“I’m Ready”
Song by Ray Charles
“I’m Ready” is a loose and funky short jam from Ray’s 1969 album Doing His Thing. It highlights Ray Charles and his stripped-back band, with only some low-mixed brass sticking out from the basic rhythm. The song was written by Jimmy Lewis (as were all the songs on the LP) and is pulled along by a stretchy, rubbery guitar riff that repeats over and over throughout the track.
Ray’s singing is great on “I’m Ready”. He douses it with the gritty, soulful spikiness that he had throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s. Very much of its time, “I’m Ready” is enhanced by the echo-y late 60s production: all reverb and slinky funk.
The stereo panning on “I’m Ready” is notable. As the song begins, the band is in the right speaker only. When he starts to sing, Ray’s voice is the only thing in the left channel. He’s only joined over there by the Raelets (who support him throughout, though none are credited individually or otherwise on the LP jacket or label) and, later, some of the brass.
There is no solo in “I’m Ready”. Well, that’s not exactly true – there is a kind of screaming solo halfway through. The music doesn’t change, but Ray Charles just hollers along for a few bars. The Raelets sort of hum nervously along during this section too, as if to check up on Ray’s wellbeing. To be honest it feels a bit slapdash; this was not the most fully-realized song he ever released, but it benefits from its casual one-take feel.
“I’m Ready” has an extremely simple lyrical message — he’s ready for her. Maybe he was on the fence before, but now he’s willing to do whatever she wants. All she has to do is ask. Most of the words consist of meandering explorations of that theme, with the Raelets cheerfully underscoring the message.
Having made its point, “I’m Ready” fades abruptly, even startlingly. It’s the second song on Side 2 of Doing His Thing, and was not released on a single.
Listen to “I’m Ready”
Songs on Doing His Thing