"Are You Ready?" is a song written by Charlie Allen and John Hill and performed by Pacific Gas & Electric. It reached No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 49 on the R&B chartPacific Gas & Electric, "Are You Ready?" chart positions Retrieved January 10, 2016 in 1970. The band featured it on their 1970 album Are You Ready?Pacific Gas & Electric, Are You Ready? Retrieved January 10, 2016
The song was produced by John HillPacific Gas & Electric, "Are You Ready?" single release Retrieved January 10, 2016 and featured the back-up vocal group The Blackberries.Pacific Gas & Electric, "Are You Ready?" single release information Retrieved January 10, 2016
The album version was nearly 6 minutes in length and had to be cut down to 3 minutes for the promo single, resulting in omitting the slower recitative Introduction, the omission of the first verse: "People say he won't come", pertaining to the unmentioned Jesus Christ. This reference was considered too controversial for AM airplay, especially in rural areas, the Deep South, and the Bible Belt sections of the United States. The instrumental and the repeated call and response sections in the coda were shortened: "Yes, I'm Ready", and "Yes, Yes, I'm Ready". The edit version ends with the fading repeat of the chorus section.
The single was ranked No. 93 on Billboard's Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1970.Billboard 1970 Top 100 Year-End Singles Retrieved January 10, 2016 Music critic Robert Christgau has called it "easily [the band's] best cut ever".
The song found a resurgence after being featured in the third episode of Season 3's The Righteous Gemstones.
Charts Weekly charts Chart (1969/70)PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report) 44Canada (RPM) 8Italy (Musica e Dischi) Set "Tipo" on "Singoli", then search "Pacific Gas & Electric" under "Artista". 19United States (Billboard) 14
Year-end charts Chart (1970)PeakpositionUSA (Billboard 100) 93
Other versions DeGarmo and Key, on their 1984 album, Communication.DeGarmo and Key, Communication Retrieved January 10, 2016 The Staple Singers, as a single in 1985; it reached No. 39 on the R&B chart.The Staple Singers, "Are You Ready?" chart position Retrieved January 10, 2016
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