I touched on New Edition back in 2021, when I dove into their first studio album, 1983's Candy Girl. Since then, while I've owned their entire 80's discography, it's sat in limbo, overlooked, and neglected. Let's rectify that, shall we?
At the age of nine, a young Bobby Brown formed the group, New Edition with his school friends. The name was taken to mean a new edition of the Jackson 5. The original lineup of Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, Ronnie DeVoe, Bobby Brown, and Ralph Tresvant, and together form the blueprint for what would become the modern boy band.
The group entered the Hollywood Talent Night held at Boston's Strand Theatre in 1982, their eyes on the prize of $500.00 cash, and most importantly, a recording contract. While they would place second, they impressed host, Maurice Starr, who decided to bring them to his studio the following day to record what would become their debut album for label, Streetwise.
The album would feature several single hits, which included Is This the End, Pop Corn Love, and the number one American R&B chart topper, and album titled, Candy Girl. A tour followed, and upon its conclusion, the boys each received a check for a whopping $1.87. Woohoo! While the boys would part ways with Starr, he would go on to immediately create New Kids On The Block.
Steven and Martin Machat, attorney's at law, represented the boys, and ultimately won their case against label, Streetwise, to release the kids from their contracts. They then helped secure them a new deal with MCA Records, who won the bidding war for their next album, the 1984 self titled release.
New Edition, the album, eclipsed Candy Girl, spawning the top five hit, Cool It Now, and top twenty hit, Mr. Telephone Man. It would later become certified 2X Platinum. Despite this success, problems quickly arose when the group found out they weren't actually in a direct recording deal with MCA. Rather, their deal was through the production affiliate of AMI, Jump and Shoot.
Each of the boys borrowed $100,000.00 from MCA to buy out the agreement. However, this in turn left them in debt to the label, who insisted they continuously record and tour to pay their debt back.
One of my biggest hang ups with the kids first album was its theme of love and relationships. It's a subject matter that 99% of ten year old's know nothing about, making it kind of silly (in an odd way) that they're singing about it. Well, this certainly doesn't change with their 1984 album. Love, love, and more love is what track after track is about.
I mean...If I were to write a song in 1984, it would probably have gone something like...
I can't find my 3PO,
Guess I'll go play G.I. Joe
Did you try that new Atari game?
Boy, that thing was pretty lame
Wiggy wiggy record scratch
Gonna eat a Snack Pack
Chocolate, can ya dig it?
Eh...
The point being, the lyrics wouldn't be about, "Girl I love you so much, let's get married, have three kids, buy a house, and stuff." But, nitpicking aside, Cool It Now is a solid hit, and Mr. Telephone Man, is pretty okay. There are also a couple hidden gems tucked within, which included My Secret (Didja Gitit Yet?), and Hide and Seek. I'll even go against my own grain, and say that Kind of Girls We Like, got my toes tapping, and head nodding. Overall, it was a peppy album, and decent to hear. I can maybe, possibly, kind of, sort of, get behind New Edition. I tell you what, let me hear their next album before I decide.
Because of their financial debt to MCA, that next record came relatively quickly in November, 1985 (All For Love), as did its immediate follow up in December, 1985, the Christmas album, Christmas All Over the World. Less than a year later, the group were releasing 1986's Under The Blue Moon. But, we're way ahead of things at this point. We first need to go back to All For Love, which I'll dive into tomorrow.
Click "HERE" to go back to the home page. For more posts related to this one, please click the labels below.
Disclaimer: They Toy Box does not endorse or contribute to piracy. Retro Spins posts are intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. None of the music discussed here is available for sale, downloading or distribution.
 |
| THIS WEEK ON THE CHARTS August 29, 1981 |
 |
| THIS WEEK ON THE CHARTS August 29, 1987 |
No comments:
Post a Comment