Face The Music (New Kids On The Block Album) - Kids Music

Face the Music is the fourth studio album by New Kids on the Block, released on January 25, 1994. The album debuted at number 37 on the Billboard 200 in the United States, with first-week sales of 27,000 copies. According to Nielsen SoundScan, the album had sold 138,000 copies in the U.S. as of 2008.

Background

In 1993, after about two years out of the limelight, the New Kids went back into the studio and began recording their fourth studio album (sixth overall), before splitting up a year later. By this point, due to a strong backlash and allegations of lip-synching, the group pushed for a more mature image and song selection that would appeal to fans. In addition, they had outgrown the "New Kids" name: Joey McIntyre was 21, Donnie Wahlberg was 24, Danny Wood and Jordan Knight were 23, and Jonathan Knight was 25 years old.

Jordan Knight, Wahlberg, and Wood fought for creative input and control, as most of their material was previously rejected by producer Maurice Starr in favor of his own compositions. Having been dogged with an "uncool" stigma that they faced previously, the boys decided to sever their ties with Starr who had been instrumental in their early success. At the request of Columbia Records, they shortened their name to the more mature-sounding NKOTB and developed a harder sound with which they hoped to reconnect with members of their fanbase, and appeal to a wider audience. "Dirty Dawg" did fairly well on the charts, but a Canadian station (MuchMusic) banned the music video due to its suggested violence and misogyni stic themes. Although not a major commercial success, the critical reception was positive, and a cross-country tour was in the works. However, NKOTB only could find bookings at nightclubs and theatres, a far cry from the arenas and stadiums they had been accustomed to playing in while in their peak years. During the tour, Jonathan Knight left the group due to increased panic attacks and anxiety. In addition, the group felt that their fans had grown up moved on to grunge and gangsta rap decided to cancel the rest of the tour.

Singles

• If You Go Away - December 14, 1991 (First released on Greatest Hits Album "H.I.T.S.")
• Dirty Dawg - December 21, 1993
• Never Let You Go - January 11, 1994

Track listing

Sample credits

• "Intro: Face the Music" contains samples from "360 Degrees" by Grand Puba. It also embodies portions of "DWYCK" by Gang Starr featuring Nice & Smooth, and of "Take It Personal" by Gang Starr.
• "Dirty Dawg" contains a sample of "Papa Don't Take No Mess" by James Brown.
• "Girls" contains a sample of "Girls, Girls, Girls" by Moments & Whatnauts.
• "I'll Be Waitin'" contains a sample of "Eric B Is President" by Eric B. & Rakim.

Notes

• ^{^[a]} signifies a remixer
• ^{^[b]} signifies an associate producer
• ^{^[c]} signifies a co-producer

Personnel

"Intro: Face the Music"

Lead vocals by Donnie Wahlberg

"You Got the Flavor"

• Lead vocals by Jordan Knight
• Rap by Donnie Wahlberg

"Dirty Dawg"

• Lead vocals by Jordan Knight
• Rap by Nice & Smooth
• Live Instrumentals & Background Vocals by Larry Thomas

"Girls"

• Lead vocals by Jordan Knight
• Rap by Donnie Wahlberg

"If You Go Away"

• Lead vocals by Jordan Knight and Joe McIntyre
• Spoken by Danny Wood

"Keep on Smilin'"

• Lead vocals by Jordan Knight, Donnie Wahlberg, Danny Wood, and Joe McIntyre

"Never Let You Go"

• Lead vocals by Jordan Knight
• Rap by Donnie Walhberg

"Keepin' My Fingers Crossed"

• Lead vocals by Jordan Knight
• Rap by Donnie Wahlberg

"Mrs. Right"

• Lead vocals by Joe McIntyre
• Live Instrumentals by Larry Thomas

"Since You Walked into My Life"

• Lead vocals by Jordan Knight and Joe McIntyre
• Spoken by Danny Wood

"Let's Play House"

• Lead vocals by Jordan Knight

"I Can't Believe It's Over"

• Lead vocals by Jordan Knight

"I'll Still Be Loving You"

• Lead vocals by Joe McIntyre

"I'll Be Waitin'"

• Lead vocals by Danny Wood and Joe McIntyre

Charts

References