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Pacific Gas & Electric — Are You Ready
Album: Are You Ready
Avg rating:
7.2

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1379









Released: 1970
Length: 5:19
Plays (last 30 days): 2
There's rumors of war
Men dying and women crying
If you breathe air, you'll die
Perhaps you wonder the reason why
But wait! Don't you worry
A new day is dawning
We'll catch the sun, and away we'll fly...

Are you ready to sit by His throne?
Are you ready not to be alone?
Someone's coming to take you home
And if you're ready, then He'll carry you home

(Are you ready?) (2X)

People say that He won't come
And I don't know what say you
But if He should, would you be the one?
I've got a little question I'd like to ask you

Are you ready to sit by His throne?
Are you ready not to be alone?
Someone's coming to take you home
And if you're ready, then He'll carry you home

(Are you ready?) (2X)

Brothers and sisters, I have many
Stumbling along to do their thing
Love is a song, it's better than any
It's better for music, it's easy to sing

Are you ready to sit by His throne?
Are you ready not to be alone?
Someone's coming to take you home
And if you're ready, then He'll carry you home

Are you ready to sit by His throne?
Are you ready not to be alone?
Someone's coming to take you home
And if you're ready, then He'll carry you home

(Yes, I'm ready)
Are you ready? (Yes, I'm ready)
Are you ready? (Yes, I'm ready)
I've got to know, yeah (Yes, I'm ready)
You sound real good (Yes, I'm ready)
Are you ready? (Yes, I'm ready)
Gonna be sunshine again (Yes, I'm ready)
And the flowers growing (Yes, I'm ready)
Children playing (Yes, I'm ready)
Gonna be all right (Yes, I'm ready)
You've got to be ready (Yes, I'm ready)
I know you're ready (Yes, I'm ready)
Say it loud one more time (Yes, yes, I'm ready)
Oh, yeah (Yes, yes, I'm ready)
Comments (103)add comment
When I was 16 years old I saw PG&E perform "Are You Ready?" on July 5, 1970 at Sicks' Stadium in Seattle with the great Charlie Allen on vocals.  The headliner was Janis Joplin. Other acts on the bill were the Steve Miller Band and the Youngbloods. Tickets were $5 advance, $6 day of show. What a day.
i love this and i love the band's name!!!
1970. AM portable tuned to WTIX. Backyard in the suburbs of New Orleans. Sonic bliss.
GREAT TUNE!!   When this was released, WNEW FM 102.7 NYC used to play it a lot.  Thanx RP!   
I was around when this came out. I hear Black Pumas.
 Ipse_Dixit wrote:

Great band. Horrible utility.



Can you say hexavalent chromium?
As a Californian I can state with confidence that this band is the only Pacific Gas & Electric that does not suck.
squealing - screeching tube amps !! good sonic vibrations goin' on  
 On_The_Beach wrote:

Nowadays they would have added:

 

Thank you for confirming my suspicions 
Love the song, but no, I’m not quite ready to be carried home yet.
bumping it up a notch... it gets better every time I hear it!
 kingart wrote:
Practically its own genre. Rock and roll rhythm and blues gospel disco—and a singing voice for a Merry Clayton soundalike. 

Yes! Even "back in the day," hearing this song (a bit too often) on the radio, this band defied categorization. The album cover tells me they didn't take themselves TOO seriously. A Forties-style pinup, surrounded by phallic food "offerings."

"Are You Ready" indeed!
Well this is a blast from the past.  And I'm shocked to see that I remember every lyric, every lick, every shout.   This must have got a lot of airplay when it hit.
Really glad my band does not have that name at the moment! 
 dandueck07 wrote:
If the church my parents made me attend when I was young had played music like this I might still be a member.  But I'm not, so "No.  I'm not ready."
 
I like your use of "member" with the album art :-)

Mind you, I'd like to see what the altar of this hypothetical church looks like. I'd be more likely to attend too.

Is that Rita Hayworth? I'm not talking about the food.

Cheers, Bill :-)
no wonder why they didn't last long , church music  
If the church my parents made me attend when I was young had played music like this I might still be a member.  But I'm not, so "No.  I'm not ready."
 kcar wrote:

Reminds me of Jesus Christ Superstar...
 
Reminds me of the Les Humphries Singers.
Great band. Horrible utility.
  Yes, I am ready!
 ziggytrix wrote:
that album cover is...
 
"foody"? 
 kcar wrote:


{#Yes}

Reminds me of Jesus Christ Superstar...
 

Ha, and I was so sure it was.
That guitar work is very tastee!
I think we missed an obscure segue opportunity:
Palm City - Aiwake
Candy Tongue - Trentemoller
Are You Ready - Pacific Gas & Electric
(Aiwake's album cover seems to depict a forest fire ... and PG&E.)
Beautiful, soulful, rockin' number from those wonder years Big 10 from your boy
 ziggytrix wrote:
that album cover is... I don't have the words
 
Nowadays they would have added:

I'm Ready - but I don't wanna go just yet.
Thank you for this one, Bill. Together with “All right now” by Free it got me going. {#Bananajam}
never heard this before... seams like dylan did some lifting
are you ready
that album cover is... I don't have the words
Got to put this into my shower singing rotation!
 junebaby65 wrote:
RIP Glenn Schwartz.
 
RIP to all the souls taken by the Camp Fire, courtesy of PG&E, and the entire town of Paradise.  And kudos to my brothers heading to Chico to help with the re-electrification of the area.  Hopefully these damn fires will stop burning and claiming lives.  Long Live RP!!
RIP Glenn Schwartz.
 gratefulgator wrote:
Wait, this band is seriously called Pacific Gas & Electric?  Did they name themselves after the utility?  Weird.
 
No kidding.  If I was in charge of PG&E, I would put this album cover on every monthly statement.  That would liven things up.   
Wait, this band is seriously called Pacific Gas & Electric?  Did they name themselves after the utility?  Weird.
 gmichaelt wrote:
Is this ostensibly gospel with a "What-me-worry?" pro-war message? Pretty disturbing stuff. Unless you've got front-row tickets to the post-armageddon Throne Room show, that is.

 




NO.

{#Crown}






 
Yeeeeahh Booooyyyyyyeeee {#Bananajam}
Is this ostensibly gospel with a "What-me-worry?" pro-war message? Pretty disturbing stuff. Unless you've got front-row tickets to the post-armageddon Throne Room show, that is.
I highly recommend their first 2 albums.
1969 - Pacific Gas & Electric
1970 - Are You Ready? 
 kingart wrote:
Classic! When I last checked, this hot piece was not on iTunes. Another Apple lapse. I'd definitely load it up. 

 
Check again, I just downloaded this song on apple music.
Kinda cheesy but I like it. 
Practically its own genre. Rock and roll rhythm and blues gospel disco—and a singing voice for a Merry Clayton soundalike. 
I've still got that record...


Oh yeah I remember this from when it was out.  Radio at that time was really a lot of fun driving Pacific Coast Highway.
  rtrudeau wrote:
I've never heard this tune but I knew instantly it was from the 70's. So dated!

This is the song for which the term "moldy oldy" was created. 

  
oldfart48 wrote:

untrue, it was for Bing Crosby.....

 
ka-zing!!! good one farty  : )
Yes!  Thanks for throwing some excellent throwback music into the mix....this stuff was the rock in rock and roll.
 kcar wrote:


{#Yes}

Reminds me of Jesus Christ Superstar...

 
Those background vocals are the stuff...
Classic! When I last checked, this hot piece was not on iTunes. Another Apple lapse. I'd definitely load it up. 


Gospel rock I really like with a godlike guitar solo.
I had this album, pic below, I think it was the one before "Are You Ready"

Image result for pacific gas & electric band album covers
Banana for scale.

{#Bananajam}
 skibbenr wrote:
I've got a bit of liking for gospel tinged rock. Probably from a bit too much time in my teens in central Illinois, but damn if it doesn't still get me a bit excited.

 

{#Yes}

Reminds me of Jesus Christ Superstar...
{#Dancingbanana_2}{#Dancingbanana}{#Dancingbanana_2}{#Dancingbanana}{#Dancingbanana_2}
 i get the point.  skibbenr wrote:
I've got a bit of liking for gospel tinged rock. Probably from a bit too much time in my teens in central Illinois, but damn if it doesn't still get me a bit excited.

 


I've got a bit of liking for gospel tinged rock. Probably from a bit too much time in my teens in central Illinois, but damn if it doesn't still get me a bit excited.
The guitar sound is not unlike Robin Trower.
Super Grass meets the Staple Singers-sweet
thanks Bill!!
yes, yes I'm ready   {#Daisy}  what say you ?  kingart wrote:

70s yes. 
Dated? No, not really, imho.
It has a classic 70s sound.
OK by me.
Reminds me of then, and it's still good.
A fine hybrid of gospel, blues and rock.  

 


Among my childhood favorites.  The extended guitar solo was seldom played on AM radio...then came that magical FM rock station..94.7 KMET. {#Pray}AMEN
ULTRAKOOL!!!  : )    GUITAR SOLO IS WICKED
 rtrudeau wrote:
I've never heard this tune but I knew instantly it was from the 70's. So dated!

This is the song for which the term "moldy oldy" was created. 

 
Without those "moldy oldies" there would no contemporary music, you Ninny!{#Iamwithstupid}
 rtrudeau wrote:
I've never heard this tune but I knew instantly it was from the 70's. So dated!

This is the song for which the term "moldy oldy" was created. 

 
70s yes. 
Dated? No, not really, imho.
It has a classic 70s sound.
OK by me.
Reminds me of then, and it's still good.
A fine hybrid of gospel, blues and rock.  
 rtrudeau wrote:
I've never heard this tune but I knew instantly it was from the 70's. So dated!

This is the song for which the term "moldy oldy" was created. 

 
untrue, it was for Bing Crosby.....
pretty hot for 1970....{#Jump}
1970 - A time when God was able to get on the Top 40.
 robotbass wrote:

It IS a 60s guitar solo :)

 
So it's a self-parody. Lovely.
Brings back memories. Sounds like it could be from the musical Hair...{#Dancingbanana}
How many other bands can you suggest that picked a name a local utility service?

I'll begin:

Chicago Transit Authority. 
I don't think I've ever heard this before, but it's vintage groovy and quite likeable!  It's almost most excellent, but I'm conservative in my ratings. 
this got me up dancing great song remember hearing am radio.
 ottojschlosser wrote:
It's fun, but this is like a parody of a 60s guitar solo.

 
It IS a 60s guitar solo :)
Positive sound! It's still hipsmacking cool
Aaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!! Make it stop!!!!!
GREAT lost vinyl (that I still have!) {#Bananajam} Geez I'm old....
WTF? Was this a commercial jingle?

PG+E?!

 
It's fun, but this is like a parody of a 60s guitar solo.
Man, it's probably been 40 years since I've heard this tune. 
Wow!
I always fell right into its hand-clapping gospel rockin' groove. 
{#Group-hug}
Actually, I take that back. 
I heard it here on RP some time ago.
But THAT was the first time I'd heard it in 40 years.
 
Shake it!{#Dancingbanana}
{#Bananajumprope}
OUT-STANDING! 
Blast from the past!
Played the bejesus out of this thing on my portable Panasonic phonograph!
Only one problem: it's about 15 minutes too short!
 
Great Gospel Rock from a time when musical diversity was a cool thing on FM Radio.  
A blast from the past that I have not heard in many, many years!  This is one of the many reasons RP is a great stations
PG & E
 2cats wrote:
Uh oh, I'm old.
 
Makes two of us ... {#Dancingbanana}... but I can still get down! {#Dancingbanana_2}
 Bozo wrote:
The beauty of FM rock radio back in the day was you could hear this right after some Traffic or Jethro Tull:  everybody had a chance and glorious music was being made
  Was trying to explain this to my daughter....
The beauty of FM rock radio back in the day was you could hear this right after some Traffic or Jethro Tull:  everybody had a chance and glorious music was being made
I've never heard this tune but I knew instantly it was from the 70's. So dated!

This is the song for which the term "moldy oldy" was created. 
From a time when Jesus was all over the Top 40
I was over the hill when they made this.......

Methusela is my younger brother.
PG&E!
This song "Godlike" really applies.

A great album too. One of the best from the early 70s
Saw these guys at some club in LA about the time this album came out - Whiskey A Go Go, maybe? I liked the grittiness of some of their songs but always found them disappointingly inconsistent. Of course, they were probably playing exactly what they wanted to and just how they liked it so, what could they do? Anyway, always did kind of like this cut though I preferred others and, in a way, I agree with one of the commenters below who likened it to an out-take from a Broadway musical (low-rent version of "Hair"?).....
Someone said they are old listening to this...I'm just glad I can remember back that far.... Excellent song.... Happy Holidays to all ;)
 RedGuitar wrote:
I love this tune!  Never expected to hear it on RP.
 
ditto!

Uh oh, I'm old.
Pretty amusing to hear this. When I saw the release date, suddenly my age hit me...... {#Bananapiano}
But are they ready? That's what I want to know.
This sounds dated; like an outtake from the broadway musical Hair or something.{#No}
I actually still have this LP.  Neat blast from the past.  Not mine, of course...
I love this tune!  Never expected to hear it on RP.