"Get Ready" is a Motown song written by Smokey Robinson. It led to two popular versions by different artists: the Temptations released it in 1966, and it reached number 29 on the U.S. charts. Rare Earth released it in 1970, and it reached number 4 on the U.S. charts. This song is important because it was the last one Smokey Robinson wrote and produced for the Temptations. This happened because of an agreement between Berry Gordy, the label's owner, Smokey Robinson, and Norman Whitfield. The agreement stated that if "Get Ready" was not successful, then Whitfield's song, "Ain't Too Proud to Beg," would be released next. This led to Whitfield taking over as the group's producer.

The Temptations version

The original version of "Get Ready" by The Temptations was created by Smokey Robinson as a response to a popular dance trend called "The Duck." Eddie Kendricks, a member of The Temptations with a high-pitched voice, sang lead on the song. Robinson made the track an upbeat dance song with strong rhythms played by Motown drummer Benny Benjamin. The song reached number one on the U.S. R&B singles chart and number 29 on the pop charts.

The B-side of "Get Ready" was the ballad "Fading Away," also led by Kendricks. The song was written by Smokey Robinson, Pete Moore, and Bobby Rogers of The Miracles and produced by Robinson. "Fading Away" was later added to The Temptations' 1966 album Gettin' Ready along with "Get Ready."

Before "Get Ready," The Temptations' songs since "My Girl" had all reached the Top 20 on both the U.S. pop and R&B charts. However, "Get Ready" reached number one on the R&B chart (their first since "My Girl") but only reached the Top 30 on the pop chart, missing the Top 20 by nine spots. "Fading Away" did not appear on any U.S. national charts. As promised, the next single featured a song by Norman Whitfield. When his song "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" (also a number one R&B hit) reached number 13 on the pop charts, Motown leader Berry Gordy named Whitfield as The Temptations' new main producer. Later, "Get Ready" became a Top 10 pop hit, but not by The Temptations—by the Motown rock band Rare Earth. The Temptations' version reached number 10 on the UK charts in 1969.

Until The Temptations recorded "Please Return Your Love to Me" in 1968, "Get Ready" was their last song with Kendricks as the sole lead vocalist. Later, David Ruffin (who was in the group at the time) and then Dennis Edwards took over the lead vocal role in other songs.

In the 1990–91 TV season, The Temptations re-recorded "Get Ready" for a series of promos for CBS. The network had used the tagline "Get Ready for CBS" since 1988, and the song's lyrics were changed to include this phrase.

Rare Earth version

The rock band Rare Earth often performed the song "Get Ready" during their concerts, where it became a common part of their live shows. They recorded a version of the song for their 1968 Verve album, Dreams/Answers. After signing with Motown, executive Barney Ales asked the band to re-record the song for their first release on Motown's then-unnamed rock label because of the strong audience reaction to their cover. When a first recording was discarded, the band set up their own recording equipment and made a 21-minute version of the song. Later, audience applause was added to this recording. The new version was shortened to 2 minutes and 46 seconds for a single, which was released in the UK by Tamla Motown. This was the only release by Rare Earth on Motown itself. Unlike the Temptations' version, Rare Earth's recording was successful on the pop chart, reaching #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970. It also reached number twenty on the R&B chart.

Rare Earth's version of "Get Ready" was frequently used by hip hop artist DJ Kool Herc during record mixing performances. Pioneering hip hop journalist Steven Hager wrote that Rare Earth's recording "was a favorite in the Bronx because it lasted over twenty-one minutes, which was long enough for serious dancers to get into the beat. They loved to wait for the song's two-minute drum solo to show their most spectacular moves."

Other cover versions

• The song was Ella Fitzgerald's final entry on the US charts in 1969. It reached the Billboard Bubbling Under the Hot 100 survey at position #126 and the Record World "Non-Rock Top 40" chart. She performed the song on The Carol Burnett Show in November 1969.
• Australian singer Carol Hitchcock released a version of the song in 1987. It was produced by Stock, Aitken, and Waterman. The recording reached No. 18 in Australia but only achieved limited success in the UK, peaking at No. 56.
• The song was recorded by its original author, Smokey Robinson, for his 1979 album Where There's Smoke…. A 6-minute disco version of the song was also released as a single and reached #82 on the R&B Charts.
• The group re-recorded the song for their 1991 album Milestone as a dance version of the original recording.