"Force" is the fifth studio album by the English post-punk band A Certain Ratio, released in November 1986 by Factory Records. It marks their final release on the label and was co-produced by the band and Stuart James. The album was recorded and mixed between July and August 1986 at Yello 2 Studios in Stockport.
This album introduces saxophonist Tony Quigley as a new member of the band, while it also represents the final album with keyboardist Andy Connell, who left to focus on his work with the pop trio Swing Out Sister. Corinne Drewery of Swing Out Sister also provided additional vocals on the track "Bootsy."
Force received positive reviews from critics and spent nine weeks on the UK Independent Albums Chart, reaching No. 2. The album's first single, "Mickey Way," was released exclusively in the UK, while "Bootsy" was the second single, released exclusively in Australia. Neither single charted, but both tracks helped to maintain the band's presence within niche music circles.
The album was re-issued in 1994 by Creation Records on CD without any bonus content. In 2009, it was re-issued again by LTM Recordings with two bonus tracks: "The Runner" and an Australian single remix of "Bootsy." Additionally, the original Factory Records cassette version of Force included "Nostromo a Gogo" as a bonus track, packaged in a blue hessian-covered box similar to the design used for New Order's Brotherhood cassette edition.
