1. "Introduction" (1:04)
2. "That's the Way We're Livin'" (Bell/Bivins/DeVoe/Gill/Tresvant) (4:02)
3. "Where It All Started" (Harris/Lewis) (3:31)
4. "If It Isn't Love" (Harris/Lewis) (5:09)
5. "Skit #1" ( :35)
6. "N.E. Heartbreak" (Harris/Lewis) (5:44)
7. "Crucial" (Johnson/Keith) (4:33)
8. "Skit #2" ( :44)
9. "You're Not My Kind of Girl" (Harris/Lewis) (4:01)
10. "Superlady" (Bell/Bivins/DeVoe/Gill/Tresvant) (5:01)
11. "Can You Stand the Rain" (Harris/Lewis) (4:57)
12. "Competition" (Tresvant) (4:28)
13. "Skit #3" ( :38)
14. "I'm Comin' Home" (Harris/Lewis) (5:06)
15. "Boys to Men" (Harris/Lewis) (4:10)

VS



1. "Cruel Prelude" – 0:39
2. "Don't Be Cruel" – 6:52
3. "My Prerogative" – 4:51
4. "Roni" – 5:58
5. "Rock Wit'cha" – 4:49
6. "Every Little Step" – 3:57
7. "I'll Be Good to You" – 4:25
8. "Take It Slow" – 5:22
9. "All Day All Night" – 4:40
10. "I Really Love You Girl" – 5:11
11. "Cruel Reprise" – 0:18

Both LPs were released on June 20,1988.

Great comparison. We need more threads like these comparing good old timeless music.

"Can You Stand The Rain" destroys any song Bobby ever did in his life, BUT, I like his Don't Be Cruel album over New Edition's Heart Break . The production is better and I think it crafted a bit better too.

Regardless, both albums personal classics. My favorite N.E. related album of all time is Johnny's self titled 3rd album, from 1990. That album tops both of these albums as well as any other N.E. related album, and I think it's a top 5 New Jack Swing Era R&B album.

bboy87 said:

Bobby Brown....dam he near ruled the world with that record...

I'll have to say that Heartbreak is the better album. While I love the hits from Don't Be Cruel, I never listen to the Side B part of the album

rushing07 said:

I'll be taking that, thank you

Bad Boy Bobby Brown > New Edition

rushing07 said:

Timmy84 said:

You know the only person who knows Side B of Don't Be Cruel is Bobby himself...and he himself ain't too sure

If I had to rank the albums, I would take Don't Be Cruel. That album is perfect from start to finish. "Every Little Step" is one of my all-time favorites...ever.

I think HeartBreak is good also, but it kind of falls short (to me). Songs like "That's the Way We're Livin'", "Where It All Started", "Superlady", and "Competition" all feel like "filler" to me. They are just "ok" trax.

bboy87 said:

Same here....and Boys 2 Men is a great finisher, plus the hot slow jam cut Im Coming Home is wonderful.


Ill take If It Isnt Love over My Perogative too.


i dont count Superlady because that wasnt on the album or cassette..its more like a B-Side.

I'd have to go with BBrown. WAAAAAY too many hits off that album and it set the table for New Jack Swang.

Tie.....

NE's Heartbreak is a better overall album.

But Bobby's Don't Be Cruel album had bigger hit singles!

If you were to go by remixes, I would have to give it to NE. I love the remixes of Crucial and NE Heartbreak.

bboy87 said:

Blame it on him being bipolar, lol.

bboy87 said:

What??!!?? You didn't at least like "I'll Be Good To You" or "Take It Slow"???.

junebug18 said:

Hell, "Every Little Step" was da shiznet.

I'm gonna have to ride for Bobby on this one.

Definately Bobby Brown. I didn't even like that album from New Edition and didn't buy it.

daPrettyman said:

I remember dancing to the choreography to the video. Shit I thought I WAS Bobby Brown!

Timmy84 said:

daPrettyman said:

And the funny thing is what kept me from being Bobby Brown was the gumby haircut (no way in hell I would walk around with that haircut! LOL) and the drugs.

Timmy84 said:

Yeah, I HATED the Gumby. I had some guys in my class that wore them. They looked ridiculous.

daPrettyman said:

I always wonder why that hair style was so popular back then, I never understood it.

Bobby

Flowers2 said:

Even though Bob has gone through a rough life, it's hard to believe the 19-year-old in that picture is turning 40 next month!

Timmy84 said:

U're making me feel old...STOP IT!!!!

Timmy84 said:

yeah, it's been 20 years .. Bobby was hot back in his day

It's even harder to believe that he's only one year younger than me. Apparently, in the beginning, they must have been trying to make New Edition appear younger than they really were. When they first came out with "Candy Girl", I was in the tenth grade and me and all my classmates thought they were maybe in the sixth or seventh grade. We never dreamed they were one year younger than us.