View source for Whenever You're Ready (The Zombies song)

{{Short description|1965 single by the Zombies}}
{{Infobox song|name=Whenever You're Ready|cover=The-zombies-whenever-youre-ready-decca-2.jpg|type=single|artist=[[the Zombies]]|album=|A-side=|B-side=[[I Love You (The Zombies song)|I Love You]]|released=16 August 1965 (US)<br>3 September 1965 (UK)|recorded=24 June 1965|studio=[[Decca Studios|Decca]], London|venue=|genre={{hlist|[[Jazz rock]]|[[R&B]]}}|length=2:14|label=[[Parrot Records|Parrot]] (US)<br>[[Decca Records|Decca]] (UK)|writer=[[Rod Argent]]|producer=[[Ken Jones (music)|Ken Jones]]|chronology=The Zombies UK|prev_title=[[She's Coming Home]]|prev_year=1965|title=Whenever You're Ready|year=1965|next_title=Is This The Dream|next_year=1965|misc={{Extra chronology
|artist=The Zombies US
|type=single
| prev_title = [[I Want You Back Again]]
| year       = 1965
| prev_year  = 1965
| title      = Whenever You're Ready
| next_title = [[Just Out of Reach (song)|Just Out Of Reach]]
| next_year  = 1965
}}}}
"'''Whenever You're Ready'''" is a song written by English keyboardist [[Rod Argent]], first recorded by his band [[the Zombies]]. Following an American tour in April 1965 supporting their then single "[[She's Coming Home]]", the band were disappointed in finding out it had been a chart failure. After the follow-up "[[I Want You Back Again]]" was an even less commercial song, pressure from the group's management came forward in order for them to write a commercial song in the style of their earlier singles, which had been hits.
Heavily inspired by vocal group [[the Impressions]], the song was recorded on 24 June 1965 at [[Decca Studios]] in London. It was initially released in the United States through [[Parrot Records]] on 16 August 1965, and a few weeks later in the UK through [[Decca Records]] on 3 September. Though a heavily commercial song, the single flopped, becoming their first to reach the [[Billboard (magazine)|''Billboard'']] [[Bubbling Under Hot 100]] and failing to chart in the UK. Backed by the much more covered [[Chris White (musician)|Chris White]] composition "[[I Love You (The Zombies song)|I Love You]]", "Whenever You're Ready" has received critical acclaim both upon release and retrospectively
== Background ==
Towards the end of April 1965, the Zombies embarked on their second national US tour.{{Sfn|Johansen|2001|pp=128}} Because of the constant traveling, a lot of stress was put on the group,{{Sfn|Johansen|2001|p=129}} particularly guitarist [[Paul Atkinson (guitarist)|Paul Atkinson]], who lost a lot of weight during the tour because of it.{{Sfn|Johansen|2001|pp=129–130}} The reason behind this hectic schedule was that the band performed in front of thousands during performances, in [[Beatlemania]]-like conditions.{{Sfn|Johansen|2001|p=130}} This however did not mirror their chart success, as during the tour, their single "[[She's Coming Home]]" had only reached number 58 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]].<ref name="Hot 1003" /> After the follow-up "[[I Want You Back Again]]" fared even worse in the US (number 95 in ''Billboard'' and 92 in [[Cashbox (magazine)|''Cashbox'' Top 100]]<ref name="Hot 1003">{{Cite magazine|title=The Zombies Chart History - Hot 100|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/the-zombies/chart-history/hsi/|access-date=14 May 2021|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref>{{Sfn|Hoffman|1983|p=661}}), their management pressured them to compose more commercially sounding songs, as "I Want You Back Again" was relatively uncommercial.<ref name=":52">{{Cite web|last=Greenwald|first=Matthew|title=The Zombies – I Want You Back Again – Song Review by Matthew Greenwald|url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/leave-me-be-mt0013293165|access-date=14 May 2021|publisher=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref> This led keyboardist [[Rod Argent]] to write "Whenever You're Ready", which had a similar riff to that of their debut single "[[She's Not There]]" which had been a hit.{{Sfn|Roberts|2006|p=135}}
According to Argent, he was heavily inspired by the American vocal group [[the Impressions]],<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|date=26 October 2018|title=The Zombies Track by Track at Gibson (Whenever You're Ready)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKZ0LH-Rtk4|website=[[YouTube]]|publisher=[[The Zombies]] music}}</ref> who the Zombies also covered several tracks by on stage.<ref name=":4" /> One of these songs was "[[People Get Ready]]", a song that Argent thought was good and in an attempt to compose something in that style, he came up with "Whenever You're Ready.<ref name=":4" /> The song was initially demoed in early June of 1965, following their US tour.{{Sfn|Johansen|2001|p=134}} A few weeks after this, on 24 June, the group once again returned to [[Decca Studios|Decca Studios number two]] in order to record an entire batch of songs, including "Whenever You're Ready."{{Sfn|Johansen|2001|p=134}} The single took 9 takes to record,<ref name=":7">''Zombie Heaven'' (liner notes pg. 45). [[Alec Palao]]. Zombies. [[Big Beat Records (British record label)|Big Beat Records]]. 1997.</ref> and used the Zombies regular method of recording several takes before dubbing the best one.{{Sfn|Johansen|2001|p=137}} The session was produced by their standard producer [[Ken Jones (music)|Ken Jones]],{{Sfn|Johansen|2001|p=92}} who lead vocalist [[Colin Blunstone]] criticized, as the group wasn't allowed into the studio during mixing.<ref name=":4" />
== Release and reception ==
As the Zombies were primarily focused on the American market during this time,<ref name=":7" /> the single got released in the United States first, through [[Parrot Records]].{{Sfn|Russo|1999|p=77}} In the US, the single was only an extremely minor hit, not even reaching the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.<ref name="Hot 1003" /> It did however, reach number ten on the [[Bubbling Under Hot 100]] chart, their first of two singles to do so.<ref name="Hot 1003" /> Unlike their earlier singles, that generally fared better in ''Cashbox''<nowiki/>'s list, "Whenever You're Ready was an even minor hit, only reaching number 114 on that chart.{{Sfn|Hoffman|1983|p=661}} The single was released in the UK a couple of weeks later through [[Decca Records]] on 3 September 1965.{{Sfn|Russo|1999|p=75}} Like all albums issued in the territory following "[[Tell Her No]]", it failed to chart.{{Sfn|Roberts|2006|p=618}} The B-side was bassist [[Chris White (musician)|Chris White's]] "[[I Love You (The Zombies song)|I Love You]]", which later would become a top-20 hit in a cover by American band [[People!]] in 1968.
This had a big impact on the band, who all expected the single to become a hit.{{Sfn|Roberts|2006|p=135}} According to Blunstone, the lack of success with the single was largely due to their vocal performance, as although he liked the song, he thought the [[Vocal harmony|harmonies]] sounded better live.{{Sfn|Roberts|2006|p=135}} Argent, expressed frustration at the lack of success, stating that he really believed "Whenever You're Ready" would become a hit, though acknowledging that the record-buyers had the primary power in this.<ref name=":7" /> He later criticized Jones for the mix on the single, calling it "substansial" which he felt largely hindered the chart success it could have received otherwise.{{Sfn|Roberts|2006|p=135}} Atkinson claims that he and Blunstone "lost a lot of heart" when the single flopped, as he claimed that the Zombies thought that it was the one which would make them chart-toppers once more.{{Sfn|Johansen|2001|p=136}} It also proved to the band that writing number-one singles became increasingly harder, which put a lot of stress on the group.{{Sfn|Johansen|2001|p=135–136}}
In the United States, the single achieved good reviews. In a review for [[Cashbox (magazine)|''Cashbox'' magazine]] the single was introduced as "The Zombies should have no difficulty in zooming up the hitsville path lickety-split with this ultra-commercial Parrot offering called “Whenever You’re Ready."<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|title=Record Reviews: Pick Of The Week|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1965/CB-1965-08-21.pdf|journal=[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cashbox]]|issue=21 August 1965|page=18}}</ref> They called the track a "medium-paced" romantic song, positively noting the lyrics about the protagonist wanting his ex-girlfriend to return.<ref name=":0" /> In the UK, the single also received primarily positive reviews. In a review for ''[[New Musical Express]]'', critic Derek Johnson stated "piano and cymbals support the soloist at the outset, then it breaks into a unison-vocal mid-shaker."<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Johnson|first=Derek|title=A Hit For Zombies?|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/New-Musical-Express/1965/New-Musical-Express-1965-09-03-OCR.pdf|journal=[[New Musical Express]]|issue=3 September 1965|page=4}}</ref> He writes that he enjoyed their [[rhythm and blues]]-influenced music while simultaneously praising [[Colin Blunstone]] for his vocal output, which Johnson believes works because he doesn't resort to shouting.<ref name=":1" /> He ends the review by positively noting the keyboard solo which appears during the instrumental break.<ref name=":1" />
Retrospectively, Matthew Greenwald calls "Whenever You're Ready" one of the group's "most accessible efforts".<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|last=Greenwald|first=Matthew|title=The Zombies – Whenever You're Ready – Song Review by Matthew Greenwald|url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/whenever-youre-ready-mt0010659829|access-date=14 May 2021|publisher=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref> He states that the "lush" melody is reminiscent of both [[Burt Bacharach]] and [[Brian Wilson]], calling it a "stylish slice of [[Beach Boys]]-inspired pop".<ref name=":1" /> He closes by stating that is one of the best earlier compositions by the group.<ref name=":1" /> Eric Harvey from ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' calls the track "[[Motown]]-flavoured",<ref>{{Cite web|last=Harvey|first=Eric|title=The Zombies: The Zombies / I Love You / R.I.P.|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/the-zombies-i-love-you-rip-the-zombies/|access-date=2021-06-13|website=Pitchfork|date=3 August 2020 |language=en}}</ref> while Michael Gallucci of ''[[Ultimate Classic Rock]]'' listed it at number seven on his list of Top-10 Songs By The Zombies,<ref name="Gallucci">{{Cite web|last=Gallucci|first=Michael|date=19 December 2018|title=Top 10 Songs By The Zombies|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/zombies-band-songs/|access-date=13 June 2021|publisher=Ultimate Classic Rock}}</ref> citing it to be "loaded with the band's classic sounds, including a jazzy electric piano solo and a catchy chorus."<ref name="Gallucci"/> He ends by stating that he wished it fared better on the charts.<ref name="Gallucci"/>
== Charts ==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+Chart performance for "Whenever You're Ready"
! scope="col" |Chart (1965)
! scope="col" |Peak position
|-
|-
! scope="row" |US ''[[Billboard Hot 100|Billboard]]'' [[Bubbling Under Hot 100]]<ref name="Hot 1003"/>
| align="center" |110
|-
! scope="row" |US [[Cash Box (magazine)|''Cash Box'']] Bubbling Under Top 100{{Sfn|Hoffman|1983|p=661}}
| align="center" |114
|}
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
== Sources ==
* {{Cite book|last=Johansen|first=Claes|title=The Zombies: Hung Up on a Dream: a Biography - 1962-1967|publisher=SAF Publishing|year=2001|isbn=978-094-671-93-41}}
* {{Cite book|last=Roberts|first=David|title=[[British Hit Singles & Albums]]|publisher=[[Guinness World Records|Guinness World Records Limited]]|year=2006|isbn=1-904994-10-5|edition=19th}}
* {{Cite book|last=Hoffman|first=Frank|title=The Cash Box Singles Charts, 1950-1981|publisher=[[Rowman & Littlefield|The Scarecrow Press]]|year=1983|isbn=978-081-081-59-57}}
* {{Cite book|last=Russo|first=Greg|title=Time of the Season: The Zombies Collector's Guide|publisher=Crossfire Publications|year=1999|isbn=978-096-481-57-59}}
{{The Zombies}}
[[Category:Songs written by Rod Argent]]
[[Category:1965 songs]]
[[Category:Parrot Records singles]]
[[Category:The Zombies songs]]
[[Category:1965 singles]]
[[Category:Decca Records singles]]