R&B Bridgez: Celebrating Ready for the World’s 40th Year Anniversary
One of The Best 80s R&B Debut Albums from A Male Group.
Today is the 40th Anniversary of Ready for the World‘s debut album self-titled album, released May 14th, 1985.
The album is one of the best, 80s R&B debut albums from a male group.
The album is the groups only platinum album and a record six singles were released.
Ready for the World gained national attention for blending R&B, funk, and pop influences.
Their sound often featured synthesizers, drum machines, and catchy hooks, contributing to their commercial appeal during the 1980s.
Inspiring a future generation of talented bands such as Twin Cities own Mint Condition and Jodeci.
When group leaders Melvin Riley and Gordon Strozier started jamming together as youngsters in Flint, Mich., no one knew their friendship would lead to.
The group initially consisted of Gerald Valentine (drums), John Eaton (bass guitar and background vocals) Gordon Strozier (guitar, keyboards, background vocals), Melvin Riley (lead vocals) Gregory Potts (keyboards, background vocals) and Willie Triplett (keyboards, percussion, background vocals).
In 1983, the six member band, was having no luck in shopping its demo tape.
No problem. The band, Ready For The World, started its own label, Blue Lake Records, and released a debut single called “Tonight.” It became a local hit and caught the attention of MCA, who re-released the single nationally.
“Tonight” became a #1 R&B hit. Soon after, MCA requested an entire album, the band was ready and able.
Ready For The World was soon sitting on top of the world with its self-titled debut album, released 40 years ago today on May 14, 1985.
It was certified platinum and included the #1 R&B and Pop monster single “Oh Sheila.”
They first scored hits with the first two singles, on MCA Records, releasing ballads “Tonight” and “Deep Inside Your Love.”
But it was their third single from the album, the magnificent Prince-sounding electronic dance tune “Oh Sheila,” that moved the group to the top of the Pop and Soul charts.
“Oh Sheila” combined all the Minneapolis-sound components, with the group’s own sense of character.
In October of 1985 “Oh Sheila” jumped to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the first #1 pop hit by a Black act, (discounting USA For Africa’s “We Are The World”) since Billy Ocean‘s “Caribbean Queen” nearly a year before.
“Oh Sheila” garnered four #1 positions on Billboard’s R&B, Pop, Dance and Video charts in just one week.
That year becoming the first ever single by a group to hold the #1 spot on four Billboard charts simultaneously landing the group in the Guinness Book of World Records.
The song propelled the group to platinum status, generating millions in album sales, as one of the year’s biggest cross-over cuts, garnering international fame.
They scored their fourth consecutive Top 10 R&B record with “Digital Display,” and paved their way as chart-topping musicians.
In 1986 members tabbed local rock producer Gary Spaniola for their sophomore album, “Long Time Coming,” which proved to be an equal success.
The slow jam, “Love You Down,” landed them another cross-over hit, climbing to #1 on Billboard’s R&B charts, and reaching #9 on the Pop charts.
Their sophomore album, “Long Time Coming,” went gold.
That same year the group was featured on The Beverly Hills Cop III soundtrack, as well as co-produced a song with Rod Templeton on the “Running Scared” soundtrack.
In 1988, Ready for the World released their third album “Ruff ‘n’ Ready,” featuring the hits “Gently” and “My Girly.”
Ready For The World went on to enter the 90s with the release of their forth album “Straight Down To Business” in 1991.
“We felt that we had to really come correct this time,” stated Triplett to Billboard. “It’s like wine; never a wine before its time. We had to make sure everything was happening.”
“Straight Down To Business” was written and produced by RFTW.
“We wanted to duplicate the originality of the sound that we put on the first album,” he continued. “On the second and third albums we kind of went along with the flow and the trends of music. This time around I think we just did what we wanted to do and it comes out in the music. We’re playing what we feel.”
In 1994, lead vocalist Melvin Riley embarked on his solo career.
Explaining his decision to go solo, Riley said it was a matter of wanting to try things that did not fit the concept of the group. “I wanted to express things musically that didn’t work with Ready For The World. It wasn’t because of anything bad happening in the group – we’re all still good friends. It’s just that as part of a group I couldn’t do everything I wanted to because there are also the considerations and opinions of the other band members.”
Melvin Riley wrote and produced or co-produced all the tracks and played many of the instruments on his debut album “Ghetto Love.”
Melvin Riley Jr.‘s solo hits include, chart-topping hits “Whose Is It,” and “What Makes A Man.” Melvin also wrote and produced the Top 5 Billboard hit “Come Over” by the group 4 By Four.
Ready For The World hit it big on MCA in the early ’80s while the members of the band were all still teenagers. “The solo thing was not really in my mind,” Melvin continued “But as time moves forward, you mature and evolve. It just sort of happened.”
Two more RFTW independent album releases followed; “Freak the World” (1996) and “She Said She Wants Some” (2004).
In 2022 Ready for the World released the smooth “Black Coffee” feat. David Lyve.
Led by Willie Triplett, the band is touring, performing their hits from the 80’s.
In 2023, Melvin Riley released his first holiday single “Nothing For Christmas” and last year he released the single “Sugar Daddy.”
Ready for the World’s blend of R&B, funk, and pop music helped define the sound of the 1980s.
With their catchy melodies and smooth harmonies, they achieved widespread success and left an indelible mark on the era’s musical landscape.
Take A Trip Down Memory Lane with RFTW!
