Forever My Lady

{{For|the song|Forever My Lady (song)}} {{more citations needed|date=February 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = Forever My Lady | type = studio | artist = [[Jodeci]] | cover = Forever My Lady.jpg | alt = | released = May 28, 1991 | recorded = 1990–1991 | venue = | studio = | genre = [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]] | length = 53:23 | label = {{hlist|[[Uptown Records|Uptown]]|[[MCA Records|MCA]]}} | producer = {{hlist|[[DeVante Swing|Donald "DeVante Swing" DeGrate]] ([[executive producer#Music|exec.]])|[[Al B. Sure!|Albert "Al B. Sure!" Brown]] ([[executive producer#Music|also exec.]])}} | prev_title = | prev_year = | next_title = [[Diary of a Mad Band]] | next_year = 1993 | misc = {{Singles | name = Forever My Lady | type = studio | single1 = [[Gotta Love]] | single1date = February 24, 1991 | single2 = [[Forever My Lady (song)|Forever My Lady]] | single2date = August 13, 1991 | single3 = [[Stay (Jodeci song)|Stay]] | single3date = December 3, 1991 | single4 = [[Come and Talk to Me]] | single4date = March 10, 1992 | single5 = [[I'm Still Waiting (Jodeci song)|I'm Still Waiting]] | single5date = August 25, 1992 }} }}

'''''Forever My Lady''''' is the debut studio album by American [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]] [[Quartet#Vocal quartet|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 Award|Grammy]]-nominated producer [[Al B. Sure!]] to craft the album's sound. The 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/Hip-Hop Albums|Top R&B Albums]] chart in its first week, and peaked at eighteen on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]]. Three of the album's singles charted on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], including the top-15 hit "[[Come and Talk to Me]]". ''Forever My Lady'' was certified [[RIAA certification#List of certifications|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.<ref name="BllbrdAlbms">{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r10418|pure_url=yes}}|title=allmusic - Forever My Lady > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums|website=Allmusic|accessdate=March 25, 2010}}</ref>

{{Music ratings | rev1 = [[AllMusic]] | rev1Score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name="AllmscRvw">{{cite web|title=allmusic ((( Forever My Lady > Review )))|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r10418|pure_url=yes}}|website=[[Allmusic]]|accessdate=March 31, 2010}}</ref> | rev2 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' | rev2Score = A−<ref name="EWRvw">{{cite magazine|first=Arion|last=Berger|title=MUSIC REVIEW: Forever My Lady - Jodeci|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=November 15, 1991|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,316234,00.html|accessdate=April 9, 2010|archive-date=April 25, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425082310/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,316234,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> | rev3 = ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' | rev3Score = {{Rating|2.5|4}}<ref name="latimes"/> }}

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 200|Billboard pop album chart]]), Jodeci will be a force to be reckoned with."<ref name="EWRvw" /> ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' critic Dennis Hunt was less impressed, writing that "the singing is so-so but the production is outstanding."<ref name="latimes">{{cite web|last=Hunt|first=Dennis|date=December 8, 1991|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-12-08-ca-91-story.html|title= POP MUSIC : What Albums to Buy . . . and to Avoid|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=September 21, 2016}}</ref>

==Track listing== All tracks are somewhat produced by [[DeVante Swing]], except where noted. {{track listing | extra_column = Producer(s) | title1 = [[Stay (Jodeci song)|Stay]] | writer1 = [[DeVante Swing|Donald Earle DeGrate, Jr.]] | extra1 = {{flatlist| *[[DeVante Swing]] *[[Al B. Sure!]] }} | length1 = 5:11 | title2 = [[Come and Talk to Me]] | writer2 = {{flatlist| *DeGrate *[[Al B. Sure!|Albert Joseph Brown III]] }} | extra2 = {{flatlist| *DeVante Swing *Al B. Sure! }} | length2 = 4:36 | title3 = [[Forever My Lady (song)|Forever My Lady]] | writer3 = {{flatlist| *DeGrate *Brown }} | extra3 = {{flatlist| *DeVante Swing *Al B. Sure! }} | length3 = 5:20 | title4 = [[I'm Still Waiting (Jodeci song)|I'm Still Waiting]] | writer4 = DeGrate | extra4 = {{flatlist| *DeVante Swing *Al B. Sure! }} | length4 = 4:21 | title5 = U&I | writer5 = DeGrate | extra5 = {{flatlist| *DeVante Swing *Al B. Sure! }} | length5 = 4:04 | title6 = Interlude (553-Nasty) | writer6 = DeGrate | extra6 = DeVante Swing | length6 = 1:47 | title7 = My Phone | writer7 = DeGrate | extra7 = {{flatlist| *DeVante Swing *Al B. Sure! }} | length7 = 5:49 | title8 = [[Gotta Love]] | writer8 = {{flatlist| *DeGrate *[[K-Ci (singer)|Cedric Renard Hailey]] }} | extra8 = DeVante Swing | length8 = 4:43 | title9 = Play Thang | writer9 = DeGrate | extra9 = DeVante Swing | length9 = 4:45 | title10 = It's Alright | writer10 = DeGrate | extra10 = DeVante Swing | length10 = 4:36 | title11 = Treat U | writer11 = DeGrate | extra11 = DeVante Swing | length11 = 3:42 | title12 = Xs We Share | writer12 = DeGrate | extra12 = DeVante Swing | length12 = 4:29 | title13 = [[Cherish (The Association song)|Cherish]] | note13 = bonus track, originally from the [[Fried Green Tomatoes]] soundtrack | writer13 = [[Terry Kirkman]] | extra13 = DeVante Swing | length13 = 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== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}

===Weekly charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (1991–92) ! scope="col"| Peak position |- !scope="row"| Australian Albums ([[ARIA Charts|ARIA]])<ref name="ARIA history pages">{{cite web|url=https://imgur.com/a/I9BU5vn | title=Jodeci ARIA chart history complete|publisher=ARIA|via=Imgur.com|access-date=July 21, 2024}} N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.</ref> | 163 |- {{album chart|Billboard200|18|artist=Jodeci|rowheader=true|accessdate=October 16, 2020}} |- {{album chart|BillboardHeatseekers|1|artist=Jodeci|rowheader=true|accessdate=October 16, 2020}} |- {{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|1|artist=Jodeci|rowheader=true|accessdate=October 16, 2020}} |} {{col-2}}

===Year-end charts=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (1991) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1991/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums|title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1991|work=Billboard|accessdate=October 16, 2020}}</ref> | 50 |- ! scope="col"| Chart (1992) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1992/top-billboard-200-albums|title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1992|work=Billboard|accessdate=October 16, 2020}}</ref> | 26 |- ! scope="row"| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1992/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums|title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1992|work=Billboard|accessdate=October 16, 2020}}</ref> | 1 |- ! scope="col"| Chart (1993) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1993/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums|title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1993|work=Billboard|accessdate=October 16, 2020}}</ref> | 96 |} {{col-end}}

==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Jodeci|title=Forever My Lady|award=Platinum|number=3|type=album|relyear=1991|certyear=1995|date=April 28, 1995|access-date=July 13, 2022}} {{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=yes}}

==See also== *[[List of number-one R&B albums of 1991 (U.S.)]] *[[Billboard Year-End]]

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * ''[http://www.discogs.com/Jodeci-Forever-My-Lady/release/491310 Forever My Lady]'' at [[Discogs]]

[[Category:1991 debut albums]] [[Category:Jodeci albums]] [[Category:MCA Records albums]] [[Category:Uptown Records albums]]