The Force Behind the Power

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The Force Behind the Power
Diana Ross - The Force Behind The Power.jpg
Studio album by
Diana Ross
ReleasedSeptember 10, 1991
RecordedDecember 1990−June 1991 (except 11, recorded 1988)
Genre
Length
  • 47:33
  • 56:51
LabelMotown
Producer
Diana Ross chronology
Greatest Hits Live
(1989) 		The Force Behind the Power
(1991) 		Stolen Moments: The Lady Sings... Jazz and Blues
(1993)
Singles from The Force Behind the Power
  1. "If We Hold on Together"
    Released: November 5, 1988
  2. "No Matter What You Do (Duet w/ Al B. Sure)"
    Released: February 20, 1991
  3. "When You Tell Me That You Love Me"
    Released: August 20, 1991
  4. "You're Gonna Love It"
    Released: October 15, 1991
  5. "The Force Behind The Power"
    Released: January 15, 1992
  6. "Waiting in the Wings"
    Released: April 28, 1992 (Promo)
  7. "One Shining Moment"
    Released: July 1992
  8. "Heart (Don't Change My Mind)"
    Released: September 1992
  9. "Battlefield"
    Released: 1992 (Promo)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic2/5 stars[1]

The Force Behind the Power is the nineteenth studio album by American singer Diana Ross, released on September 10, 1991 by Motown Records.[2] The album reached No. 11 on the UK Albums chart.[3]

Singles[]

The 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 Songs 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 Nos. 10, and 27 on the UK Singles chart.[4][3]

If We Hold on Together reached No. 11 on the UK Singles chart and No. 23 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart, while a cover of Barbra Streisand's "Heart (Don't Change My Mind)" reached No. 31 on the UK Singles chart.[5][3][6]

"No Matter What You Do" - her duet with Al B. Sure! - was a major US R&B hit where it peaked at number 4 on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart, while "You're Gonna Love It" was also released as a US single, where it rose to No. 24 on the US Dance Club Songs chart. [7][8]

"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).[9] It reached #1 on the Japanese International single charts for 12 contiguous weeks making it the biggest selling record by a foreign artist; and in total, sold over 465,000 copies.[10][11]

Commercial reception[]

In the UK the album certified platinum for sales exceeding 300,000 copies.[12] It also went Gold in Japan and various European territories.[13] The album was successful enough internationally that Ross' "Here and Now" World Tour lasted nearly two years.

Track listings[]

US edition

  1. "Change of Heart" (Terry Britten, Graham Lyle) – 4:02
  2. "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" (John Bettis, Albert Hammond) – 4:13
  3. "Battlefield" (Paul Carrack, Nick Lowe) – 3:35
  4. "Blame It on the Sun" (Stevie Wonder, Syreeta Wright) – 3:55
  5. "Heavy Weather" (Michael Sembello) – 4:59
  6. "The Force Behind the Power" (Stevie Wonder) – 4:45
  7. "Heart (Don't Change My Mind)" (Robbie Buchanan, Diane Warren) – 4:19
  8. "Waiting in the Wings" (Andy Hill, Pete Sinfield) – 4:52
  9. "One Shining Moment" (Vaneese Thomas) – 4:48
  10. "You're Gonna Love It" (Cydney Davis, Lloyd Tolbert) – 5:11
  11. "If We Hold on Together" (James Horner, Barry Mann, Will Jennings) – 4:09

International edition

  1. "Change of Heart" (Britten, Lyle) – 4:03
  2. "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" (Bettis, Hammond) – 4:13
  3. "Battlefield" (Carrack, Lowe) – 3:35
  4. "Blame It on the Sun" (Wonder, Wright) – 3:55
  5. "You're Gonna Love It" (Davis, Tolbert) – 5:11
  6. "Heavy Weather" (Sembello) – 4:59
  7. "The Force Behind the Power" (Wonder) – 4:42
  8. "Heart (Don't Change My Mind)" (Buchanan, Warren) – 4:19
  9. "Waiting in the Wings" (Hill, Sinfield) – 4:52
  10. "You and I" (Dormer, Goldo, Vigil) – 4:09
  11. "One Shining Moment" (Thomas) – 4:48
  12. "If We Hold on Together" (James Horner, Barry Mann, Will Jennings) – 4:13
  13. "No Matter What You Do" (duet with Al B. Sure!) (Brown, West) – 5:09

Personnel[]

  • 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, 3, 4, 8, 9)
  • James Anthony Carmichael – arrangements (1, 5, 6, 9), keyboards (6), synthesizers (6)
  • Stevie Wonder – all instruments (7), arrangements (7), choir arrangement (7)
  • 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, 3, 4, 8, 11)
  • Andrew Gold – acoustic guitar (3), organ (3)
  • Waddy Wachtel – guitars (12)
  • Freddie Washington – bass (2, 3, 4, 8)
  • Larry Klein – bass (11)
  • Leland Sklar – bass (12)
  • Carlos Vega – drums (2, 3, 4, 8, 9)
  • Michael Fisher – percussion (2, 3, 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, 3, 4, 8, 11, 12)
  • Gavyn Wright – orchestra leader (2, 3, 4, 8, 11, 12)
  • Isobel Griffiths – orchestra contractor (2, 3, 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, 3, 4, 8, 11, 12)
  • Kate Markowitz – backing vocals (2, 3, 4, 8, 11, 12)
  • Cydney Davis – backing vocals (5)
  • The Andraé Crouch Singers – choir (7)

Production[]

  • Producers – James Anthony Carmichael (tracks 1, 5, 6 & 9); Peter Asher (tracks 2, 3, 4, 8 & 10–13); Stevie Wonder (track 7)
  • Co-producer on track 7: Nathan Watts
  • Executive producer: Diana Ross
  • 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, 3, 4, 8, 10, 11, 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, 3, 4, 8, 10, 11, 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, 3, 4, 8, 10, 11, 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[]

Chart (1991) Peak
position
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[14] 32
European Top 100 Albums (Music & Media)[15] 30
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[16] 43
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[17] 37
UK Albums (OCC)[18] 11
US Billboard 200[19] 101

Certifications[]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[20] Platinum 300,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References[]

  1. ^ AllMusic review
  2. ^ "Diana Ross: The Force Behind the Power". 45worlds.com.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Diana Ross". officialcharts.com.
  4. ^ "Diana Ross: When You Tell Me That You Love Me (Adult Contemporary Songs)". billboard.com.
  5. ^ "Diana Ross: If We Hold on Together (Adult Contemporary Songs)". billboard.com.
  6. ^ "Diana Ross: Heart (Don't change my mind)". secondhandsongs.com.
  7. ^ "Diana Ross: No Matter What You Do (Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs)". billboard.com.
  8. ^ "Diana Ross: You're Gonna Love It (Dance Club Songs)". billboard.com.
  9. ^ "想い出にかわるまで". TBS. Retrieved 2010-08-07.
  10. ^ "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.
  11. ^ "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)
  12. ^ "UK Certified Awards Search > Diana Ross". British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on 2013-01-11. Retrieved 2012-02-29.
  13. ^ "THE SUPREMES, DIANA ROSS, STEVIE WONDER and RAY CHARLES.....USA album sales". Greasy Lake Community. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  14. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Diana Ross – The Force Behind the Power" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  15. ^ "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. January 11, 1992. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  16. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Diana Ross – The Force Behind the Power". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  17. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Diana Ross – The Force Behind the Power". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  18. ^ "Diana Ross | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  19. ^ "Diana Ross Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  20. ^ "British album certifications – Diana Ross – The Force Behind the Power". British Phonographic Industry.Select albums in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type The Force Behind the Power in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
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