I mentioned The Impressions a couple of weeks ago when I wrote about Jerry Butler, the third most forgotten artist on the list I’m consulting.
Butler earned that spot based on his solo career. Now he has the dubious honor of appearing on the “forgotten” list twice, as his vocal group The Impressions also made the cut. Butler shared lead vocals with Curtis Mayfield for two years before leaving the band.
The Impressions ended up staying together for 60 years with different lineups. Bassist Sam Gooden was there for every one of those years, while backing vocalist Fred Cash managed to stick around for 58 (he replaced Butler).
The Impressions landed 14 tracks in the Top 40 during that span, including three Top 10 hits. Those were ‘It’s All Right,’ ‘Keep On Pushing,’ and ‘Amen.’ But the track for which they’re best known is ‘People Get Ready,’ a soulful protest song that Martin Luther King, Jr. named the anthem of the Civil Rights Movement.
The song was added to the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998, seven years after The Impressions were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame largely due to its impact.
‘People Get Ready’ has been covered by scores of artists, including two very different Bobs — Marley and Dylan.
People get ready, there’s a train a-comin’
You don’t need no baggage, you just get on board
All you need is faith to hear the diesels hummin’
Don’t need no ticket, you just thank the Lord
[Verse 2]
So, people get ready for the train to Jordan
Picking up passengers coast to coast
Faith is the key, open the doors and board ’em
There’s hope for all among those loved the most
[Verse 3]
There ain’t no room for the hopeless sinner
Who would hurt all mankind just to save his own, believe me now
Have pity on those whose chances grow thinner
For there’s no hiding place against the kingdom’s throne
[Verse 1]
So, people get ready, there’s a train a-comin’
You don’t need no baggage, you just get on board
All you need is faith to hear the diesels hummin’
Don’t need no ticket, you just thank the Lord
Meet Me In Montauk 
The version of “People Get Ready” with which I’m most familiar was done by Rod Stewart with Jeff Beck on guitar.