| Forever My Lady | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | May 28, 1991 | |||
| Recorded | 1990–1991 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 53:23 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer | ||||
| Jodeci chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Forever My Lady | ||||
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Forever My Lady is the debut studio album by American R&B quartet Jodeci, released May 28, 1991, by Uptown Records and MCA Records.
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.
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 |  [2] |
| Entertainment Weekly | A− [3] |
| Los Angeles Times |   [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]
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 |
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA) [13] | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
Jodeci is an American R&B quartet consisting of members DeVanté Swing, Mr. Dalvin, K-Ci, and JoJo. Formed in 1988 in Charlotte, North Carolina, Jodeci began as a duo of DeVanté Swing and JoJo but later each added their brother. After signing with Uptown Records in 1990, the group finished work on their debut album, Forever My Lady (1991), which brought them mainstream success with three straight Billboard R&B No. 1 hit singles: the album's titular track, "Stay" and "Come and Talk to Me".
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