Get Ready

Get Ready: Smokey Robinson's Upbeat Motown Gem and The Temptations' Charming 1966 Single

Get Ready is one of the defining examples of Smokey Robinson's gift for crafting infectious, uptempo Motown pop. Written and produced by Robinson, the song was recorded by The Temptations and released in early 1966 on Gordy Records, a Motown subsidiary label. The track entered the Billboard Hot 100 on February 26, 1966, debuting at number 84, and climbed steadily over the following weeks, reaching a peak position of number 29 on April 2, 1966. It spent seven weeks on the chart overall, a respectable run for a mid-tempo dance number that was also competing in the robust soul market of the period.

The recording sessions took place at Hitsville U.S.A., the legendary studio complex at 2648 West Grand Boulevard in Detroit, Michigan, which served as the creative and commercial engine of the entire Motown operation. The Temptations at this stage comprised Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin, Otis Williams, and David Ruffin, and it was Kendricks who took the lead vocal on "Get Ready," deploying his high, clear tenor to particularly charming effect. The combination of Kendricks's falsetto lilt and Robinson's playful lyrical construction made for an irresistible package that aligned perfectly with the upbeat, danceable aesthetic Motown had cultivated throughout the early 1960s.

Smokey Robinson wrote the song with characteristic economy and warmth. The production was handled by Robinson himself, working with the Funk Brothers, Motown's legendary house band, who supplied the tight rhythmic groove and melodic punctuation that made the track so immediately appealing. The Funk Brothers, who included bassist James Jamerson and drummer Benny Benjamin among their ranks during this period, were responsible for the distinct sonic character that united dozens of Motown hits, and their contributions to "Get Ready" are audible throughout in the crisp beat and the punchy brass accents.

Although "Get Ready" did not reach the very top of the Billboard Hot 100, it performed solidly on the rhythm and blues charts, and its cultural resonance proved long-lasting. Rare Earth, a rock band signed to Motown's Rare Earth label, recorded a celebrated cover version in 1969 that stretched the song into a lengthy, psychedelic rock arrangement. Their rendition reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970, giving the song a significantly higher pop chart peak than the original Temptations recording had achieved. This cross-genre success helped cement "Get Ready" as one of the most recognizable songs in the Motown catalog.

The Temptations themselves were in a particularly prolific period around 1966, releasing a steady stream of singles that explored both the group's ballad capabilities and their uptempo strengths. Songs such as "My Girl" (1964-65), "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" (1966), and "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep" (1966) bracketed "Get Ready" in their discography, and each of these tracks contributed to establishing the group as the premier male vocal ensemble at Motown. Berry Gordy, the label's founder, had a particular affinity for the Temptations and consistently gave them access to Motown's best writers and producers, a fact evident in the quality of the material they recorded throughout the mid-1960s.

The commercial arc of "Get Ready" on the Billboard Hot 100, moving from 84 to 67 to 53 to 42 to 32 before reaching its peak of 29, reflected the gradual word-of-mouth traction that many Motown singles accumulated through radio play and live performances. The group was also an extraordinarily skilled live act, and their appearances on television programs such as The Ed Sullivan Show helped translate recorded music success into broader public visibility. Their sharp choreography and precision harmonies made them visual as well as audio entertainers, which was crucial in the era when television was becoming central to music promotion.

In retrospect, "Get Ready" occupies an important place in the Temptations' catalog not only as a standalone hit but as an indicator of the group's range. Smokey Robinson's production here demonstrated that the group could excel in an exuberant, almost vaudevillian pop mode as well as the more romantic ballad style. The song has been featured in numerous film soundtracks, television programs, and advertising campaigns over the decades, maintaining its freshness and accessibility well past its original release date. It remains a staple of any comprehensive survey of Motown's golden era, and its inclusion in oldies radio formats confirms that the appeal Robinson encoded into the track has not diminished across six decades.