PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC
''ARE YOU READY''
1970
39:06
1 Are You Ready (C. Allen, J. Hill) 05:21
2 Hawg For You (O. Redding) 04:41
3 Staggolee (C. Allen, J. Hill) 03:48
4 The Blackberry (O, R & R. Isley) 05:27
5 Love, Love, Love, Love, Love (D. Cochrane, J. Hill) 03:50
6 Mother, Why Do You Cry (C. Allen) 05:04
7 Elvira (B. Block, C. Allen, F. Cook, G. Schwartz, T. Marshall) 01:57
8 Screamin' (B. Block) 04:25
9 When A Man Loves A Woman (A. Wright, C. Lewis) 4:29
Brent Block/Bass
Frank Cook/Drums
Glenn Schwartz/Lead Guitar, Harp On 3
Tom Marshall/Rhythm Guitar
Charlie Allen/Vocals
Rusty Young/Steel Guitar On 6
John Hill/Piano & Organ On 9
The Blackberries, Clydie King, Delores Hall, Ginger Schackne, Lorna Willard, Merry Clayton, Sherell Atwood, Shirlie Matthews*, Venetta Fields/Backing Vocals On 1, 9
REVIEW/AMG
by Richie Unterberger
***1/2 Of *****
Anchored by Pacific Gas & Electric's sole hit "Are You Ready," the album of the same name -- actually their third LP -- treads a thin line between eclecticism and confusion, and is actually weaker on the whole than its predecessor, 1969's Pacific Gas & Electric. Certainly the ominous yet inspirational gospel-funk-psychedelia of "Are You Ready" was the strongest track, and to this day the only one that most casual rock fans remember. Yet other cuts on the album indicated they couldn't decide whether to be a heavy blues-rock group ("Hawg for You"), a more soul-dipped version of the Band ("Staggolee"), a swampy soul-rock outfit (a cover of the Isley Brothers' "The Blackberry"), or, least convincingly, cry-in-your-beer honky tonk balladeers ("Mother, Why Don't You Cry?"). This wouldn't have been such a handicap if the material wasn't as mediocre as it was, and any song titled "Love, Love, Love, Love, Love" is a warning that lyrical imagination wasn't in abundance on the day it was composed. They do play the James Brown-psychedelic rock-fusion card with some gusto on "Elvira," and Charlie Allen's vocals are pretty soulful, though it's only on a cover of Percy Sledge's "When a Man Loves a Woman" that they come to the fore in a no-nonsense manner.
----------
BIOGRAPHY/AMG
by Sean Westergaard
The seeds of Pacific Gas & Electric were sown in Los Angeles back in 1966 when self-taught guitarist Tom Marshall formed Bluesberry Jam, whose ranks included drummer Charlie Allen. Allen turned out to be such a fine vocalist that he ended up becoming the frontman; his drum chair was filled by Adolfo de la Parra in 1968. Later that year, de La Parra left to join Canned Heat, replacing Frank Cook who then joined Bluesberry Jam. After adding guitarist Glenn Schwartz and bassist Brent Block later in 1968, the group changed their name to Pacific Gas & Electric.
Their first album, Get It On, was released by Kent in 1968, but failed to make much of an impact. However, following their appearance at the Miami Pop Festival in late 1968, Pacific Gas & Electric signed with Columbia, who released Pacific Gas & Electric in 1969. Their next album, Are You Ready, supplied their first hit, the title track, which made it into the Top 20 in the summer of 1970.
Despite this success, all the bandmembers left, forcing Charlie Allen to build a new Pacific Gas & Electric around him. Enter guitarist Ken Utterback, bassist Frank Petricca, Ron Woods on drums, Jerry Aiello on keyboards, trumpet player Stanley Abernathy, sax players Alfred Gallegos and Virgil Gonsalves, and percussionist Joe Lala. Around this time, the Pacific Gas & Electric Utility Company asked the band to change their name, which was shortened to PG&E, also the title of their 1971 album. They also appeared in and provided music for the Otto Preminger film Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon starring Liza Minnelli.
After 1972 or so, PG&E basically turned into a solo Charlie Allen vehicle. They released Starring Charlie Allen on Dunhill in 1973, then called it quits.
-----
BIOGRAPHY/WIKIPEDIA
Pacific Gas & Electric was an American blues rock band in the late 1960s and early 1970s, led by singer Charlie Allen. Their biggest hit was the gospel-tinged "Are You Ready?"
The band was formed in Los Angeles in 1967, by guitarist Tom Marshall, bassist Brent Block, lead guitarist Glenn Schwartz (formerly of The James Gang) and drummer Charlie Allen, who had previously played in the band Bluesberry Jam. When it became clear that Allen was the best singer in the new group, he became the front man, and Frank Cook, previously of Canned Heat, came into the band on drums. Originally known as the Pacific Gas and Electric Blues Band, they shortened their name when they signed to Kent Records, releasing the album Get It On in early 1968. The record was not a success, but following the band's performance at the Miami Pop Festival in May 1968 they were signed by Columbia Records.
Their first album for Columbia, Pacific Gas and Electric, was issued in 1969, but they achieved greater success with their next album, Are You Ready, in 1970. The title track "Are You Ready?" reached #14 on the Billboard Hot 100.[3] After the album was recorded, Cook was injured in a car accident and was replaced on drums by Ron Woods, Cook staying on as manager. Marshall and Schwartz left and were replaced by Frank Petricca (bass) and Ken Utterback (guitar), with Brent Block moving to rhythm guitar before leaving later in 1970. Unusually for the time, the band contained both black and white musicians, which led to rioting and gunfire on one occasion when the band, who toured widely, performed in Raleigh, North Carolina.
In 1971, the band changed their name to PG&E, following pressure from the utility company of the same name. The band also expanded, Allen, Woods, Petricca and Utterback being joined by Jerry Aiello (keyboards), Stanley Abernathy (trumpet), Alfred Galagos and Virgil Gonsalves (saxophones), and Joe Lala (percussion). They recorded the album PG&E, and also appeared in and provided music for the Otto Preminger film Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon starring Liza Minnelli. The band then split up. A final album using the name, Pacific Gas & Electric Starring Charlie Allen, was recorded by Allen with studio musicians and released on the Dunhill label in 1973. For a time the group also included Rick Durrett formerly of the band The Coven on keyboards.
Tom Marshall later suffered deteriorating health and personal circumstances, being homeless since the 1980s.[4] Frank Petricca became a commodity broker. Charlie Allen died on 7 May 1990, aged 48.
"Are You Ready?" was later recorded by Gospel music act DeGarmo And Key in 1984 for their album "Communication".
TO THE TOP
''ARE YOU READY''
1970
39:06
1 Are You Ready (C. Allen, J. Hill) 05:21
2 Hawg For You (O. Redding) 04:41
3 Staggolee (C. Allen, J. Hill) 03:48
4 The Blackberry (O, R & R. Isley) 05:27
5 Love, Love, Love, Love, Love (D. Cochrane, J. Hill) 03:50
6 Mother, Why Do You Cry (C. Allen) 05:04
7 Elvira (B. Block, C. Allen, F. Cook, G. Schwartz, T. Marshall) 01:57
8 Screamin' (B. Block) 04:25
9 When A Man Loves A Woman (A. Wright, C. Lewis) 4:29
Brent Block/Bass
Frank Cook/Drums
Glenn Schwartz/Lead Guitar, Harp On 3
Tom Marshall/Rhythm Guitar
Charlie Allen/Vocals
Rusty Young/Steel Guitar On 6
John Hill/Piano & Organ On 9
The Blackberries, Clydie King, Delores Hall, Ginger Schackne, Lorna Willard, Merry Clayton, Sherell Atwood, Shirlie Matthews*, Venetta Fields/Backing Vocals On 1, 9
REVIEW/AMG
by Richie Unterberger
***1/2 Of *****
Anchored by Pacific Gas & Electric's sole hit "Are You Ready," the album of the same name -- actually their third LP -- treads a thin line between eclecticism and confusion, and is actually weaker on the whole than its predecessor, 1969's Pacific Gas & Electric. Certainly the ominous yet inspirational gospel-funk-psychedelia of "Are You Ready" was the strongest track, and to this day the only one that most casual rock fans remember. Yet other cuts on the album indicated they couldn't decide whether to be a heavy blues-rock group ("Hawg for You"), a more soul-dipped version of the Band ("Staggolee"), a swampy soul-rock outfit (a cover of the Isley Brothers' "The Blackberry"), or, least convincingly, cry-in-your-beer honky tonk balladeers ("Mother, Why Don't You Cry?"). This wouldn't have been such a handicap if the material wasn't as mediocre as it was, and any song titled "Love, Love, Love, Love, Love" is a warning that lyrical imagination wasn't in abundance on the day it was composed. They do play the James Brown-psychedelic rock-fusion card with some gusto on "Elvira," and Charlie Allen's vocals are pretty soulful, though it's only on a cover of Percy Sledge's "When a Man Loves a Woman" that they come to the fore in a no-nonsense manner.
----------
BIOGRAPHY/AMG
by Sean Westergaard
The seeds of Pacific Gas & Electric were sown in Los Angeles back in 1966 when self-taught guitarist Tom Marshall formed Bluesberry Jam, whose ranks included drummer Charlie Allen. Allen turned out to be such a fine vocalist that he ended up becoming the frontman; his drum chair was filled by Adolfo de la Parra in 1968. Later that year, de La Parra left to join Canned Heat, replacing Frank Cook who then joined Bluesberry Jam. After adding guitarist Glenn Schwartz and bassist Brent Block later in 1968, the group changed their name to Pacific Gas & Electric.
Their first album, Get It On, was released by Kent in 1968, but failed to make much of an impact. However, following their appearance at the Miami Pop Festival in late 1968, Pacific Gas & Electric signed with Columbia, who released Pacific Gas & Electric in 1969. Their next album, Are You Ready, supplied their first hit, the title track, which made it into the Top 20 in the summer of 1970.
Despite this success, all the bandmembers left, forcing Charlie Allen to build a new Pacific Gas & Electric around him. Enter guitarist Ken Utterback, bassist Frank Petricca, Ron Woods on drums, Jerry Aiello on keyboards, trumpet player Stanley Abernathy, sax players Alfred Gallegos and Virgil Gonsalves, and percussionist Joe Lala. Around this time, the Pacific Gas & Electric Utility Company asked the band to change their name, which was shortened to PG&E, also the title of their 1971 album. They also appeared in and provided music for the Otto Preminger film Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon starring Liza Minnelli.
After 1972 or so, PG&E basically turned into a solo Charlie Allen vehicle. They released Starring Charlie Allen on Dunhill in 1973, then called it quits.
-----
BIOGRAPHY/WIKIPEDIA
Pacific Gas & Electric was an American blues rock band in the late 1960s and early 1970s, led by singer Charlie Allen. Their biggest hit was the gospel-tinged "Are You Ready?"
The band was formed in Los Angeles in 1967, by guitarist Tom Marshall, bassist Brent Block, lead guitarist Glenn Schwartz (formerly of The James Gang) and drummer Charlie Allen, who had previously played in the band Bluesberry Jam. When it became clear that Allen was the best singer in the new group, he became the front man, and Frank Cook, previously of Canned Heat, came into the band on drums. Originally known as the Pacific Gas and Electric Blues Band, they shortened their name when they signed to Kent Records, releasing the album Get It On in early 1968. The record was not a success, but following the band's performance at the Miami Pop Festival in May 1968 they were signed by Columbia Records.
Their first album for Columbia, Pacific Gas and Electric, was issued in 1969, but they achieved greater success with their next album, Are You Ready, in 1970. The title track "Are You Ready?" reached #14 on the Billboard Hot 100.[3] After the album was recorded, Cook was injured in a car accident and was replaced on drums by Ron Woods, Cook staying on as manager. Marshall and Schwartz left and were replaced by Frank Petricca (bass) and Ken Utterback (guitar), with Brent Block moving to rhythm guitar before leaving later in 1970. Unusually for the time, the band contained both black and white musicians, which led to rioting and gunfire on one occasion when the band, who toured widely, performed in Raleigh, North Carolina.
In 1971, the band changed their name to PG&E, following pressure from the utility company of the same name. The band also expanded, Allen, Woods, Petricca and Utterback being joined by Jerry Aiello (keyboards), Stanley Abernathy (trumpet), Alfred Galagos and Virgil Gonsalves (saxophones), and Joe Lala (percussion). They recorded the album PG&E, and also appeared in and provided music for the Otto Preminger film Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon starring Liza Minnelli. The band then split up. A final album using the name, Pacific Gas & Electric Starring Charlie Allen, was recorded by Allen with studio musicians and released on the Dunhill label in 1973. For a time the group also included Rick Durrett formerly of the band The Coven on keyboards.
Tom Marshall later suffered deteriorating health and personal circumstances, being homeless since the 1980s.[4] Frank Petricca became a commodity broker. Charlie Allen died on 7 May 1990, aged 48.
"Are You Ready?" was later recorded by Gospel music act DeGarmo And Key in 1984 for their album "Communication".
TO THE TOP
