King of Stage
1986 studio album by Bobby Brown
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King of Stage is the debut solo album by American R&B singer Bobby Brown.[1][2] Following his exit from New Edition, and at 16, Brown signed a solo deal with the group's label MCA Records, which had earlier promised Brown a solo deal if he decided to leave New Edition. His first solo album was released in 1986.
| King of Stage | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | November 10, 1986 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 42:29 | |||
| Label | MCA | |||
| Producer | Larry Blackmon John Luongo | |||
| Bobby Brown chronology | ||||
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| Singles from King of Stage | ||||
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The album spawned the singles "Girlfriend", "Seventeen", and "Girl Next Door". None of the singles were major US Hot 100 hits, however, Brown had a number-one R&B hit with the first single, the ballad, "Girlfriend".[3][4]
Production
The album was produced by Larry Blackmon and John Luongo; Brown and Luongo produced the title track.[5][6] Brown was unhappy with the production, and elected to go with proven producers for his next album.[1]
Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [7] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [8] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide |  [5] |
AllMusic wrote that "as enjoyable as the Blackmon-produced tracks are, top honors must go to 'Seventeen' -- a riveting account of a teenage mother who turns to drugs and prostitution -- and the unapologetically sentimental, '70s-like soul ballad 'Girlfriend'."[7] The Los Angeles Times called the album "an ill-conceived mess" marked by a "lack of focus, inconsistent production and mostly inferior material."[9] The Boston Globe deemed it "a versatile blend of street funk, rap and ballads."[10]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Girlfriend" | White | 6:16 | |
| 2. | "Girl Next Door" | Melvin Wells |
| 4:08 |
| 3. | "Baby, I Wanna Tell You Something" |
| 3:47 | |
| 4. | "You Ain't Been Loved Right" | Michael Lovesmith | Lovesmith | 5:07 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | {{{extra_column}}} | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5. | "King of Stage" |
| John Luongo | 5:07 |
| 6. | "Love Obsession" |
| Luongo | 4:43 |
| 7. | "Spending Time" | Allen N. Jones | 3:58 | |
| 8. | "Seventeen" |
| 4:17 | |
| 9. | "Your Tender Romance" |
| Jackson Jr. | 5:10 |
Notes
- ^[a] signifies an associate producer.
Personnel
- Bobby Brown – lead vocals, background vocals and vocal arrangements (9)
- Dina Andrews – production coordinator (9)
- Sue Ann – background vocals (8)
- Jerold Aquon – Simmons overdubs (1)
- Richard Aquon – background vocals (1)
- Maurice Bailey – scratching (5)
- Smooth Bee – background vocals (5)
- Olie Bowlds – background vocals (1)
- Robert Brookins – keyboards, drum programming, and background vocals (8)
- Patrick Buchanan – guitar (2)
- Kevin Choken – guitar (8)
- Emilio Conesa – guitar (1)
- Kirk Crumpler – bass synthesizer and keyboards (1)
- Michael Denten – engineer (1)
- Merv DePeyer – keyboards (3, 7)
- Angel Eve – background vocals (5)
- Gary Hellman – engineer (5, 6)
- Paul M. Jackson Jr. – vocal arrangements, rhythm arrangements, engineer, guitar, keyboards, bass guitar, drum programming, and background vocals (9)
- Tomi Jenkins – background vocals (2, 3, 7)
- Marlena Jeter – background vocals (4)
- Jilliann – background vocals (7)
- Mathew "Krash" Kasha – engineer (2, 3)
- Khris Kellow – arrangements, drum programming, and keyboards (5, 6), background vocals (6)
- Keven Kendrick – keyboards (3, 7), bass guitar (7)
- Marva King – background vocals (4)
- Debbe Kole – background vocals (6)
- Ruben Laxamana – assistant engineer (1)
- Victor Lee-Love – background vocals (5)
- Wayne Linsey – synthesizer programming (9)
- Jaee Logan – computer sequence programming and keyboards (1)
- Michael Lovesmith – arrangements, keyboards, drum machine, synthesizers, bass, horns, and background vocals (4)
- John Luongo – arrangements, mixing, and drum programming (5, 6)
- Melicio Magdaluyo – saxophone (1)
- Lance Romance Matthews – background vocals (5)
- Bill Miranda – assistant engineer (6)
- Willie Morris – background vocals (7)
- Taavi Moté – engineer (8), mixing (4)
- Dave Ogrin – engineer (2, 3), mixing (2, 3, 7)
- Lee Peters – background vocals (1)
- Jimmy Preziosi – assistant engineer (9)
- Roland Ramos – percussion (5, 6)
- Eric Rehl – keyboards (2, 3)
- David Rideau – engineer and mixing (9)
- Michael Sauvage – engineer (2, 3)
- Scopin Scott – background vocals (5)
- Lena Seinday – background vocals (8)
- Monty Seward – background vocals (9)
- Louil Silas Jr. – executive producer, mixing (8)
- Andrew Spiegelman – assistant engineer (5, 6)
- Melvin Wells – drum programming and keyboards (2), guitar (2, 7)
- Larry White – assistant engineer, mixing, bass guitar, guitar, percussion, keyboards, Simmons overdubs, and background vocals (1)
- Grady Wilkins – keyboards and background vocals (1)
- Alyson Williams – background vocals (2, 3, 7)
- Mark Wills – engineer (4)
- Jon Wolfson – engineer (2, 3)
- Bernard Wright – keyboards (3)
Charts
| Chart (1986) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Top Pop Albums[11] | 88 |
| US Billboard Top R&B Albums[12] | 12 |