Get Ready (The Temptations song)

The original Temptations version of "Get Ready", produced by Smokey Robinson, was designed as an answer to the latest dance craze, "The Duck". The Temptations' falsetto Eddie Kendricks sings lead on the song, which Robinson produced as an up-tempo dance number with a prominent rhythm provided by Motown drummer Benny Benjamin. The song made it to No. 1 on the U.S. R&B singles chart, while peaking at No. 29 on the pop charts. The B-side to "Get Ready" was the ballad "Fading Away", which was also led by Kendricks. Written by The Miracles members Smokey Robinson, Pete Moore, and Bobby Rogers, and produced by Robinson, "Fading Away" was later included on the Temptations 1966 album ''Gettin' Ready'' along with the hit side. The group's previous singles since "My Girl" had all landed in the U.S. Pop charts (and R&B charts) Top 20. However, although it hit No. 1 on the R&B charts (their first since "My Girl"), "Get Ready" was only a Top 30 hit (missing the Top 20 by nine positions), while "Fading Away" missed all U.S. national charts. As was promised, the next single released would have Norman Whitfield's song on it. When Whitfield's "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" (also a No. 1 R&B hit) made it to thirteen on the pop charts, Motown chief Berry Gordy assigned him to be the Temptations' new main producer. "Get Ready" did eventually become a Top 10 pop hit, but not by the Temptations, but by the Motown rock band Rare Earth. (The Temptations' version reached No. 10 in the UK in 1969.) Until the group recorded "Please Return Your Love to Me" in 1968, this was their last song to feature lead vocals solely by Kendricks, as David Ruffin (who was with the group at the time), and later, Dennis Edwards, would be placed in that role in later songs. The Temptations re-recorded the song as part of a series of promos for American television network CBS during the 1990-91 TV season. The network had been using the "Get Ready for CBS" tagline since 1988, and the song's lyrics were modified to incorporate the tagline. ==Charts==

The rock band Rare Earth regularly played "Get Ready" in concert, where it was a popular staple of their live performances, and recorded a version for their 1968 Verve release, Dreams/Answers. After signing with Motown, executive Barney Ales asked the band to re-record the song for their first release on Motown's then-unnamed rock subsidiary, due to the audience response to the band's cover. The Rare Earth version of the song also peaked at number twenty on the R&B chart. Rare Earth's version of "Get Ready" was routinely used by hip hop artist DJ Kool Herc in turntablism performances. Pioneering hip hop journalist Steven Hager wrote that Rare Earth's recording "was a favorite in the Bronx because it lasted over twenty-one minutes, which was long enough for the serious dancers to get into the beat. They loved to wait for the song's two-minute drum solo to show their most spectacular moves." Charts Weekly charts Year-end charts Certifications == Other cover versions ==

• The song was Ella Fitzgerald's last US chart record (1969), reaching the Billboard Bubbling Under the Hot 100 survey (#126) and the Record World "Non-Rock Top 40". She performed it on The Carol Burnett Show in November 1969. • Australian singer Carol Hitchcock released a version which was produced by Stock, Aitken and Waterman in 1987 that became a moderate hit in her homeland, peaking at No. 18, but only achieved minor UK success, peaking at No. 56. • The song was recorded by its original author Smokey Robinson, for his 1979 album ''Where There's Smoke…''. This 6-minute disco version was also released as a single and made #82 on the R&B Charts. • The group again re-recorded the song from their 1991 album, Milestone as a dance version to the original recording. ==References==