The "Get Ready" album was our first album recorded after signing with Motown and to this day remains our biggest seller by far. It has gone Platinum so many times, I'm not even certain of the grand total of units sold. The 21 minute version of "Get Ready" that took up one whole side of the album helped change the way music was presented forever from that day forward. It was classified as part of the "Underground" musical phenomena of the time but a shortened version was released to the AM radio market that became a big hit as well.

The "Ecology" album was our second release on the "Rare Earth" label under Motown and was another huge success.
There were two top hits from this album. "I Know I'm Losing You" and "Born To Wander", and it has been stated many times over the subsequent years that this album contained many more songs that would have been single hits had they been released and promoted that way. There are a lot great songs on the "Ecology album no doubt.

The "Greatest Hits and Rare Classics" CD is just one of many that were released after the original group split up. It was an effort by the record company to capitalize on our popularity, as is the case with any record company who represents a successful group. In my opinion some of the songs on this CD should have been left unreleased in the archives where they belong, but I was not in control of that decision.

The "Motown Superstar Series, Vol. 16" album is probably the best of our greatest hits releases. It is closer to being made up of our most successful songs than any other compilation album. However, "Tobacco Road" should have been included on this release instead of "Warm Ride", which was simply a cover of a "Bee Gee's" song after I had left the group that never made it near the top of the charts anyway.

The “Road” Album was my last release until I did my first solo album in 2004. This album was done with a lot of love but was never promoted and distributed properly due to the Label’s bankruptcy issues shortly after the album was released.
This was a group I formed after I left "Rare Earth", with Noel Redding from "The Jimi Hendrix Experience" on Bass Guitar and Les Sampson, a very talented percussionist on Drums. I still get a kick out of listening to this album today. Noel passed away May 11, 2003 from Esophageal Hemorrhage due to liver complications. I miss his wit, charm and unique sense of humor, not to mention his great Bass playing.

Rare Road Records presents
Rod Richards "More Than the Blues"

Ex-Rare Earth lead guitarist Rod Richards cuts loose with a powerful solo album of scorching fret work and gritty vocals. "More Than the Blues", released on Rod's own Rare Road Records, marks the return of one of the best guitarists from classic rock n' roll's heyday in the early '70's. As a founding member of Rare Earth, Rod's guitar and vocals are heard on the original massive hits "Get Ready", (I Know) I'm Losing You" and "Born to Wander". After his stay with Rare Earth, Richards formed Road, a power trio featuring ex-Jimi Hendrix bass player Noel Redding. Although out of the music-public's eye for many years, Richards never stopped writing music. His return to the forefront is welcomed by music fans worldwide. Especially fans of the Classic Rock sound.

SMD Southern Music Distribution
Duluth, Georgia USA