The Impressions — 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.

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, Seal, The Doors, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Human Nature, Alicia Keys, Joss Stone and Lyfe Jennings, Maceo Parker, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Taylor Hicks, Kevin Max, Terry Callier, Ed Motta, Oficina G3, Dan McLean Jr, and The Idea of North. 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.

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.

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.

The The Impressions — People Get Ready clip can be downloaded for free and without registration.