2 stone cold classics dropped on the same day by the boys from Beantown
Song for song...which one is better?

Poll result (27 votes) NE Heartbreak (13 votes) Vote Don't Be Cruel (14 votes) Vote

it made careers. Bobby, LA and Babyface and Teddy RIley

mistermaxxx R.Kelly, Michael Jackson,Stevie wonder,Rick James,Marvin Gaye,El Debarge, Barry WHite Lionel RIchie,Isleys EWF,Lady T.,Kid creole and coconuts,the crusaders,kc sunshine band,bee gees,jW,sd,NE,JB

Miami Heat, New York Yankees,buffalo bills

DBC had a more 'mature' perspective.

i was tryna be Bobby. NE sounded like some punks, lol.

IG: amadu_me

"...Whateva, man..." (c) Redman

..we all know the story (young vocalists find great success, only to be derailed prematurely due to internal issues, ignorance, & egos).

while i know that brown's departure (and gill's arrival) was bitter sweet, i can't deny the growth shown once they were finally free to explore the full range of their collective & individual talents.

to this day, i still listen to the best of those 2 albums in one playlist, as if it was truly one album:

if it isn't love
every little step
ne. heartbreak
don't be cruel
my prerogative
coming home
roni
can you stand the rain?
rock wit'cha
boys to men



*skatin' the rings of saturn*


..and miles to go before i sleep...

yup.

If It Isn't Love
Don't Be Cruel
My Prerogative
NE Heartbreak
Roni
Rock Witcha
On Our Own
You're Not My Kind of Girl
Every Little Step (Remix)
Can You Stand the Rain
Boys to Men

..and can't believe i forgot to list 'every little step' in the track-listing above (edited).


*skatin' the rings of saturn*


..and miles to go before i sleep...

I wanted to hate on him, he left NE, King of Stage was medicore and he was trying to challenge NE by dropping the same day?

I copped NE my boy copped both and was really excited about Bobbys album. As he played it I kept denying it was good for weeks until I finally gave in and admitted it was amazing.

I still go with Heartbreak though. I think that has gotten more spins from me.

Don't Be Cruel is a milestone in R&B, as I pointed out in that other post about influential R&B albums.

"Don't Be Cruel" was more successful and had bigger hits.

It's not that I didn't like "Don't Be Cruel." The album is a classic. I just prefer "NE Heartbreak."

I see how Bobby was more influential too. But don't sleep on NE's influence. After "NE Heartbreak" you got carbon copies with New Kids, Backstreet Boys and N-Sync which helped birth the Britney Spears & Aguileras. NE was a big influence on the mainstream trying to put an R&B spin on their music.

I rarely listen to side B of Don't Be Cruel

NE heartbreak was such a good album too...it actually sounded like they went in to make an album.

DBC sounded like "lets make some hits"

You take the blue pill, the story ends. You wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill, you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.

make no mistakes about it NE Heartbreak was slammin, however Bobby for a moment in time he had that game on lock.

Bobby paved the way for NE's SOlo Spin offs when you think about it.

BBD a direct reaction off "Don't be cruel"

Johnny never had no real solo career until he came as a free agent to NE and he came correct in 1990

Ralph's solo career came on through as well.

the Bobby Brown effect opened all those doors.

mistermaxxx R.Kelly, Michael Jackson,Stevie wonder,Rick James,Marvin Gaye,El Debarge, Barry WHite Lionel RIchie,Isleys EWF,Lady T.,Kid creole and coconuts,the crusaders,kc sunshine band,bee gees,jW,sd,NE,JB

Miami Heat, New York Yankees,buffalo bills

NE Heartbreak is cohesive and doesn't have a weak moment.

DBC has a killer first half and forgettable second one.

Both albums are definitely modeled after the Thriller/Control/Purple Rain "lean, mean, high hit ratio" template even down to the supervision of a singular production force (J&L and LA & Babyface).

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Coolin...