Forever My Lady

Last updated
Forever My Lady
Forever My Lady.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 28, 1991
Recorded1990–1991
Genre
Length53:23
Label
Producer
Jodeci chronology
Forever My Lady
(1991)
Diary of a Mad Band
(1993)
Singles from Forever My Lady
  1. "Gotta Love"
    Released: February 24, 1991
  2. "Forever My Lady"
    Released: August 13, 1991
  3. "Stay"
    Released: December 3, 1991
  4. "Come and Talk to Me"
    Released: March 10, 1992
  5. "I'm Still Waiting"
    Released: August 25, 1992

Forever My Lady is the debut studio album by American R&B quartet Jodeci, released May 28, 1991, by Uptown Records and MCA Records.

Contents

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]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [2]
Entertainment Weekly A− [3]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [4]

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.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Stay" Donald Earle DeGrate, Jr. 5:11
2."Come and Talk to Me"
  • DeVante Swing
  • Al B. Sure!
4:36
3."Forever My Lady"
  • DeGrate
  • Brown
  • DeVante Swing
  • Al B. Sure!
5:20
4."I'm Still Waiting"DeGrate
  • DeVante Swing
  • Al B. Sure!
4:21
5."U&I"DeGrate
  • DeVante Swing
  • Al B. Sure!
4:04
6."Interlude (553-Nasty)"DeGrateDeVante Swing1:47
7."My Phone"DeGrate
  • DeVante Swing
  • Al B. Sure!
5:49
8."Gotta Love"DeVante Swing4:43
9."Play Thang"DeGrateDeVante Swing4:45
10."It's Alright"DeGrateDeVante Swing4:36
11."Treat U"DeGrateDeVante Swing3:42
12."Xs We Share"DeGrateDeVante Swing4:29
13."Cherish" (bonus track, originally from the Fried Green Tomatoes soundtrack) Terry Kirkman DeVante Swing3:59

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [13] 3× Platinum3,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

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  2. "allmusic ((( Forever My Lady > Review )))". Allmusic . Retrieved March 31, 2010.
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  4. 1 2 Hunt, Dennis (December 8, 1991). "POP MUSIC : What Albums to Buy . . . and to Avoid". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved September 21, 2016.
  5. "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.
  6. "Jodeci Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  7. "Jodeci Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
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  10. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1992". Billboard. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  11. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1992". Billboard. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  12. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1993". Billboard. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  13. "American album certifications – Jodeci – Forever My Lady". Recording Industry Association of America. April 28, 1995. Retrieved July 13, 2022.