Ready (Sandy Lam album)
Encyclopedia
Ready is the fifth studio album
by Sandy Lam
, released under CBS Records
in the summer of 1988. "Ready" would be a major milestone in Sandy's career because it would be her first album to be heavily influenced by R&B and Jazz
which strongly affected her future. This album will best prove that Sandy is a mature singer who does not need to fall into the mainstream music industry in terms of musical and conceptual directions. In the mainstream, it would be very logical and commercial to release another Dance
song like Grey
, her last album. This is why it is so strongly appreciated by her fans and critics. Following the release of this album, Sandy will leave CBS Records
and sign to Warner Music. This would also be the last album to be influenced by producer Fung.
2. Evening (黃昏)
3. Best Actor (最佳男主角)
4. Him (他)
5. Undrunken Night... (不醉夜...)
6. Are You Ready?(滴汗)
7. Rainy Days (下雨天)--Duet with Blue Jeans
8. Best Actor (after the ceremonies...at his penthouse suite) (最佳男主角(頒獎典禮後...at his penthouse suite))
9. I Don't Want You to Go (真想你知道)
10. Where Do Broken Hearts Go (命運是否這樣)
Are You Ready? (Guitar Mix)--Released under "Brand New Sandy" CBS record 1988
for a mainstream singer. This is because a major change in her image, mostly due to Clarence Hui's idea, and extremely contrasting music to her last album. Despite this, "Ready" went double platinum. The main singles of this album were "Are You Ready?", "Rainy Days" and "Best Actor". "Are You Ready?" topped the RTHK charts and debuted at #1 at the then-new CRHK charts. "Are You Ready?" also earned Sandy a Jade Solid Gold
seasonal award and nomination in 1988."Rainy Days" and "Best Actor" also peaked at #8 in the CRHK charts.
. As mentioned before, this would be a major trigger for singers such as Faye Wong
to release R&B. "Ready" contained no upbeat dances as most of her other album in the 1980s would, even the remixes were just slow alternate versions. Sandy covered six songs of which only one was Japanese(Self-made Space).
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by Sandy Lam
Sandy Lam
Sandy Lam, also known as Lam Yik Lin, is a Cantopop singer who sings in Cantonese, Mandarin, English, and Japanese.-Career:...
, released under CBS Records
CBS Records
CBS Records is a record label founded by CBS Corporation in 2006 to take advantage of music from its entertainment properties owned by CBS Television Studios. The initial label roster consisted of only three artists; rock band Señor Happy and singer/songwriters Will Dailey and P.J...
in the summer of 1988. "Ready" would be a major milestone in Sandy's career because it would be her first album to be heavily influenced by R&B and Jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
which strongly affected her future. This album will best prove that Sandy is a mature singer who does not need to fall into the mainstream music industry in terms of musical and conceptual directions. In the mainstream, it would be very logical and commercial to release another Dance
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
song like Grey
Grey (Sandy Lam album)
"Grey" is the fourth studio album by Sandy Lam, released under CBS Records in 1987. To continue the success of her last album in February of the same year, Sandy and her producers focused on the successful elements of her last album and applied onto this album, which introduced Eurodance into Hong...
, her last album. This is why it is so strongly appreciated by her fans and critics. Following the release of this album, Sandy will leave CBS Records
CBS Records
CBS Records is a record label founded by CBS Corporation in 2006 to take advantage of music from its entertainment properties owned by CBS Television Studios. The initial label roster consisted of only three artists; rock band Señor Happy and singer/songwriters Will Dailey and P.J...
and sign to Warner Music. This would also be the last album to be influenced by producer Fung.
Track listing
1. Self-made Space (自製空間)2. Evening (黃昏)
3. Best Actor (最佳男主角)
4. Him (他)
5. Undrunken Night... (不醉夜...)
6. Are You Ready?(滴汗)
7. Rainy Days (下雨天)--Duet with Blue Jeans
8. Best Actor (after the ceremonies...at his penthouse suite) (最佳男主角(頒獎典禮後...at his penthouse suite))
9. I Don't Want You to Go (真想你知道)
10. Where Do Broken Hearts Go (命運是否這樣)
Alternate versions
Best Actor (Refresh Mix)--Released under "Brand New Sandy" CBS record 1988Are You Ready? (Guitar Mix)--Released under "Brand New Sandy" CBS record 1988
Conceptual Aspect
"Ready"'s main purpose was to tell the public that Sandy was no longer a confused young lady like she was in the last two albums, but a mature adult. To aid with the concept, Sandy cut her hair short, unlike the long curly hair of her last two albums. "Ready"'s concept is most shown by the first single, which is "Are You Ready?". "Are You Ready?" talks about a woman's desire for sex from her lover. Sex would be a rather touchy topic to be sung by a mainstream singer, especially being a female. "Are You Ready?" is possibly the biggest influence for the album's title. This is because she repeatedly sings "Are you ready for love?" in the chorus and the end. All the lyrics of this album are very adult contemporary. Fans believe the change is mostly due to Clarence Hui bringing in lyricist Thomas Chow as part of the production team in "Ready". This album placed Sandy as a gay icon in Hong Kong. This album would be arguably the start of R&B music in the Hong Kong music industry.Commercial Aspect
This album would not be the ideal follow-up of GreyGrey (Sandy Lam album)
"Grey" is the fourth studio album by Sandy Lam, released under CBS Records in 1987. To continue the success of her last album in February of the same year, Sandy and her producers focused on the successful elements of her last album and applied onto this album, which introduced Eurodance into Hong...
for a mainstream singer. This is because a major change in her image, mostly due to Clarence Hui's idea, and extremely contrasting music to her last album. Despite this, "Ready" went double platinum. The main singles of this album were "Are You Ready?", "Rainy Days" and "Best Actor". "Are You Ready?" topped the RTHK charts and debuted at #1 at the then-new CRHK charts. "Are You Ready?" also earned Sandy a Jade Solid Gold
Jade Solid Gold
Jade Solid Gold is a music show on the TVB Jade television channel. It has been running since October 10, 1981.-TVB HD Jade:**Thursday at 6:00am to 6:30am**Thursday at 6:00pm to 6:30pm...
seasonal award and nomination in 1988."Rainy Days" and "Best Actor" also peaked at #8 in the CRHK charts.
Musical Aspect
All of "Ready"'s songs are slow to mid-tempo songs which are mainly R&B and JazzJazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
. As mentioned before, this would be a major trigger for singers such as Faye Wong
Faye Wong
Faye Wong is a highly successful and influential Chinese singer-songwriter and actress who is usually referred to as a diva . Early in her career she briefly used the stage name Shirley Wong . Born in Beijing, she moved to Hong Kong in 1987 and rose to stardom in the early 1990s by singing...
to release R&B. "Ready" contained no upbeat dances as most of her other album in the 1980s would, even the remixes were just slow alternate versions. Sandy covered six songs of which only one was Japanese(Self-made Space).