People Get Ready (song)

Single infobox |
Name = People Get Ready
Artist = The Impressions
from Album = People Get Ready
Released = 1965
Format = 7" single
Recorded = Chicago: 1964
Genre = Soul
Length = 2:38
Label = ABC-Paramount
10622
Writer = Curtis Mayfield
Producer = Johnny Pate
Chart position =
*#14 (US Pop Singles)
**#3 (US R&B Singles)
Reviews =
Last single ="Amen"
(1964)
This single ="People Get Ready"
(1965)
Next single ="Woman's Got Soul"
(1965)

"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.

Cover versions

It has been covered by many musicians, including Bob Marley (as "One Love"), Ziggy Marley, Dionne Warwick,The Everly Brothers, Kenny Rankin, Vanilla Fudge, Jeff Beck and Rod Stewart (this version reached #45 in the US), Phil Collins, Jimmy Little, Eva Cassidy, Hed PE, John Denver, Steve Perry, U2, Aretha Franklin, The Housemartins, The Walker Brothers,Trin-i-tee 5:7, Margaret Becker, The Chambers Brothers, John Oates, The Meters, The Doors, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Human Nature, Alicia Keys and Lyfe Jennings, Maceo Parker, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Taylor Hicks, Kevin Max, Terry Callier, Ed Motta, and Dan McLean Jr. Christian band NewSong have also done their own version of the song, with slightly modified lyrics. John Mayer's "Waiting on the World to Change" is set to the same chord progression and instrumental rhythm.

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 1978, which was released in the same year 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.

External links

* [http://www.npr.org/news/specials/march40th/people.html: "People Get Ready: Song Inspired by March on Washington Carries Enduring Message"] for NPR's series, [http://www.npr.org/news/specials/march40th/index.html The March on Washington: The 40th Anniversary]