Rare Earth-One World (1971)

If their third album, Rare Earth, once again made waves on the Billboard R&B charts, achieving a gold record and a top ten hit with the Motown classic "(I Know) I'm Losing You", their next album, "One World", was no less successful. In fact, they matched their previous achievements and even produced another worldwide hit with their own composition, "I Just Want to Celebrate". Recorded with the same lineup as their previous album, "Ecology", with the exception of guitarist Rod Richards, who was replaced here by Motown session musician Ray Monette, the rest of the band consisted of Mark Olson, Ed Guzman, Gil Bridges, John Persh, and Pete Rivera. The latter three were survivors of the original lineup that had recorded the monumental and groundbreaking "Get Ready" several years earlier. Produced by Tom Baird, it showcases Rare Earth's signature sound with its muscular and vigorous soul, jazz, blues and rhythm and blues, featuring notable tracks such as the extended version of Ray Charles' "What I'd Say", the bluesy funk rock "The Seed", the robust "Someone Of Love", the soul rock "Any Man Can Be A Fool", the country/folk rock "If Die", the melodic "The Road" or the aforementioned funk rock "I Just Want to Celebrate".