Recorded 1988 Label Columbia Release date 6 September 1988 | Length 42:02 Artist New Kids On The Block Producer Maurice Starr | |
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Released September 6, 1988 (1988-09-06) Studio Mission Control, Westford, MA
The House Of Hits, Boston, MA
Normandy Recording Studio, Providence, RI Hangin' Tough
(1988) Merry, Merry Christmas
(1989) Genres Pop music, Rhythm and blues, Pop rock, Dance-pop, Contemporary R&B Awards American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Album Similar New Kids On The Block albums, Pop music albums | ||
New kids on the block hangin tough full album
Hangin' Tough is the second album by American boy band New Kids on the Block, released on September 6, 1988, by Columbia Records. It is widely regarded as the breakthrough album of the group's career and has been praised by some music critics, gaining positive reviews for their musical transition from bubblegum pop to urban contemporary, blended with popular rock music. Originally the group's label had already planned to end their contract when their first album in 1986 garnered little commercial and critical attention which was nearly led to their failure. However, Maurice Starr, the group's producer, diligently persuaded the label to let them record for a second album.
Contents
- New kids on the block hangin tough full album
- New kids on the block you got the right stuff
- Singles
- Critical reception
- Accolades
- Track listing
- Personnel
- Songs
- References
Hangin' Tough led the group to success due to the emergence of their music to radio airplays and creation of music videos for each released single, showcasing the group's visual appeal. Their popularity was eventually built as they made TV appearances and embarked on promotional tours. By the end of 1989, the album topped on the US Billboard 200 charts, while peaked at number two both on Canadian Albums Chart on the same year and in the UK Albums Chart on the following year. The album also has a home-media video release entitled New Kids on the Block: Hangin' Tough which is a documented musical film about the group's biographical career which it was released in 1989. It also contains a series of music videos, live performances, and exclusive interviews from the group and their fans. The album and the film itself, both were receiving few accolades: two American Music Awards and at least one Grammy Award nomination.
With sales of more than seventeen million copies worldwide to date, Hangin' Tough became the group's best-selling album and it was certified Diamond in Canada by the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA) with sales of more than one million units, while eight times Platinum in the U.S. by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album spawned five commercial singles: "Please Don't Go Girl", "You Got It (The Right Stuff)", "I'll Be Loving You (Forever)", "Hangin' Tough", and "Cover Girl". All were top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, making them the first teen act to gain such chart success.
New kids on the block you got the right stuff
Singles
Five singles were released from Hangin' Tough. The lead single "Please Don't Go Girl" was released in April 1988. The song became a major hit on radio stations nationwide and became their first top-ten single in Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number ten. The second single was "You Got It (The Right Stuff)", a worldwide hit which peaked at number three on the Billboard charts. "I'll Be Loving You (Forever)", a ballad, was the third single released and became their first number-one in Billboard Hot 100. The title track was released next and also reached number one. "Cover Girl" was the fifth released; it peaked at number two.
"My Favorite Girl" was released in January 1990 as a promotional single sent to radio, but was not made commercially available at retail.
Critical reception
The album received positive reviews from music critics. Reviews of Dan Heilman & Bil Carpenter of Allmusic said "Good songs collected by New Kids mastermind Maurice Starr highlight this smash, including I'll Be Loving You (Forever), You Got It (The Right Stuff), Please Don't Go Girl, and the title track. Tight, warm, even soulful harmony on the ballads."
Robert Christgau, gave a grade of C+ to the album. He stated that: "At five million and counting, this isn't the rank offense its demographic tilt would lead you to expect—auteur Maurice Starr has positioned two exceedingly cute up-tempo hits atop two overly balladic sides. Really, why shouldn't a black svengali mastermind the safe white R&B ripoff for once? Funkier than the Osmonds or Milli Vanilli. As hip as New Edition."
Accolades
Hangin' Tough won two American Music Awards in January 1990—the "Favorite Pop/Rock Album" and "Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group", beating up Paula Abdul's Forever Your Girl & Bobby Brown's Don't Be Cruel in Favorite Pop/Rock Album category, and Bon Jovi & Milli Vanilli in Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group category. The Hangin' Tough music film was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Music Video, Long Form (now called Best Music Film) at the 1990 Grammy Awards, but lost to Rhythm Nation 1814 by Janet Jackson, beating up Eurythmics's Savage, Michael Jackson's Moonwalker, and Pink Floyd's In Concert: Delicate Sound of Thunder.
Track listing
All songs were produced by Maurice Starr.
Personnel
Songs
1You Got It (The Right Stuff)4:13
2Please Don't Go Girl4:31
3I'll Be Loving You (Forever)4:27