Forever My Lady
Forever My Lady | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Studio album by Jodeci | ||||
Released | May 28, 1991 | |||
Recorded | 1990–1991 | |||
Genre |
| |||
Length | 53:23 | |||
Label |
| |||
Producer |
| |||
Jodeci chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Forever My Lady | ||||
| ||||
Forever My Lady is the debut studio album by American R&B quartet Jodeci, released May 28, 1991, by Uptown Records and MCA Records.
Background
The album's production and composition was largely attributed to DeVante Swing, who worked alongside Grammy-nominated producer Al B. Sure! to craft the album's sound. Recording sessions took place at various recording studios during 1990 to 1991, and were relentlessly worked upon in order to shift the consensus with R&B music. The duo worked to add more of a hip-hop sound to the album, incorporating synthesizer-heavy rhythm tracks to complement the alternating themes discussed throughout the album, ranging from passionate and elegant songs about love, to energetic and swaggering songs centered around sex and partying. The group's emotionally transparent lyrics are delivered in both rapped and sung verses, help to explore the feelings of love and seduction.
Release and reception
The album received overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics, who complimented the group's innovative nature when approaching the album, as well as its thematic choices and the production from Swing. Following an anticipated release, it debuted at number one on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart in its first week, and peaked at eighteen on the Billboard 200. Three of the album's singles charted on the Billboard Hot 100, including the top-15 hit "Come and Talk to Me". Forever My Lady was certified multi-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America and, as of August 1995, has sold over three million copies in the US and over eight million copies worldwide.[1]
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Entertainment Weekly | A−[3] |
Los Angeles Times | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Arion Berger of Entertainment Weekly gave the effort a good review, calling the work "sophisticated beyond the band members' years" and noting that "if they can keep up the momentum of this commercially successful debut (which has already gone Top 40 on the Billboard pop album chart), Jodeci will be a force to be reckoned with."[3] Los Angeles Times critic Dennis Hunt was less impressed, writing that "the singing is so-so but the production is outstanding."[4]
Track listing
All tracks are somewhat produced by DeVante Swing, except where noted.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Stay" | Donald Earle DeGrate, Jr. | 5:11 | |
2. | "Come and Talk to Me" |
|
| 4:36 |
3. | "Forever My Lady" |
|
| 5:20 |
4. | "I'm Still Waiting" | DeGrate |
| 4:21 |
5. | "U&I" | DeGrate |
| 4:04 |
6. | "Interlude (553-Nasty)" | DeGrate | DeVante Swing | 1:47 |
7. | "My Phone" | DeGrate |
| 5:49 |
8. | "Gotta Love" |
| DeVante Swing | 4:43 |
9. | "Play Thang" | DeGrate | DeVante Swing | 4:45 |
10. | "It's Alright" | DeGrate | DeVante Swing | 4:36 |
11. | "Treat U" | DeGrate | DeVante Swing | 3:42 |
12. | "Xs We Share" | DeGrate | DeVante Swing | 4:29 |
13. | "Cherish" (bonus track, originally from the Fried Green Tomatoes soundtrack) | Terry Kirkman | DeVante Swing | 3:59 |
Personnel
- Art Direction – Reiner Design Consultants
- Assistant Engineering – Ellen Fitton, Michael Gilbert, Marnie Riley, Jay A. Ryan
- Engineering – Paul Logus, Dennis Mitchell, Mark Partis
- Mastering – Herb Powers
- Writer - Al B. Sure!
- Mixing – Al B. Sure!, Mick Guzauski
- Multi-Instruments – DeVante Swing
- Production Coordination – Eloise Bryan
- Programming – Al B. Sure!, Dalvin DeGrate, DeVante Swing
Charts
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United States (RIAA)[13] | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
See also
- List of number-one R&B albums of 1991 (U.S.)
- Billboard Year-End
References
- ^ "allmusic - Forever My Lady > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums". Allmusic. Retrieved March 25, 2010.
- ^ "allmusic ((( Forever My Lady > Review )))". Allmusic. Retrieved March 31, 2010.
- ^ a b Berger, Arion (November 15, 1991). "MUSIC REVIEW: Forever My Lady - Jodeci". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on April 25, 2009. Retrieved April 9, 2010.
- ^ a b Hunt, Dennis (December 8, 1991). "POP MUSIC : What Albums to Buy . . . and to Avoid". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 21, 2016.
- ^ "Jodeci ARIA chart history complete". ARIA. Retrieved July 21, 2024 – via Imgur.com. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.
- ^ "Jodeci Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
- ^ "Jodeci Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
- ^ "Jodeci Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
- ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1991". Billboard. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
- ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1992". Billboard. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
- ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1992". Billboard. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
- ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1993". Billboard. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
- ^ "American album certifications – Jodeci – Forever My Lady". Recording Industry Association of America. April 28, 1995. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
External links
- Forever My Lady at Discogs
- v
- t
- e
- DeVante Swing
- JoJo
- K-Ci
- Mr. Dalvin
- Forever My Lady
- Diary of a Mad Band
- The Show, the After Party, the Hotel
- The Past, the Present, the Future
- Back to the Future: The Very Best of Jodeci
- "Gotta Love"
- "Forever My Lady"
- "Stay"
- "Come and Talk to Me"
- "I'm Still Waiting"
- "Let's Go Through the Motions"
- "Lately"
- "Cry for You"
- "Feenin'"
- "What About Us"
- "Freek'n You"
- "Love U 4 Life"
- "Get On Up"