The Force Behind the Power is the nineteenth studio album by American singer Diana Ross, released on September 10, 1991, by Motown Records.[7] The album reached No. 11 on the UK Albums chart and became the biggest selling studio album of her career there, selling over half a million copies in the UK alone.[8]
The Force Behind the Power | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | September 10, 1991 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length |
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Label | Motown | |||
Producer | ||||
Diana Ross chronology | ||||
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Singles from The Force Behind the Power | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Chicago Tribune | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Robert Christgau | ![]() |
Entertainment Weekly | C[4] |
Los Angeles Times | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
NME | 5/10[6] |
Singles
editThe album spun off five hit singles in the UK — most successfully "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" which reached No. 2 on the UK Singles chart (and No. 26 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart), earning a BPI Silver disc for UK sales of over 200,000 copies. "One Shining Moment" and the album's Stevie Wonder-produced title track reached numbers 10 and 27 on the UK singles chart, respectively.[9][8]
"If We Hold on Together" reached No. 11 on the UK singles chart, while a cover of Barbra Streisand's "Heart (Don't Change My Mind)" reached No. 31 on the UK singles chart.[8][10]
"No Matter What You Do", a duet with Al B. Sure!, peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart, while "You're Gonna Love It" written by Cydney Davis and Lloyd Tolbert reached No. 24 on the US Dance/Club Play chart.[11][12]
"If We Hold on Together" was originally recorded for Don Bluth's 1988 animated adventure film The Land Before Time. It rose to prominence after it was released as a single worldwide in the latter part of 1988 (most prominently in Japan in 1990, after it was used as the theme song for the TBS drama Omoide ni Kawaru Made).[13] It reached No. 1 on the Japanese International single charts for 12 weeks making it the biggest selling record by a foreign artist; and in total, sold over 465,000 copies.[14][15]
Commercial reception
editIn the UK the album certified platinum for sales exceeding 300,000 copies.[16]
Track listings
editUS edition
- "Change of Heart" (Terry Britten, Graham Lyle) – 4:02
- "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" (John Bettis, Albert Hammond) – 4:13
- "Battlefield" (Paul Carrack, Nick Lowe) – 3:35
- "Blame It on the Sun" (Stevie Wonder, Syreeta Wright) – 3:55
- "Heavy Weather" (Michael Sembello) – 4:59
- "The Force Behind the Power" (Stevie Wonder) – 4:45
- "Heart (Don't Change My Mind)" (Robbie Buchanan, Diane Warren) – 4:19
- "Waiting in the Wings" (Andy Hill, Pete Sinfield) – 4:52
- "One Shining Moment" (Vaneese Thomas) – 4:48
- "You're Gonna Love It" (Cydney Davis, Lloyd Tolbert) – 5:11
- "If We Hold on Together" (James Horner, Barry Mann, Will Jennings) – 4:09
International edition
- "Change of Heart" (Britten, Lyle) – 4:03
- "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" (Bettis, Hammond) – 4:13
- "Battlefield" (Carrack, Lowe) – 3:35
- "Blame It on the Sun" (Wonder, Wright) – 3:55
- "You're Gonna Love It" (Davis, Tolbert) – 5:11
- "Heavy Weather" (Sembello) – 4:59
- "The Force Behind the Power" (Wonder) – 4:42
- "Heart (Don't Change My Mind)" (Buchanan, Warren) – 4:19
- "Waiting in the Wings" (Hill, Sinfield) – 4:52
- "You and I" (Dormer, Goldo, Vigil) – 4:09
- "One Shining Moment" (Thomas) – 4:48
- "If We Hold on Together" (James Horner, Barry Mann, Will Jennings) – 4:13
- "No Matter What You Do" (duet with Al B. Sure!) (Brown, West) – 5:09
Personnel
edit- Diana Ross – lead vocals
- John Barnes – keyboards (1, 5, 9), synthesizers (1, 5, 6, 9), synthesizer programming (1, 5, 6, 9), Synclavier (1, 5, 6, 9), Synclavier programming and arrangements (1, 5, 6, 9)
- Llyod Tolbert – keyboards (1, 5, 9), synthesizer programming (1, 5, 6, 9), arrangements (1, 5, 9)
- Kevin Perry – additional programming (1, 5, 6, 9)
- Andrew Scheps – additional programming (1, 5, 6, 9)
- Robbie Buchanan – keyboards (2-4, 8, 9)
- Andrew Gold – organ (3), acoustic guitar (3)
- James Anthony Carmichael – arrangements (1, 5, 6, 9), keyboards (6), synthesizers (6)
- Stevie Wonder – all instruments (6), arrangements (6), choir arrangement (6)
- Rob Arbittier – programming (7)
- Atle Bakken – programming (7)
- Malcolm Cecil – programming (7)
- Randy Kerber – keyboards (12)
- Guy Moon – keyboards (12)
- Carlos Rios – guitars (1, 5, 6, 9)
- Michael Landau – guitars (2-4, 8, 11)
- Waddy Wachtel – guitars (12)
- Freddie Washington – bass (2-4, 8)
- Larry Klein – bass (11)
- Leland Sklar – bass (12)
- Carlos Vega – drums (2-4, 8, 9)
- Russ Kunkel – drums (12)
- Michael Fisher – percussion (2-4, 8, 9, 11), vibraphone (3)
- Nathaniel Kunkel – percussion (9)
- Warren Ham – harmonica (3, 6)
- John Helliwell – saxophone (8)
- David Campbell – BGV arrangements, orchestra arrangements and conductor (2-4, 8, 11, 12)
- Gavyn Wright – orchestra leader (2-4, 8, 11, 12)
- Isobel Griffiths – orchestra contractor (2-4, 8, 11, 12)
- Marva King – backing vocals (1, 5, 6, 9)
- Arnold McCuller – backing vocals (1, 5, 6, 9)
- Deborah Thomas – backing vocals (1, 5, 6, 9)
- Fred White – backing vocals (1, 5, 6, 9)
- Peter Asher – backing vocals (2), tambourine (3), drum and percussion programming (11)
- Valerie Carter – backing vocals (2-4, 8, 11, 12)
- Kate Markowitz – backing vocals (2-4, 8, 11, 12)
- Cydney Davis – backing vocals (5)
- The Andraé Crouch Singers – choir (7)
Production
edit- Executive producer – Diana Ross
- Producers – James Anthony Carmichael (tracks 1, 5, 6 & 9); Peter Asher (tracks 2–4, 8 & 10–13); Stevie Wonder (track 6).
- Co-producer on track 7 – Nathan Watts
- Co-producer on track 5 – Lloyd Tolbert
- A&R direction – Debbie Sandridge
- Album coordinator – Marylata E. Jacob
- Engineers – Calvin Harris and Jack Rouben (tracks 1, 5, 6 & 9); Frank Wolf (tracks 2–4, 8, 10–12); Steve Van Arden (track 7).
- Assistant engineers – Mark Hagen and Andrew Scheps (tracks 1, 5, 6 & 9); Bryant Arnett, Darren Godwin, Mike Harlow, Nathaniel Kunkel Ken Lauber and Gil Morales (tracks 2–4, 8, 10–12); Jimmy Sandweiss (track 7).
- Recorded at Bill Schnee Studio, Studio F, Wonderland Studios, Westlake Audio, Off Meleose Recording Studio and The Complex (Los Angeles, CA); Cal Harris Studios (Woodland Hills, CA); The Sandbox (Easton, CT); Abbey Road Studios (London, England).
- Digital editing on track 7 – R.R. Harlan
- Mixing – Calvin Harris (tracks 1, 5, 6 & 9); Frank Wolf (tracks 2–4, 8, 10–12); Steve Van Arden (track 7).
- Mixed at Conway Studios (Hollywood, CA), The Complex, Cal Harris Studios and Wonderland Studios.
- Mastered by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering (Hollywood, CA).
- Art direction – Dennis Woloch
- Design concept – Diana Ross
- Painting – Barry Kamen
- Photography – Herb Ritts
- Assistant to Diana Ross – Judith Service
Charts
editChart (1991–1992) | Peak position |
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Australian Albums (ARIA)[17] | 100 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[18] | 32 |
European Top 100 Albums (Music & Media)[19] | 30 |
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[20] | 43 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[21] | 37 |
UK Albums (OCC)[22] | 11 |
US Billboard 200[23] | 101 |
Certifications
editRegion | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI)[16] | Platinum | 300,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
References
edit- ^ AllMusic review
- ^ DeKnock, Jan (November 7, 1991). "Home Entertainment: Recordings". Chicago Tribune. p. 8.
- ^ Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau: CG: Diana Ross". robertchristgau.com. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
- ^ Berger, Arion (November 1, 1991). "Force Behind the Power". Entertainment Weekly.
- ^ Johnson, Connie (November 3, 1991). "In Brief". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
- ^ Quantick, David (August 10, 1991). "Long Play". NME. p. 30. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
- ^ "Diana Ross: The Force Behind the Power". 45worlds.com.
- ^ a b c "Diana Ross". officialcharts.com.
- ^ "Diana Ross: When You Tell Me That You Love Me (Adult Contemporary Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "Diana Ross: Heart (Don't change my mind)". secondhandsongs.com.
- ^ "Diana Ross: No Matter What You Do (Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs)". billboard.com.
- ^ "Diana Ross: You're Gonna Love It (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "想い出にかわるまで". TBS. Retrieved 2010-08-07.
- ^ "イフ・ウイ・ホールド・オン・トゥゲザー - ダイアナ・ロス". Oricon. Retrieved 2010-08-07.
- ^ "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」". Oricon. Retrieved 2010-08-07. (subscription only)
- ^ a b "British album certifications – Diana Ross – The Force Behind the Power". British Phonographic Industry.
- ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 239.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Diana Ross – The Force Behind the Power" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
- ^ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. January 11, 1992. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Diana Ross – The Force Behind the Power". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Diana Ross – The Force Behind the Power". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
- ^ "Diana Ross | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
- ^ "Diana Ross Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 1, 2020.