Ready or Not is the debut solo studio album by Lou Gramm, released in February 1987 by Atlantic Records.

Looking to step outside the confines of his lengthy creative partnership with Foreigner guitarist Mick Jones, Gramm returned to his roots, hooking back up with former Black Sheep bandmate Bruce Turgon. The duo co-wrote a batch of new songs together, including the future Ready or Not hit “Midnight Blue,” and entered the studio in 1986 with co-producer Pat Moran — familiar to rock ‘n’ roll liner notes junkies as an engineer on recordings by a slew of acts that included Rush and Robert Plant.

With Turgon as a utility player, Gramm assembled a band that included Black Sheep vet Don Mancuso, session ringers like Mark Rivera and Eddie Martinez, and E Street Band vet Nils Lofgren…

Read More: 30 Years Ago: Lou Gramm Goes Solo With ‘Ready or Not’

Ready or Not was a commercial success, reaching number 27 on the US Billboard 200. The album has enjoyed critical acclaim. Bret Adams has given Ready or Not a retrospective rating of four-and-a-half stars out of five on AllMusic. He has described it as “rich with melody and snap”.

Songs:
1. Ready or Not
2. Heartache
3. Midnight Blue
4. Time
5. If I Don’t Have You
6. She’s Got to Know
7. Arrow thru Your Heart
8. Until I Make You Mine
9. Chain of Love
10. Lover Come Back