(January 27, 2017) – So, after all the love and hype that New Edition and its six members received this week by way of a made-for-TV BET miniseries about their lives and careers, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a new album (Three Stripes) by offshoot group Bell Biv DeVoe that just dropped today, January 27, DJROBBLOG decided to pay tribute with a special countdown…a djroblist of their 50 Greatest Jams!
These are the tunes that djrobblog believes are the 50 greatest by either New Edition, Bobby Brown, Johnny Gill, Ralph Tresvant or Bell Biv DeVoe, in order from the 50th to the best, based on the typical criteria: chart performance, quality, critical acclaim, popularity, influence and endurance…and a bit of subjectivity (i.e., the blogger’s opinion).
To be eligible, the songs had to be recorded by New Edition or any one of its members (after being part of the group). That last part means that Johnny Gill’s recordings before he was a member of N.E. (i.e., before 1987) don’t qualify.
Also, a song didn’t have to be released as a single to make this list. Very popular album cuts are eligible. That’s an exception that usually doesn’t exist for this blog, but one I felt I should make for this one given some of the great tunes that otherwise wouldn’t have made it.
But enough with all the formalities…who and what will be #1? Is it a New Edition tune? Or maybe it’s one by BBD, or Ralph or Johnny or Bobby.
There’s only one way to find out: strap yourself in, sit back and get ready for a whirlwind ride with this special tribute to New Edition, Bell Biv DeVoe, Johnny Gill, Ralph Tresvant and Bobby Brown – a comprehensive countdown of their 50 Greatest Jams…together and apart! Billboard chart information is included for all 50 songs, and a “legacy” discussion is provided for the top ten. Enjoy!
50. “Kinda Girls We Like” – New Edition (1985). Album: New Edition
Charts: R&B #87
49. “Silent Prayer” – Shanice ft. Johnny Gill (1992). Album: Inner Child (Shanice)
Charts: R&B #4; Pop #31
48. “You Don’t Have to Worry” – New Edition ft. Missy Elliott (1996). Album: Home Again
Charts: R&B #7
47. “Crucial – New Edition (1989). Album: Heart Break
Charts: R&B #4
46. “Earth Angel” – New Edition (1986). Album: Under the Blue Moon; also from Karate Kid Part II
Charts: R&B #3; Pop #21
45. “With You All the Way” – New Edition (1986). Album: All For Love
Charts: R&B #7; Pop #51
44. “The Best Things in Life Are Free” – Luther Vandross ft. Janet Jackson, BBD & Ralph Tresvant (1992). Album: Mo’ Money Soundtrack
Charts: R&B #1; Pop #10
43. “The Floor” – Johnny Gill (1993). Album: Provocative
Charts: R&B #11; Pop #56
42. “Slow and Sexy” – Shabba Ranks ft. Johnny Gill (1992). Album: X-tra Naked (Shabba Ranks)
Charts: R&B #4; Pop #33
41. “Once in a Lifetime Groove” – New Edition (1986). Album: Running Scared Soundtrack
Charts: R&B #10
40. “Do What I Gotta Do” – Ralph Tresvant (1991). Album: Ralph Tresvant
Charts: R&B #2
39. “Boys to Men” – New Edition (1988). Album: Heart Break
Charts: Not Released (album cut)
38. “Money Can’t Buy You Love” – Ralph Tresvant (1992). Album: Mo’ Money Soundtrack
Charts: R&B #2; Pop #54
37. “My Secret (Didja Gitit Yet?) – New Edition (1985). Album: New Edition
Charts: R&B #27; Pop #103
36. “I’m Still in Love with You” – New Edition (1996). Album: Home Again
Charts: R&B #7; Pop #7
35. “Wrap My Body Tight” – Johnny Gill (1991). Album: Johnny Gill
Charts: R&B #1; Pop #84
34. “Something in Your Eyes” – Bell Biv DeVoe (1993). Album: Hootie Mac
Charts: R&B #6; Pop #38
33. “Stone Cold Gentleman” – Ralph Tresvant (1991). Album: Ralph Tresvant
Charts: R&B #3; Pop #34
32. “Where Do We Go from Here?” – Stacy Lattisaw ft. Johnny Gill (1989). Album: What You Need (Stacy Lattisaw)
Charts: R&B #1
31. “Good Enough” – Bobby Brown (1996). Album: Bobby
Charts: R&B #5; Pop #7
30. “Count Me Out” – New Edition (1985). Album: New Edition
Charts: R&B #2; Pop #51
29. “Do Me!” – Bell Biv DeVoe (1990). Album: Poison
Charts: R&B #4; Pop #3
28. “Rock Wit’cha” – Bobby Brown (1989). Album: Don’t Be Cruel
Charts: R&B #8; Pop #7
27. “You’re Not My Kind of Girl” – New Edition (1988). Album: Heart Break
Charts: R&B #3; Pop #95
26. “Popcorn Love” – New Edition (1983). Album: Candy Girl
Charts: R&B #25; Pop #101
25. “Lost in Love” – New Edition (1985). Album: New Edition
Charts: R&B #6; Pop #35
24. “Humpin’ Around – Bobby Brown (1992). Album: Bobby
Charts: R&B #1; Pop #3
23. “A Little Bit Of Love (Is All It Takes)” – New Edition (1986). Album: All for Love
Charts: R&B #3; Pop #38
22. “When Will I See You Smile Again?” – Bell Biv Devoe (1991). Album: Poison
Charts: R&B #3; Pop #63
21. “Hit Me Off” – New Edition (1996). Album: Home Again
Charts: R&B #1; Pop #3
20. “Jealous Girl” – New Edition (1983). Album: Candy Girl
Charts: R&B #25; Pop #101
19. “Fairweather Friend” – Johnny Gill (1990). Album: Johnny Gill
Charts: R&B #2; Pop #28
18. “Sensitivity” – Ralph Tresvant (1990). Album: Ralph Tresvant
Charts: R&B #1; Pop #4
17. “On Our Own” – Bobby Brown (1989). Album: Ghostbusters II Soundtrack
Charts: R&B #1; Pop #2
16. “Girlfriend” – Bobby Brown (1986). Album: King of Stage
Charts: R&B #1; Pop #57
15. “Is This the End” – New Edition (1983). Album: Candy Girl
Charts: R&B #8; Pop #85
14. “Roni” – Bobby Brown (1989). Album: Don’t Be Cruel
Charts: R&B #2; Pop #3
13. “N.E. Heartbreak” – New Edition (1989). Album: Heart Break
Charts: R&B #13
12. “My, My, My” – Johnny Gill (1990). Album: Johnny Gill
Charts: R&B #1; Pop #10
11. “B.B.D. (I Thought It Was Me)” – Bell Biv DeVoe (1990). Album: Poison
Charts: R&B #1; Pop #26
10. “Rub You the Right Way” – Johnny Gill (1990). Album: Johnny Gill
Charts: R&B #1; Pop #3.
Legacy: Johnny Gill showed Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis equal love with rival producers L.A. Reid & Babyface. On this up-tempo jam, it was Jam & Lewis who manned the boards and gave Gill his first of three No. 1 songs from his self-titled classic LP.
9. “Mr. Telephone Man” – New Edition (1985). Album: New Edition
Charts: R&B #1; Pop #12.
Legacy: With a little help from Ray Parker, Jr., who wrote and produced it, “Mr. Telephone Man” was a legit follow-up to their big breakout hit, “Cool It Now,” from their self-titled sophomore album.
8. “If It Isn’t Love” – New Edition (1988). Album: Heart Break
Charts: R&B #2; Pop #7.
Legacy: On their first album without Bobby, New Edition did just fine with several single from Heart Break, including this debut one that put them back in the top ten for the first time since “Cool It Now” three years earlier.
7. “My Prerogative” – Bobby Brown (1989). Album: Don’t Be Cruel
Charts: R&B #1; Pop #1.
Legacy: This remains the only song by any New Edition member to top both the pop and R&B/Hip-Hop charts. “My Prerogative” topped the latter in October 1988 and the Hot 100 in January 1989. It was also the first No. 1 for New Jack Swing wizard Teddy Riley who produced it.
6. “Don’t Be Cruel” – Bobby Brown (1988). Album: Don’t Be Cruel
Charts: R&B #1; Pop #8.
Legacy: This song joined Cheap Trick’s remake of Elvis Presley’s “Don’t Be Cruel” in the top ten in 1988, making them the first different songs with duplicate titles to simultaneously rank there in Hot 100 history. Wilson Phillips and En Vogue would repeat the feat just two years later with “Hold On.”
5. “Cool It Now” – New Edition (1984). Album: New Edition
Charts: R&B #1; Pop #4.
Legacy: “Cool It Now” became the group’s first crossover smash, with Ralph Tresvant’s voice not yet hitting that adolescent tenor he’d achieve later in the decade.
4. “Candy Girl” – New Edition (1983). Album: Candy Girl
Charts: R&B #1; Pop #46.
Legacy: “Candy Girl” beat Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart in 1983. No passing of the torch just yet, as MJ was the hottest artist on the planet that year… but N.E. was just warming up!
3. “Every Little Step” – Bobby Brown (1989). Album: Don’t Be Cruel
Charts: R&B #1; Pop #3.
Legacy: Bobby Brown made it four top ten hits in a row from Don’t Be Cruel with this New Jack Swing classic, which was yet another R&B/Hip-Hop No. 1 for red-hot producers L.A. Reid and Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, who sent seven of their songs to No. 1 R&B in 1989.
2. “Can You Stand the Rain?” – New Edition (1989). Album: Heart Break
Charts: R&B #1; Pop #44.
Legacy: Their greatest ballad? This blogger thinks so. Newly acquired Johnny Gill brought a much-needed baritone to the group’s vocals and blended in nicely on this Jimmy Jam/Terry Lewis-produced classic. Gill and Tresvant trading vocals was reminiscent of the classic alternating arrangements by the Temptations (Ruffin and Kendricks) and the Jackson 5 (Michael and Jermaine).
1. “Poison – Bell Biv DeVoe (1990). Album: Poison
Charts: R&B #1; Pop #3.
Legacy: Ricky Bell, Michael Bivens, and Ronnie DeVoe proved that they would not be outdone by their three solo-singing brethren (Tresvant, Brown, and Gill) who had all proven their chops on prior No. 1 hits (either solo or with the group). “Poison” became the first of three No. 1 R&B/Hip-Hop songs by Bell Biv DeVoe and is easily the one that still gets butts out of seats more than any other by the New Edition collective. When Bell belts the pre-chorus line, “Can’t get it out of my mind, that’s why it’s hard for me to find…” you know he meant it, and you wonder why he hadn’t been given the reins on more N.E. hits.
That’s the list! What are your thoughts? Which New Edition tunes do you feel are their best? Feel free to provide your opinions of my list or create your own top ten in the “Your Thoughts” comments at the bottom of this article.
And to hear their tunes via my special Spotify playlist, click below.
DJRob
Oh, btw, BBD’s new album is ?! Check out the video for the first single “I’m Betta” right here:
It seems to me that there was always a competition between all six members. They all dropped recordings at or about the same time. Where is Stacy Lattisaw these days???
This countdown is ?????!!!! I loved the biopic because it did everything it needed to do. It entertained us, made us laugh, made us cry, and made us root for our boys all while taking a trip down memory lane. You list is very comprehensive and diverse and it made me realize that New Edition and its members have been a costant in my life from my first year in High School through my years in college. Thank you for the soundtrack. Never knew they had so many hits (even those not released as a single). Shout out to some of their outher songs like: Delicious, Is this the end, I’m leaving you again and I’m coming home.
Is This The End made the countdown.
Is it by chance that as I am responding BBD’s “When Will I See You Smile Again” begins to play on Pandora?!! Well, not sure if it means anything lol…overall, pretty good lineup!! I totally agree with #1 and the top 25-30 hits. For me, “You’re Not My Kind of Girl” would’ve been in the top 20 somehow though! Love the article!!!
Thanks, Cam!