Barbara Mason, Yes, I’m Ready | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 15^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Yes, I’m Ready” by Barbara Mason. 

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome. In the 15^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Yes, I’m Ready”, performed by Barbara Mason. 

“(Are you ready?) Yes, I’m ready.” Oh, if only love were as innocent as it’s presented on the sweet 60s classic, “Yes, I’m Ready”. “Yes, I’m Ready”, fittingly, serves as the opener of… Yes I’m Ready, the 1965 album by Barbara Mason.  Notably, Mason earned the biggest hit of her career with this record, which focuses on L-O-V-E. Also notable, Barbara was a mere teenager when she recorded and released this gem. How successful was this song? Well, “Ready” peaked at no. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100.  On the R&B charts, “Yes, I’m Ready” peaked at no. 2.

“I don’t even know how to love / Just the way you want me to,” Mason sings in the first verse of “Yes, I’m Ready.” Despite her naivety regarding love, she adds, “But I’m ready (ready) to learn (to learn).” Sweet! The sentiment is similar in the second verse, where Barbara embraces learning what it means to fall in love. The concept of the song isn’t complicated, but, even as innocent as it is, it’s relatable – at least when you’re young, find yourself crushing hard, and ready for some action! Besides a solid vocals performance, including accentuating backing vocals, the music is sweet. “Yes, I’m Ready” gets off to a rousing start thanks to the lush sounds of the orchestra.  This song has that vintage, 60s soul sound that never grows old – it’s refreshing to hear six decades later.

🎙 Barbara Mason • 💿 Yes I’m Ready • 🏷 Jamie Record Co. • 🗓 1965

Barbara Mason, Yes, I’m Ready: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 15 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Jamie Record Co.; OpenClipart-Vectors, Speedy McVroom via  Pixabay]