A year after their 1984 debut album, Love Letters, R&B quartet Force MD’S released the timeless ballad “Tender Love,” which took the group’s career to another level. In 1987 the group released its third album, Touch and Go. “Love Is a House” opens the album, and the song still sounds fresh as it did when I was six years old. Antoine Lundy’s falsetto was in top form, and it’s easy to see why the song was such a hit when released.
“Would You Love Me” is up next, and Robert Lewis’s production is a vintage sound of eighties Hip Hop and instantly puts you in a good mood. The album’s title track and second single, “Touch and Go,” is up next. I would’ve loved to see the group in their prime performing this one live to some slick choreography.
Now while I enjoy the up-tempo material from any artist, I’m a slow cat. “Couldn’t Care Less,” the album’s third single, once again shows off the talent of Antoine Lundy’s falsetto and the group’s harmonious skill.
Hearing this song in 2021, it should’ve become another one of the group’s signature songs in terms of their ballads. Throughout every note in the song, you feel this brother’s pain, and anyone who’s lost a love that you still pine for can relate.
The balladry continues on in “Your Love Dries Me Crazy.” If I were a DJ in the eighties, I would definitely play this at the end of the night. This one is an album track that still sounds fresh thirty-four years later. The group gets back to the up-tempo side of things with “Midnite Lover.” The song is a significant role reversal on men sneaking out after a one-night stand with a woman. While “Take Your Love Back” and the album’s closer, “Sweet Dreams” are strong album tracks.
Featuring just eight songs and clocking in at forty minutes, the Force M.D.’s third album may not feature anything as groundbreaking as “Tender Love.” However, Touch and Go is a successful merge of up-tempo material and balladry. With crisp production and the eloquent falsetto of the late Antoine Lundy, the album is worth revisiting.
Top Tracks: “Love Is a House,” “Touch and Go,” “Couldn’t Care Less.”
Final Grade: B
Touch and Go is available on all streaming platforms
For their second single, the group presented a ballad entitled “Feels Like The First Time.” Once again, Greene handles the lyrics, while Neville Hodge is responsible for production duties. Greene begins the song with robust energy, proclaiming his love for the lady. Greene’s group members provide stellar work on the background vocals, and the songs eschew nineties R&B without going into crass vulgarity.
The ballad was composed by Michael Masser and lyricist Gerry Goffin, and it was first recorded by Dionne Warwick in 1981. Eight years later, Natalie Cole covered the song, shortening the title. It became the fourth single from her twelfth album, “Good to Be Back.”
Braxton’s vocal talent is perfect on the standards “Christmas Time Is Here,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” and “The Christmas Song.” However, like any good R&B Christmas album, it is the soulful yuletide bops where Braxton truly shines. The album’s first single, “Snowflakes of Love,” is instrumental of Earl Klugh’s “Now We’re One”. Braxton’s lush vocals encapsulate the warmth and joy of romantic love amidst a wintery backdrop.
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