I bought this album after seeing the advertisement on the television, which is rather unusual for me, as I must admit that adverts don’t normally persuade me to go off and buy something. After ordering it online I eagerly awaited its arrival hoping that it wasn’t going to be an advertisement impulse purchase I would regret. Luckily it wasn’t and since it landed on my doormat nearly two months ago now I have been enjoying listening to it regularly.

Russell Watson is an English tenor who has released albums, which contain both operatic style and pop songs. Russell has been singing since he was a child yet rose to the public attention when he sang the UK national anthem at the Rugby League Challenge Cup final in 1999. Since then he has released 8 studio albums despite having to undergo surgery twice to remove benign brain tumours.

Russell has become known as the ‘People’s Tenor’ but has also suffered a lot of critical opposition from those who believe that his untrained voice is not up to operatic standards. Russell himself however is not bothered by the criticism believing that he has transcended the bickering and helped bring about a classical crossover that didn’t exist before.

Russell’s 8th studio album – People Get Ready – is the album I am now going to review and is a mixture of soul music, rock and easy listening.

Track 1 – Me and Mrs Jones

‘Mr and Mrs Jones’ has a very soulful feeling from the very beginning and the backing track must get the initial credit for this. As the singing kicks in however it is very clear that Russell has all the ability necessary to continue this feeling throughout and proceeds to project the lyrics forward in a powerful way whilst putting in a great deal of feeling and emotion.
‘’’And now she'll go her way and I'll go mine’’’
’’’But tomorrow we'll meet’’’
’’’The same place, the same time’’’
10/10

Track 2 – If You Don’t Know Me By Now

This track like the previous one has a soulful feeling but is probably more accurately described as an easy-listening ballad. Once again the vocal performance given in this track is brilliant but not quite as polished as the previous one in my opinion. Despite this there is a great deal of power and emotion behind the voice that is projected.
8/10

Track 3 – Papa Was A Rolling Stone

This track again seems to blend the soul feel with another, which is this time rock. The opening bars of music are quite long and this sets the scene for the rest of the track in a brilliant way. The style of the song seems to suit Russell Watson’s voice perfectly and gives him the chance to show of his vocal ability with a mixture of soft and powerful lines.
9/10

Track 4 – People Get Ready

This is probably my favourite track on the album and the one that gives the album it’s name. The soft and delicate backing track is simple yet effective and gives the vocals the right amount of emphasis. The vocals themselves are outstanding in my opinion and the power behind them is immense. It is the lyrics themselves however that I think really make this track, as the emotion that is packed behind them is truly amazing.
‘’’All you need is faith’’’
’’’To hear diesels humming’’’
’’’You don't need no ticket‘’’
’’’You just thank the Lord’’’
10/10

Track 5 – Georgia

This track is another that I am quite fond of, as once again I think that the emotion that is put into producing the vocals is brilliant and really brings out the meaning in the lyrics. The track itself has an easy-listening feel but is full of power from the moment the backing music begins.
‘’’When it's springtime down in Georgia’’’
’’’It's winter time up in Maine’’’
’’’You can go from snow to sunshine’’’
’’’If you board a southbound train’’’
8/10

Track 6 – Backstabbers

Although I have said that Track 4 is my favourite track this one definitely comes in a close second. The lyrics are brilliant and the chorus extremely catchy. The vocals are also once again superb from the outset and because the song has a more upbeat feeling from the last couple it really makes a refreshing change.
10/10

Track 7 – New York State of Mind

I can’t say this is my favourite track on the album but listening carefully I can’t really find anything wrong with it. There must be something however because this just isn’t a track that I go back to. The track itself is an easy-listening one and the vocals are strong and consistent throughout. They do however sound less polished at the higher pitched notes in the track.
7/10

Track 8 – Soul Man

The up beat feel of this track really lifts the mood of the album and is one I really enjoy listening to. Before getting this album this track was always one I enjoyed and Russell Watson really does it justice. The vocals are polished and consistent and seem to suit the overall feel of the track.
9/10

Track 9 – In The Midnight Hour

This track again has an upbeat feel and the backing track isn’t completely dissimilar to the previous one. The vocals are once again very well suited to the track as a whole and Watson puts in a very powerful and consistent performance for the duration of the track.
9/10

Track 10 – Try A Little Tenderness

This song is not one that I am eternally fond of or I least I wasn’t before I heard this version – now I’m a convert. The backing track is simple yet effective but it is the vocals that really make this song what it is. The vocal talent of Russell Watson is clear to hear in this track and the power and emotion that he can put behind the lyrics is really pleasing to hear.
9/10

Track 11 – Heaven Help Us

The lyrics of this song are what really endear me to it, as listening to it I find myself agreeing with what they are saying. Having said that however if the vocals on the track weren’t as good as they are then I do not think that the lyrics themselves would have the same effect on my. Like in the previous track the lyrics are strong and consistently of a high quality. They also once again have a strong sense of emotion behind them, which is rather touching at times.
‘’’ Heaven help the boy who won't reach twenty-one,’’’
’’’Heaven help the man who gave that boy a gun.’’’
10/10

Track 12 – Louisiana 1927

This track is another one that I must admit I am rather fond of. Once again the lyrics are quite interesting to listen to and tell a story that is rather unique in my opinion. Furthermore the backing track places enough emphasis on the lyrics without overpowering them and the vocals themselves are once again consistently strong and full of emotion.
‘’’The river rose all day’’’
’’’The river rose all night’’’
’’’Some people got lost in the flood’’’
’’’Some people got away alright’’’
9/10

Track 13 – I Can’t Stop Loving You

This song is another one that I’m not overly fond of and again another where there isn’t anything particularly wrong with it. The backing track is simple yet effective and the vocals consistently strong and rather pleasant to listen to. I think therefore that it must be the rather dull feeling that the lyrics have that hinders this song.
7/10

Track 14 – House of the Rising Sun

Now I certainly would not have ended the album on this song, as in my opinion this is the worst one on the album. The vocals are consistent and powerful throughout but the song itself is simply too slow in my opinion and has nothing endearing about it.
4/10

Overall I would strongly recommend this album. Like most there are a couple of tracks on it that I’m not too keen of but on the whole I really enjoy listening to it and am glad I made this impulse purchase.