Chicago ensemble Magnum Force, recognized for the steppers staple “Share My Love” and the house staple “Cool Out,” formed in 1982. Previously called Seville, the act earned acclaim for its energetic stage performances. Founding members Rick Sizemore, Rory Sizemore, and Nate Williams divided duties with the Sizemore brothers on bass and keyboards, Williams handling lead vocals, and all three supplying backing vocals.
As with numerous soul acts, the ensemble’s origins lay in gospel settings; the Sizemores first backed a church choir that featured Williams. By 1984 the lineup had grown to seven pieces, adding a horn section modeled on contemporaries Cameo and Chicago-born Earth, Wind and Fire. Prompted by encouragement from associates, supporters, and relatives, the musicians entered a studio without prior recording experience and emerged with three original demos, among them the Rick-and-Rory composition “Share My Love.”
After fielding routine rejections while pitching the material, a family acquaintance arranged an introduction to Chi-Lites producer Carl Davis. Issued on Davis’s Kelli-Arts imprint, a subsidiary of Chi-Sound Records, “Share My Love” moved more than 40,000 units in the Chicagoland region, gained regional airplay, and registered on national charts.
In 1984 the group launched its own Now Sound Records and issued “Say I Do,” which sold over 10,000 copies locally. The next year the act embraced the emerging Chicago house sound, resulting in its strongest seller to that point. “Cool Out,” released via Paula, a Jewel Records subsidiary, approached 200,000 copies and aired in Chicago, New York, Atlanta, Detroit, and select European markets, reaching number 72 on the R&B chart in early 1985. The accompanying video ranked among Chicago’s Top Ten and aired on the program Rock on Chicago; an album titled Cool Out followed, while the B-side “Get It in the Mix” secured additional club spins. Another 12-inch, “Tight Jeans,” succeeded both locally and in the U.K. In 1987 Virgin Records licensed the Share My Love album for British release.
Contractual disputes later imposed a period of inactivity; the Sizemore brothers later attributed the setback to youthful inexperience with music-industry dealings.
The group subsequently partnered with businessman Robert Terrell. In 1991 it released the creamy ballad “Say Goodbye” on its CMC Records label. Like “Share My Love,” the track unfolded as a lush mid-tempo ballad propelled by soft electronic percussion that enveloped the listener like an aural waterbed; its deep Barry White-in-the-basement spoken intro, paired with soulful lead and background vocals, suited horizontal listening with a partner nearby. The flip, “Want You So Bad,” presented a mellow upbeat groove blending smooth vocal harmonies and hip-hop beats against warm string synth pads. Additional singles comprised “Unlucky Punk” and the double-sided “Magnum Force” b/w “Bring Me Down.”
