Are You Ready for Love
Encyclopedia
"Are You Ready for Love" is a song recorded by Elton John
in 1977, and was first released in the UK in 1979 on the EP
The Thom Bell Sessions
. It was written by Leroy Bell, Thom Bell and Casey James, and was originally produced in Philadelphia by Thom Bell
(who had already produced a series of hits for The Spinners, The Delfonics and The Stylistics). Whilst the song, "Mama Can't Buy You Love" from the EP charted in 1979, this song and the other track on the three-track 12-inch vinyl disc, "Three Way Love Affair", were only minor footnotes at the time.
In 1989, MCA released a 6-track CD, The Complete Thom Bell Sessions
, which contained a different mix of "Are You Ready for Love" in place of the one that appeared on the original 1979 EP. (The original "Thom Bell Sessions" EP mix did, however, surface — along with the EP's other two original tracks — as a b-side to a UK CD-single of "The Last Song" in 1992, issued as Rocket/Phonogram EJSCB-30).
In 2003, it was remixed by Ashley Beedle
and released as a 12" vinyl single on 25 August 2003 and gave Elton a #1 hit in the UK Singles Chart
on its first week of its 2003 re-release, due to its being featured in a television advertisement
for Sky Sports
promoting the new Premier League season of that year. It scored Elton his fifth UK No.1..
The 2003 single's B-side
is "Three Way Love Affair" (from the original EP) and also the full-length 1979 Version of "Are You Ready for Love". On some CD versions, the CD also contains a Quicktime version of a video for the song, with recording studio footage from 1977with Elton recording his vocals.
Various hit R&B vocalists of the late 1970s, including Bell & James, MFSB and The Spinners with lead singer John Edwards, contribute backing and accompanying lead vocals, most prominent on the Thom Bell Sessions mixes of the song, but downplayed somewhat in the 2003 single remix and its edits. In 1979, The Spinners also recorded a version of the song which charted at #25 on the R&B singles chart.
It is worthy of note that the Full Length 1979 Version and the Original Version the same length, however, the latter version is an ensemble recording of sorts. Various black R&B vocalists contribute to help Elton sing on each verse in the Original Version. This interplay of vocalists lends the Original Version a much more lively feel than all other versions.The single's B-side is "Three Way Love Affair" and also the Full Length 1979 Version of "Are You Ready for Love". The aforementioned Original Version is quite rare, and was only re-released in 2003 as a Promo.
along with the Buena Vista Social Club
in 2007 on the album Rhythms del Mundo Classics
.
In 2003, The Detroit Spinners, a soul vocal group active under that name since 1961, reissued Are You Ready For Love, featuring them on backing vocals. In 1977, The Spinners had recorded two versions of the track. One had all of the Spinners, the other with only lead singer John Edwards on vocals. Elton John was not happy with the mixes and sat on the tapes for a year before asking for them to be remixed to give an easier on the ear sound. Finally in 1979, the Phillipe Wynne version was released as a ,making it to number 42 in the UK. The track was subsequently remixed by Ashley Beedle from Xpress-2 in 2003 after becoming a fixture in the Balearic nightclubs and being used by Sky Sports for an advertisement. It then went to number 1 in the singles chart after being released on DJ Fatboy Slim's Southern Fried record label.
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
in 1977, and was first released in the UK in 1979 on the EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
The Thom Bell Sessions
The Thom Bell Sessions
The Thom Bell Sessions is an EP recorded by Elton John in the second half of 1977 but was not released by MCA Records until June 1979. The project was a departure for Elton at the time. Up until that time he had worked almost exclusively with lyricist Bernie Taupin and record producer Gus Dudgeon...
. It was written by Leroy Bell, Thom Bell and Casey James, and was originally produced in Philadelphia by Thom Bell
Thom Bell
Thomas Randolph "Thom" Bell is an American songwriter and producer, best known as one of the creators of the Philadelphia style of soul music in the 1970s. He moved to Philadelphia as a child.-Biography:...
(who had already produced a series of hits for The Spinners, The Delfonics and The Stylistics). Whilst the song, "Mama Can't Buy You Love" from the EP charted in 1979, this song and the other track on the three-track 12-inch vinyl disc, "Three Way Love Affair", were only minor footnotes at the time.
In 1989, MCA released a 6-track CD, The Complete Thom Bell Sessions
The Complete Thom Bell Sessions
The Complete Thom Bell Sessions is a music album recorded by singer/songwriter Elton John. Recorded in 1977, the album brings together the complete recording session by Elton John and producer Thom Bell onto one album...
, which contained a different mix of "Are You Ready for Love" in place of the one that appeared on the original 1979 EP. (The original "Thom Bell Sessions" EP mix did, however, surface — along with the EP's other two original tracks — as a b-side to a UK CD-single of "The Last Song" in 1992, issued as Rocket/Phonogram EJSCB-30).
In 2003, it was remixed by Ashley Beedle
Ashley Beedle
Ashley Beedle is a British music DJ, producer and remixer. People often confuse him for being of Asian origin, but his ethnicity is partly Barbadian....
and released as a 12" vinyl single on 25 August 2003 and gave Elton a #1 hit in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
on its first week of its 2003 re-release, due to its being featured in a television advertisement
Television advertisement
A television advertisement or television commercial, often just commercial, advert, ad, or ad-film – is a span of television programming produced and paid for by an organization that conveys a message, typically one intended to market a product...
for Sky Sports
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
promoting the new Premier League season of that year. It scored Elton his fifth UK No.1..
The 2003 single's B-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
is "Three Way Love Affair" (from the original EP) and also the full-length 1979 Version of "Are You Ready for Love". On some CD versions, the CD also contains a Quicktime version of a video for the song, with recording studio footage from 1977with Elton recording his vocals.
Various hit R&B vocalists of the late 1970s, including Bell & James, MFSB and The Spinners with lead singer John Edwards, contribute backing and accompanying lead vocals, most prominent on the Thom Bell Sessions mixes of the song, but downplayed somewhat in the 2003 single remix and its edits. In 1979, The Spinners also recorded a version of the song which charted at #25 on the R&B singles chart.
It is worthy of note that the Full Length 1979 Version and the Original Version the same length, however, the latter version is an ensemble recording of sorts. Various black R&B vocalists contribute to help Elton sing on each verse in the Original Version. This interplay of vocalists lends the Original Version a much more lively feel than all other versions.The single's B-side is "Three Way Love Affair" and also the Full Length 1979 Version of "Are You Ready for Love". The aforementioned Original Version is quite rare, and was only re-released in 2003 as a Promo.
Covers
This song was covered by The KooksThe Kooks
The Kooks are an English indie rock band formed in Brighton, East Sussex, in 2001. Formed by Luke Pritchard , Hugh Harris , Paul Garred , and Max Rafferty , the lineup of the band remained constant until 2008 and the departure of Rafferty...
along with the Buena Vista Social Club
Buena Vista Social Club
The Buena Vista Social Club was a members club in Havana, Cuba that held dances and musical activities, becoming a popular location for musicians to meet and play during the 1940s...
in 2007 on the album Rhythms del Mundo Classics
Rhythms del Mundo Classics
Rhythms del Mundo Classics is the follow-up album to the internationally successful album Rhythms del Mundo, featuring artists like The Killers, Amy Winehouse, Keane, Jack Johnson, The Rolling Stones, KT Tunstall and Rodrigo y Gabriela.-Charity:...
.
In 2003, The Detroit Spinners, a soul vocal group active under that name since 1961, reissued Are You Ready For Love, featuring them on backing vocals. In 1977, The Spinners had recorded two versions of the track. One had all of the Spinners, the other with only lead singer John Edwards on vocals. Elton John was not happy with the mixes and sat on the tapes for a year before asking for them to be remixed to give an easier on the ear sound. Finally in 1979, the Phillipe Wynne version was released as a ,making it to number 42 in the UK. The track was subsequently remixed by Ashley Beedle from Xpress-2 in 2003 after becoming a fixture in the Balearic nightclubs and being used by Sky Sports for an advertisement. It then went to number 1 in the singles chart after being released on DJ Fatboy Slim's Southern Fried record label.
Charts
| Chart (2003) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
1 |
| US Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... Hot Dance Club Play Hot Dance Club Play The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs... |
1 |