"Are You Ready for Love" is a song recorded by English musician Elton John in 1977 and first released in the UK in 1979 as the first single from the EP The Thom Bell Sessions. It was written by LeRoy Bell, Thom Bell and Casey James, and was originally produced in Philadelphia by Thom Bell, who had already produced a series of hits for the Spinners, the Delfonics and the Stylistics. While the song "Mama Can't Buy You Love" from the EP charted in 1979, this song and the other track on the three-track 12-inch vinyl disc, "Three Way Love Affair", were only minor footnotes at the time. The song originally peaked at number 42 on the UK Single Charts in 1979.

In 1989, MCA released a 6-track CD, The Complete Thom Bell Sessions, which contained a different mix of "Are You Ready for Love" in place of the one that appeared on the original 1979 EP. (The original Thom Bell Sessions EP mix did, however, surface – along with the EP's other two original tracks – as a B-side to a UK CD-single of "The Last Song" in 1992, issued as Rocket/Phonogram EJSCB-30).

2003 version

"Are You Ready for Love"

Single by Elton John

B-side

"Three Way Love Affair"

Released

25 August 2003

Label

Southern Fried, Mercury, Ultra

Songwriter(s)

Thom Bell, LeRoy Bell, Casey James

Producer(s)

Thom Bell

Elton John singles chronology

"Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word"
(2002)

"Are You Ready for Love"
(2003)

"The Heart of Every Girl"
(2003)

Music video

"Are You Ready for Love" (2003 music video version) on YouTube

In 2003, "Are You Ready for Love" was remixed by Ashley Beedle and released as a 12-inch vinyl single on 25 August 2003.^[1] It gave John the sixth No. 1 hit of his career when it topped the UK Singles Chart in the first week of its 2003 re-release,^[2] following his performance of the song in a television advertisement promoting the new 2003–04 football season for Sky Sports.^[3] The 2003 single's B-side is "Three Way Love Affair" (from the original EP) and also the full-length 1979 version of "Are You Ready for Love". On some CD versions, the CD also contains a QuickTime version of a video for the song, with recording studio footage from 1977 with John recording his vocals.

Various hit R&B vocalists of the late 1970s, including Bell and James, MFSB and the Spinners with lead singer John Edwards, contributed backing and accompanying lead vocals, most prominent on the Thom Bell Sessions mixes of the song. The music video, produced in a 1970s retro style, was directed by Kate Dawkins.

Track listings

UK, US, and Australian CD single^[4]^[5]^[6]

"Are You Ready for Love" ('79 radio edit)
"Are You Ready for Love" (full length 1979 version)
"Three Way Love Affair"
"Are You Ready for Love" (CD-ROM video)

UK 12-inch single 1^[7]

A. "Are You Ready for Love" (full length '79 version)

B. "Are You Ready for Love" (Freeform Reform remix)

UK 12-inch single 2^[8]

A. "Are You Ready for Love" ('79 original)

B. "Are You Ready for Love" (Ashley Beedle Love and Protection mono edit)

UK cassette single^[9]

"Are You Ready for Love" ('79 radio edit)
"Are You Ready for Love" (full length 1979 version)
"Three Way Love Affair"

European CD single^[10]

"Are You Ready for Love" ('79 radio edit)
"Are You Ready for Love" (full length 1979 version)

US 12-inch single^[11]

A1. "Are You Ready for Love" (Linus Loves Strobelight mix)

A2. "Are You Ready for Love" (79 full length)

B1. "Are You Ready for Love" (Mylo's Road Map to Peace remix)

B2. "Are You Ready for Love" (Ashley Beedle Love and Protection mono re-edit)

Charts

Weekly charts[edit]

Chart (1979)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[12]	63
Ireland (IRMA)^[13]	17
UK Singles (OCC)^[14]	42

Chart (2003–2004)	Peak position
Australian Club Chart (ARIA)^[15]	4
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[16]	49
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)^[17]	4
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)^[18]	10
Denmark (Tracklisten)^[19]	13
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[20]	6
France (SNEP)^[21]	60
Germany (Official German Charts)^[22]	75
Ireland (IRMA)^[13]	4
Ireland Dance (IRMA)^[23]	1
Scotland (OCC)^[24]	1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[25]	78
UK Singles (OCC)^[2]	1
UK Dance (OCC)^[26]	3
UK Indie (OCC)^[27]	1
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)^[28]	1

Year-end charts[edit]

Chart (2003)	Position
Australian Club Chart (ARIA)^[29]	29
Ireland (IRMA)^[30]	51
UK Singles (OCC)^[31]	27

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)^[32]	Platinum	600,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions

In 1977, the Spinners had recorded two versions of the track. One had all of the Spinners (which was reissued in 2003), while the other one only featured lead singer John Edwards on vocals and was included on their 1979 album From Here to Eternally.

In popular culture

"Are You Ready for Love" was featured on the European version of Donkey Konga 2.^[33]

References

^ Fletcher, Harry; Embley, Jochan (17 May 2019). "Elton John's 15 greatest songs of all time, ranked". Evening Standard. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
^ ^a ^b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
^ "Dance Club Songs : January 10, 2004 | Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
^ Are You Ready for Love (UK CD single liner notes). Elton John. Southern Fried Records. 2003. ECB50CDS.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Are You Ready for Love (Australian CD single liner notes). Elton John. Mercury Records. 2003. 9811671.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Are You Ready for Love (US CD single liner notes). Elton John. Ultra Records. 2003. UL 1177-2.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Are You Ready for Love (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Elton John. Southern Fried Records. 2003. ECB50.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Are You Ready for Love (UK 12-inch single sleeve). Elton John. Southern Fried Records. 2003. ECB50LOVE.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Are You Ready for Love (UK cassette single sleeve). Elton John. Southern Fried Records. 2003. ECB50MCS.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Are You Ready for Love (European CD single liner notes). Elton John. Mercury Records. 2003. 9811670.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Are You Ready for Love (US 12-inch single sleeve). Elton John. Ultra Records. 2003. UL 1177-6.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
^ ^a ^b "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Are You Ready for Love". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
^ "The ARIA Report: ARIA Club Tracks – Week Commencing 10th November 2003" (PDF). ARIA. 10 November 2003. p. 15. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 February 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
^ "Elton John – Are You Ready for Love" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
^ "Elton John – Are You Ready for Love" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
^ "Elton John – Are You Ready for Love" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
^ "Elton John – Are You Ready for Love". Tracklisten. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
^ "Hits of the World – Eurochart" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 115, no. 37. 13 September 2003. p. 43. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
^ "Elton John – Are You Ready for Love" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
^ "Elton John – Are You Ready for Love" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
^ "Top 10 Dance Singles, Week Ending 4 September 2003". GfK Chart-Track. Retrieved 15 June 2019.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
^ "Elton John – Are You Ready for Love". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
^ "Elton John Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
^ "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Club Chart 2003". ARIA. Archived from the original on 15 April 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
^ "Top 100 Songs of 2003". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 2003. Archived from the original on 2 June 2004. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
^ "The Official UK Singles Chart 2003" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
^ "British single certifications – Elton John – Are You Ready for Love". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
^ Kosmina, Ben (27 May 2005). "Donkey Konga 2 PAL song list REVEALED!". nintendoworldreport.com. Retrieved 5 December 2017.

v t e Elton John songs
Discography
1960s	"I've Been Loving You" (1968) "Skyline Pigeon" (1968) "Lady Samantha" (1969) "It's Me That You Need" (1969)
1970s	"Border Song" (1970) "Rock and Roll Madonna" (1970) "From Denver to L.A." (1970) "Take Me to the Pilot" (1970) "Your Song" (1970) "Come Down in Time" (1970) "Friends" (1971) "Levon" (1971) "Indian Sunset" (1971) "Tiny Dancer" (1972) "Rocket Man" (1972) "Honky Cat" (1972) "I Think I'm Going to Kill Myself" (1972) "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" (1972) "Crocodile Rock" (1972) "Elderberry Wine" (1972) "Daniel" (1972) "Have Mercy on the Criminal" (1972) "Teacher I Need You" (1973) "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding" (1973) "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" (1973) "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (1973) "Step into Christmas" (1973) "Candle in the Wind" (1974) "Bennie and the Jets" (1974) "Harmony" (1974) "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (1974) "The Bitch Is Back" (1974) "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" (1974) "Philadelphia Freedom" (1975) "I Saw Her Standing There" (1975) "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" (1975) "We All Fall in Love Sometimes" (1975) "Island Girl" (1975) "Grow Some Funk of Your Own" (1976) "I Feel Like a Bullet (In the Gun of Robert Ford)" (1976) "Pinball Wizard" (1976) "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" (1976) "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" (1976) "Bite Your Lip (Get Up and Dance!)" (1977) "Crazy Water" (1977) "The Goaldiggers Song" (1977) "Ego" (1978) "Part-Time Love" (1978) "Song for Guy" (1978) "Are You Ready for Love" (1979) "Mama Can't Buy You Love" (1979) "Johnny B. Goode" (1979)
1980s	"Little Jeannie" (1980) "Sartorial Eloquence (Don't Ya Wanna Play This Game No More?)" (1980) "Dear God" (1980) "Whatever Gets You thru the Night" (1981) "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever" (1981) "Blue Eyes" (1982) "Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)" (1982) "Ball and Chain" (1982) "All Quiet on the Western Front" (1982) "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" (1983) "I'm Still Standing" (1983) "Kiss the Bride" (1983) "Sad Songs (Say So Much)" (1984) "Passengers" (1984) "Nikita" (1985) "That's What Friends Are For" (1985) "Wrap Her Up" (1985) "Heartache All Over the World" (1986) "Slow Rivers" (1986) "Take Me to the Pilot" (1988) "I Don't Wanna Go On with You Like That" (1988) "Town of Plenty" (1988) "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters (Part Two)" (1988) "Healing Hands" (1989) "Sacrifice" (1989)
1990s	"Club at the End of the Street" (1990) "You Gotta Love Someone" (1990) "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (1991) "The One" (1992) "Runaway Train" (1992) "The Last Song" (1992) "Simple Life" (1993) "True Love" (1993) "Shakey Ground" (1994) "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" (1994) "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" (1994) "Circle of Life" (1994) "Believe" (1995) "Made in England" (1995) "When the Money's Gone" (1995) "You Can Make History (Young Again)" (1996) "Live Like Horses" (1996) "The Madness of King Scar" (1997) "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" (1997) "Candle in the Wind 1997" (1997) "Written in the Stars" (1999)
2000s	"Someday Out of the Blue" (2000) "I Want Love" (2001) "This Train Don't Stop There Anymore" (2002) "Original Sin" (2002) "Are You Ready for Love" (2003) "Ghetto Gospel" (2005) "Electricity" (2005) "The Bridge" (2006) "Joseph, Better You than Me" (2008) "Tiny Dancer (Hold Me Closer)" (2009)
2010s	"All of the Lights" (2010) "Good Morning to the Night" (2012) "Sad" (2012) "Looking Up" (2015) "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again" (2019)
2020s	"Ordinary Man" (2020) "Sine from Above" (2020) "The Pink Phantom" (2020) "It's a Sin" (2021) "Cold Heart (Pnau remix)" (2021) "Merry Christmas" (2021) "Sausage Rolls for Everyone" (2021) "Hold Me Closer" (2022)
Related	Albums discography Videography
Category:Elton John

v t e The Spinners
C.J. Jefferson Marvin Taylor Jessie Robert Peck Ronnie Moss Henry Fambrough Pervis Jackson Billy Henderson C. P. Spencer James Edwards Bobby Smith George Dixon Edgar Edwards G. C. Cameron Philippé Wynne John Edwards Frank Washington Harold "Spike" Bonhart Charlton Washington
Studio albums	The Original Spinners 2nd Time Around Spinners Mighty Love New and Improved Pick of the Litter Happiness Is Being with the Spinners Yesterday, Today, & Tomorrow 8 From Here to Eternally Dancin' and Lovin' Love Trippin' Labor of Love Can't Shake This Feeling Grand Slam Cross Fire Lovin' Feelings Down to Business At Their Best
Other albums	The Best of the Spinners (1973 album) Spinners Live! The Best of the Spinners (1978 album) The Spinners: Their Early Years
Singles	"That's What Girls Are Made For" "I'll Always Love You" "Truly Yours" "It's a Shame" "How Could I Let You Get Away" "I'll Be Around" "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love" "One of a Kind (Love Affair)" "Together We Can Make Such Sweet Music" "Ghetto Child" "Mighty Love" "I'm Coming Home" "Then Came You" "Sadie" "Games People Play" "The Rubberband Man" "Are You Ready for Love" "Working My Way Back to You" "Cupid" "Yesterday Once More" "Funny How Time Slips Away" "I'll Be Around"
Related articles	Discography
Category