Search
Full Force
Picture of Derrick Dunn

Derrick Dunn

Slow Jam Saturday: Full Force, “Your Place Or Mine”

In addition to offering scene-stealing moments in the first two House Party films, Hip Hop and R&B group Full Force made a name for themselves as in-demand producers. Initially, the group crafted tracks for artists such as UTFO, Doctor Ice, Samantha Fox, Patti LaBelle, The Force M.D.s, and of course, Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam. Those records would lead to the group working with icon artists Bob Dylan, Patti LaBelle, and James Brown. When the resurgence of teen pop arrived in the late nineties, Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, and ‘N Sync were all blessed with the Full Force magic.

Full Force has ten albums in their discography, and I wanted to give them some flowers for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday. Naturally, I could’ve gone with “All In My Mind,” one of the group’s biggest hits from 1987’s Guess Who’s Comin’ to the Crib? Instead, I chose “Your Place Or Mine” from the group’s sixth album, 1992’s Don’t Sleep.

The group switched labels for this album and primarily handled the production once again. The song starts with a little bit of a jazzy vibe before a transition into that signature nineties R&B sound. The group vocals stay within their natural register, and the lyrics are relatable.

Ideally, the song is about a man who has been dating a lady for a while. He’s ready to take the relationship to the next level as long as she’s ready for that type of physical intimacy. Credit to the group for crafting a mature song that sets the mood that acknowledges it’s always a woman’s choice.

Although the music was quality as a group, Full Force never had the same success they did when producing for other artists. Nevertheless, “Your Place Or Mine” is one of many impressive slow jams in their catalog.  

 

Final Grade: B+

“Your Place Or Mine” from Don’t Sleep is available on all streaming platforms.

Movie Clappers

More reviews to explorer

‘Dead Man’s Wire’ turns a true-crime nightmare into a crowd-pleaser

On the morning of February 8, 1977, Tony Kiritsis walked into a mortgage office in Indianapolis convinced the system had finally turned on him. What followed was one of the most unsettling media spectacles of the decade: a 63-hour hostage standoff in which Kiritsis literally wired a sawed-off shotgun to both his victim’s neck and his own chest. It was desperation theater, broadcast live, raw and ugly, and fueled by a man who believed grievance was the same thing as righteousness.

Second Listen Sunday: Eric Benét, “It’s Christmas”

Eric Benét’s holiday album, “It’s Christmas”, finds the four-time Grammy nominee embracing comfort rather than challenge. He delivers a collection that is impeccably sung and tastefully arranged, though it ultimately feels a bit too cautious for an artist of his talent and history.

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn