| People Get Ready | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Live album by | ||||
| Released | 1966 | |||
| Recorded | 1965 | |||
| Venue | Ash Grove, Los Angeles | |||
| Label | Vault 9003 | |||
| Producer | Ed Michel Engineer: Wally Heider | |||
| The Chambers Brothers chronology | ||||
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People Get Ready was a live album for The Chambers Brothers. It represents recordings that the group made in 1965. It was released on the Vault label in 1966.
The album was produced by Ed Michel who, in the past a house bassist at the Ash Grove club. People Get Ready was one of the first albums he cut in the club. [1] Producer Michel was a friend of Vault Records director Jack Lewark. According to Michel, Lewark wanted to have an album of The Chambers Brothers recorded. Apparently, the request was made at the last minute. Michel said he'd do it and got hold of Wally Heider who ran everything from his station wagon. They parked the vehicle in the alley behind the Ash Grove, and they were ready to record the Chambers Brothers live. About three-quarters into the recording, Heider informed Michel that the tape machine had issues and that they couldn't use the tape. When the Chambers Brothers finished their set, Michel explained to them that they couldn't use the recording. He said to the group, "The set you just did was a rehearsal" and told them to do it again. The Chambers Brothers informed the audience what was going on and performed another set which, in the mind of the producer was a better performance. [2]
The album was released on Vault 9003 in 1966. [3] The recordings were said to be from Los Angeles and Boston. The musicians on the album were, Joe Chambers, Willie Chambers, Lester Chambers, George Chambers and Mike Konnic. [4]
The album was reviewed in the 23 April 1966 issue of Cash Box with the reviewer saying that the group's harmonies were surefooted and the instrumental sound was funky and infectious. The songs singled out for mention were "People Get Ready", "Call Me" and "Hooka Tooka". The reviewer also said that the ears of the listener would be extited and it had an appeal to those who are fans of rock, blues or just top music. [8]
The album was reviewed in Vladimir Bogdanov's All Music Guide to Soul. Bruce Eder said that the group sounded a little but surer on the basic blues numbers than the some of the R&B that they covered. He said that they did a beautiful job on harmonizing on the Curtis Mayfield song, "People Get Ready" and their displaying a command on the poppier side of rock & roll with their composition "Call Me" with its "Hang on Sloopy" style riff. He finished off with saying that the album with its companion release "Now" were good low cost introductions to The Chambers Brothers who in that time were a commanding exciting stage presence. [9]
The album was one of the four Chambers Brothers albums revisited in the 14 February 2008 edition of PopMatters . The reviewer noted that the Chambers Brothers refused to be defined by one genre. Even though the genre-crossing produced some awkward moments, the group was never out of their element. The wicked rhythm guitar of Willie Chambers being meshed with George Chambers’ languid bass and Lester Chambers' blues-tinged harmonica inciting the audience and their approval was also noted. [10]
It was reported on the Soul Tracks website that on 31 October 2007, Collectors’ Choice Music was to reissue four out-of-print early Chambers Brothers albums. They were, People Get Ready, Now , Shout! and Feelin' the Blues . [11]
| No. | Track | Composer | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | "Yes Yes Yes" | J. Reed | 3:20 | |
| A2 | "Tore Up" | H. Ballard | 3:00 | |
| A3 | "Reconsider Baby" | L. Fulsom | 4:45 | |
| A4 | "You've Got Me Running" | J. Reed | 3:05 | |
| A5 | "People Get Ready" | C. Mayfield | 2:30 | |
| A6 | "Money (That's What I Want)" | B. Gordy Jr., J. Bradford | 2:53 | |
| B1 | "You Can Run" | J. Taylor | 3:35 | |
| B2 | "Hooka Tooka" | Arranged by J. Chambers, W. Chambers | 2:50 | |
| B3 | "Call Me" | J. Chambers, W. Chambers | 3:15 | |
| B4 | "Summertime" | H. Dubose, G. Gershwin | 4:10 | |
| B5 | "Your Old Lady" | Curtis, Glick, Isley | 2:50 | |
| B6 | "It's All Over Now" | B. Womack, S. Womack | 5:41 | |
| Title | Catalogue | Year | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People Get Ready | Vault 825-9003 | 1966 | 8-Track Cartridge | United States |
| People Get Ready | Reo RLPS 694 | 1966 | Vinyl, LP, Album | Canada |
| People Get Ready | Vocalion VA-L 8058 | 1966 | Vinyl, LP, Album | UK |