Cooleyhighharmony

Cooleyhighharmony is the debut album by American R&B group Boyz II Men, originally released in the United States by Motown Records on April 30, 1991.

Cooleyhighharmony
Studio album by
Boyz II Men
ReleasedApril 30, 1991 (US)
November 16, 1993 (US reissue)
May 26, 2009 (Expanded edition)
RecordedSeptember – November 1990
1991–1992
StudioDoppler Studios, Atlanta, Georgia, Studio 4, Philadelphia, PA and Soundworks, New York, NY
GenreR&B, new jack swing[1]
Length40:25
LanguageEnglish
LabelMotown
ProducerMichael Bivins (ex), Vida Sparks (ex), Dallas Austin, The Characters
Boyz II Men chronology
Cooleyhighharmony
(1991)		 Christmas Interpretations
(1993)
Singles from Cooleyhighharmony
  1. "Motownphilly"
    Released: April 30, 1991
  2. "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday"
    Released: August 20, 1991
  3. "Uhh Ahh"
    Released: November 26, 1991
  4. "Please Don't Go"
    Released: March 17, 1992
  5. "End of the Road"
    Released: June 30, 1992
  6. "In the Still of the Night (I'll Remember)"
    Released: November 10, 1992
Alternate covers
Cooleyhighharmony (reissue)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Robert Christgau[3]
Entertainment WeeklyB−[4]
Record Collector[5]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[6]

The album was mainly written by Boyz II Men members Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris and Shawn Stockman and extensively produced by Dallas Austin. The album's name is a tribute to a real high school in Chicago: Cooley Vocational High School.[7]

Cooleyhighharmony debuted at #58 on the Billboard 200 and eventually peaked at #3. The album includes the Billboard Hot 100 Top 5 Singles, "Motownphilly" (#3) and "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" (#2).

The album was re-released internationally in 1992 (1993 in the US) with remixes and the inclusion of two hit singles: the worldwide smash "End of the Road" from the Boomerang soundtrack and "In the Still of the Nite (I'll Remember)" which was initially recorded for the TV mini-series The Jacksons: An American Dream. The US release also included a Spanish version of "End of the Road".

In 2009, a two-disc digitally remastered special edition of the album was released, containing remixes as well as two previously unreleased songs.[8]

Cooleyhighharmony has been certified nine times Platinum by the RIAA for shipments of over 9 million units in the US.[9]

Gospel duo Dawkins & Dawkins incorporated one of their doo-wop melodies from "Sympin'" in "No Doubt About It" from their album Necessary Measures.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Mp3.

Original 1991 edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Please Don't Go"Nathan MorrisDallas Austin4:26
2."Lonely Heart"N. MorrisAustin3:42
3."This Is My Heart"Wanya Morris, Shawn StockmanAustin3:23
4."Uhh Ahh"N. Morris, W. Morris, Michael BivinsAustin3:51
5."It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday"Freddie Perren, Christine YarianAustin2:51
6."Motownphilly"Austin, Bivins, N. Morris, StockmanAustin3:55
7."Under Pressure"Austin, N. MorrisAustin4:13
8."Sympin'"N. Morris, Stockman, AustinAustin4:23
9."Little Things"Troy TaylorThe Characters (Troy Taylor & Charles Farrar)4:01
10."Your Love"TaylorThe Characters5:50
Total length:40:25
1993 US reissue
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Al Final del Camino" ("End of the Road" Spanish version)Babyface, Antonio "L.A." Reid, Daryl SimmonsK. C. Porter5:51
2."Please Don't Go"Nathan MorrisDallas Austin4:26
3."Lonely Heart"N. MorrisAustin3:42
4."This Is My Heart"Wanya Morris, Shawn StockmanAustin3:23
5."Uhh Ahh" (sequel version)N. Morris, W. Morris, Michael BivinsBoyz II Men, Fred Jenkins4:15
6."It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday"Freddie Perren, Christine YarianAustin2:48
7."In the Still of the Night (I'll Remember)"Fred ParrisBoyz II Men2:51
8."Motownphilly" (remix – radio edit)Austin, Bivins, N. Morris, StockmanCamille Hinds, Steve Jervier, Paul Jervier3:59
9."Under Pressure"Austin, N. MorrisAustin4:13
10."Sympin'" (remix – radio edit)Austin, N. Morris, Stockman, Bivins, W. MorrisRico Anderson3:59
11."Little Things"Troy TaylorThe Characters4:01
12."Your Love"TaylorThe Characters5:50
13."Motownphilly" (original album version)Austin, Bivins, N. Morris, StockmanAustin3:55
14."Sympin'" (original album version)N. Morris, Stockman, AustinAustin4:23
15."Uhh Ahh" (original album version)N. Morris, W. Morris, BivinsAustin3:51
16."It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" (Radio Version)Perren, YarianRex Salas, Boyz II Men3:06
17."End of the Road"Reid, Babyface, SimmonsReid, Babyface, Simmons, co-producer5:50
Total length:64:23

2009 re-release

In 2009, a two-disc digitally remastered special edition of the album was released by Hip-O Select Records. It contains the 1993 reissue version of the album, plus additional remixes and two previously unreleased tracks.

Disc 1
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."Please Don't Go" 4:26
2."Lonely Heart" 3:42
3."This Is My Heart"Daryl Simmons3:23
4."Uhh Ahh"Dallas Austin3:51
5."It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" 2:51
6."Motownphilly" 3:55
7."Under Pressure" 4:13
8."Sympin'" 4:23
9."Little Things" 4:01
10."Your Love" 5:50
11."End of the Road" 5:50
12."In the Still of the Night (I'll Remember)" 2:51
13."Uhh Ahh" (sequel version) 4:15
14."Motownphilly" (remix – radio edit) 3:59
15."Sympin'" (remix – radio edit) 3:59
16."It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" (radio version) 3:06
17."Al Final del Camino" ("End of the Road" Spanish version) 5:51
Disc 2
No.TitleLength
1."Just a Cover" (previously unreleased)5:24
2."Can't Be Liked" (previously unreleased)5:50
3."Motownphilly" (12" version)5:39
4."Motownphilly" (12" dub)4:09
5."Motownphilly" (Quiet Storm Mix)4:06
6."Under Pressure" (Groovy Remix) (previously unreleased in the US)6:23
7."Under Pressure" (extended remix) (previously unreleased in the US)6:32
8."Sympin'" (Remix)5:00
9."Sympin'" (remix – radio edit without rap)4:17
10."Uhh Ahh" (remix)4:50
11."Uhh Ahh" (sequel version – with French girl)4:50
12."Uhh Ahh" (sequel version – a cappella)4:50
13."It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" (gospel version with dedication)4:15

Personnel
  • Producer: Dallas Austin
  • Executive producers: Michael Bivins for Biv Entertainment, Vida Sparks
  • Executive chief administrator: Jheryl Busby

Recording and engineering

  • Dave Way
  • Dennis Mitchell
  • Darin Prindle
  • Chris Trevett
  • Steve Schwartzberg
  • Jim "Jiff" Hinger
  • Mark Partis

Additional personnel

  • Mastering: Chris Bellman
  • Mastering location: Bernie Grundman Mastering
  • Creative director: Michael Bivins
  • Art director: Stephen Meltzer
  • Design: Kaie Wellman
  • Assistant designer: Elizabeth Matbeny
  • A&R director: Vida Sparks
  • Assistant: Darrale Jones
  • Administrative assistant: Dianne Johnson
  • Photography: Butch Belaire
  • Hair and make-up: Helene Andersson
  • Stylist: Agnes Baddoo

Mixing locations

  • Soundworks Studio, New York, NY
  • Soundtract Studio, New York, NY
  • Doppler Studios, Atlanta, GA

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[29] 2× Platinum 140,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[30] Platinum 100,000^
Japan (RIAJ)[31] Gold 100,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[32] Platinum 15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[33] Gold 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[34] 9× Platinum 9,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

References
  1. Henderson, Alex. "New Jack Swing". AllMusic. Archived from the original on March 7, 2012. Retrieved 2016-07-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  2. https://www.allmusic.com/album/r2551
  3. Christgau, Robert. "CG: Boyz II Men". RobertChristgau.com. Retrieved 2012-06-30.
  4. Linden, Amy (1991-07-26). "Cooleyhighharmony Review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2012-06-30.
  5. Draper, Jason (July 2009). "Boyz II Men – Cooleyhighharmony". Record Collector. No. 364. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  6. Brackett, Nathan; Christian Hoard (2004). The Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York City, New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 100. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8. rolling stone boyz ii men album guide.
  7. "Producer Dallas Austin talks about Boyz II Men's debut album, 'Cooleyhighharmony'". Waxpoetics.com. Archived from the original on 2016-07-29. Retrieved 2016-03-09.
  8. "Boyz II Men – Cooleyhighharmony (2009, Expanded Edition, CD)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  9. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2017-08-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. "Australiancharts.com – Boyz II Men – Cooleyhighharmony". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  11. "Austriancharts.at – Boyz II Men – Cooleyhighharmony" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  12. "Dutchcharts.nl – Boyz II Men – Cooleyhighharmony" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  13. "Hits of the World – Eurochart". Billboard. December 5, 1992. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  14. "InfoDisc : Tout les Titres par Artiste". Archived from the original on 15 July 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  15. "Offiziellecharts.de – Boyz II Men – Cooleyhighharmony" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  16. "ボーイズ・II・メンのアルバム売上ランキング". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  17. "Charts.nz – Boyz II Men – Cooleyhighharmony". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  18. "Swedishcharts.com – Boyz II Men – Cooleyhighharmony". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  19. "Boyz II Men | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  20. "Boyz II Men Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  21. "Boyz II Men Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  22. Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: albums chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
  23. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1992". Billboard. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  24. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1992". Billboard. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  25. "Top Selling Albums of 1993 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  26. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1993". Billboard. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  27. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1993". Billboard. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  28. Geoff Mayfield (December 25, 1999). 1999 The Year in Music Totally '90s: Diary of a Decade - The listing of Top Pop Albums of the '90s & Hot 100 Singles of the '90s. Billboard. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
  29. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1993 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  30. "Canadian album certifications – Boyz II Men – Cooleyhighharmony". Music Canada. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  31. "Japanese album certifications – ボーイズIIメン – クーリーハイハーモニー＋5" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved July 15, 2012. Select 1993年3月 on the drop-down menu
  32. "New Zealand album certifications – Boyz II Men – Cooleyhighharmony". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  33. "British album certifications – Boyz II Men – Cooleyhighharmony". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  34. "American album certifications – Boyz II Men – Cooleyhighharmony". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
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