Don't Be Cruel (album)

Don't Be Cruel is the second studio album by American singer Bobby Brown. It was released in the United States on June 20, 1988, by MCA Records. MCA changed producers for this album and had Brown work with hit-making songwriting and production duo Babyface and L.A. Reid. Brown dedicated the album to his deceased best friend James "Jimbo" Flint who was stabbed to death when Brown was aged 11.[3] Don't Be Cruel incorporates new jack swing, R&B, funk, dance and soul.[4]

Don't Be Cruel
Studio album by
Bobby Brown
ReleasedJune 20, 1988
Genre
Length47:08
LabelMCA
Producer
Bobby Brown chronology
King of Stage
(1986)		 Don't Be Cruel
(1988)		 Dance!...Ya Know It!
(1989)
Singles from Don't Be Cruel
  1. "Don't Be Cruel"
    Released: May 16, 1988
  2. "My Prerogative"
    Released: October 11, 1988
  3. "Roni"
    Released: December 27, 1988
  4. "Every Little Step"
    Released: January 31, 1989
  5. "Rock Wit'cha"
    Released: August 15, 1989
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
The Village VoiceB+[2]

Don't Be Cruel peaked at number one on the US Billboard 200 and included five top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hits, with "My Prerogative" being a US number-one hit. Three of the singles also reached number one on Billboard's Hot R&B Songs chart. "My Prerogative" was also the second-biggest single of 1989, ranking at number two on the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1989. The album also spent a total of 11 non-consecutive weeks atop the Billboard R&B Albums chart over the course of 1988 and 1989. Internationally, it reached number one in Ireland and the top five in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

At the 32nd Grammy Awards, Brown won Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for "Every Little Step".[5] Don't Be Cruel received extremely positive reviews from music critics. It was far more successful than Brown's debut album, spending a total of six weeks on top of the Billboard 200 and being the best-selling album of 1989 in the United States. On April 28, 1995, it was certified 7× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[6] The album sold over 12 million copies worldwide in total. In 2015, Billboard ranked Don't Be Cruel at number 82 on its list of the Greatest of All Time Billboard 200 Albums.[7]

The album received a 2-disc and vinyl deluxe edition physical release commemorating its 35th anniversary on June 16, 2023 by Iconoclassic Records.[8]

Development

Brown changed producers for this album, and worked extensively with hit-making songwriting and production duo Babyface and L.A. Reid. Alex Henderson of AllMusic writes:

Don't Be Cruel was to Bobby Brown what Control was to Janet Jackson – a tougher, more aggressive project that shed his "bubblegum" image altogether and brought him to a new artistic and commercial plateau. With "My Prerogative" and the title song, Brown became a leader of new jack swing – a forceful, high-tech blend of traditional soul singing and rap/hip-hop that's also associated with Guy and Brown's New Edition colleagues, Bell Biv DeVoe.[1]

Singles

All five singles released from the album reached the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. "Don't Be Cruel" was released as the lead single. The second single, "My Prerogative", earned Brown his first number one on the Billboard Hot 100. "My Prerogative" was also the second-biggest single of 1989, finishing at number two on the Year-End Billboard Hot 100 Singles of 1989. Three of the singles also reached number one on Billboard's Hot R&B Songs chart.

All singles except "Roni" were certified Gold by the RIAA.[9]

Commercial performance

Don't Be Cruel debuted at number 74 on the Billboard 200 on July 23, 1988. It wasn't until six months later that the album reached number one, starting a six-week non-consecutive run at number one, from January 21, 1989 – February 4, 1989 and February 18, 1989 – March 4, 1989. Its reign at number one was interrupted for one week by Guns N' Roses' Appetite for Destruction.

The album also spent a total of 11 non-consecutive weeks atop the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart over the course of 1988 and 1989. It spent an eight-week non-consecutive run at number one from September–November 1988, and then returned to number one four months later in March 1989.

Don't Be Cruel was the best-selling album of 1989 in the United States, and finished number one on the Billboard Year-End album chart.[10] Eventually the album sold 12 million copies worldwide in less than a decade.

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Cruel Prelude"
  • Babyface
  • L.A. Reid
0:37
2."Don't Be Cruel"
  • Babyface
  • L.A. Reid
6:48
3."My Prerogative"
  • Teddy Riley
  • Bobby Brown (co.)
4:51
4."Roni"
  • Babyface
  • L.A. Reid
5:58
5."Rock Wit'cha"
  • Babyface
  • L.A. Reid
  • Babyface
  • L.A. Reid
4:49
6."Every Little Step"
  • Babyface
  • L.A. Reid
  • Babyface
  • L.A. Reid
3:57
7."I'll Be Good to You"
  • Bobby Brown
  • Teddy Riley
  • Aaron Hall
  • Teddy Riley
  • Bobby Brown (co.)
4:25
8."Take It Slow"
  • Jay Logan
  • Lee Peters
  • Larry White
Larry White5:23
9."All Day All Night"
  • Dennis Wadington
  • DeWayne Sweet
  • Larry White
  • Lee Peters
Larry White4:40
10."I Really Love You Girl"
  • Bobby Brown
  • Gordon Jones
  • Gordon Jones
  • Bobby Brown (co.)
5:10
11."Cruel Reprise"
  • Babyface
  • L.A. Reid
  • Babyface
  • L.A. Reid
0:19
Total length:47:08

Personnel

Credits adapted from AllMusic.[1]

  • Richard Aguon – drum fills (8), drums (8,9), background vocals (8, 9)
  • Babyface – mixing (1, 2, 4–6, 11), producer (1, 2, 4–6, 11), background vocals (2, 4–6)
  • Bernard Belle – background vocals (2, 7)
  • Ollie Bolds – background vocals (8, 9)
  • Bobby Brown – primary artist, producer (3, 7, 10), background vocals (all tracks)
  • Tommy Brown – finger snaps (8), production coordination
  • Emilio Conesa – guitar (8)
  • Kirk Crumpler – bass (8), synthesizer (8), synthesizer bass (8)
  • Michael Denten – drum technician (8), engineer (8,9), mixing (8,9), background vocals (8, 9)
  • Lee Drakeford – background vocals (2, 7)
  • Don Emerson – assistant engineer (1, 2 4–6, 11)
  • Jon Gass – engineer (6), mixing, special edits (1, 2, 4–6, 11)
  • Mitch Gibson – engineer (10)
  • Todd Gray – photography
  • Toni Greene – assistant engineer (1, 2, 4–6, 11)
  • Gene Griffin – producer (3, 7)
  • Portia Griffin – background vocals (10)
  • John Guggenheim – assistant engineer (1, 2, 4–6, 11)
  • Aaron Hall – background vocals (3, 7)
  • Steve Hall – mastering
  • Fred Howard – assistant engineer (1, 2, 4–6, 11)
  • Ja – art direction
  • Howard Johnston – engineer (8, 9)
  • Gordon Jones – multi instruments (10), producer (10), background vocals (10)
  • K2 – assistant engineer (8, 9)
  • Kayo – guest artist, background vocals (2, 4, 6)
  • Ruben Laxamana – engineer (8), special effects (8)
  • Melecio Magdaluyo – soprano saxophone (8)
  • Dennis Mitchell – engineer (2, 7), mixing (2, 7)
  • Julie Moss – design
  • Lee Peters – background vocals (8, 9)
  • Ben Reyes – keyboards (8, 9)
  • L.A. Reid – producer (1, 2, 4–6, 11)
  • Markell Riley – drum programming (3, 7)
  • Teddy Riley – keyboards (3, 7), mixing (3, 7), background vocals (3, 7)
  • Percy Scott – keyboards (8, 9)
  • Louil Silas, Jr. – executive producer, remixing (9)
  • Daryl Simmons – background vocals (2, 4–6)
  • Mark Slagle – assistant engineer (8, 9)
  • Dewayne Sweet – drums (8), keyboards (8, 9), synthesizer, synthesizer bass (8,9)
  • Ralph Tresvant – background vocals
  • Ronnie Watkins – background vocals (8)
  • Karyn White – guest artist, background vocals (2, 4, 6)
  • Larry White – Larry White – assistant engineer (8, 9), bass (8), drums (8), guitar (8), keyboards (8, 9), mixing (8, 9), producer (8, 9), background vocals (8)

Charts

Certifications
Certifications for Don't Be Cruel
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[21] Platinum 70,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[22] 3× Platinum 300,000^
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[23] Gold 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[24] 2× Platinum 600,000^
United States (RIAA)[25] 7× Platinum 7,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. Henderson, Alex (November 1, 2001). "Don't Be Cruel – Bobby Brown: Review". AllMusic. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
  2. Christgau, Robert (January 24, 1989). "Consumer Guide Jan. 24, 1989". The Village Voice. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  3. Tannenbaum, Rob (1989-09-07). "Bobby Brown's Uneasy Passage". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2019-11-29.
  4. Easlea, Daryl. "BBC - Music - Review of Bobby Brown - Don't Be Cruel". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2019-11-29.
  5. Eddy, Chuck (March 2011). "Essentials: R&B Rubs Hip-Hop the Right Way and the New Jack Swing Era Is Born". Spin. New York: 84. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
  6. "Gold & Platinum - RIAA".
  7. "Greatest of All Time Billboard 200 Albums : Page 1". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-11-29.
  9. "RIAA – Searchable Database: Bobby Brown". Retrieved January 9, 2019.
  10. "Billboard 200 Albums - Year-End 1989".
  11. "Australiancharts.com – Bobby Brown – Don't Be Cruel". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  12. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 6333". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  13. "Dutchcharts.nl – Bobby Brown – Don't Be Cruel" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  14. "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 14. April 8, 1989. p. 25. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  15. "Offiziellecharts.de – Bobby Brown – Don't Be Cruel" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  16. "Charts.nz – Bobby Brown – Don't Be Cruel". Hung Medien.
  17. "Swedishcharts.com – Bobby Brown – Don't Be Cruel". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  18. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  19. "Bobby Brown Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  20. "Bobby Brown Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  21. "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Albums Chart – Week Ending 15 Jul 1990 (61–100)". Retrieved March 30, 2023 – via Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA).
  22. "Canadian album certifications – Bobby Brown – Don't Be Cruel". Music Canada.
  23. Sólo Éxitos 1959–2002 Año A Año: Certificados 1979–1990 (in Spanish). Iberautor Promociones Culturales. 2005. ISBN 8480486392.
  24. "British album certifications – Bobby Brown – Don't Be Cruel". British Phonographic Industry.
  25. "American album certifications – Bobby Brown – Don't Be Cruel". Recording Industry Association of America.

See also
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