New Kids On The Block
After MCA records had skillfully wrestled away New Edition from him after they’d struck gold with 1983’s ‘Candy Girl’, Maurice Starr decided that he would try his formula, using young White teenagers instead of Black ones. At first, his gamble looked like a gamble – the New Kids’ self-titled debut hardly made any noise. However, all that would change in 1988, when the New Jack Era was just taking off.
With the Jackson 5-esque “Please Don’t Go Girl” as the group’s first single, Maurice had them performing at venues such as Harlem’s Apollo Theatre, and television’s “Soul Train”. Meanwhile, the popularity of the New Kids was heating up rapidly on mainstream Pop radio. By the time “You Got It (The Right Stuff)” hit the airwaves at the end of 1988, New Kid mania was in full swing, replicating what acts like the Jackson 5 and New Edition had done years earlier with astonishing results.
“I’ll Be Loving You Forever” was the Kids third single (which shot to #1), along with the title track in the summer of 1989. The B-side to the “Hangin Tough” single was a Delfonics remake entitled “Didn’t I Blow Your Mind (This Time)”, and this song charted along with the New Kids current single, “Cover Girl”. Even more interesting was this: “Didn’t I Blow Your Mind” was actually a recording from the New Kids’ 1986 album, prompting die-hard fans to go back and purchase that one too.
By early 1990, the New Jack Era was in full swing; and the kids had luminaries such as Bobby Brown, Paula Abdul, Janet Jackson and MC Hammer to consider contemporaries. ‘Hangin’ Tough’ had sold six million copies, and the Kids were touring non-stop, recording their second album ‘Step By Step’ while on the road. The title track from that album quickly shot to #1 and remains to the group’s best selling single ever. The New Kids were even endorsing Coca-Cola, and a cartoon was in the works. However, the growing backlash was finally beginning to make a difference in sales, and after their second single “Tonight”, time seemed to be running out…fast.
By early 1991, the Kids had rushed out a remix album with edgier material than they had previously recorded, but the fans didn’t seem to be buying it – literally. The album was a good one however, with remix work done mostly by the late David Cole and Robert Cliviles of the C&C Music Factory. At first the rumors were not so damaging – Jon Knight dating Tiffany, Donnie Whalberg dating Seiko (anyone remember that song “Right Combination”?), but then they started to get ridiculously mean-spirited. The rumors coupled with the coming of the Grunge/Alternative Rock/Gangsta Rap era pretty much ended the New Kids run atop the charts during the New Jack Era…but what a run it was.
In 1994, producer Teddy Riley contributed to the NKOTB album “Face The Music”, and the second single from that set, “Never Let You Go” was an impressive collaboration between the two. The “Face The Music” album did not do well for two reasons. #1: the former fans of the New Kids had for the most part, decided they had “grown out” of their music and were now listening to grunge (as evidenced by an MTV News feature); and #2: the album was too “urban” for mainstream audiences. Other notable songs from the kids last album included “Dirty Dawg (featuring Nice & Smooth)”, “Girls”, “If You Go Away”, and “Ever Since You Walked Into My Life”.
Since that album, the New Kids have been relatively quiet, except in 1999 when Joe McIntyre and Jordan Knight released solo albums. While Joe has more of a mainstream focus, Jordan’s material has a more “urban” slant, including working with producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis.
Updates: Donnie Wahlberg (like his brother, Mark) has made a transition to acting starring in movies like, "Bullitt", "Ransom" (which became a box office smash hit), and the TV movie, "Purgatory". He's now starring in the new NBC crime drama, "Boomtown".
Danny Wood has been writing and producing music in Florida, he even produced and released an instrumental hip-hop album entitled, 'Room Full Of Smoke' under the name "D-FUSE", he also plans to try his hand in acting so be on the lookout.
Jon Knight, the eldest member of the group, who had kept a low profile since he had left the group in early `94 before they offically disbanded revealed recently on Oprah that he has Anxiety and had suffered from panic attacks throughout the group's hey day. He had also revealed on "The E! True Hollywood Story that he and ex-pop star, Tiffany have actually dated as well. Jon is now working in real estate in Boston.
Joe McIntyre will be a regular cast member on Fox-TV's "Boston Public" and Jordan Knight was unfortunately dropped from his label (Interscope) and plans to release his album independently from his website, which you can access here
Updates submitted to NJS 4-Ever by Jabar Robbins
New Edition
New Edition was formed in 1978 by Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Bobby Brown. As residents of the Orchard Park Projects in the Roxbury district of Boston, Mass., the guys would meet on the basketball court, shoot some hoops, practice dance moves, and blend vocal harmonies. A local manager/choreographer named Brooke Payne discovered them and gave them the name, New Edition. Later on, Ricky would get his best friend, Ralph Tresvant in on the act, after which, Brooke got his nephew, Ronnie Devoe to round out the lineup.
Ronnie, Bobby, Ricky, Mike, and Ralph went all around Massachusetts performing in clubs, schools, and talent shows. The group caught the eye of a local Boston producer named Maurice Starr and he signed them to his label, Streetwise Records in 1981. The group released their debut album, 'Candy Girl' in 1983 which featured "Popcorn Love", "Is This The End", "Jealous Girl", and the title track which shot to #1 like a bullet. Then, NE and Starr parted ways due financial reasons and the group signed with MCA. In 1984, MCA released New Edition's now classic self-titled album featuring the hits "Cool It Now", "Mr. Telephone Man" (written by Ray Parker Jr.), "Lost In Love", and "Kinda Girls We Like". In 1985, NE was touring non-stop when MCA released their third album, 'All For Love' featuring "Count Me Out", "A Little Bit Of Love (Is All It Takes)", "With You All The Way", and "School" (a song written by the group themselves. As 1985 came to an end, Bobby Brown was growing tired of the group's image and sound and parted ways the guys after a concert and signed a solo deal with MCA.
After a Christmas LP was released in 1985 (amid Bobby's departure), the remaining NE members kept a low profile but managed to release an album of doo-wop covers entitled "Under The Blue Moon". The most notable single from that release was "Earth Angel", which was originally featured on the Karate Kid Part II soundtrack. The group also landed a single entitled "Once In A Lifetime Groove" for the film "Running Scared"; it was produced by Rod Temperton, who (along with Quincy Jones) was largely responsible for Michael Jackson's 'Off The Wall' and 'Thriller' hits.
NE got a chance to work with Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis on the single "Helplessly In Love" for the Dragnet soundtrack. NE was then ready to add a new element to their previously bubblegum sound, and that element came from their long-time friend, Washington D.C. crooner, Johnny Gill. When 'Heart Break' was released in 1988, it became one of their biggest albums to date, selling over 4 million copies. In `88 thru 89, Ralph, Ricky,Ronnie, Mike,and Johnny hit the road for their "Heart Break" tour w/opening acts Al B. Sure! and ex-NE member Bobby Brown, who's second album 'Don't Be Cruel' had went "diamond" (sold 10 million) worldwide.
Seeing how successful Bobby's career had become, Ralph and Johnny decided to try it on their own, leaving Ricky, Mike, and Ronnie with uncertain futures until Jam & Lewis offered them the idea to do their thing as a trio and Bell Biv Devoe was born. In 1990, Johnny Gill and BBD dominated the charts while Bobby laid low. In September of that year, Bobby rejoined New Edition for a performance at the MTV Video Music Awards, which along with Janet Jackson's "Black Cat" proved to be a highlight of that ceremony. By early 1991, Ralph Tresvant finally emerged with his solo project and like Johnny and BBD scored platinum success with his #1 hit, "Sensitivity". By the fall of 1991, all six members of New Edition reunited for the "Word To The Mutha" single, which can be found on BBD's remix LP 'WBBD: Bootcity'.
As the New Jack Era came to an end, so the careers of all six New Edition alumni slowed considerably. Bobby's 'Bobby' [1992] album was not nearly successful as 'Don't Be Cruel' was, BBD's 'Hootiemack' [1993]album was virtually ignored (with the exception of the "Something In Your Eyes" single), Johnny Gill's 'Provacative'[1993] album failed to approach the success of his earlier album, and Ralph Tresvant's 'Who's The Mack' campaign [1994] fell on largely deaf ears.
In 1996, New Edition reunited for the 'Home Again' album and hit the road, but due to members losing family members, missing concert dates, and financial situations, the reunion eventually fell apart. Notable singles from the 'Home Again' album include "Hit Me Off", "I'm Still In Love With You", "You Don't Have To Worry" and "One More Day".
In the summer of 2002, the 'Heart Break' lineup of New Edition completed a successful reunion tour and are planning a large-scale 20th anniversary for 2003. The group plans to produce another album, concert tour, book, concert video and dvd, and a movie. New Edition has paved the way for groups like the New Kids On The Block, TROOP, Hi-Five, Backstreet Boys, 'NSync etc. So they *should* be getting their props for what they've done in this business anytime now.
Bio written for NJS 4-Ever by Jabar Robbins
Editor's Note: It is rumored that Bad Boy Records CEO Sean "Puffy" Combs may play a major role with New Edition's 2003 campaign - the group may be signing with Bad Boy in the wake of 112's departure. "Diddy" has made no secret of his admiration for New Edition -- he produced (and remixed) "You Don't Have To Worry" for the group, and included covers of "Jealous Girl" and "Mr. Telephone Man" on albums by Mase and Dream that were released on his label. Only time will tell if any of this is true...