Ok, some may consider them a "bootleg" version of The Time from Flint, MI(they were no doubt influenced by them) but RFTW were funky in their own right and had some memorable songs beyond just Oh Sheila. been diggin' Digital Display lately.

Ready For The World were one of those bands that still gave people Minneapolis funk when Prince was off experimenting with other styles and frustrating some of his fans. I don't knock them for being copycats. I still like listening to their first two albums. And they really knew how to rock a slow jam.

I like RFTW. I have one of their compliation Best Of albums. They do kind of seem like a bootleg Jessie Johnson/The Time/Andre Cymone, but they were cool.

So true!

Ready for the world was one of the most under rated groups of the 80's and early 90's. The best album was "Long Time Coming". "RFTW" , "Ruff n Ready", and "Straight Down To Business", were all jams. I seen on a website that said they released a CD in 2004 called "she said she wants some". I have never heard of this CD. As anybody heard it and is it worth buying? What does it sound like? If you haven't heard of RFTW, you should really check them out. I think they were better than Jesse Johnson, the Time, Mazarati, and the Family.

Their song 'Let Me Love You Down' was also a pretty big influence with the whole 'Quiet Storm' sound, as it was called.

They were good and ten times better than The Family. As for being better than Jesse, The Time, or Mazarati....no way.

"I'm The One Who Loves You" (1985)

Out of all their songs,this one is the most Prince-like.It reminds me of Prince's music from 1982/83.

jaimestarr79 said:

If you're a TRUE RFTW fan, BUY THE CD!!!!!

Adding to the legacy that is RFTW is lead singer Melvin Riley's 1st solo CD "Ghetto Love" (1994)

I can tell by the name and the year, without even hearing it, that the thrill was definately gone.

datdude said:

Long Time Coming & Love You Down are my favorites too.

vainandy said:

NOT QUITE!!!!! The "slow jamz" on the disc CONTINUED in the RFTW tradition (Riley was THE principal writer in RFTW). But the "uptempo jamz" had a more Hip-Hop edge to them, as did 95% of R&B at THAT TIME!!!!!

That's why I say it's DEFINITELY worth adding to your collection!!!!! I had to buy mine three times over, cuz EVERYTIME I introduce it to some "lady", it ends up MISSING!!!!!

I thought they were rubbish. Second rate time ripoffs about a few years too late. If you loved minni funk, then I guess i can see why people like them, but they were contrived as hell, and I didn't need any more minni funk unless its Prince related

RFTW was the first concert I ever saw.
I still listen to that cassette from time to time!

Find "Ruff n Ready" and try not to jam out to it.

woogiebear said:

I have looked for this CD and I can't find it. I was just wondering if somebody has ever listened to it.

Ready For The World was ALRIGHT. "My Girly", "Deep Inside Your Love", "Digital Display" ,etc defined 80's r&b...

jaimestarr79 said:

I remember that album...It was an album of outtakes from their early 90's album(the one with "Can He Do It Like This" on it)

Loved RFTW-Ah! Melvin Riley

jaimestarr79 said:

They were solid during their time but better than jesse johnson's revue and the
time?
Rftw don't compare to either. They can't live down the stigma of being the
jheri curl group. Jesse's talent alone outweighed his time wearing curls and
perms. I don't think there is anything i need to say about the time. There track
record speaks alone.

andriahb said:

In March 1986,I saw RFTW in concert with The Jets and Doug E.Fresh featuring Slick Rick.Out of all three acts,I enjoyed the Jets the most.Their single "Crush On You" had just been released.