People Get Ready

"People Get Ready" was a 1965 single by The Impressions, and the title track from the album of the same name. The single is today the group's best-known hit, reaching number-three on the Billboard R&B Chart and number 14 on the Billboard Pop Chart. The gospel-influenced track was a Curtis Mayfield composition, and displayed the growing sense of social and political awareness in his writing.

Rolling Stone magazine named "People Get Ready" the 24th greatest song of all time. The song was included in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. "People Get Ready" has also been chosen as one of the Top 10 Best Songs Of All Time by a panel of 20 top industry songwriters and producers, including Paul McCartney, Brian Wilson, Hal David, and others as reported to Britain's Mojo music magazine.

Mayfield said, "That was taken from my church or from the upbringing of messages from the church. Like there's no hiding place and get on board, and images of that sort. I must have been in a very deep mood of that type of religious inspiration when I wrote that song." The song is the first Impressions hit to feature Mayfield's guitar in the break.

Cover versions

It has been covered by many musicians, including:

• Dokken
• Johnny Rivers
• Dusty Springfield
• Bob Marley (as "One Love")
• Ziggy Marley
• Dionne Warwick
• The Everly Brothers
• Kenny Rankin
• Vanilla Fudge
• Jeff Beck and Rod Stewart (this version reached #48 in the US)
• Jeff Beck and Sting (2009)
• Jeff beck and Joss Stone
• Phil Collins
• Jimmy Little
• Eva Cassidy
• Barbara Dickson (1976)
• Hed PE
• John Denver
• Steve Perry
• U2 (1987, The Joshua Tree Tour)
• Aretha Franklin
• Paul Carrack
• The Housemartins
• The Walker Brothers
• Trin-i-tee 5:7
• Margaret Becker
• Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
• The Chambers Brothers
• John Oates
• The Meters
• Seal
• The Doors
• The Blind Boys of Alabama (with Ben Harper)
• Human Nature
• Alicia Keys
• Joss Stone and Lyfe Jennings
• Maceo Parker
• Ladysmith Black Mambazo (with Phoebe Snow)
• Taylor Hicks
• Kevin Max
• Terry Callier
• Ed Motta
• Oficina G3
• The Idea of North
• Take 6.
• Tony Carey
• Ryan Shaw
• Christian band NewSong have also done their own version of the song, with slightly modified lyrics
• Dolly Parton and Cher (1978, television special)

Bob Dylan has recorded three different known versions of the song in three different decades. Dylan recorded the song with The Band in 1967 during the famed Basement Tapes Sessions. This version has never been officially released, but is widely available on the various bootlegs of The Basement Tapes. He recorded a second version in 1975, which was released in 1978 on a four song promotional record for his film Renaldo and Clara. That version was one of the 42 rarities on the iTunes anthology of Dylan's output. Dylan recorded a third version in 1988 for the film Flashback.

In 1993, flautist Alexander Zonjic (pronounced Zon-chick) covered the song from his album "Passion."

Canadian country music singer Michelle Wright covered the song on the 1997 compilation album Peace in the Valley. Her version peaked at #49 on the RPM Adult Contemporary charts.

In 2009, Al Green & Heather Headley released a version of the song on the compilation album Oh Happy Day: An All-Star Music Celebration. Also, that same year, country music star Ronnie Milsap covered the song on his gospel album Then Sings My Soul.

At the 25th anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concert, Jeff Beck and Sting performed a cover version of "People Get Ready". Sting sung lyrics that were more Universalist than the original version.

On Season 9 of American Idol, Crystal Bowersox sang this song to rave reviews from the panel of judges.

External links

• "People Get Ready: Song Inspired by March on Washington Carries Enduring Message" for NPR's series, The March on Washington: The 40th Anniversary
• "So, What Are Your Ten Best Songs of All Time?", TIME, July 12, 2000

References

Wikiquote: People Get Ready – Zitate