Genre: rock
Rating: 3 stars ***
Title:  Ma
Company: Rare Earth
Catalog: R546L
Year: 1973
Country/State: Detroit, Michigan
Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+
Comments: gatefold, embossed covers; includes mint poster
Available: 1
Catalog ID: 6007
Price: $15.00

So if you're going to dip your toe into the Rare Earth catalog I'd suggest looking for a 'best of' package, or this 1973 collection ...

After giving Rare Earth creative leeway to record an album of original material and watching the results tank commercially (1972's "Willie Remembers"),, Motown insisted on some adult supervision for the next Rare Earth release. That supervision took the form of having Norman Whitfield step in as producer Whitfield also wrote, or co-wrote all five tracks with long time collaborator Barrett Strong. Unexpected the band's sixth studio collection "Ma" turned out to be one of their most consistent and enjoyable releases. Not perfect by any stretch, but still worth tracking down since you can find affordable copies. As an in-demand commodity, you couldn't fault Whitefield for having decided to recycle some of his earlier product, including the title track (previously recorded by The Temptations and 'Smiling Faces Sometimes' which The Undisputed Truth had scored a major hit with. The revamped versions were both pretty good. In contrast, two of the new numbers were forgettable throwaways. 'Hum Alone and Dance' was an aptly titled and forgettable rock-oriented numbers. 'Come with Me' was mostly notable for serving as a blueprint for Donna Summer's forthcoming chart successes as a moaning diva.

- Sporting Whitefield's patented blend of pop, soul, and psychedelic moves, I'd be hard pressed to name another side long track that's nearly as good as 'Ma'. Yeah, any song going on for over seventeen minutes is bound to have a bit of fluff in it and this is no exception, but with Michael Urso providing the amazingly propulsive bass line, Ray Monette adding waves of fuzz guitar, and drummer/singer Peter Hoorelbeke sounding more soulful than any white guy had the right to, this was simply one of Whitefield's crowning achievements. Their version simply crushed The Temptations earlier stab at the song (and that version wasn't bad). rating: **** stars
- Certainly a bit short in the originality department, 'Big John Is Me Name' was still suitably funky for a bunch of white guys ... beats the hell out of Wild Cherry. rating: ** stars
- I grew up with The Undisputed Truth's version of 'Smiling Faces Sometimes' so that colors my opinion a bit. The opening Spanish snippets were interesting reminding me a bit of something out of the War catalog. It took awhile for this one to get going and when it did this version wasn't bad. Still, when all was said and done, it couldn't match the original. rating: *** stars
- A throwaway number, 'Hum Alone and Dance' sported the album's most rock-oriented feel. Forgettable and hard to figure out why it was tapped as a single. rating: ** stars
- I'm guessing the instrumental 'Come with Me' was fairly risqué when it came out in 1974. If you've ever heard Donna Summer's 'Love To Love You Baby', you'll know exactly what to expect on this one ... four minutes of listening to a woman fake ecstasy amidst a forgettable, pseudo-jazzy slice of elevator music. yeah, it was pretty lame and about as much of a turn-on as changing the oil in your Jeep. rating: ** stars

Elsewhere the album was tapped for a series of three singles:

- 1973's 'Ma' b/w 'Ma (instrumental) (Rare Earth catalog number R 5053)
- 1973's 'Hum Along and Dance' b/w 'Come with Me' (Rare Earth catalog number R 5054)
- 1973's 'Big John Is My Name' b/w 'Ma' (Rare Earth catalog number R 5056)

"Ma" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Ma (Norman Whitfield) - 17:17

(side 2)
1.) Big John Is Me Name (Norman Whitfield) - 4:06
2.) Smiling Faces Sometimes (Barrett Strong - Norman Whitfield) - 6:20
3.) Hum Alone and Dance (Barrett Strong - Norman Whitfield) - 5:15
4.) Come with Me (instrumental) (Norman Whitfield) - 4:30