Songoftheday 3/21/15 - It never really mattered too much to me that you were just too darned old for me..

"Love You Down" - Ready For The World
from the album Long Time Coming (1986)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #9 (one week)
Weeks in the Top-40: 12

Today's song of the day comes from the funk/soul band from Michigan, Ready For The World, who rode a Prince-esque groove to the top of the pop chart in 1985 with "Oh Sheila", as well as a top-40 follow-up in "Digital Display". The following year the group released their sophomore album Long Time Coming, and instead of trying a copycat of "Sheila", they released the seductive ballad "Love You Down". Written by lead singer Melvin Riley, the record went straight for the bedroom without any hesitation, taking Force MD's "Tender Love" and Janet Jackson's (future) "Come Back To Me" along for the ride on this "cougar" chase...

"Love You Down" became Ready For The World's third and so-far most recent top-40 pop hit, reaching the top ten in February of 1987. Like "Oh Sheila", the record also topped the R&B chart in Billboard magazine, while even nicking the Adult Contemporary (or "easy listening") radio chart at #24. The song was also a minor hit in England, peaking at #60 on the British chart.

After another album in 1988 failed to put its top-10 R&B hit "My Girly" on the pop chart altogether, as did their 1991 single "Can He Do It (Lke This, Can He Do It Like That)" (#9 R&B), the group broke up with Riley persuing a solo career that didn't quite happen. The band reunited for the oldies touring circuit recently..

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A decade after RFTW had their hit, "bass" hip-hop singer INOJ released a cover of "Love You Down", which made it to #25 on the Hot 100 pop chart, and #5 on the ""Rhythmic" airplay chart....

Lastly, here's the reunited band in 2010 playing the song live...

Up tomorrow: A "Change'd" man breaks for romance.