Get Ready

Album: Gettin' Ready (1966)
Charted: 29
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Songfacts®:

  • This was written by Smokey Robinson, who was the main songwriter for The Temptations. In the Motown stable, The Temptations were considered the premier group, and there was a lot of competition among the songwriters to have their compositions recorded by the band. When this song underperformed on the charts, Motown chief Berry Gordy gave the next Temptations single, "Ain't Too Proud To Beg," to Norman Whitfield, and he became their primary writer.

    "Get Ready" went to #1 on the R&B charts for a week, but made just #29 on the Hot 100. "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" was a chart monster, spending eight weeks at #1 R&B, and rising to #13 on the Hot 100.
  • Like many of Robinson's compositions, this is a fun song that can be danced to. This formula led to many Motown hits like "Going To A Go-Go" and "The Way You Do The Things You Do."
  • Rare Earth recorded an unusual version of this song that stretched over 21 minutes and took up the entire second side of their first Motown album, which was issued in the fall of 1969. This version was based on Rare Earth's live version of the song, where every member of the band would get a solo. In 1970, Motown released a 3-minute edit as a single, which went to #4. The song also did well on R&B stations, even though some DJs refused to play it when they found out the group wasn't black - they were one of the first white groups signed to Motown. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Bertrand - Paris, France
  • Rare Earth's version was used on Friends during a wedding reception scene in the season 7 episode "The One With All The Cheesecakes." That rendition was also used in the TV show Chicago Hope ("Small Sacrifices" - 1995; "Rise From The Dead" - 1995) and the 2001 movie A Knight's Tale.
  • The Temptations' version was used on Full House in the 1987 episode "The Miracle Of Thanksgiving." The Tanners sing along with the tune as they set their Thanksgiving table. It was also used in the movies Are We There Yet? (2005) and Jackie Brown (1997).

    A version by the Scottish duo The Proclaimers was featured on Dumb and Dumber (1994) soundtrack.

Comments: 12

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn July 25, 1970, Rare Earth performed "Get Ready" on the Dick Clark ABC-TV network Saturday-afternoon program 'American Bandstand'...
    At the time the song was at #23 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; 7 weeks earlier it had peaked at #4 {for 2 weeks} and it spent 20 weeks on the Top 100...
    And on July 4th, 1970 it reached #1 {for 1 week} on the Canadian RPM Singles chart...
    Rare Earth's next release was also a covered version of a Temptation's record, "(I Know) I'm Losing You", and it also made the Top 10, it peaked at #7...
    Between 1970 and 1978 the Detroit group had nine records on the Top 100 chart; three made the Top 10, besides the above two their third Top 10 record was "I Just Want to Celebrate", it peaked at #7 in 1971.
  • Jennifur Sun from RamonaThe Brass section of the Funks just go to town on this tune. Reason why I like it so much.
  • Roland Chambers from Dorchester, Ma. 02124Rare Earth was not the 1st white group to be signed by Motown. That honor goes to Valadiers.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn January 31st 1971, the Temptations performed "I'm Ready" on the CBS-TV program 'The Ed Sullivan Show'...
    Five years earlier on February 20th, 1966 it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; and on March 27th, 1966 it peaked at #29 (for 1 week) and spent 7 weeks on the Top 100...
    And on April 24th, 1966 it reached #1 (for 1 week) on Billboard's R&B Singles chart...
    In 1970 Rare Earth covered it, their version peaked at #4 (for 2 weeks) on the Top 100; their next released was another Temp cover, "(I Know) I'm Losing You", it reached #7 (for 1 week).
  • Martin from Ringmer, East Sussex, England, United KingdomFactual information: This song was a 'sleeper' in the UK, taking over 3 years to chart after its 1966 release. The single eventually reached No. 10, charting simultanously with "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" (featuring also Diana Ross & The Supremes).
  • Drew from Birmingham, AlPart of the A-Team theme is almost identical to the opening to this Motown hit. Anyone else noticed that?
  • Adam from Columbus, OhOne of Keith Richards most wicked riffs is on The Stones Song "Bitch". Listen and compare. Both great sounding songs. I remember reading that he said he "pinched" it from The Temptations Get Ready. I love The Stones but they were especially eager to take credit and ideas from other artists. There is quite a bit of that in music, and it's ok sort of to be inspired to a certain point, but they seem to be the worst.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyThis record peaked at No. 29; in 1960 a white group named The Temptations charted with a record called "Barbara", it also peaked at No. 29!!!
  • John from Nashville, TnThis song was very out of character for Smokey Robinson. While his other songs were starry-eyed and romantic, this one was aggressive and somewhat sexual.
  • Kristin from Bessemer, Allove the swirling strings at the intro
  • Anthony from Detroit, MiWhen my daughter Allison was a baby, I used to sing Get Ready to her whenever she would cry, and she would stop crying and listen to me singing to her, no matter what reason she was crying. This was the only song that worked.
  • Clubber Lange from Ocean Gate, NjNobodys commented on this great song?...Shame on all of you...
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