Heart Break

Last updated
Heart Break
Neheartbreak.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 20, 1988
Recorded19871988
Genre
Length51:41
Label MCA
Producer Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, New Edition, Jellybean Johnson
New Edition chronology
Under the Blue Moon
(1986)
Heart Break
(1988)
Home Again
(1996)
Singles from Heart Break
  1. "If It Isn't Love"
    Released: June 7, 1988
  2. "You're Not My Kind of Girl"
    Released: September 6, 1988
  3. "Can You Stand the Rain"
    Released: December 3, 1988
  4. "Crucial"
    Released: January 31, 1989
  5. "N.E. Heart Break"
    Released: June 16, 1989

Heart Break is the fifth studio album by American R&B quintet New Edition, released June 20, 1988, by MCA Records. It is the first album to return the Boston-reared band as a quintet after the public exit of original member Bobby Brown, and the first album to feature Johnny Gill as a member of the group. The album was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Contents

Background

By 1987, New Edition was a group in transition. The band members were aging out of their teens into their twenties, and sought for their image and sound to reflect their coming of age. In addition to employing the famed production team of Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis to help steer their music into a new direction, they also recruited Washington, D.C.-based baritone/tenor Johnny Gill—who, in 1984, had scored a hit with R&B singer Stacy Lattisaw on "Perfect Combination". [2] The New Edition members had actually known Gill since they released their hit "Candy Girl" in 1983 and Gill released his R&B Top 30 hit "Super Love" that same year. They had joked that they would let him in the group if he could improve his dancing skills. [3] Prompting Gill’s entrance into the group was when lead singer Ralph Tresvant considered recording a solo album. To circumvent New Edition being left without a lead singer, Michael Bivins suggested bringing in 20-year-old Gill to replace him. Gill accepted the invitation, joining the group in the spring of 1987. Tresvant, however, wasn’t ready to leave  resulting in New Edition, inadvertently, becoming a quintet again as they began production on their fifth album, Heart Break. [4]

While most of Heart Break features principal vocals by Tresvant, with occasional solos by Ricky Bell, Gill’s voice is significantly displayed as the secondary lead throughout the album. Gill took the lead on the track “Boys to Men”- a song in which the singer initially resisted and resented recording, feeling it was too juvenile. "Boys To Men" became one of the album's most popular numbers, despite it never being officially released as a single. [5] Another standout album track was "Competition", a song written by Tresvant that addresses the disappointment felt over the departure of Bobby Brown two years earlier.[ citation needed ]

One song, "Where It All Started", was a thinly veiled jab at New Kids on the Block. [4] The group was discovered by their former producer Maurice Starr as a direct response to New Edition severing ties with him on less than amicable terms. [6] In an ironic twist, Jam & Lewis  the writers and producers behind the song  would also work with New Kids on the Block's lead singer Jordan Knight on his 1999 self-titled debut a little over a decade later. The two groups would later team up for a duet on the latter's 2008 reunion album The Block and perform a medley together at the 49th Annual American Music Awards over a decade later. [7]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [9]
Richmond Times-Dispatch (favorable) [10]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [11]
Washington Post (favorable) [12]

Commercial performance

Heart Break peaked at numbers twelve and three on the US Billboard 200 and R&B Albums Chart respectively, selling 500,000 copies by August 19, 1988. [13] On September 28, 1988, it was certified platinum in sales by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), following sales in excess of 1 million copies in the United States. [13] After sales of 2 million, it earned double platinum certification from the RIAA in July 1994. [13] Heart Break spun off five singles: "If It Isn't Love", "You're Not My Kind of Girl", "Can You Stand the Rain", "Crucial", and "N.E. Heart Break". "Boys to Men" was released as a sixth single on September 24, 1991.

Influence

Many have called this particular album the most seminal New Edition album. Four fans from Philadelphia in particular were inspired by one of the songs on the album. "Boys to Men", the song that Johnny Gill hated recording, ended up becoming the name of the group who changed their name to Boyz II Men. [5] The group would end up being managed and mentored by Michael Bivins. Boyz II Men names New Edition as one of their most influential bands. The album also saw a successful concert tour for the group as well. Through 1988 and 1989, New Edition toured all over the world with opening acts, ex-New Edition member Bobby Brown (who had also found big time success with his breakthrough album, Don't Be Cruel ) and Al B. Sure!. [4]

R&B group Jagged Edge named their sophomore album J.E. Heartbreak as a tribute to Heart Break. [14]

Track listing

All tracks written and produced by James Harris III and Terry Lewis, unless otherwise stated.

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Introduction"  1:04
2."That's the Way We're Livin'"Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, Ronnie DeVoe, Johnny Gill, Ralph TresvantNew Edition, Jellybean Johnson4:02
3."Where It All Started"  3:31
4."If It Isn't Love"  5:09
5."N.E. Heart Break"  5:44
6."Crucial"Garry Johnson, Lisa Keith Johnson4:33
7."You're Not My Kind of Girl"  4:01
8."Superlady"Bell, Bivins, DeVoe, Gill, Tresvant 5:01
9."Can You Stand the Rain"  4:57
10."Competition"TresvantTresvant, Johnson, New Edition (co.)4:28
11."I'm Comin' Home"  5:06
12."Boys to Men"  4:10
Notes

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1988)Peak
position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) [15] 45
Canadian Albums (RPM) [16] 11
New Zealand Albums (RIANZ) [17] 50
US Billboard Top Pop Albums [18] 12
US Billboard Top R&B Albums [19] 2

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [20] 2× Platinum2,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Edition</span> American R&B group

New Edition is an American R&B/pop group from the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 1978 by singer/rapper Bobby Brown with Ralph Tresvant serving as the group's lead singer for over 40 years. Their name is taken to mean a new edition of the Jackson 5. The group reached its height of popularity in the 1980s and is considered the blueprint for what would become the modern boy band. The lineup originally consisted of Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, Ronnie DeVoe, Bobby Brown, and Ralph Tresvant, the lead singer. Brown left the group in late 1985 to begin a successful solo career, and they continued as a quartet for one album, before adding Johnny Gill to the lineup in 1987. Early hits included "Candy Girl", "Cool It Now", and "Mr. Telephone Man". Tresvant was the lead singer on most of the songs. In 1990, both Gill and Tresvant released their own solo albums, while the remaining three members formed the trio Bell Biv DeVoe; the group ceased to work together for the first half of the 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnny Gill</span> American R&B singer (born 1966)

Johnny Gill Jr. is an American singer and songwriter. He is the sixth and final member of the R&B/pop group New Edition and was also a member of the supergroup called LSG, with Gerald Levert and Keith Sweat. Gill has released eight solo albums, three albums with New Edition, two albums with LSG, and one collaborative album with Stacy Lattisaw. Gill has sold over 15 million copies worldwide as a solo artist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ralph Tresvant</span> Musical artist

Ralph Edward Tresvant is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer, best known as the lead singer of R&B group New Edition. As a solo artist, Tresvant released his double platinum-selling debut album Ralph Tresvant (1990). In 2008, he began touring with Bobby Brown and Johnny Gill in a new group named Heads of State. October 13 is Ralph Tresvant Day in Boston, MA and Little Rock, AR. In 2019 and 2020, Gill and Tresvant released two new singles, Perfect and All Mine. On February 3, 2023, Urban One Inc's Reach Media and Radio One announced that Ralph Tresvant, lead singer of famed supergroup New Edition, is now the new host of the network's long-running syndicated show "Love and R&B," heard nightly on all affiliate stations, effective February 13.

<i>Dont Be Cruel</i> (album) 1988 studio album by Bobby Brown

Don't Be Cruel is the second studio album by American singer Bobby Brown. It was released in the United States on June 20, 1988, by MCA Records. MCA changed producers for this album and had Brown work with hit-making songwriting and production duo Babyface and L.A. Reid. Brown dedicated the album to his deceased best friend James "Jimbo" Flint who was stabbed to death when Brown was aged 11. Don't Be Cruel incorporates new jack swing, R&B, funk, dance and soul.

<i>Candy Girl</i> (album) 1983 studio album by New Edition

Candy Girl is the debut album of New Edition, released by Streetwise Records on July 19, 1983. The album was produced by Maurice Starr and Arthur Baker.

<i>New Edition</i> (album) 1984 studio album by New Edition

New Edition is the second studio album by American quintet New Edition, released on September 28, 1984, in North America. It was their first album on MCA Records. It was also their first album without manager/producer 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. The album was produced by Vincent Brantley & Rick Timas, Grammy-nominated producer Michael Sembello & Richard Rudolph, Ray Parker Jr. and Peter Bunetta and Rick Chudacoff. The album reached #6 on the Billboard 200 and #1 on the Irish Albums Chart, and the R&B/Hip Hop Albums Chart.

<i>All for Love</i> (New Edition album) 1985 studio album by New Edition

All for Love is the third studio album by American R&B quintet New Edition, released by MCA Records on November 8, 1985. The album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Also, this would be the final studio album to feature original group member Bobby Brown, who would shortly depart for a solo career until he would later return for their 1996 comeback album with the group, Home Again.

<i>Under the Blue Moon</i> 1986 studio album by New Edition

Under the Blue Moon is the fourth studio album by American R&B boy band New Edition by MCA on November 24, 1986. Their fourth album and third with MCA and first album after New Edition member Bobby Brown was voted out of the group, the group was going through a transitional phase during this period. It is their only album as a quartet. The album reached number 43 on the Billboard 200, and number 18 on the R&B albums chart. It was later certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

<i>Home Again</i> (New Edition album) 1996 studio album by New Edition

Home Again is the sixth studio album by American R&B/pop group New Edition. Released on September 10, 1996, it is the only album to date to feature all six members of New Edition—Bobby Brown, who had left the group in 1985, rejoined the lineup—and was their final recording for MCA Records. Highly anticipated, and being their first album since, Heart Break (1988), the album debuted on the US Billboard 200 at number one, becoming the group's first album to open at number one, selling 227,000 in its first week sales. It also topped the Irish Albums Chart, and the US Billboard R&B Albums Chart as the group's first album in twelve years to do so since their self titled album in 1984. The album's success spawned four singles that collectively received moderate Billboard chart success. It was certified double platinum by the RIAA, for sales and shipments of over two million copies on February 4, 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Candy Girl (New Edition song)</span> 1983 single by New Edition

"Candy Girl" is the debut single by New Edition from their debut album Candy Girl. It was released as a single in late February 1983 and the song hit number one on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the 31st-best-selling single of the year. It also peaked at number 1 on the Hot Black Singles chart, passing Michael Jackson’s song "Beat It" on May 14, 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cool It Now</span> 1984 single by New Edition

"Cool It Now" is a 1984 hit single by American group New Edition, is the first single from their eponymous second album, New Edition. In the US, the song entered the Hot Black Singles chart on September 1, 1984. The song peaked at number 4 in January 1985 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Lyrically, the song with lead vocals by Ralph Tresvant depicts a guy professing his love for a girl, despite growing concerns from his friends.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">If It Isn't Love</span> 1988 single by New Edition

"If It Isn't Love" is a song by American R&B quintet New Edition, and the first single from their fifth studio album, Heart Break (1988). The song became the biggest hit from the album, reaching the top ten of the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number seven, becoming their first top 10 hit following the departure of Bobby Brown, and reaching the second position on the Hot Black Singles chart. The song and video is also notable for being the introduction of fellow R&B singer Johnny Gill as a new member of the R&B quintet. Its chart performance and well-received music video garnered the quintet their first, and to date, sole nomination for which Ralph Tresvant's lead vocals were nominated for the Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals at the 31st Grammy Awards in February 1989.

<i>Ralph Tresvant</i> (album) 1990 studio album by Ralph Tresvant

Ralph Tresvant is the debut album by American singer Ralph Tresvant. The album was released by MCA Records on November 20, 1990 in the United States. It went to number one on the Irish Albums Chart for 12 weeks, and on the US Top R&B Albums chart for two weeks and peaked into the top 20 on the US Billboard 200 chart. It features the number one single, "Sensitivity" along with two more top five R&B hits: "Do What I Gotta Do" and "Stone Cold Gentleman", which featured labelmate Bobby Brown, and has been certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) within its first year of release, and achieved double-platinum status a few years after.

"You’re Not My Kind of Girl" is a 1988 song by R&B/Pop group New Edition, and the second single from their fifth studio album, Heart Break.

"Count Me Out" is a song released as a single by R&B/pop group New Edition from their All for Love album, released in September 1985 on the MCA label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crucial (song)</span> 1989 single by New Edition

"Crucial" is New Edition's fourth single from the Heart Break album. The single featured production from Jellybean Johnson, Spencer Bernard, and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. "Crucial" hit No. 4 on the Billboard R&B singles chart. It was featured on the License to Drive soundtrack.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm Still in Love with You (New Edition song)</span> 1996 single by New Edition

"I'm Still in Love with You" is the second single from American R&B/pop group New Edition as a sextet from their sixth studio album, Home Again (1996). The song was released on October 22, 1996 as the album's second single by MCA. Ralph Tresvant and Ricky Bell sing lead vocals; all six members sing background vocals throughout the song. The video for "I'm Still in Love with You" was shot at Villa Vizcaya in Miami, and once again featured all six members. The song was a big success on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number seven, and was the second single to be certified gold from the Home Again project.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">N.E. Heart Break (song)</span> 1989 single by New Edition

"N.E. Heart Break" is a song performed by American R&B quintet New Edition. The song serves as the fifth and final single from their sixth studio album Heart Break (1988).

The New Edition Story is an American biographical three-part miniseries about the R&B group New Edition, from their rise to fame as a boy band from the Orchard Park Projects of Roxbury, Massachusetts, to becoming a successful adult act. It was originally broadcast on BET from January 24 through January 26, 2017, becoming the network's first scripted miniseries. All six members of New Edition served as co-producers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ricky Bell (singer)</span> American singer

Ricardo Bell is an American singer best known as one of the founding members of R&B/pop group New Edition, and the lead singer of Bell Biv DeVoe. As a solo artist, Bell released the album Ricardo Campana in 2000.

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