They were the Jackson Five of the '80s.
Ronnie, Bobby, Ricky, Mike, Ralph and Johnny.
New Edition was THE teen R&B group. "Mr. Telephone Man," "Count Me Out," the "Earth Angel" remake, "Helplessly in Love" - the list of Top 10 hits sung by this group of Bostonian teens since 1983 is seemingly endless. Even after Johnny Gill and Bobby Brown left, the four remaining members did a great job with the '88 release of "Heartbreak," the last LP released under the New Edition name. Those hits served only to strengthen the New Edition following, even as the group continued to crumble.
After Ralph Tresvant left, the three remaining members (now known as Bell Biv Devoe) kept everything alive with the 1990 release of "Poison." "BBD (I Thought It Was Me)," and ballads ("When Will I See You Smile Again") were just a few of the songs which made BBD a household word. Michael Bivens was the big man of the three, discovering and pushing Boyz II Men to the top and even bringing about Biv 10 Records.
Of course, the other former members weren't doing all that bad for themselves either. In 1987, Brown was the first to break free (that's when Gill joined). His solo career seemed to be shooting straight to the stars, riding off of singles like "My Prerogative," "Every Little Step" and "Humpin' Around." His controversial marriage to Whitney Houston and the birth of their first baby, Bobbi, were other highlights in his life.
Gill was the next to go, with the release of his multi-platinum, self-titled album. "My, My, My" and "Rub You the Right Way" were two of his premiere songs. Last to go was Tresvant. He left soon after "Heartbreak" was released. His self-titled album reached platinum too.
After all that individual success, everyone - Ronnie, Bobby, Ricky, Mike, Ralph and Johnny - is back together, and the group has a new release titled "Home Again" (HH, MCA).
Well, ain't that special? As if the return of New Edition is the surprise reunion of the decade.
Anyone with half an ounce of common sense could foretell this day happening. Why? Because even though all the New Edition members gained individual success soon after the group dissolved, none of that success lasted.
Think about it: Brown had everything. Now, he's millions in debt, being sued and about to be divorced from his money supply. Gill and Tresvant both had their time of solo fame when their albums hit big, but what happened after that? No more big songs or big money. Gill just recently released another solo album, which is OK at best.
Has anyone heard from Bell Biv Devoe lately? And what about those people who were signed on the Biv 10 Records label? Remember that "East Coast Family" CD with everyone chanting "One for all and all for one?" What happened to that big, happy, interracial family?
Well, Another Bad Creation was rapped into the ground by Kriss Kross years ago, MC Brains had one CD before leaving and Boyz II Men, seeing Biv 10 heading nowhere fast, left Bivins' tutelage. As for Whyteguyz, 10-10, Tom Boys, Lady B., Fruit Punch and everyone else? They remain the same nobodies they always were. But at least they have the joy of knowing that Bivins ended up becoming just as much of a nobody.
As for Ricky Bell and Ronnie Devoe? They were like the eternal background singers of New Edition and Bell Biv Devoe, and they remain in that position on "Home Again."
Today all the fellas are talking like the second coming of New Edition was in the plan long ago. Bell once commented saying, "To make another New Edition album was always plan."
Bull. When these guys went solo, New Edition was dead in their eyes. It wasn't until after the graves for their solo careers had been dug that they began talking reincarnation of the group.
Tresvant spit out similarly sweet drivel: "Making another New Edition album with all of us, that was always the plan."
The only question is, how long after all of their careers were shot to hell did they begin planning?
Let's cut the crap. New Edition II isn't about love and homesickness and all that sentimental goop they're trying to pile on us. 'Cause love would've brought them home a long time before today. "Home Again" is all about money. They don't have any; they want some. Brown needs it desperately, and it's not at all unlikely that many of the other fellas are in similar positions.
The original five members of New Edition are back with a new album.