New Edition (album)
Encyclopedia
New Edition is the second studio album released by American R&B quintet New Edition
on July 6, 1984 in North America. It was their first album on MCA Records
. It was also their first album without Maurice Starr
who would depart from the group during the making of the album after the group accused him of stealing their monetary earnings from their platinum debut. Grammy
-nominated producer Michael Sembello
co-produced the album with Ray Parker, Jr.
. The album reached #6 on the Billboard 200
and #1 on the R&B/Hip hop
albums chart (where it peaked for five weeks).
. Around the time of the making of this album, the group and Starr argued over monetary earnings that the group felt that had been given to them and then taken away by Starr, who has to this day steadfastly denied taking the boys' earnings from them. The dispute came after the group members received their checks in their mailboxes only to discover that they were only given $1.27 despite the success of their debut album, Candy Girl
and their accompanying US tour. Angered, New Edition filed a lawsuit against Starr and demanded out of their contract. Starr relented and gave the boys the freedom to leave. The bitter split eventually led to Starr's creating "the white
New Edition": New Kids on the Block
. Meanwhile, the boys left Starr's label Streetwise Records and signed a new contract with MCA
. Being given a bevy of producers including R&B mainstay Ray Parker, Jr.
and writer-producer Mike Sembello of "Maniac" fame among them, the group released their self-titled second album in the summer of 1984 to huge success.
and number one on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop album chart. It later spawned another top forty pop hit, the ballad “Lost in Love” and subsequent modest hits “Kinda Girls We Like” (which was written by the group themselves), and the uptempo top forty R&B single, “My Secret (Didja Get It Yet?).” New Edition eventually was certified double-platinum—making New Edition the most acclaimed teen pop attraction of the middle 1980s. This album was also promoted under a more clean cut pop
image for group, much different than the streetwise persona they had during their first album. A marketing decision that various group members would later admit that they weren’t thrilled about at the time.
Also An Unreleased Track Was On A 7-inch Record "Lost In Love"
Side B "Gold Mine" (Eastman/Hart) (3:01)
New Edition
New Edition is an R&B group formed in Boston in 1978. The group reached its height of popularity during the 1980s. They were the progenitors of the boy band movement of the 1980s and 1990s and led the way for groups like New Kids on the Block, Boyz II Men, Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync...
on July 6, 1984 in North America. It was their first album on MCA Records
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
. It was also their first album without Maurice Starr
Maurice Starr
Maurice Starr is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer.-Biography:Starr, originally from Florida, moved to Boston with his brother Michael in the early 1970s. After moving to Boston he recorded two unsuccessful R&B albums, Flaming Starr and Spacey Lady...
who would depart from the group during the making of the album after the group accused him of stealing their monetary earnings from their platinum debut. Grammy
Grammy Awards of 1984
The 26th Grammy Awards were held on February 28, 1984, and were broadcast live on American television. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the year 1983...
-nominated producer Michael Sembello
Michael Sembello
Michael Sembello is an American musician and songwriter from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.-Career:Sembello was born and raised in Philadelphia. He studied with jazz great Pat Martino and began his career as a professional musician by becoming a session musician, working increasingly with...
co-produced the album with Ray Parker, Jr.
Ray Parker, Jr.
Ray Erskine Parker, Jr. , is an American guitarist, songwriter, producer and recording artist. Parker is known for writing and performing the theme song to the motion picture Ghostbusters, for his solo hits, and performing with his band Raydio as well as the late Barry White.-Early life and...
. The album reached #6 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
and #1 on the R&B/Hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
albums chart (where it peaked for five weeks).
Overview
Little over a year after their first album, New Edition were a million-selling pop act by the time of this release. They had also gone through a nasty court battle with their former mentor and producer Maurice StarrMaurice Starr
Maurice Starr is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer.-Biography:Starr, originally from Florida, moved to Boston with his brother Michael in the early 1970s. After moving to Boston he recorded two unsuccessful R&B albums, Flaming Starr and Spacey Lady...
. Around the time of the making of this album, the group and Starr argued over monetary earnings that the group felt that had been given to them and then taken away by Starr, who has to this day steadfastly denied taking the boys' earnings from them. The dispute came after the group members received their checks in their mailboxes only to discover that they were only given $1.27 despite the success of their debut album, Candy Girl
Candy Girl (album)
Candy Girl is the debut album by New Edition, released on the Streetwise label, in 1983.- Production and conception :The title song was written and produced by Maurice Starr after seeing New Edition perform at a talent show. He signed them and had them record "Candy Girl" in a small studio in...
and their accompanying US tour. Angered, New Edition filed a lawsuit against Starr and demanded out of their contract. Starr relented and gave the boys the freedom to leave. The bitter split eventually led to Starr's creating "the white
White people
White people is a term which usually refers to human beings characterized, at least in part, by the light pigmentation of their skin...
New Edition": New Kids on the Block
New Kids on the Block
New Kids on the Block are an American boy band from Boston, Massachusetts, assembled in 1984 by producer Maurice Starr. The band currently consists of brothers Jordan and Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg, and Danny Wood.New Kids on the Block enjoyed success in the late 1980s and...
. Meanwhile, the boys left Starr's label Streetwise Records and signed a new contract with MCA
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
. Being given a bevy of producers including R&B mainstay Ray Parker, Jr.
Ray Parker, Jr.
Ray Erskine Parker, Jr. , is an American guitarist, songwriter, producer and recording artist. Parker is known for writing and performing the theme song to the motion picture Ghostbusters, for his solo hits, and performing with his band Raydio as well as the late Barry White.-Early life and...
and writer-producer Mike Sembello of "Maniac" fame among them, the group released their self-titled second album in the summer of 1984 to huge success.
Release and reaction
Thanks to more thorough promotion, and music tailored for more of a mainstream audience, New Edition won new fans upon the release of this album. The lead off singles: “Cool It Now” and “Mr. Telephone Man” both became top twenty pop hits, and also hit number one on the R&B singles chart. The album peaked at number six on the Billboard 200Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
and number one on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop album chart. It later spawned another top forty pop hit, the ballad “Lost in Love” and subsequent modest hits “Kinda Girls We Like” (which was written by the group themselves), and the uptempo top forty R&B single, “My Secret (Didja Get It Yet?).” New Edition eventually was certified double-platinum—making New Edition the most acclaimed teen pop attraction of the middle 1980s. This album was also promoted under a more clean cut pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
image for group, much different than the streetwise persona they had during their first album. A marketing decision that various group members would later admit that they weren’t thrilled about at the time.
Track listing
- "Cool It NowCool It Now"Cool It Now" is a 1984 hit single by R&B/Pop group New Edition, and is the first single from their eponymous second album, New Edition. The song peaked at #4 in January, 1985 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.-Overview:...
" (Brantley/Timas) (6:00) - "Mr. Telephone ManMr. Telephone Man"Mr. Telephone Man" is a 1984 song by R&B/pop group, New Edition, and the second single from their eponymous second album, New Edition.-Overview:"Mr...
" (ParkerRay Parker, Jr.Ray Erskine Parker, Jr. , is an American guitarist, songwriter, producer and recording artist. Parker is known for writing and performing the theme song to the motion picture Ghostbusters, for his solo hits, and performing with his band Raydio as well as the late Barry White.-Early life and...
) (3:58) - "I'm Leaving You Again" (BellRicky Bell (singer)Ricky Bell, nicknamed "Slick" is an American R&B singer best known as one of the founding members of New Edition and the lead singer of Bell Biv DeVoe...
/TresvantRalph TresvantRalph Tresvant , aka Rizz, is an American tenor singer, best known as one of the lead singers in New Edition.-New Edition:Tresvant sang lead on many of the New Edition lead singles including "Candy Girl", "Cool It Now" and "If It Isn't Love"...
) (4:15) - "Baby Love" (Rudolph/Sembello/Sembello) (4:36)
- "Delicious" (Batteau/Sembello) (4:32)
- "My Secret (Didja Get It Yet?)My Secret (Didja Get It Yet?)"My Secret " is a 1985 song by R&B/Pop group New Edition, is the fifth and final single from single from their eponymous second album, New Edition...
" (Eastman/Hart) (4:09) - "Hide & Seek" (Bell/Dudley) (3:45)
- "Lost in LoveLost in Love (New Edition song)"Lost in Love" is a 1985 ballad by R&B/Pop group New Edition, and is the third single from their eponymous second album, New Edition. Released in early 1985, the song peaked at #35 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #6 on Billboard's Hot Black Singles chart....
" (Kramer) (4:12) - "Kind of Girls We Like" (New Edition) (4:10)
- "Maryann" (Chudacoff/Goodman/Lucas) (3:36)
Also An Unreleased Track Was On A 7-inch Record "Lost In Love"
Side B "Gold Mine" (Eastman/Hart) (3:01)
Credits
- Ronnie DeVoeRonnie DeVoeRonnie DeVoe, aka R.D., is one of the members of the R&B sextet New Edition....
: background vocals;rap - Bobby BrownBobby BrownRobert Barisford "Bobby" Brown is an American R&B singer-songwriter, occasional rapper, and dancer. After success in pop group New Edition, Brown began his solo career in 1987 and had a string of Top 10 Billboard hits, culminating in a Grammy Award. He was a pioneer of New Jack Swing music, a...
: lead and background vocals - Ricky BellRicky Bell (singer)Ricky Bell, nicknamed "Slick" is an American R&B singer best known as one of the founding members of New Edition and the lead singer of Bell Biv DeVoe...
: lead and background vocals - Michael BivinsMichael BivinsMichael Lamont Bivins, a.k.a. Biv , is the founder and member of the R&B group New Edition and the hip hop group Bell Biv DeVoe...
: background vocals;rap - Ralph TresvantRalph TresvantRalph Tresvant , aka Rizz, is an American tenor singer, best known as one of the lead singers in New Edition.-New Edition:Tresvant sang lead on many of the New Edition lead singles including "Candy Girl", "Cool It Now" and "If It Isn't Love"...
: lead,background vocals,and rap