Forever My Lady

For the song, see Forever My Lady (song).

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

Forever My Lady
Studio album by Jodeci
Released	May 28, 1991
Recorded	1990–1991
Genre	R&B
Length	53:23
Label	Uptown MCA
Producer	Donald "DeVante Swing" DeGrate (exec.) Albert "Al B. Sure!" Brown (also exec.)
Jodeci chronology
Forever My Lady (1991) Diary of a Mad Band (1993)
Singles from Forever My Lady
"Gotta Love" Released: February 24, 1991 "Forever My Lady" Released: August 13, 1991 "Stay" Released: December 3, 1991 "Come and Talk to Me" Released: March 10, 1992 "I'm Still Waiting" Released: August 25, 1992

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. 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 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
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]

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.	DeVante Swing Al B. Sure!	5:11
2.	"Come and Talk to Me"	DeGrate Albert Joseph Brown III	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)"	DeGrate	DeVante Swing	1:47
7.	"My Phone"	DeGrate	DeVante Swing Al B. Sure!	5:49
8.	"Gotta Love"	DeGrate Cedric Renard Hailey	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 Chart (1991–92) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA)[5] 163 US Billboard 200[6] 18 US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[7] 1 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[8] 1

Year-end charts Chart (1991) Position US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[9] 50 Chart (1992) Position US Billboard 200[10] 26 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[11] 1 Chart (1993) Position US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[12] 96

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