get Ready" issued August 1969 on Rare Earth RS-507

(Tracks 7 to 15 are BONUS single versions from the various 5 studio albums)

Track 7 is "Generation (Light Up The Sky)" which is the A side of Rare Earth 5010 issued November 1969 - also on the O.S.T. to the film "Generation"

Track 8 is "Get Ready" the 7" single edit issued April 1970 on Rare Earth 5012

(the single edit is 2:50 minutes long, while the full album version takes up all of Side 2 at 21:35 minutes)

Track 9 is "(I Know) I'm Losing You" - the 7" single edit issued July 1970 on Rare Earth 5017 (the single edit is 3:42 minutes long, while the full "Ecology" album version is 10:52 minutes)

Track 10 is "When Joanie Smiles" the non-album B-side to "(I Know) I'm Losing You"

Track 11 is "Here Comes The Night" which is the non-album B-side of "Born To Wander" (from "Ecology") issued January 1971 on Rare Earth 5021

Track 12 is "Hey Big Brother" is a non-album A-side issued November 1971 on Rare Earth 5038

Track 13 is supposed to be "Love Shines Down" the non-album B-side to "Good Time Sally" (on "Willie Remembers") issued October 1972 on Rare Earth 5048 - BUT A MASTERING ERROR repeats Track 1 "Magic Sky" albeit a little shorter

Track 14 is "Chained" which is a non-album A-side issued May 1974 on Rare Earth 5057

Track 15 is "Fresh From The Can" is the non-album B-side of "Chained"



Disc 2 (73:40 minutes)

Tracks 1 to 7 are their 2nd album "Ecology" issued June 1970 on Rare Earth RS-514

Tracks 8 to 15 are their 3rd studio album "One World" issued June 1971 on Rare Earth RS-520



Disc 3 (77:30 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 8 are their 4th studio album "Willie Remembers" issued October 1972 on Rare Earth R-5431

Tracks 9 to 13 are their 5th studio album "Ma" issued May 1973 on Rare Earth R-5461

(both "Willie Remembers" and "One World" make their CD debut on this 3CD set, while the live double "Rare Earth In Concert" issued on R 534 in 1971 isn't featured at all)



Their first album "Get Ready" came in a rounded top sleeve in the USA (rather like a gravestone head or a Zippo lighter) and it is this that is imitated in the shaped packaging. The lid has the words "LIMITED EDITION" embossed in gold on the rear (3000 or so copies worldwide) and inside is a concertina effect card sleeve, which depicts all 5 albums covers front and rear when fully folded out. The 3 discs themselves sport the distinctive red Rare Earth logo on each, while the 32-page booklet even pictures the Tamla Motown special offers inner bags that came with some early 1970s albums! There's an essay by noted writer SCOTT SCHNIDER on the group - all album artwork featured again in full colour - session details, discography info - all of it very tasteful done - pretty much as you would expect from this top notch reissue label. Against it - I'd say that the packaging is a card sleeve and therefore too prone to crushing - it would have been better in a book form - like the wonderful and far more robust Jimmy Cliff and Muddy Waters sets.



But as ever with HIP-O SELECT the goodies come with the SOUND. Remastered from the Motown Archive tapes by SETH FOSTER at Universal Mastering Studio East - the sound is full, detailed and wonderfully clean. I would say though that the first Disc is slightly hissy in places - especially on the debut "Get Ready", and the mastering error is unforgivable. But once you get into Disc 2 and 3, "Long Time Leavin'" and "If I Die", the sound is so much better. One reviewer has expressed extreme disappointment with the sound, but I don't hear that. I would say though that the 'song' quality does taper off as you get to the end, but with 43-tracks in all - I can't help but think that fans of the band, Tamla lovers and soul-rock junkies everywhere - will absolutely eat up this set.



A cross between Rock and Soul, RARE EARTH were difficult to categorize - a sort of rockier version of The Temptations meets the funkiness of Blood Sweat & Tears meets The Undisputed Truth's social documenting of urban America - a lethal combination if ever there was one!



Unfairly dismissed at the time (especially in Europe), hopefully this 3CD box set will make people reassess.



In their ongoing trawl through the Motown archives - and despite reservations about packaging, content and sound - in my mind, this is yet another good HIP-O SELECT reissue. Dedicated fans will have to have it - casual buyers, however, should stick to the "Best Of". And Hip-O should offer an immediate refund and replacement copy for the offending mastering mistake on Disc 1."