Okay I don’t do this a lot, but I can admit when I am wrong. & boy, oh boy was I wrong about getting into Boyz II Men’s discography this late in life. I knew of their hit singles like One Sweet Day (w/ Mariah Carey,) End of the Road, On Bended Knee, A Song for Mama, & Let It Snow (ONE OF MY FAVORITE HOLIDAY SONGS by the way)…..but I didn’t sit and listen to their albums until recently and I was BLOWN at how talented these men are and their HARMONIES BRO?! AMAZING.
Back to our regularly scheduled programming: Boyz II Men was formed in 1985 with members baritone Nathan Morris, tenors Wanyá Morris & Shawn Stockman and bass singer Michael McCary. Discovered by New Edition member Michael Bivins, the band performed NE’s Can You Stand the Rain, and the rest is history.
The band signed to Motown Records, and released their debut album Cooleyhighharmony, on April 30, 1991. The title of the album pays homage to the former Cooley Vocational High School in Chicago, and the 1975 cult classic film Cooley High. The album peaked at number 3 on the Billboard 200 chart, and produced two top 5 Billboard Hot 100 singles. Cooleyhighharmony has since been certified nine times platinum by the RIAA, and ten million copies worldwide.
Ladies & Gentlemen, I present to you: Boyz II Men’s “Cooleyhighharmony.”
Please Don’t Go
Written by Nathan Morris
Cooleyhighharmony opens with the R&B ballad Please Don’t Go. Released as the 4th single from the album, the song is lyrically about the men was expressing how much they don’t want that special girl to leave them alone. The song peaked in the top ten on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, at number 8.
Lonely Heart
Written by Nathan Morris
Lonely Heart is a sensual sounding ballad where the singers are telling the lady who wants to leave them that if you leave me like this….I will be with a lonely and broken heart. A gem in their catalog for sure.
This Is My Heart
Written by Wayna Morris ∙ Shawn Stockman
This Is My Heart is one of the songs that showcases how STELLAR those harmonies are from the group! Lyrically, the song speaks about how it feels to give their heart to a woman they passionately care about. Another album cut I love from them.
Uhh Ahh
Written by Nathan Morris ∙ Wanya Morris ∙ Michael Bivins
TEN, NINE, EIGHT, SEVEN, SIX FIVE, FOUR, THREE, TWO……ONE!
Uhh Ahh is one of the most sexiest songs of all time, and rightfully so. Released as the third single, the song is a definitely a vibe for lovers for sure. Although Uhh Ahh was their first single to miss the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, the song peaked at number 16. The song also served as the second single from the album and group to go number one on the R&B charts. A classic!
***Uhh Ahh was sampled for Beyoncé’s “Countdown”
It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday
Written by Freddie Perren ∙ Christine Yarian
Released as an a cappella rendition of the original version of the song by G.C. Cameron, It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday is a perfect homage to the original version..which was included on the soundtrack to the Cooley High film. The music video for this rendition was dedicated to MC Trouble, Sarah Vaughan, Jim Henson, Sammy Davis Jr. and Gilda Radner.
Released as the second single, It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday peaked at number 1 on the R&B charts, giving the band their first number 1 hit on that chart, and number 2 on the pop charts as well.
***It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday was originally recorded by G.C. Cameron.
Motownphilly
Written by Dallas Austin ∙ Michael Bivins ∙ Nathan Morris ∙ Shawn Stockman
Motownphilly is a new jack swing MASTERPIECE, okay! YOU WANT YOUR DEBUT SINGLE TO SHOWCASE WHO TF YOU ARE. The elements of soul, new jack swing and doo-wop makes the song’s title is a combination of the group’s main musical influences which was 1960s Motown and 1970s Philly soul a beautiful affair. Motownphilly also has a guest rap from Michael Bivins, who also co-wrote the song as well. Motownphilly peaked at number 3 and 4 on the pop and R&B charts respectively, and the song has since been certified Platinum by the RIAA.
***Motownphilly contains samples of:
Think (About It) by Lyn Collins
Treat ‘Em Right by Chubb Rock
Kool Is Back by Funk, Inc.
Do This My Way by Kid ‘N Play
Under Pressure
Written by Dallas Austin ∙ Nathan Morris
Under Pressure is an uptempo number that has the singers feeling like pressure is killing them because they’re wondering if she’s feeling the same.
Sympin’
Written by Nathan Morris ∙ Shawn Stockman ∙ Dallas Austin
Symphin’ is lowkey my SONG, MAN! From a lyrical perspective, the song has the men expressing how they don’t mind begging and pleading for what they want. The production on the song had me SOLD. Like man Dallas Austin is really a genius for his production on this album, and this song in particular.
***Symphin’ contains samples of:
Poison by Bell Biv DeVoe
James Bond Theme by John Barry and Monty Norman
My Thang by James Brown
Poison by Bell Biv DeVoe
The Grunt by The J.B.’s
Can’t Let Her Get Away by Michael Jackson
Little Things
Written by Troy Taylor
Little Things has officially become my favorite song from the group, and I will always defend that choice. The group’s display of being appreciative of what they have, and the new jack swing influences makes the song one of the most amazing songs of all time.
Your Love
Written by Troy Taylor
The original edition of the album closes with the amazing and sensual ballad Your Love. Another song that showcases the beauty and how powerful their harmonies are. Timeless record!
Cooleyhighharmony is an album I got into later in life, and I am glad that I did because it is truly a masterpiece. It is something so soothing and relaxing about a group harmonizing together to give us quality and timeless music, which is something Boyz II Men has done for decades of their career. But it is something refreshing about the beginning stages of a blossoming career like theirs that makes Cooleyhighharmony so memorable. -MW.
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