Cover version of the month #121
Ella Fitzgerald and Ash cover The Temptations
Released on Motown Records in 1966, The Temptations Get Ready, written by Smokey Robinson, is a sub 3-minute gem, with horns, bass, strings and drums creating a driving energetic riff from the off.
I never met a girl that makes me feel the way that you do (you're alright)
The relentless bassline is the engine for the song, with Eddie Kendriks taking lead vocals, instead of David Ruffin. Kendricks soaring falsetto is exceptional, soaring effortlessly above the collision of brass, strings and the driving beat.
There is an urgency to the song, exemplified by the title and the kiss off hook in the chorus get ready, cause here I come. The lift into the chorus is sublime. Get Ready is the sound of young America at its most vibrant, sounding full of confidence ... unstoppable.
And I'm bringing you a love that's true
So get ready, so get ready
I'm gonna try to make you love me too
So get ready, so get ready
Cause here I come, I'm on my way
Fast forward three years and Ella Fitzgerald is recording a rip roaring version at Olympic Studios in London for her 1969 album Ella. It's an absolute revelation! Driven by Brian Bennett on drums, this is a sweat soaked funk jazz romp, with Fitzgerald sounding like she is having the time of her life. The Temptations original has urgency, but Fitzgerald really does ramp it up a notch or two.
The backing vocals are glorious, understated in the mix, still leaving plenty of room for Fitzgerald - as if she was gonna have it any other way! Her vocal performance is fantastic, fire-y and fierce. The horns help to anchor everything. The riff is just played with a little extra oomph. It's a glorious cover version.
Fast forward again, this time almost 30-years and Ash, a trio of teenagers from Northern Ireland, are making a name for themselves with a string of singles. Goldfinger, in April 1996, was the final single to be released, leading to 1977, their debut album, the following month. One of the b-sides was Get Ready - previously released as a limited fan-club 7-inch.
Ash’s version of Get Ready sounds exactly like what it is: three mates in a sweaty studio with Tim Wheeler's fuzzed guitar cranked up to eleven. It's delicious raw garage rock/pop. You can't mess with a melody or riff as strong as the ones Smokey Robinson created. So Ash just put their own spin of teenage exuberance on it. Fuzz, distortion, crashing beats and Tim Wheeler's glorious bubblegum pop delivery. Punk pop perfection.
I am currently in love with this song, particularly the Ella Fitzgerald version, which prompted this blog. Somewhere in my loft is the CD single by Ash. While researching, I also discovered a 21-minute + cover version from 1968 by a band called Rare Earth. It's ... OK ... not as cool as a 20-minute version could be. It begins with a lazy jam before they head into the song, then off on a bass heavy jam to begin with. The beat and bass are probably ripe to be sampled. Organ kicks in and away they go. It's too long for me. Give me the Creedence take on I Heard It Through The Grapevine any day of the week. Rare Earth also released an edited single version, under 3-minutes long.
The Temptations original and both the Ella Fitzgerald and Ask versions are added to my Everything Flows Cool Cover Versions playlist on Spotify which also features all of the songs listed below. Search for the title or CLICK HERE
Previous covers of the month blogs
40. Jumpin' Jack Flash
44. Witchi Tai To
45. Our Lips Are Sealed
46. Sunshine Of Your Love
47. Here Comes The Sun
48. I Think We're Alone Now
49. Don't Let Me Down
50. It's Oh So Quiet
51. Alcoholiday
52. Summer Holiday
53. Who Do You Think You Are?
54. Head On
55. Nothing Compares 2 U
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