Sooner Or Later - Larry Graham -

The track is a masterclass in smooth funk, blending Graham’s "sly bass syncopations" with synthesizers, hand-claps, and even a vocoder.

While it didn't reach the dizzying heights of his 1980 debut solo hit, "Sooner or Later" was a solid performer that kept Graham relevant in a changing musical landscape.

Unlike the "burned-out relationship" themes found in other similarly-titled songs (like Bob Dylan's "One of Us Must Know"), Graham’s track is celebratory and relentless. He sings about having "so much love burnin'" in his heart and tells his subject they "can't run away". Impact and Chart Success SOONER OR LATER - Larry Graham

The song’s lyrics are a straightforward, confident declaration of romantic persistence. Graham isn't just asking for a chance; he’s stating it as an inevitability.

In the early 1980s, Larry Graham—the pioneer of the slap-bass technique—found himself at a creative crossroads. After dominating the charts with the soulful ballad "One in a Million You" in 1980, he risked being pigeonholed as a strictly romantic crooner. In 1982, he corrected course with the album and title track "Sooner or Later," a release that successfully bridged his funk roots with the evolving electronic sounds of the decade. The Vibe: Electro-Funk Evolution The track is a masterclass in smooth funk,

While the groove was heavy, Graham didn't abandon his baritone charm; critics at the time noted he still added enough of a croon to keep listeners swooning.

The narrator insists that "sooner or later," he will "make you mine" and that it’s "just a matter of time". He sings about having "so much love burnin'"

It peaked at #17 on the Billboard Dance chart and #27 on the R&B chart.