Elton John – Are You Ready For Love (1979) (released May 31, 1979)

Elton wanted to work with Philly legend Thom Bell, who produced this soul disco masterpiece and co-wrote it with his nephew LeRoy Bell and Casey James.

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On May 31, 1979, Elton John's soul disco masterpiece “Are You Ready For Love” (1979) was released.  It was originally recorded in 1977, and produced by legendary Philadelphia producer Thom Bell.

In 1977, Elton and his longtime lyricist Bernie Taupin were taking a break from working together.  Elton wanted to record with Bell, one of the architects of the Sound of Philadelphia, especially as disco neared the heights of its mainstream popularity.

Bell had recently relocated from Philadelphia to the state of Washington, so initial sessions took place that fall at Kaye-Smith Studios in Seattle.  Additional overdubs were later completed at Sigma Sound Studios back in Philly, where video footage was recorded of Elton and Bell holding listening sessions for a studio packed full of other musicians, studio employees and assorted fans.

“Are You Ready For Love” was co-written by Bell, along with his nephew LeRoy Bell and Casey James (the songwriting duo who charted as Bell and James, most notably with “Livin' It Up (Friday Night)” which hit #7 R&B in 1979).  The Spinners had just replaced their lead vocalist Philippe Wynne with John Edwards, and the track was initially recorded as a duet featuring Elton and Edwards trading leads, backed by the rest of the Spinners.

Reportedly, the project ended before an entire album could be recorded because relations soured between Elton and Bell.  It was Elton’s first experience as simply one singer among several contributing to a project, working on songs that he himself did not write.  Only six tracks were completed, and all were shelved until January, 1979, when Elton and his engineer Clive Franks remixed three of them for an eventual June release of what became The Thom Bell Sessions EP (1979).

John Edwards’ lead vocals were removed from “Are You Ready For Love” and replaced with more of Elton’s, but it wasn’t released as a single.  “Mama Can’t Buy You Love” was chosen instead, and peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August.  It was Elton’s first top-ten U.S. hit in nearly three years, selling over a million copies.

In 1989, MCA released The Complete Thom Bell Sessions on CD, which included all six songs recorded in 1977.

More recently, “Are You Ready For Love” was reedited by British DJ/remixer Ashley Beedle, and released as a 12” vinyl single on August 25, 2003.  It went to #1 on the UK Singles Chart in its first week of re-release, and also hit #1 on U.S. dance charts.

#soul #disco #ThomBell #EltonJohn