Customer Rating:  
Summary: Heart Break...
Comment: A great disc by the young men in the late 80's. My favorite: If it isn't love. 4 stars overall!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great talent showcased by great producers
Comment: Who would have ever thought that a small song done for a hum-drum movie would have led to such a classic pairing of performers and producers? Let me refresh your memories:
In 1987, the movie "Dragnet" starring Dan Akroyd and Tom Hanks hit the theatres. All in all, it was a sad remake of a classic TV show. The only bright spot was a song on the soundtrack, a song that showcased 4 performers who were trying to redefine themselves after so much childhood success. That group was New Edition, and the song was entitled "Helplessly In Love". The thing that made this song so different was its composition. Instead of bubble-gum lyrics over a poppy-synth track, it was done with tight harmonies and layered music. This sound, created by producing phenoms Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis led us to the breakout album "Heart Break".
Not content with letting NE rest on their previous laurels, Jam and Lewis set them free with the confident, brash swagger that accompanied the boys in the latter part of their teen years. Starting off with a strong statement in the song "That's the Way We're Livin'" and jumping just as strongly into "This Is Where It All Started" got the album off to a rollicking start. That's when J&L and NE gave everyone a taste of their newfound soulful sound with "If It Isn't Love". What a great song, and definitely still as fresh today as it was almost 20 years ago.
Some of the filler tracks like "Crucial" and "My Kind Of Girl" are good to keeep the mood going, and then the album gives us its first complete surprise.
Let me state for the record (and I'm a 40 year old guy who's heard a lot of music) that "Can You Stand The Rain" is one of the best songs ever written. Period. I listen to this song even today and it wells me up. Jam and Lewis use Ralph Tresvant and Johnny Gill so effectively on the leads with Mike, Ricky and Ronnie backing them up with tightly layered vocals that anyone wanting to do a single song study of how to put together an R&B song could use this as a model. "Coming Home" slows the mood down even more to get us ready for "Boys To Men". Another great, unexpectedly soulful rendition.
I bought this album in New Jersey soley on the strength of "If It Isn't Love", and listened to it start to finish twice on my drive back to the Northern Virginia area. It still has a place near my CD player, and many of the songs occupy a place in my heart. There are probably 3 albums to purchase if you ever want to completely experience the genious of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis; Hearsay by Alexander O'Neal, Affair by Cherelle, and this one. It is not to be missed.
Customer Rating:
Summary: 1988's Coming of age classic...................
Comment: The summer of 1988 belonged to New Edition and Bobby Brown. For NE, it started with the " If it is'nt Love " video. That video had every teenage ladies man practicing those dance steps in hopes of getting one of the dime pieces that New Edition could get. Other hits includes Crucial, Coming Home, Boys to Men, NE Heartbreak and You're not my kind of girl. The only down side to this joint is that it did not have the NE Heartbreak remix on it. This album also introduced Johnny Gill who was a perfect vocal match to Ralph and Ricky's high pitched voices.
Customer Rating:
Summary: 5 Stars Without A Doubt
Comment: In my opinion this is New Edition's best CD and one of the best Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis productions to date during the height of their production genius.
I grew up on New Edition and even though Bobby Brown left for his own short lived success, thank goodness it didn't effect the longevity of the group and bringing in Johnny Gill was a "Perfect Combination". Not only did it add greatness to the group but later helped his own solo career which was mediocre before he joined New Edition.
This CD came out when I was in the 9th grade and lastest through my 10th grade year. I loved all of the singles that were released but it wasn't until the mid to late 1990's that I finally heard the whole CD. My favorite song is "Boys to Men". I'm assuming that's where Michael Bivens got the name for the group "Boyz II Men". I liked the song then and even more now that I have a son. I think every young man should listen to it. The lyrics are very uplifting.
I give this CD 5 stars without a doubt.
Customer Rating:
Summary: sugahill
Comment: This album contains my favorite song in the world "Can You Stand The Rain". If you were a teenager in the late 80's then you have to remember this album.If It Isn't Love was a staple Nu Jack club hit. But for me the song that made this Album was Can You stand The Rain. This track showcases Ralph's silky voice and New Edition harmony.Johnny Gill was a perfect addition to the group as he brought a more mature sound. This is a must have.
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