The 411 - Between The Sheets (2004)

On My Knees feat. Ghostface Killah
The debut release from The 411 featured Ghostface Killah from The Wu-Tang Clan and a sample from 'Ain't My Style' performed by Main Ingredient. The sample is used as the chorus to the track which has a string, percussion and piano accompaniment. The girls speak the verses and harmonise over the sampled chorus and this single was a huge hit. It got to Number Four in UK and reached similar positions all over the world. The lyric recounts a relationship from start, where they meet on a train and fall in love; to finish, when Killah hits the girls due to paranoia over a previous infidelity. Ghostface Killah comes back at the girls to apologise for being aggressive towards them, tells them that he loves them and wants them back in the crib. Whilst he doesn't get his wish, we get a fantastic song. Prepare to see this as Tune of the Day soon!

Teardrops
The third release from the album features another sample, this time 'Danube Incident' as performed by Lalo Schifrin. Portishead also make use of this sample on 'Sour Times'. The percussion and guitar add weight to the sample to convey a lyric about an unfaithful ex partner that is finally getting his comeuppance. Revenge is a dish best served cold and it is now the girls' turn to see the ex suffer the way that they did when they were with him. He wants them back but they are unrelenting, despite his tears and the pain that he is feeling. His hurt gives them a natural high and has them ask him to think about the times that he walked all over them. Rather than have the girls take pity on him, his Teardrops set them free. This is another great track.

China Girl
Heavy bass, oriental drums and strings provide the soundtrack to this song to a girl made of china rather than coming from there. The fragile girl to whom they sing is on the streets, sleeping around, with no money to her name and ashamed by her current lifestyle. They encourage her to return home, where there are people who love her are waiting for her safe return. Not the obvious choice of topic for a pop song and not an immediate hit but, given time, this song does grow on you. So far, so good.

Chance
A fast acapella introduction to this song, gives rise to a funky/dancey number with a good drum beat, strings and a whole lot of bass guitar. This is one for the disco and the lyric is about a man missing his chance with the girls. They sing for him not to be surprised when he sees them in the club with another guy and to remember that it was him who said goodbye after using them for their money. The line 'It ain't your birthday' signals that the party is over for the two of them and there will be no going back. Yet another good song.

My Friend
The pace is slowed down for this electric guitar-led slow jam. The girls sing about a friend of theirs that is in hospital, at death's door, following an arguement with her boyfriend that got out of her hand in verse one and a second friend in Verse Two who got caught up in the drug scene and murdered on the streets. A rap advises the listener to make wise decisions and to make the most of themselves. You need to have self belief in order to get on in life and not to let others control you. Another strong message in another good song.

Between The Sheets
The title track of the album begins with the acoustic guitar and strings. A slow drum beat drops in time for the girls to start singing how they can put everything wrong in their relationship right Between The Sheets. They have had an arguement with their partner and are ready for the safe make up sex. (Safe as they lift the same message from Spice Girls' '2 Become 1'). The bridge is fantastic, its tempo reflecting the rhythm of what is going down and makes this song what it is: Brilliant.

Dumb
The second single release from the album and the biggest hit for The 411, peaking at Number Three in UK. The pace picks up once more, which reflects the fact that the lyric takes place in a club. The girls are out and are being checked out by somebody that makes them think how fun it would be to 'get some'. In the bridge, they sing that there is no way that they are going to play, knowing that their man is at home, looking at his wedding ring, waiting for them to get home. Cheating is what would be Dumb but the girls do no succumb and make it back to their baby boy who is on his own. Another potential Tune of the Day? I think so!

Forever Begins
A fast piano melody receives string accompaniment before the beat drops and the girls begin to sing about a woman on the beach at sunset, seeing the image of her dead partner in the reflection of the sun on the ocean and smiling. The reason that neither she, nor the song is sad is that she knows that he is in a better place and that it will not be too long until she too will move on from this Earth and be reunited with him in Heaven. Another totally original lyric that draws the listener in.

Jumpin'
Reggae is the order of the day and the girls feel like Jumpin', Groovin' and generally getting their freak on. The reason for this? Their man. They sing about him making them hot and feel like a woman should feel. They want to move the Jumpin' from the dance floor to the bedroom. All. Night. Long. I like this.

What If It Was You?
The pace drops back for this track that has acoustic guitars, drums and brass. The first verse concerns itself with a girl having to sell her body on the street and the second with a homeless man begging for change. The chorus asks you to put yourself in their position before judging and laughing at them and their misfortunate. It pulls no punches and asks you to consider 'What if it was you down on your luck? What if it was you and no one gave a ....?'. The song does send out a good message but its success has nothing on that of the magnificant 'Salvador' by Beverley Knight.

I Don't Want To Talk About It feat. JP Esq.
The harpsichord introduces the song, giving way to the piano, strings and acoustic guitar. The vocal is fast in comparison to the music, until we reach the pre-chorus where the girls let slip that they know that their man has another girlfriend. The heartbreak that this causes makes this topic off limits for the girls and JP Esq. tries some damage control, asking to still be friends but the girls cannot get over the revelation from the friends of the other woman and the fact that he has been lying to them all the time. Another fantastic song, which ends with the sound of rain, just like 'Cry Me A River' by Justin Timberlake; which deals with a similar subject matter.

Can't Fight Love
The final track of the album starts with the girls themselves, the piano and strings. It is by far the slowest song on the album and the minimal musical accompaniment allows the girls to showcase their vocal abilities. The stripped style is not in keeping with the rest of the album, which means that this track would not have worked had it been placed elsewhere on the album and that it can easily be overlooked with the listener keen to skip straight back to the start of the album and the sick 'On My Knees'. The song is about falling in love with a friend and taking the step to move the relationship forward and go from friends to lovers. Even though this is potentially not the smartest of moves, given that love doesn't come around every five minutes, you can't fight it and they should take a chance.

The debut album and success of the early singles indicate that there was more life in The 411 that one brilliant debut. Sadly, the band split after 'Between The Sheets' and, despite reforming several times, have been unable to reignite their success. The album has some brilliant songs on it and, with time, the rest of the songs work their charm and before you know it, you're including more and more songs as you work your way through it until you have the whole thing on repeat. Well worth checking out.