New Edition

  • Boston, MA
    hometown
  • R&B/Soul
    genre
  • 1983
    started
  • Bio
    full story
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About New Edition


New Edition's early, Jackson 5-inspired material made them the forerunners of two generations of teen pop (most of which was geared to white audiences). As they matured and progressed, they laid much of the groundwork for the fusion of hip-hop and R&B known as new jack swing. In fact, after New Edition drifted apart, all of its members had at least some significant success outside the group as part of the new jack movement, which helped ensure that their original incarnation would be remembered for much more than the bubblegum urban soul that made their name.

New Edition was formed in the Roxbury section of Boston, MA, by Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Bobby Brown, who began singing together in 1978 while still in elementary school, hoping to perform for pocket cash. They eventually recruited friend Ralph Tresvant as a fourth member, and after winning a talent show in 1980, also added Ronnie DeVoe. More talent show victories followed, including a prestigious gig at the local Strand Theater, where they performed the Jackson 5's "The Love You Save." They were discovered by writer/producer/impresario Maurice Starr, who signed the group to his small Streetwise label in hopes of launching a Jackson 5 phenomenon for the '80s. "Candy Girl," a song Starr co-wrote for the group, was released as their first single in 1983, when the members ranged in age from 13 to 15. Despite a lack of major-label interest in the group, "Candy Girl" was a smash, topping the R&B charts. Their debut album, also titled Candy Girl, spawned two more R&B hits in "Popcorn Love" and "Is This the End?," and MCA offered the group a deal. Starr, however, wanted the group to remain with Streetwise; New Edition summarily fired him as their manager and signed with MCA. Starr attempted to sue the group for their name, unsuccessfully claiming that "New Edition" actually referred to a whole new style of pop music he'd created. Starr, of course, would go on to strike it rich with a similar concept, assembling a quintet of white teenagers he dubbed New Kids on the Block.

New Edition, meanwhile, released their eponymous MCA debut in 1984 and scored their biggest pop hit with the Top Five smash "Cool It Now," which ended with a short rap section. The Ray Parker, Jr.-penned "Mr. Telephone Man" soon became their third R&B chart-topper, and the group had reached full-fledged teen idol status. Yet they were growing up fast, as demonstrated on their next album, 1985's All for Love. Not only were their voices changing, but their material was becoming more adult, with harder-edged funk and more mature romantic ballads. Later that year, they also released a holiday album, Christmas All Over the World, and struck an endorsement deal with Coke. However, rumors of Brown's growing dissatisfaction proved true and he left for a solo career in 1986. Temporarily down to a quartet, the rest of the group recorded the covers album Under the Blue Moon, a set of vintage doo wop and R&B numbers from the '50s and '60s; it produced a hit revival of the Penguins' "Earth Angel."

Brown's replacement came in the form of Johnny Gill, a deep-voiced friend of the group who'd been recording as a solo artist without much luck. Gill made his debut on the 1989 album Heart Break, which found New Edition working with star producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The move paid immediate dividends, as they scored several R&B hits from the album, including the number one "Can You Stand the Rain." Meanwhile, Brown had become a superstar with his second album, the new jack swing landmark Don't Be Cruel. Feeling vindicated by Heart Break, New Edition split up to work on other projects. Gill returned to his solo career, with considerably more success this time around, and Tresvant also went solo. The remainder of the group teamed as Bell Biv DeVoe and wound up having greater success than anyone save Brown; their debut album, Poison, was another new jack style-setter and Bivins' interest in developing new talent gave Boyz II Men their big break.

By the mid-'90s, new jack swing was giving way to new fusions of hip-hop and soul that were alternately more organic or aggressive. Although their status as innovators was secure, many of the New Edition splinter acts had a hard time keeping up and maintaining their career momentum. Thus, given their individually positive reputations, it made sense for the group to announce its triumphant reunion, with all six members participating in what was essentially an R&B supergroup. The public loved the idea; when the comeback album Home Again was finally released in 1996, it debuted at number one, and the first single, "Hit Me Off," was a smash, hitting number one on the R&B charts. The follow-up, "I'm Still in Love With You," was another big hit, and the group embarked on a blockbuster tour that, while popular, found relationships between some of the members fraying. After the tour, New Edition returned to their various prior projects, with the prospect of any future reunions looking dim. Those prospects increased significantly when it was learned that P. Diddy had signed the group to his Bad Boy label for the release of another comeback, 2004's One Love. ~ Steve Huey, Rovi

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Music

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  • Can You Stand The Rain
    new-edition
    Video
    Can You Stand The Rain
  • If It Isn't Love
    new-edition
    Video
    If It Isn't Love
  • My Secret (Didja Gitit Yet?)
    new-edition
    Video
    My Secret (Didja Gitit Yet?)
  • Something About You
    new-edition
    Video
    Something About You
  • N.E. Heartbreak
    new-edition
    Video
    N.E. Heartbreak
  • You're Not My Kind Of Girl
    new-edition
    Video
    You're Not My Kind Of Girl
  • Crucial
    new-edition
    Video
    Crucial
  • Count Me Out
    new-edition
    Video
    Count Me Out
  • One More Day
    new-edition
    Video
    One More Day
  • Candy Girl
    new-edition
    Video
    Candy Girl

Photos

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  • New Edition performing a melody of their hits at the 1990 Video Music Awards in Los Angeles.
    New Edition
    New Edition performing a melody of their hits at the 1990 Video Music Awards in Los Angeles.
    Getty Images
  • New Edition
    New Edition
    New Edition
    publicity
  • New Edition will serenade you. And afterward, they'll paint your house. (1990)
    New Edition
    New Edition will serenade you. And afterward, they'll paint your house. (1990)
    Getty Images
  • New Edition doing what they do best.
    New Edition
    New Edition doing what they do best.
    Jason Squires
  • New Edition attends the 2004 Vibe Awards on UPN at Barker Hangar November 15, 2004 in Santa Monica, California.
    New Edition
    New Edition attends the 2004 Vibe Awards on UPN at Barker Hangar November 15, 2004 in Santa Monica, California.
    Getty Images
  • We'll be your "Candy Girls" forever, New Edition.
    New Edition
    We'll be your "Candy Girls" forever, New Edition.
    WireImage
  • MCA
    New Edition
    MCA

News

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  • New Edition
    Daft Punk, Thirty Seconds To Mars Release Albums; Fun. Performs 'Today' Summer Concert Series
    MTV Buzzworthy
    May 20, 2013
    Welcome to Buzzworthy's "The Week In Pop," where we round up new album releases, talk show musical guests, and TV performances by your favorite pop st...
    Read More
  • New Edition
    Did One Direction Do Backstreet Boys Justice? We Get The Answer!
    MTV News
    May 20, 2013
    Backstreet Boys judge 1D's cover of 'I Want It That Way' with MTV News.
    Read More
  • New Edition
    Did One Direction Do Backstreet Boys Justice? We Get The Answer!
    MTV News
    May 20, 2013
    Backstreet Boys judge 1D's cover of 'I Want It That Way' with MTV News.
    Read More
  • New Edition
    Interview: 'Exalted' RPG Returns Via Kickstarter
    MTV Geek
    May 17, 2013
    The cult RPG " Exalted " has been brought back to life for a Third edition by Onyx Path Publishing, through a Kickstarter project . "Exalted" hit its...
    Read More
  • New Edition
    The Daily Geek Into Darkness: 'Star Trek' Edition
    MTV Geek
    May 17, 2013
    Welcome to MTV Geek's daily round-up of all things GEEK from the weird, wild world of the web! Got a cool link? Share it with us on Twitter at twitte...
    Read More
  • New Edition
    Exclusive: 'Batman Noir: Eduardo Risso Deluxe Edition' Variant Cover
    MTV Geek
    May 16, 2013
    On May 29, DC is releasing the deluxe edition of Eduardo Risso 's " Batman Noir " and we've got an exclusive reveal of the variant cover for the bo...
    Read More
  • New Edition
    Demi Lovato Commemorates Album Release With 'Warrior' Tattoo
    MTV Style
    May 16, 2013
    Demi Lovato shows off new "Warrior" tattoo. Photo: Courtesy of @ddlovato's Twitter Remember how Demi Lovato told us on " Live From MTV " her o...
    Read More
  • New Edition
    'Star Trek' And Klingon: Learn The Language Of The Aliens!
    MTV News
    May 16, 2013
    Creator Marc Okrand opens up to MTV News about origins of the 'guttural' language, teaching the 'Into Darkness' cast and more.
    Read More
  • New Edition
    'The Big Bang Theory' Meets 'Star Trek' In New Merch
    MTV Geek
    May 15, 2013
    By Zack Smith Bazinga!  The nerds of " The Big Bang Theory " have already conquered the Earth, and now they're headed for other worlds with new Hot ...
    Read More
  • New Edition
    Stevie J's Top 10 Smash Hit Songs
    VH1 Tuner
    May 15, 2013
    Love & Hip-Hop Atlanta star Stevie J. might be better known these days for being the focal point in a love triangle with Mimi and Joseline, but he...
    Read More
  • New Edition
    New Edition's Tresvant Preps New Solo Album
    www.billboard.com
    , social issues ... these songs round off where I've come from and who I am after all this time."Tresvant's last solo effort was the 2006 XMG release ...
    Read More
  • New Edition
    Beyonce, New Edition, Maxwell To Perform Michael Jackson Songs On BET Awards Tribute
    www.billboard.com
    wish we didn't have to but its just a fact of life." Other artists previously schedule to perform include Jay-Z, Kanye West, Queen Latifah, Soulja Boy...
    Read More
  • New Edition
    Beyonce, New Edition, Maxwell To Perform Michael Jackson Songs On BET Awards Tribute
    www.billboard.com
    wish we didn't have to but its just a fact of life." Other artists previously schedule to perform include Jay-Z, Kanye West, Queen Latifah, Soulja Boy...
    Read More
  • New Edition
    Bobby Brown Announces New Edition Reunion on 'The View'
    www.rollingstone.com
    Bobby Brown revealed that he and the rest of New Edition have once again reunited on yesterday's episode of The View on ABC. "We will be doing an albu...
    Read More
  • New Edition
    Bobby Brown Talks New Album, New Edition Reunion; Addresses Rumors About His Daughter [Video]
    www.vibe.com
    R&B's original bad boy is taking another run at music with an upcoming album and tour. His next solo LP Masterpiece is due out this May. (via BossipM ...
    Read More
  • New Edition
    New Edition's 30th Anniversary Plans: New Album, Tour, Book, Blow-Out Concert | Billboard.com
    www.billboard.com
    New Edition's trail to the 2013 30th anniversary of the group's first album ("Candy Girl") will include live shows, a new studio album, a book, a movi...
    Read More

Tour Dates

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  • Jun 30 Sunday
    Los Angeles, CA, US Staples Center
    Buy Ticket
  • Jul 4 Thursday
    New Orleans, LA, US Louisiana Superdome
    Buy Ticket

Discography

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  • One Love (2004)
    New Edition
    One Love (2004)
    Bad Boy
  • Home Again (1996)
    New Edition
    Home Again (1996)
    MCA Records
  • Heart Break (1988)
    New Edition
    Heart Break (1988)
    MCA Records
  • Under the Blue Moon (1986)
    New Edition
    Under the Blue Moon (1986)
    MCA Records
  • All for Love (1985)
    New Edition
    All for Love (1985)
    MCA Records
  • Christmas All over the World (1985)
    New Edition
    Christmas All over the World (1985)
    Universal Special Products
  • New Edition (1984)
    New Edition
    New Edition (1984)
    MCA Records
  • Candy Girl (1983)
    New Edition
    Candy Girl (1983)
    Warlock Records
  • You're Not My Kind of Girl
    New Edition
    You're Not My Kind of Girl
    MCA
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