The Making of Bobby Brown's "Don't Be Cruel"

While some record label honchos shared the public’s indifferent attitude towards Bobby’s solo career, a young executive named Louil Silas, Jr was determined to mold Brown into the soul sensation he believed him to be. With no one at the company really paying attention to Bobby, Louil put
his underdog singer in the studio with relative newcomers LA & Babyface and Teddy Riley.

A lot A&R people were afraid to work with us, because they thought we were under exclusive contract to SOLAR Records, recalls Kenny Babyface” Edmonds. Along with his partner Antonio LA Reid, they were the musical becaons behind their own group The Deele as well as producing the Whispers’ classic Rock Steady.

LA and Babyface had also worked with Silas on tracks for upcoming MCA acts Pebbles and The Boys. “Louil was one of the few people who wasn’t afraid of (SOLAR Records boss) Dick Griffey, which was the reason we got our shot to do Bobby.” Visiting the production duo in their Hollywood apartment, Bobby listened to Babyface sing demos of “Don’t Be Cruel” and “Every Little Step.”

Thinking back, Babyface recalls, “We wrote songs that were sweet and nice, but they also had a little edge to them. Bobby was pretty agreeable when he heard the material.” Not long after that initial meeting, Brown began recording with the duo at Silver Lake Studios in Los Angeles.

“Bobby had a pure vibe and a passion that was unmistakable, but he just needed a little guidance,” says Babyface, who cites “Roni” as his personal favorite. “We just went in and recorded without problems. We didn’t spend a lot of time in the studio, but listening to Bobby Brown record those songs, it was obvious that he had star power.

For the rest of this story, go to:
http://soulsummer.com/what-about-bobby

Damn! Where was I when that tour was going on? Bobby, New Edition, Al B. Sure, Troop, and Levert (not a big fan of Levert though)?
[Edited 9/20/09 21:31pm]

whodknee said:

Damn! Where was I when that tour was going on? Bobby, New Edition, Al B. Sure, Troop, and Levert (not a big fan of Levert though)?
[Edited 9/20/09 21:31pm]

Bobby hit and peaked at the same time.

Timmy84 said:

Bobby hit and peaked at the same time.

daPrettyman said:

Timmy84 said:

Bobby hit and peaked at the same time.

So true. The next project should have taken him into stardom, but the material didn't have the same edge as the "Don't Be Cruel" album.

daPrettyman said:

whodknee said:

Damn! Where was I when that tour was going on? Bobby, New Edition, Al B. Sure, Troop, and Levert (not a big fan of Levert though)?
[Edited 9/20/09 21:31pm]

What's wrong with Levert? They were extremely popular and sold a lot of records for a group that didn't really crossover. As a matter of fact, I think Levert gets more spins now, than they did in 87.

Anyway, I love this album from Bobby. It is damn-near perfect.

whodknee said:

daPrettyman said:

What's wrong with Levert? They were extremely popular and sold a lot of records for a group that didn't really crossover. As a matter of fact, I think Levert gets more spins now, than they did in 87.

Anyway, I love this album from Bobby. It is damn-near perfect.

It is. Nothing was wrong with Levert. I just wasn't a big fan of theirs.

He has a behind the music coming on soon

babybugz said:

Timmy84 said:

Timmy84 said:

daPrettyman said:

So true. The next project should have taken him into stardom, but the material didn't have the same edge as the "Don't Be Cruel" album.

For real. Sometimes it does help if you strike while the iron is hot. What's worse, his old band released their similar album and everybody else was doing it while he was basically on a break between 1990 and 1992.

babybugz said:

daPrettyman said:

babybugz said:

babybugz said:

Cinnie said:

Timmy84 said:

For real. Sometimes it does help if you strike while the iron is hot. What's worse, his old band released their similar album and everybody else was doing it while he was basically on a break between 1990 and 1992.

B.Brown Posse?

thesexofit said:

sosgemini said:

Did anyone else pick up that there were facts that were not accurate in the Behind The Music?

thesexofit said:

sosgemini said:

Apparantly Bobby didn't think much of "every little step" when he first heard it. Because of that, Babyface was going to keep it for himself but Louil Silas wrestled it back off him for Bobby to record.

What a relief LOL. Babyface singing "every little step" wouldn't of been half as much fun as Bobby's
[Edited 9/30/09 16:26pm]

I remember watching an interview Teddy Riley did years ago where he admitted that "My Prerogative" should've been chosen as the title of the album. I agree with him. Bobby's album was suppose to be the male answer to Janet's "Control" album and her album wasn't named "What Have You Done For Me Lately?"

oh man - slightly disappointed by this thread - I thought it was going to have a link to a video.