Don't Be Cruel

by Bobby Brown

Overview

After leaving New Edition to go solo, Bobby Brown made the transition to manhood with music blaring, blowing up with this hit-filled set in 1988. Inevitably, each song will remind people of that party, that cookout, or that ride with the top down. Brown's dynamism and talent are the perfect match for producer Teddy Riley's down and dirty, razor-edged New Jack style. "My Prerogative," a multisyllabic rock-guitar-laden anthem, established the blueprint for the bad boy he's become, while "Every Little Step I Take" and the infectious title song feature heavy beat-oriented, multilayered tracks. Add to that Brown's sexy confidence on "Roni" and "Rock Wit'cha," and the whole album is as imposing and thick as a heady summer night.

Product Details

Release Date:	10/25/1990
Label:	Mca
UPC:	0076742218522
catalogNumber:	42185
Rank:	6696

Tracks

1. Cruel Prelude
2. Don't Be Cruel
3. My Prerogative
4. Roni
5. Rock Wit'cha
6. Every Little Step
7. I'll Be Good to You
8. Take It Slow
9. All Day All Night
10. I Really Love You Girl
11. Cruel Reprise

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Bobby Brown   Primary Artist,Background Vocals
Babyface   Background Vocals
Karyn White   Background Vocals
Aaron Hall   Background Vocals
Kayo   Background Vocals
Richard Aguon   Drums,Background Vocals
Bernard Bill   Background Vocals
Ollie Bolds   Background Vocals
Emilio Conesa   Guitar
Kirk Crumpler   Synthesizer,Bass,Synthesizer Bass
Michael Denten   Background Vocals
Lee Drakeford   Background Vocals
Portia Griffin   Background Vocals
Melecio Magdaluyo   Soprano Saxophone
Lee Peters   Background Vocals
Ben Rayes   Keyboards
Teddy Riley   Keyboards,Background Vocals
Percy Scott   Keyboards
Daryl Simmons   Background Vocals
Dewayne Sweet   Synthesizer,Drums,Keyboards,Synthesizer Bass
Ronnie Watkins   Background Vocals
Larry White   Bass,Guitar,Drums,Keyboards,Background Vocals
Tommy Brown   Finger Snapping
Gordon Jones   Background Vocals,Multi Instruments

Technical Credits

Babyface   Producer
Bobby Brown   Producer
Richard Aguon   Drum Fills
Bernard Bill   Contributor
Michael Denten   Engineer,Drum Technician
Jon Gass   Engineer,Special Edits
Mitch Gibson   Engineer
Gene Griffin   Producer
Howard Johnston   Engineer
Flip Kirby   Contributor
Dennis Mitchell   Engineer
L.A. Reid   Producer
Markell Riley   drum programming
Louis Silas   Executive Producer,Remixing
Larry White   Producer
Ruben Laxamana   Special Effects,Engineer
Ja   Art Direction
Gordon Jones   Producer

Editorial Reviews

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. Brown had been a strong advocate of rap since his days with New Edition, and on Cruel, he did even more rapping than before. But for all the tough-mindedness he exhibited on his new jack hits, the charismatic Bostonian hadn't lost his love of sentimental, old-fashioned R&B romanticism -- and he definitely excels in that area on his hits "Every Little Step," "Roni," and "Rock Wit'cha." Much of Cruel was produced by the ubiquitous production/songwriting duo L.A. Reid and Babyface, who've often been accused (and rightly so) of taking a formulaic, cookie-cutter approach to R&B. But here, their work is never less than inspired.

All Music Guide - Alex Henderson