King of Stage

• Artist: Bobby Brown
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1987
• Total Time: 42:29
• Genre: Rhythm & Blues

Review

Bobby Brown's style was still fairly close to that of his comrades in New Edition when he recorded his first solo effort, King of Stage -- an album giving little indication of the hard-edged, aggressive "new jack swing" that was only two years away on Don't Be Cruel. While comparisons to his subsequent work are inevitable, Stage is a generally decent, though not breathtaking, album that stands on its own merit -- and one that proves that there was indeed life outside of New Edition for the singer/rapper. Although Cameo leader Larry Blackmon, who serves as producer on "Girl Next Door," "Spending Time" and "Baby I Wanna Tell You Something," brings an undeniably Cameo-ish element to these high-tech funk smokers, Brown's individuality comes through loud and clear. But 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." Brown sounds like he's going through the motions on the Rick James-ish "Your Tender Romance" and the lackluster ballad "Spending Time," but thankfully, Stage has more strengths than weaknesses. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Girlfriend	Kirk Crumpler, Lee Peters, Larry White	Bobby Brown	(6:15)
Girl Next Door (Lyrics)	Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane	Bobby Brown	(4:08)
Baby, I Wanna Tell You Something (Lyrics)	Larry Blackmon, Tomi Jenkins, Nathan Leftenant	Bobby Brown	(3:47)
You Ain't Been Loved Right		Bobby Brown	(5:06)
King of Stage		Bobby Brown	(5:08)
Love Obsession		Bobby Brown	(4:42)
Spending Time		Bobby Brown	(3:57)
Seventeen	Robert Brookins, Tony Haynes	Bobby Brown	(4:15)
Your Tender Romance		Bobby Brown	(5:11)

Credits

Michael Lovesmith (Synthesizer), Michael Lovesmith (Bass), Michael Lovesmith (Arranger), Michael Lovesmith (Horn), Michael Lovesmith (Keyboards), Michael Lovesmith (Vocals (Background)), Michael Lovesmith (Producer), Michael Lovesmith (Drum Machine), Alyson Williams (Vocals (Background)), Bernard Wright (Keyboards), Lance Romance (Vocals (Background)), Sue Ann (Vocals (Background)), Bobby Brown (Vocals), Bobby Brown (Vocals (Background)), Bobby Brown (Main Performer), Bobby Brown (Vocal Arrangement), Richard Aguon (Vocals (Background)), Larry Blackmon (Producer), Robert Brookins (Vocals (Background)), Robert Brookins (Producer), Robert Brookins (Drum Programming), Robert Brookins (Keyboard Programming), Pat Buchanan (Guitar), Emilio Conesa (Guitar), Kirk Crumpler (Keyboards), Kirk Crumpler (Synthesizer Bass), Michael Denten (Engineer), Gary Hellman (Engineer), Paul Jackson, Jr. (Guitar), Paul Jackson, Jr. (Guitar (Bass)), Paul Jackson, Jr. (Keyboards), Paul Jackson, Jr. (Vocals (Background)), Paul Jackson, Jr. (Producer), Paul Jackson, Jr. (Engineer), Paul Jackson, Jr. (Vocal Arrangement), Paul Jackson, Jr. (Drum Programming), Paul Jackson, Jr. (Rhythm Arrangements), Tomi Jenkins (Vocals (Background)), Marlena Jeter (Vocals (Background)), Matthew Kasha (Engineer), Khris Kellow (Arranger), Khris Kellow (Keyboards), Khris Kellow (Vocals (Background)), Khris Kellow (Drum Programming), Kevin Kendricks (Guitar (Bass)), Kevin Kendricks (Keyboards), Kevin Kendricks (Associate Producer), Marva King (Vocals (Background)), Wayne Linsey (Synthesizer), John Luongo (Arranger), John Luongo (Producer), John Luongo (Drum Programming), John Luongo (Mixing), Melecio Magdaluyo (Saxophone), Bill Miranda (Assistant Engineer), Dave Ogrin (Engineer), Dave Ogrin (Associate Producer), Dave Ogrin (Mixing), Lee Peters (Vocals (Background)), Eric Rehl (Keyboards), David Rideau (Engineer), David Rideau (Mixing), Michel Sauvage (Engineer), Monty Seward (Vocals (Background)), Louis Silas, Jr. (Producer), Louis Silas, Jr. (Executive Producer), Louis Silas, Jr. (Mixing), Melvin Wells (Guitar), Melvin Wells (Keyboards), Melvin Wells (Associate Producer), Melvin Wells (Drum Programming), Larry White (Guitar), Larry White (Percussion), Larry White (Guitar (Bass)), Larry White (Keyboards), Larry White (Vocals (Background)), Larry White (Producer), Larry White (Assistant Engineer), Larry White (Mixing), Grady Wilkins (Keyboards), Grady Wilkins (Vocals (Background)), Jon Wolfson (Engineer), Dina Andrews (Production Coordination), Smooth B. (Vocals (Background)), Mark Wills (Engineer), Ruben Laxamana (Assistant Engineer), Jeff Adamoff (Art Direction), Jay Logan (Keyboards), Jay Logan (Programming), Jay Logan (Computers), Merv De Peyer (Keyboards), Judith Salavetz (Design), Jeffrey Scales (Photography), Spencer Drate (Art Direction), Spencer Drate (Design), Olie Bowlds (Vocals (Background)), Debbe Kole (Vocals (Background)), Tavvi Moté (Engineer), Tavvi Moté (Mixing), Jim Preziosi (Assistant Engineer), Andrew Spiegelman (Assistant Engineer), Vee-Love (Vocals (Background)), Vee-Love (?), Rolando Ramos (Percussion), Rolando Ramos (Conga), Maurice Bailey (Scratching), Angel Eve (Vocals (Background)), Willie Morris (Vocals (Background))

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