by Andrew Hamilton
Rare Earth's most satisfying LP, Norman Whitfield wrote and produced all five songs. &Ma,& the title track, had been done by Temptations and Undisputed Truth but nobody rocked the sucker like Rare Earth; they jam for 17:17 on the funkiest mama song ever. &Hum Along and Dance,& first appeared on the Temptations' Psychedelic Shack; Rare Earth gives the groover and update, a rolling organ sets it off. Lead, Gil Bridges brags about his musical ability on the loud, horn dominated stomper &Big John In My Name.&A haunting arrangement of &Smiling Faces Sometimes& will make you shiver. And you don't get much more sensual than the soft and lush &Come With Me,& where a female simulates an orgasm that puts Donna Summers' exhibition on &Love to Love You Baby& to shame; it's the only new song on the LP, but who's quibbling, MA is da bomb!