Tougher Than Love
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- Mikey Bennett
- Clement "Coxsone" Dodd
- Andy Marvel
- Sugar Minott
- Matt Noble
- Handel Tucker
| Tougher Than Love | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | April 25, 1995 | |||
| Length | 46:26 | |||
| Label | Work | |||
| Producer |
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| Diana King chronology | ||||
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Tougher Than Love is the debut studio album by Jamaican-American singer-songwriter Diana King. It was released by the Work Group on April 25, 1995. The album reached the top ten in Finland, Japan, and Norway as well as on the UK R&B Albums and on the US Top Reggae Albums chart. Tougher Than Love produced four singles, including "Shy Guy", "Love Triangle", "Treat Her Like a Lady" and "Ain't Nobody", a cover of the Rufus & Chaka Khan song from 1983.
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Music Week | [2] |
| Smash Hits | [3] |
Music & Media wrote about that album: "You can only do that properly if your singing is as good as your rapping. Diana succeeds cum laude on both disciplines. As a vocalist she's reminiscent of Anita Baker, as a rapper Patra is the best reference. With the catchy tracks [...] King deserves to be crowned queen of the innovation."[4] A reviewer from British magazine Music Week wrote, "A fitting title adorns this strongly reggae/dancehall-influenced album which amply showcases King as an unusual [female] talent, who is most impressive when she [they] sing[s] it straight and soulful."[5]
Billboard editors Paul Verna and Marilyn A. Gillen noted that "despite her youth, Jamaican artist's full-bodied vocals demonstrate a tenured versatility that balances the memorable hooks and car-catching choruses that could have easily allowed this debut to become merely a production-driven vehicle. Syncopated Jamaican shythms and patois, though far from center stage, maintain album's semi-exotc appeal. Excellent crossover potential."[6] Cash Box found that there was "deep new-jack funk sensibilities on King's debut here. She [...] offers a collection here that is expertly produced and fits right in to the urban music landscape. Mixing chant and song deftly, she wins with tracks like “Love Triangle," "Love Me Thru The Night" and the bumpin’ cover of Chaka's "Ain't Nobody"."[7] AllMusic rated the album two ouf of five stars.[1]
Commercial performance
In the United States, the album peaked at number 179 on the US Billboard 200, number 85 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and number three on the Top Reggae Albums chart.[8][9] Elsewhere, it reached the top ten in Finland, Japan, Norway, and on the UK R&B Albums chart.[10]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Love Me Thru the Night" |
| Tucker | 5:18 |
| 2. | "Shy Guy" |
| Marvel | 4:19 |
| 3. | "Love Triangle" |
| Marvel | 4:22 |
| 4. | "Ain't Nobody" | Hawk Wolinski | Tucker | 5:23 |
| 5. | "Tougher Than Love" |
| Marvel | 3:50 |
| 6. | "Can't Do Without You" |
| Marvel | 5:01 |
| 7. | "Slow Rush" |
|
| 4:56 |
| 8. | "Treat Her Like a Lady" |
| Marvel | 3:55 |
| 9. | "Black Roses" |
| Noble | 5:06 |
| 10. | "Tumble Down" |
| Marvel | 4:18 |
| Total length: | 46:26 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11. | "Lock Him Up" |
| 4:36 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11. | "Hey Jude" | Lennon–McCartney | Marvel | 5:51 |
| 12. | "Lock Him Up" |
| Bennett | 4:13 |
| 13. | "I'll Do It" (with Nahki) |
| Marvel | 3:55 |
Notes
- ^[a] denotes additional producer(s)
Sample credits
- "Shy Guy" contain replayed samples from "School Boy Crush" as performed by Average White Band.
