New Edition

Songwriter: Jimmy Jam Terry Lewis Babyface LA Reid Daryl Simmons Bobby Brown Teddy Riley Aaron Hall Vincent Brantley Rick Timas Ray Parker Jr. Elliot Strait

Producer: Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis Teddy Riley Babyface LA Reid Vincent Brantley Rick Timas Ray Parker Jr. Elliot Strait

[Cool It Now]

[Chorus: New Edition & Ralph Tresvant]
Cool it now
(You got to cool it now)
Ooh, watch out
(You're gonna lose control)
Cool it now
(You better slow it down)
Slow it down
('Cause you're gonna fall in love)

[Count Me Out]

[Intro: New Edition]
Count me out

[Chorus: New Edition & Ralph Tresvant]
You'll have to count me out
(You're gonna have to count me out)
You'll have to count me out
(I'm saving kisses for my baby)
You'll have to count me out (This time, ooh)
You'll have to count me out

[Mr. Telephone Man]

[Chorus: New Edition]
Mr. Telephone Man, there's something wrong with my line
When I dial my baby's number, I get a click every time
Mr. Telephone Man, there's something wrong with my line
When I dial my baby's number, I get a click every time

[If It Isn't Love]

[Chorus: New Edition & Ralph Tresvant]
If it isn't love, why do I feel this way?
(Why does it hurt so bad?)
Why does she stay on my mind?
(On my mind all the time)
If it isn't love (If it isn't love)
Why does it hurt so bad? (If it isn't love)
Make me feel so sad inside (If it isn't love)

[Boys To Men]

[Intro: Johnny Gill]
These are the things that change boys to men

[Can You Stand the Rain]

[Chorus: New Edition, Ralph Tresvant, Ricky Bell]
Sunny days, everybody loves them, tell me, baby
Can you stand the rain?
(Can you stand it? Oh oh)
Storms will come
(I know, I know all the days won't be perfect)
This we know for sure
(But tell me can you stand it)
Can you stand the rain?
(Can you stand the rain?)

[Don't Be Cruel]

[Chorus: Bobby Brown]
Don't be cruel (Don't be, don't be)
'Cause I would never be that cruel to you
(Don't be, don't be bad)
I know, oh, I know, don't be cruel
(Don't be, don't be)
Girl, you need to change your attitude

[My Prerogative]

[Intro: Bobby Brown]
Get busy

[Chorus: Background & Bobby Brown]
Everybody's talkin' all this stuff about me (No, no)
Why don't they just let me live? (Ooh)
I don't need permission, make my own decisions (Oh)
That's my prerogative

[Poison]

[Chorus: Bell Biv DeVoe]
That girl is poison
Never trust a big butt and a smile
That girl is poison (Poison)

[Outro: Bell Biv DeVoe]
Poison
Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ah

[Sensitivity]

[Intro: Ralph Tresvant]
Listen, baby
Don't even waste your tears on that insensitive man
Can you feel it? Hey

[Pre-Chorus: Ralph Tresvant]
Don't need a man that'll give you money, no
Come on, let me show you just what you need, honey
(I got what you need)
Don't need a man that'll treat you funny

[Chorus: Ralph Tresvant]
You need a man with sensitivity
A man like me

[Outro: Ralph Tresvant]
Don't need a man that'll give you money
(Don't need a man that'll) Nah, oh sugar, no
Don't need a man that'll treat you funny
(Don't need a man that'll) Ah sugar, no
(Don't need a man that'll) Give you money
(Don't need a man that'll) Gentleman
Ah sugar no, no no, no

New Edition is a Boston-based R&B group that was seen as the inspiration of the boy bands that followed them during the 1980s and 1990s. The group initially consisted of Ralph Tresvant, Bobby Brown, Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Ronnie DeVoe. They released their debut album Candy Girl in 1983 after being discovered by producer Maurice Starr. This album yielded the hits “Candy Girl,” “Popcorn Love,” and “Is This the End.” After a financial dispute, New Edition cut ties with Starr and released their second album New Edition in 1984, which features two of their biggest “Cool It Now” and “Mr. Telephone Man.” In November 1985, they released All for Love featuring the hits “Count Me Out” and “A Little Bit of Love (Is All It Takes)” and one month later released Christmas All Over the World.

Before the end of 1985, the group decided to vote Bobby Brown out of the group for his disruptive behavior. After their 1986 doo-wop cover album Under the Blue Moon, lead singer Ralph Tresvant was considering a solo career as the group’s direction was in question. In 1987, Johnny Gill was added to the group and the quintet went on to create their most popular album Heart Break with producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis in 1988. This album was released on June 20, 1988—the same day as Bobby Brown’s Don’t Be Cruel—and features two more of their biggest “If It Isn’t Love” and “Can You Stand the Rain.”

In 1990, Ralph Tresvant, Johnny Gill and Bell Biv Devoe all went on to have successful hits. Among these hits was the remix to BBD’s “Word to the Mutha,” which was the first song to feature all six members. After a hiatus, all six members came together in 1996 to create the album Home Again, which hit #1 on the Billboard 200 and was a multi-platinum success. After some friction on the Home Again tour, Bobby Brown decided to depart the group again. In 2004, after leaving their longtime label MCA Records, New Edition signed with Bad Boy Records and released the album One Love but they left Bad Boy a year later due to a lack of promotion. The group continues to tour together and sell out shows after 30 years in the business. The group was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on January 23, 2017—one day ahead of the BET premiere of their 3-night mini-series The New Edition Story.

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Home Again

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Home Again (1996)

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Home Again