The world of R&B kicked off 2022 with a somber tone when GOD called Jesse Daniels, of the Force MDs, home. While the group is primarily known for their 1985 hit “Tender Love”, over thirty-plus years the group continued to stay active by touring, releasing singles, and of course, entertaining guests on the Staten Island Ferry with their trademark vocal stylings.
Last year I had the chance to interview founding group member Stevie D. Lundy on my podcast, and I also featured the group’s third album, Touch and Go, as a Flashback Friday album review. In honor of Mr. Daniels, I wanted to take it back to the group’s second album Chillin‘ and showcase the ballad “Here I Go Again”.
Serving as the second single from the album, “Here I Go Again” was produced by Robin Halpin, who co-wrote the song with group member Antoine Lundy. Following the success of “Tender Love,” another ballad was a no-brainer. Opening with a lovely intro that anyone who has gone through the motions of a relationship can relate to.
The moment Antoine croons,
“You and I
Have differences
On that we can agree
But the thing
That really hangs me up
Is your touch
Still sets me free.”
We know that we were in for a ballad that recalls the slow drag popularized in the late seventies. While Antoine leads the song, Jessie comes in on the bridge to mesh eloquently with his nephew’s signature falsetto. Daniels was a true talent who never got his just due as a lead singer in a genuinely “unsung” group.
While “Tender Love” may be the signature tune for the Force MDs, the group has numerous fine slow jams, which deserve a spot on your playlist, with “Here I Go Again” serving as one of those songs.
Final Grade: A-
“Here I Go Again” from Chillin is available on all streaming platforms
For more on the Force MD’s, please check out their website: theforcemds.com
In addition to the 2020 interview I did with Stevie D, click on https://anchor.fm/reviewsanddunn/episodes/Staten-Soul-With-Stevie-D-of-The-Force-MDs-egg316/a-a2lfmgv
I’ve always been a fan of Eric Bellinger. My admiration stems not only from the records he has released under his own name but also from the impressive career he built behind the scenes. Long before casual R&B listeners recognized his face, they were already familiar with his songwriting through tracks he penned for artists like Chris Brown, Usher, Justin Bieber, and Wale.
As many of you know, I had the opportunity to visit Paisley Park earlier this week while vacationing in Minnesota. During the tour, our guide shared that an expanded edition of Prince’s album “Parade” is expected to be released to celebrate its 40th anniversary. After spending the day exploring the Twin Cities, it felt like the perfect excuse to revisit one of the most fascinating and underrated albums in Prince’s legendary catalog.
One of the reasons I’ve always considered Prince to have the edge over Michael Jackson is his remarkable collection of ballads and