Originally published in 2003 on NE20.com (inactive)
Heart Break is the most important album released by New Edition and is arguably their best. The success of this release is the reason we’re still talking about NE today.
During the two years before Heart Break was released in 1988, NE experienced moderate success as a quartet. Producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis were faced with a monumental task: help NE make the transition from teen pop to adult R&B and integrate new member Johnny Gill into a group seeking an identity after Bobby Brown’s departure.
Jam and Lewis created one of their early masterworks. Heart Break is a concept album woven around the theme of the group’s current challenges, anchored by the songs “That’s the Way We’re Livin’”, “Where It All Started”, “N. E. Heart Break”, “Competition” and “Boys to Men”.
Notable singles on this album include “If It Isn’t Love” with Ralph Tresvant performing lead vocals, and “Can You Stand The Rain”, which featured shared vocals between Tresvant and Gill.
Behind the scenes, the producers sowed the seeds for a groundbreaking trio by encouraging Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins and Ronnie DeVoe to form their own group.
Will Leon 