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:

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.

Bobby hit and peaked at the same time.

Timmy84 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.

daPrettyman 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.

daPrettyman said:

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

whodknee said:

He has a behind the music coming on soon

babybugz said:

Bobby, I'm hearing, is going to admit to cocaine usage in his episode. I'm sure he'll paint a better picture of his marriage to Whitney than she did, lol

Timmy84 said:

He probably is lol ,I heard a long time ago she introduce him to drugs as well

Timmy84 said:

B.Brown Posse?

babybugz said:

This weekend (i think)

daPrettyman said:

tomorrow I saw

babybugz said:

Thanx. I can't wait to see this train wreck.

babybugz said:

yeah bobby catches the blame for whitney's downfall but she was gettin high before she met him, i think they were both functioning addicts when they met but once they got together it was outta control.

credibility, lost.

Cinnie said:

I think he means New Edition released "heartbreak" the same time as "dont be cruel" (1988). Then Bobby's next album wasn't until 1992's "Bobby", whilst Bell, Biv, Devoe, Ralph tresvant and Johnny Gill had all released albums a few years before then.

Bobby did have a few hits inbetween though, including the excellent "on our own".

I do think he did leave it too long between albums as newjack was on its last legs in 1992 but the album still shifted a few million though.

thesexofit said:

Yeah I meant in album releases. Not necessarily single releases.

sosgemini said:

I feel where u are coming from, but I think she meant as far as showman ship.

I saw Bobby in 1992 during the "Bobby" tour and was in awe of how great of a performer he really was. The boy had the ability to be bigger than his contemporaries on a performance level if he would have just left the drugs alone.

I have seen Bobby twice. The first time was in 92 and the 2nd was in 96 with the NE reunion tour. On the reunion tour, he wasn't nearly as good. He was so high and left the stage a few times during the show. It was so bad that Ralph didn't even show up that night.

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

thesexofit said:

Ahhh.

sosgemini said:

I was so in love with Bobby when this album dropped back in the 5th grade. He could do no wrong.

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.