Download Instrumental    Okay, hold on to your hats and “get ready” for a song that’s a combination of rock, Motown, and just plain fun. The first two bars will get people out of their seats – guaranteed. After all, the greatest measure of success is a packed dance floor – right?

“Get Ready” was written and produced by Smokey Robinson for The Temptations to record in 1966.  Smokey was The Temptations main songwriter, until this one was released.  When “Get Ready” didn’t fare all that well on the charts, a chap named Norman Whitfield became their primary writer when he presented The Temptations with a chart-busting hit called “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg” (Sorry, Smokey, but you’re only as good as your last hit).  Then, three years later, a band called Rare Earth released a 21 minute live version of “Get Ready” that featured a solo by every member of the band.  They were one of the few white groups signed by Motown, which led some radio stations to refuse to play it because they weren’t black.  Personally,  I think they weren’t playing it because it was too long.  Motown eventually released a 3-minute version and it went straight to the top – far outpacing the original “Temptations” rendition.  Ain’t life funny?

Even the lyrics are kinda fun: “Fee fi fo fum/ Look out, baby, here I come” and “Fiddleleedee, Fiddlelee dum/ Look out, baby, here I come” are just a riot to sing.  I do believe Smokey may have been “smoking” a little something funny when he wrote these lyrics, but they work.  So if you want your crowd to dance and the club manager to give you a smile (and you do), trot out this “Temptations” arrangement – then go into “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg”.  Smokin”!