Pacific Gas & Electric - Are You Ready? (1970 us, amazing blues rock, vinyl rip) Flac 24-bit lossless

The band was formed in Los Angeles in 1967, by guitarist Tom Marshall, bassist Brent Block, second guitarist Glenn Schwartz (previously of The James Gang) and drummer Charlie Allen, who had previously played in the band Bluesberry Jam. When it became clear that Allen was the best singer in the new group, he became the front man, and Frank Cook, previously of Canned Heat, came into the band on drums. 

 Schwartz was so good that the rock and roll world predicted the end of the James Gang. Interestingly, Schwartz was soon replaced in the James Gang by none other than Joe Walsh and the band continued on.

Originally known as the Pacific Gas and Electric Blues Band, they shortened their name when they signed to Kent Records, releasing the album Get It On in early 1968. The record was not a success, but following the band's performance at the Miami Pop Festival in May 1968 they were signed by Columbia Records.

Their first album for Columbia, Pacific Gas and Electric, was issued in 1969, but they achieved greater success with their next album, Are You Ready in 1970. The title track reached # 14 on the Billboard Hot 100.

After the album was recorded, Cook was injured in a car accident and was replaced on drums by Ron Woods, Cook staying on as manager. Glenn Schwartz, shortly there after, announced at a concert that he had found God and he soon departed the band moving back to Ohio to join other Christian musicians to form "The All Saved Freak Band". Schwartz was replaced in the band by guitarist Ken Utterback.

Schwartz was an excellent guitarist whose riffs sound as good today as when they first rang from his guitar 30 years ago and Charlie Allen's soulful and powerful vocals were ahead of the times. 

 Unusually for the time, the band contained both black and white musicians, which led to rioting and gunfire on one occasion when the band, who toured widely, performed in Raleigh, North Carolina.

In 1971, the band changed their name to PG&E, following pressure from the utility company of the same name. The band also expanded, Allen, Woods, Petricca and Utterback being joined by Jerry Aiello (keyboards), Stanley Abernathy (trumpet), Alfred Galagos and Virgil Gonsalves (saxophones), and Joe Lala (percussion).

A final album using the name, Pacific Gas & Electric Starring Charlie Allen, was recorded by Allen with studio musicians and released on the Dunhill label in 1973. 

1. Are You Ready? (Charlie Allen, John Hill) - 5:46
2. Hawg for You (Otis Redding) - 4:42
3. Staggolee (Charlie Allen, John Hill) - 3:49
4. The Blackberry (O'Kelly Isley, Ron Isley) - 5:31
5. Love, Love, Love, Love, Love (John Hill, Donald Cochrane) - 3:51
6. Mother, Why Don't You Cry? (Charlie Allen) - 5:06
7. Elvira (Charlie Allen, Brent Block, Frank Cook, Glenn Schwartz) - 1:58
8. Screamin' (Brent Block) - 4:27
9. When a Man Loves a Woman (Andrew Wright, Calvin Lewis) - 4:31