Ready Steady Go! (album)

On release, Bell did interviews for KTLA, Perez Hilton, Good Day L.A., Entertainment Tonight and many other media outlets.

On the night of the album's release party, Justin Bieber reportedly tried to crash the party, which also drew attention to the album.[4][5] On the same night, Bell performed tracks from the album, and a Drake & Josh reunion of cast members took place, with Miranda Cosgrove, Josh Peck, Dan Schneider (the creator of the show), and Jonathan Goldstein, showing up.[6]

The album was released on the independent label, Surfdog Records. Originally, it was supposed to be released in early 2013,[7] but the album was held back and released on April 22, 2014.

Bell has described this as his dream album,[8] working with his childhood guitar hero, Brian Setzer, and having Setzer executive produce and also play on the album.

The album is notable as having been recorded live, with no autotune, no computer enhancements and no use of a click track.[9]

"Bitchcraft", the lead single of the album, was released on January 28, 2014.[10] "I Won't Stand In Your Way" is the promotional single of the album. It was released on April 17, 2014. It is a cover of the Stray Cats original.[11]

The official music video for the lead single, "Bitchcraft", was released on Drake Bell's official YouTube channel on April 17, 2014, 5 days before the release of the album. The music video has received 5.5 million views.[12]

Bell took part in the High School Nation Tour in support of Ready Steady Go!, touring High Schools all around the U.S. The tour lasted from September 16, 2014, to October 22, 2014. It began in Los Angeles, California, and ended in Charlotte, North Carolina.[13] Bell is also touring the United States in a tour dubbed "The Ready Steady Go! Tour" in locations such as No Vacancy in Los Angeles, Spring Freaks in Anaheim, California, Ohio, California, and many other locations in 2015,[14] and plans to continue the tour in 2016 after several sold-out concerts in Mexico.[15]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[16]
Alter The Press! Review	[17]
Blast Out Your Stereo	[18]
Fortitude Magazine	[19]

The album received generally positive reviews, with critics praising Bell's performance and direction for the album. AllMusic wrote in its review of Ready Steady Go!, "Here, Bell sets his charming, resonant vocals to a mix of smartly written originals ("Bitchcraft") and surprisingly well-curated cover songs (the Move's "California Man"). Ultimately, on Ready Steady Go!, Bell is never anything but totally believable, likable, and ready to rock."[16] In the Alter The Press! review of the album, Tori Mier wrote, "In his third studio album, Drake Bell shows an undeniable amount of capability as a musician, drawing from nearly all genres and eras of music to create his own unique sound."[17]

The album debuted and peaked at #182 on the Billboard 200, #50 on the Billboard Top Rock Albums and #32 on the Billboard Top Independent Albums charts.[20] Ready, Steady, Go! sold 2,000 copies in its first week of release.[2]

As listed in the album's booklet.

• Vocals, Electric Guitars, Acoustic Guitars, B3 Organ - Drake Bell
• Executive Producer and Electric guitars - Brian Setzer
• Producer - Peter Collins
• Drums - Chad Cromwell
• Bass - Dominic Davis
• Slap Bass - Joe Fick
• Additional Electric Guitars - Rob Bourassa, Ronnie Crutcher, Chris Pelcer
• Additional Acoustic Guitars - Rob Bourassa
• Piano - Jody Nardone
• Fiddle - Tim Hayes
• Baritone and Tenor Sax - Mark Douhit
• Gang Vocals - Chris Pelcer, Julian Sammut
• Backing Vocals - Paula Bowman, Lee Bowman, Joey Nardone
• Vocal Arrangements - Rob Bourassa and Chris Pelcer

Ready Steady Go! is Bell's second album to chart on the Billboard 200. The album sold over 2,000 copies in its first week of release and debuted and peaked at #182 on the Billboard 200. It also debuted in the top five in Mexico.

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