451:"substansial" which he felt largely hindered the chart success it could have received otherwise. Atkinson claims that he and Blunstone "lost a lot of heart" when the single flopped, as he claimed that the Zombies thought that it was the one which would make them chart-toppers once more. It also proved to the band that writing number-one singles became increasingly harder, which put a lot of stress on the group.
29:
461:
the single was introduced as "The
Zombies should have no difficulty in zooming up the hitsville path lickety-split with this ultra-commercial Parrot offering called “Whenever You’re Ready." They called the track a "medium-paced" romantic song, positively noting the lyrics about the protagonist
450:
sounded better live. Argent, expressed frustration at the lack of success, stating that he really believed "Whenever You're Ready" would become a hit, though acknowledging that the record-buyers had the primary power in this. He later criticized Jones for the mix on the single, calling it
385:", a song that Argent thought was good and in an attempt to compose something in that style, he came up with "Whenever You're Ready. The song was initially demoed in early June of 1965, following their US tour. A few weeks after this, on 24 June, the group once again returned to
389:
in order to record an entire batch of songs, including "Whenever You're Ready." The single took 9 takes to record, and used the
Zombies regular method of recording several takes before dubbing the best one. The session was produced by their standard producer
507:
listed it at number seven on his list of Top-10 Songs By The
Zombies, citing it to be "loaded with the band's classic sounds, including a jazzy electric piano solo and a catchy chorus." He ends by stating that he wished it fared better on the charts.
445:
This had a big impact on the band, who all expected the single to become a hit. According to
Blunstone, the lack of success with the single was largely due to their vocal performance, as although he liked the song, he thought the
476:
for his vocal output, which
Johnson believes works because he doesn't resort to shouting. He ends the review by positively noting the keyboard solo which appears during the instrumental break.
288:" was an even less commercial song, pressure from the group's management came forward in order for them to write a commercial song in the style of their earlier singles, which had been hits.
332:
Towards the end of April 1965, the
Zombies embarked on their second national US tour. Because of the constant traveling, a lot of stress was put on the group, particularly guitarist
336:, who lost a lot of weight during the tour because of it. The reason behind this hectic schedule was that the band performed in front of thousands during performances, in
479:
Retrospectively, Matthew
Greenwald calls "Whenever You're Ready" one of the group's "most accessible efforts". He states that the "lush" melody is reminiscent of both
468:, critic Derek Johnson stated "piano and cymbals support the soloist at the outset, then it breaks into a unison-vocal mid-shaker." He writes that he enjoyed their
422:'s list, "Whenever You're Ready was an even minor hit, only reaching number 114 on that chart. The single was released in the UK a couple of weeks later through
366:), their management pressured them to compose more commercially sounding songs, as "I Want You Back Again" was relatively uncommercial. This led keyboardist
779:
1409:
1124:
1093:
1074:
1026:
1461:
406:
As the
Zombies were primarily focused on the American market during this time, the single got released in the United States first, through
1051:
912:
1471:
1038:
1486:
1388:
1253:
435:
321:
55:
879:
462:
wanting his ex-girlfriend to return. In the UK, the single also received primarily positive reviews. In a review for
1476:
1260:
1173:
1117:
491:-inspired pop". He closes by stating that is one of the best earlier compositions by the group. Eric Harvey from
333:
1395:
962:
249:
28:
1274:
1066:
1267:
1159:
1043:
536:
431:
415:
317:
313:
418:
chart, their first of two singles to do so. Unlike their earlier singles, that generally fared better in
1481:
1377:
1281:
1205:
503:
352:
307:
on 3 September. Though a heavily commercial song, the single flopped, becoming their first to reach the
285:
231:
1370:
1110:
637:
341:
340:-like conditions. This however did not mirror their chart success, as during the tour, their single "
308:
281:
189:
1466:
1324:
1239:
920:
547:
493:
464:
936:
632:
1416:
1246:
887:
455:
360:
1349:
371:
324:", "Whenever You're Ready" has received critical acclaim both upon release and retrospectively
284:", the band were disappointed in finding out it had been a chart failure. After the follow-up "
1089:
1070:
1047:
1022:
532:
391:
345:
172:
48:
1423:
1306:
469:
382:
81:
1402:
1213:
1152:
473:
395:
378:
370:
to write "Whenever You're Ready", which had a similar riff to that of their debut single "
292:
166:
677:
1288:
480:
407:
300:
138:
36:
991:
1455:
1440:
1331:
447:
423:
386:
304:
296:
143:
86:
1195:
484:
381:, who the Zombies also covered several tracks by on stage. One of these songs was "
133:
1363:
1356:
1190:
1166:
1133:
738:
427:
337:
277:
94:
40:
410:. In the US, the single was only an extremely minor hit, not even reaching the
1233:
1200:
1145:
775:
728:
488:
367:
273:
158:
152:
102:
940:
681:
377:
According to Argent, he was heavily inspired by the
American vocal group
280:. Following an American tour in April 1965 supporting their then single "
937:"The Zombies – Whenever You're Ready – Song Review by Matthew Greenwald"
678:"The Zombies – I Want You Back Again – Song Review by Matthew Greenwald"
454:
In the United States, the single achieved good reviews. In a review for
426:
on 3 September 1965. Like all albums issued in the territory following "
733:
439:
398:
criticized, as the group wasn't allowed into the studio during mixing.
498:
438:", which later would become a top-20 hit in a cover by American band
107:
299:
in London. It was initially released in the United States through
316:
and failing to chart in the UK. Backed by the much more covered
1106:
1102:
729:"The Zombies Track by Track at Gibson (Whenever You're Ready)"
303:
on 16 August 1965, and a few weeks later in the UK through
750:
748:
1019:
The
Zombies: Hung Up on a Dream: a Biography - 1962-1967
704:
702:
700:
698:
659:
657:
655:
1433:
1341:
1316:
1298:
1225:
220:
178:
164:
150:
132:
116:
93:
80:
72:
62:
46:
35:
21:
1086:Time of the Season: The Zombies Collector's Guide
414:Hot 100. It did however, reach number ten on the
963:"The Zombies: The Zombies / I Love You / R.I.P."
472:-influenced music while simultaneosuly praising
517:Chart performance for "Whenever You're Ready"
430:", it failed to chart. The B-side was bassist
1118:
8:
985:
983:
981:
355:" fared even worse in the US (number 95 in
295:, the song was recorded on 24 June 1965 at
272:" is a song written by English keyboardist
1125:
1111:
1103:
627:
625:
623:
621:
619:
515:
27:
18:
863:
851:
803:
791:
754:
610:
598:
586:
574:
839:
708:
663:
567:
501:-flavoured", while Michael Gallucci of
34:
1063:The Cash Box Singles Charts, 1950-1981
990:Gallucci, Michael (19 December 2018).
906:
904:
902:
900:
898:
874:
872:
827:
815:
767:
765:
763:
633:"The Zombies Chart History - Hot 100"
221:The Zombies US singles chronology
179:The Zombies UK singles chronology
7:
723:
721:
719:
717:
344:" had only reached number 58 on the
1410:Butcher's Tale (Western Front 1914)
880:"Record Reviews: Pick Of The Week"
14:
487:, calling it a "stylish slice of
1039:British Hit Singles & Albums
291:Heavily inspired by vocal group
1044:Guinness World Records Limited
961:Harvey, Eric (3 August 2020).
1:
992:"Top 10 Songs By The Zombies"
276:, first recorded by his band
554:
540:
1462:Songs written by Rod Argent
1503:
1088:. Crossfire Publications.
16:1965 single by the Zombies
1140:
545:
529:
524:
521:
262:
225:
216:
183:
26:
1017:Johansen, Claes (2001).
387:Decca Studios number two
374:" which had been a hit.
1275:Breathe Out, Breathe In
1061:Hoffman, Frank (1983).
1036:Roberts, David (2006).
994:. Ultimate Classic Rock
741:music. 26 October 2018.
552:Bubbling Under Top 100
351:. After the follow-up "
22:"Whenever You're Ready"
1472:Parrot Records singles
1268:As Far as I Can See...
924:(3 September 1965): 4.
774:(liner notes pg. 45).
537:Bubbling Under Hot 100
416:Bubbling Under Hot 100
314:Bubbling Under Hot 100
1487:Decca Records singles
1385:Whenever You're Ready
1378:I Want You Back Again
1282:Still Got That Hunger
1206:Sebastian Santa Maria
891:(21 August 1965): 18.
504:Ultimate Classic Rock
402:Release and reception
353:I Want You Back Again
286:I Want You Back Again
270:Whenever You're Ready
241:Whenever You're Ready
232:I Want You Back Again
199:Whenever You're Ready
68:3 September 1965 (UK)
1084:Russo, Greg (1999).
935:Greenwald, Matthew.
913:"A Hit For Zombies?"
676:Greenwald, Matthew.
394:, who lead vocalist
206:"Is This The Dream"
1325:Time of the Zombies
1067:The Scarecrow Press
921:New Musical Express
601:, pp. 129–130.
518:
465:New Musical Express
66:16 August 1965 (US)
1417:Time of the Season
1247:Odessey and Oracle
1021:. SAF Publishing.
866:, p. 135–136.
516:
1477:The Zombies songs
1449:
1448:
1396:Just Out Of Reach
1371:She's Coming Home
1095:978-096-481-57-59
1076:978-081-081-59-57
1042:(19th ed.).
1028:978-094-671-93-41
559:
558:
497:calls the track "
342:She's Coming Home
282:She's Coming Home
266:
265:
258:
257:
250:Just Out Of Reach
212:
211:
190:She's Coming Home
1494:
1434:Related articles
1424:Imagine the Swan
1127:
1120:
1113:
1104:
1099:
1080:
1057:
1032:
1004:
1003:
1001:
999:
987:
976:
975:
973:
972:
958:
952:
951:
949:
947:
932:
926:
925:
917:
911:Johnson, Derek.
908:
893:
892:
884:
876:
867:
861:
855:
849:
843:
837:
831:
825:
819:
813:
807:
801:
795:
789:
783:
780:Big Beat Records
769:
758:
752:
743:
742:
725:
712:
706:
693:
692:
690:
688:
673:
667:
661:
650:
649:
647:
645:
629:
614:
608:
602:
596:
590:
584:
578:
572:
519:
470:rhythm and blues
383:People Get Ready
227:
226:
185:
184:
169:
155:
128:
127:
123:
51:
31:
19:
1502:
1501:
1497:
1496:
1495:
1493:
1492:
1491:
1452:
1451:
1450:
1445:
1429:
1403:Care of Cell 44
1350:She's Not There
1337:
1312:
1294:
1221:
1214:Darian Sahanaja
1153:Colin Blunstone
1136:
1131:
1096:
1083:
1077:
1060:
1054:
1035:
1029:
1016:
1013:
1008:
1007:
997:
995:
989:
988:
979:
970:
968:
960:
959:
955:
945:
943:
934:
933:
929:
915:
910:
909:
896:
882:
878:
877:
870:
862:
858:
850:
846:
838:
834:
826:
822:
814:
810:
802:
798:
790:
786:
770:
761:
753:
746:
727:
726:
715:
707:
696:
686:
684:
675:
674:
670:
662:
653:
643:
641:
631:
630:
617:
609:
605:
597:
593:
585:
581:
577:, pp. 128.
573:
569:
564:
514:
474:Colin Blunstone
404:
396:Colin Blunstone
379:the Impressions
372:She's Not There
330:
293:the Impressions
253:
244:
235:
207:
202:
193:
165:
151:
142:
125:
121:
120:
112:
67:
47:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1500:
1498:
1490:
1489:
1484:
1479:
1474:
1469:
1464:
1454:
1453:
1447:
1446:
1444:
1443:
1437:
1435:
1431:
1430:
1428:
1427:
1420:
1413:
1406:
1399:
1392:
1381:
1374:
1367:
1360:
1353:
1345:
1343:
1339:
1338:
1336:
1335:
1328:
1320:
1318:
1314:
1313:
1311:
1310:
1302:
1300:
1296:
1295:
1293:
1292:
1289:Different Game
1285:
1278:
1271:
1264:
1257:
1250:
1243:
1229:
1227:
1223:
1222:
1220:
1219:
1216:
1211:
1208:
1203:
1198:
1193:
1188:
1185:
1182:
1178:
1177:
1170:
1163:
1156:
1149:
1141:
1138:
1137:
1132:
1130:
1129:
1122:
1115:
1107:
1101:
1100:
1094:
1081:
1075:
1058:
1052:
1033:
1027:
1012:
1009:
1006:
1005:
977:
953:
927:
894:
868:
856:
854:, p. 136.
844:
842:, p. 618.
832:
820:
808:
796:
794:, p. 137.
784:
759:
757:, p. 134.
744:
713:
711:, p. 135.
694:
668:
666:, p. 661.
651:
615:
613:, p. 130.
603:
591:
589:, p. 129.
579:
566:
565:
563:
560:
557:
556:
553:
543:
542:
539:
527:
526:
525:Peak position
523:
513:
510:
481:Burt Bacharach
408:Parrot Records
403:
400:
329:
326:
301:Parrot Records
264:
263:
260:
259:
256:
255:
246:
237:
223:
222:
218:
217:
214:
213:
210:
209:
204:
195:
181:
180:
176:
175:
170:
162:
161:
156:
148:
147:
136:
130:
129:
118:
114:
113:
111:
110:
105:
99:
97:
91:
90:
84:
78:
77:
74:
70:
69:
64:
60:
59:
52:
44:
43:
33:
32:
24:
23:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1499:
1488:
1485:
1483:
1480:
1478:
1475:
1473:
1470:
1468:
1465:
1463:
1460:
1459:
1457:
1442:
1439:
1438:
1436:
1432:
1425:
1421:
1418:
1414:
1411:
1407:
1404:
1400:
1397:
1393:
1390:
1386:
1382:
1379:
1375:
1372:
1368:
1365:
1361:
1358:
1354:
1351:
1347:
1346:
1344:
1340:
1334:
1333:
1332:Zombie Heaven
1329:
1327:
1326:
1322:
1321:
1319:
1315:
1309:
1308:
1304:
1303:
1301:
1297:
1291:
1290:
1286:
1284:
1283:
1279:
1277:
1276:
1272:
1270:
1269:
1265:
1263:
1262:
1258:
1256:
1255:
1251:
1249:
1248:
1244:
1242:
1241:
1236:
1235:
1231:
1230:
1228:
1224:
1217:
1215:
1212:
1209:
1207:
1204:
1202:
1199:
1197:
1194:
1192:
1189:
1186:
1183:
1181:Steve Rodford
1180:
1179:
1176:
1175:
1174:Paul Atkinson
1171:
1169:
1168:
1164:
1162:
1161:
1157:
1155:
1154:
1150:
1148:
1147:
1143:
1142:
1139:
1135:
1128:
1123:
1121:
1116:
1114:
1109:
1108:
1105:
1097:
1091:
1087:
1082:
1078:
1072:
1068:
1064:
1059:
1055:
1053:1-904994-10-5
1049:
1045:
1041:
1040:
1034:
1030:
1024:
1020:
1015:
1014:
1010:
993:
986:
984:
982:
978:
967:
964:
957:
954:
942:
938:
931:
928:
923:
922:
914:
907:
905:
903:
901:
899:
895:
890:
889:
881:
875:
873:
869:
865:
864:Johansen 2001
860:
857:
853:
852:Johansen 2001
848:
845:
841:
836:
833:
830:, p. 75.
829:
824:
821:
818:, p. 77.
817:
812:
809:
806:, p. 92.
805:
804:Johansen 2001
800:
797:
793:
792:Johansen 2001
788:
785:
781:
777:
773:
772:Zombie Heaven
768:
766:
764:
760:
756:
755:Johansen 2001
751:
749:
745:
740:
736:
735:
730:
724:
722:
720:
718:
714:
710:
705:
703:
701:
699:
695:
683:
679:
672:
669:
665:
660:
658:
656:
652:
640:
639:
634:
628:
626:
624:
622:
620:
616:
612:
611:Johansen 2001
607:
604:
600:
599:Johansen 2001
595:
592:
588:
587:Johansen 2001
583:
580:
576:
575:Johansen 2001
571:
568:
561:
551:
550:
544:
538:
535:
534:
528:
522:Chart (1965)
520:
511:
509:
506:
505:
500:
496:
495:
490:
486:
482:
477:
475:
471:
467:
466:
460:
458:
452:
449:
443:
441:
437:
433:
432:Chris White's
429:
425:
424:Decca Records
421:
417:
413:
409:
401:
399:
397:
393:
388:
384:
380:
375:
373:
369:
365:
363:
358:
354:
350:
348:
343:
339:
335:
334:Paul Atkinson
327:
325:
323:
320:composition "
319:
315:
312:
311:
306:
305:Decca Records
302:
298:
297:Decca Studios
294:
289:
287:
283:
279:
275:
271:
261:
251:
247:
242:
238:
233:
229:
228:
224:
219:
215:
205:
200:
196:
191:
187:
186:
182:
177:
174:
171:
168:
163:
160:
157:
154:
153:Songwriter(s)
149:
145:
140:
137:
135:
131:
119:
115:
109:
106:
104:
101:
100:
98:
96:
92:
88:
85:
83:
79:
75:
71:
65:
61:
57:
53:
50:
45:
42:
38:
30:
25:
20:
1482:1965 singles
1384:
1330:
1323:
1317:Compilations
1305:
1287:
1280:
1273:
1266:
1259:
1252:
1245:
1238:
1232:
1196:Russ Ballard
1172:
1165:
1158:
1151:
1144:
1085:
1062:
1037:
1018:
996:. Retrieved
969:. Retrieved
965:
956:
944:. Retrieved
930:
919:
886:
859:
847:
840:Roberts 2006
835:
823:
811:
799:
787:
771:
732:
709:Roberts 2006
685:. Retrieved
671:
664:Hoffman 1983
642:. Retrieved
636:
606:
594:
582:
570:
548:
531:
502:
492:
485:Brian Wilson
478:
463:
456:
453:
444:
419:
411:
405:
376:
361:
356:
346:
331:
309:
290:
269:
267:
240:
198:
76:24 June 1965
1364:Tell Her No
1357:Leave Me Be
1307:The Zombies
1240:The Zombies
1218:Paul Arnold
1210:Keith Airey
1191:Jim Rodford
1167:Hugh Grundy
1160:Chris White
1134:The Zombies
778:. Zombies.
739:The Zombies
428:Tell Her No
338:Beatlemania
318:Chris White
278:the Zombies
167:Producer(s)
41:the Zombies
1467:1965 songs
1456:Categories
1389:I Love You
1234:Begin Here
1201:Bob Henrit
1187:Soren Koch
1184:Tom Toomey
1146:Rod Argent
971:2021-06-13
828:Russo 1999
816:Russo 1999
776:Alec Palao
562:References
489:Beach Boys
436:I Love You
368:Rod Argent
359:and 92 in
328:Background
322:I Love You
274:Rod Argent
159:Rod Argent
56:I Love You
1254:New World
966:Pitchfork
638:Billboard
533:Billboard
494:Pitchfork
448:harmonies
442:in 1968.
412:Billboard
392:Ken Jones
357:Billboard
347:Billboard
310:Billboard
173:Ken Jones
103:Jazz rock
941:AllMusic
682:AllMusic
549:Cash Box
459:magazine
89:, London
73:Recorded
63:Released
1342:Singles
1011:Sources
998:13 June
888:Cashbox
782:. 1997.
734:YouTube
457:Cashbox
440:People!
420:Cashbox
364:Top 100
362:Cashbox
349:Hot 100
254:(1965)
245:(1965)
236:(1965)
208:(1965)
203:(1965)
194:(1965)
108:R&B
1441:Argent
1261:R.I.P.
1226:Albums
1092:
1073:
1050:
1025:
946:14 May
687:14 May
644:14 May
512:Charts
499:Motown
139:Parrot
117:Length
82:Studio
49:B-side
37:Single
1387:" / "
916:(PDF)
883:(PDF)
144:Decca
134:Label
95:Genre
87:Decca
1090:ISBN
1071:ISBN
1048:ISBN
1023:ISBN
1000:2021
948:2021
689:2021
646:2021
555:114
541:110
483:and
146:(UK)
141:(US)
546:US
530:US
39:by
1458::
1299:EP
1069:.
1065:.
1046:.
980:^
939:.
918:.
897:^
885:.
871:^
762:^
747:^
737:.
731:.
716:^
697:^
680:.
654:^
635:.
618:^
201:"
192:"
126:14
1426:"
1422:"
1419:"
1415:"
1412:"
1408:"
1405:"
1401:"
1398:"
1394:"
1391:"
1383:"
1380:"
1376:"
1373:"
1369:"
1366:"
1362:"
1359:"
1355:"
1352:"
1348:"
1237:/
1126:e
1119:t
1112:v
1098:.
1079:.
1056:.
1031:.
1002:.
974:.
950:.
691:.
648:.
434:"
268:"
252:"
248:"
243:"
239:"
234:"
230:"
197:"
188:"
124::
122:2
58:"
54:"
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
