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| Hangin' Tough | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 12, 1988 (1988-08-12) | |||
| Recorded | 1987–1988 | |||
| Studio |
| |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 42:02 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Producer | Maurice Starr | |||
| New Kids on the Block chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Hangin' Tough | ||||
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Hangin' Tough is the second studio album by Americanboy bandNew Kids on the Block, released on August 12, 1988, byColumbia Records. It is widely regarded as the group's breakthrough album, gaining positive reviews for their musical transition frombubblegum pop tourban contemporary, blended withpopular rock music. The group's label had planned to end their contract when their 1986debut garnered little commercial and critical attention, which nearly led to their breakup. However,Maurice Starr, the group's producer, diligently persuaded the label to let them record a second album.
Hangin' Tough led the group to success due to the emergence of their music toradio airplay and creation ofmusic videos for each released single, showcasing the group's visual appeal. Their popularity was eventually built as they made TV appearances and embarked on promotional tours. By the end of 1989, the album topped theUSBillboard 200 charts, while it peaked at number two on theCanadian Albums Chart that year and theUK Albums Chart the following year. The record has a home-media video release entitledNew Kids on the Block: Hangin' Tough, which is a documentary musical film about the group's biographical career, released in 1989.[2] It also contains a series of music videos, live performances, and exclusive interviews from the group and their fans. The album and film received accolades: twoAmerican Music Awards and at least oneGrammy Award nomination.
With sales of more than fifteen million copies worldwide,Hangin' Tough became the group's best-selling album and wascertified Diamond in Canada by theCanadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA), with sales of more than one million units, and8× Platinum in the U.S. by theRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA), making it the country's second-best-selling album of 1989, behindBobby Brown'sDon't Be Cruel.[3] The record spawned five commercial singles: "Please Don't Go Girl", "You Got It (The Right Stuff)", "I'll Be Loving You (Forever)", "Hangin' Tough", and "Cover Girl". All were top-ten hits on theBillboard Hot 100 chart, making NKOTB the first teen act to gain such chart success. An album titledMore Hangin' Tough, which included remixed and instrumental versions of the original songs, was issued in Japan. Following the 2019 release of the 30th Anniversary Edition of the album, which contains remixes of previous singles plus three newly recorded songs, the record re-entered the USBillboard 200 chart at number 18.[4]
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Five singles were released fromHangin' Tough, starting with "Please Don't Go Girl", which came out in April 1988. The song was a major hit on radio stations nationwide and became the group's first top-ten single on theBillboard Hot 100, peaking at number ten. The second single was "You Got It (The Right Stuff)", a worldwide hit that peaked at number three on theBillboard charts. "I'll Be Loving You (Forever)", a ballad, was the third single and became NKOTB's first number-one on theBillboard Hot 100. The title track was released next and also reached number one. "Cover Girl" was the fifth released; it peaked at number two.
"My Favorite Girl" was issued in January 1990 as a promotional single sent to radio but was not made commercially available at retail.
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [5] |
| Robert Christgau | C+[6] |
The album received positive reviews from music critics. Dan Heilman and Bil Carpenter ofAllMusic wrote, "Good songs collected by New Kids mastermind Maurice Starr highlight this smash, including 'I'll Be Loving You (Forever)', 'You Got It (The Right Stuff)', 'Please Don't Go Girl', and the title track. Tight, warm, even soulful harmony on the ballads."[citation needed]
Robert Christgau gave the album a C+ grade. He stated that:
At five million and counting, this isn't the rank offense its demographic tilt would lead you to expect—auteur Maurice Starr has positioned two exceedingly cute up-tempo hits atop two overly balladic sides. Really, why shouldn't a blacksvengali mastermind the safe white R&B ripoff for once? Funkier than theOsmonds orMilli Vanilli. As hip asNew Edition.
Hangin' Tough won twoAmerican Music Awards inJanuary 1990 forFavorite Pop/Rock Album andFavorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group, beatingPaula Abdul'sForever Your Girl andBobby Brown'sDon't Be Cruel in the Favorite Pop/Rock Album category, andBon Jovi and Milli Vanilli in the Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group category. TheHangin' Tough music film was nominated for aGrammy Award for Best Music Video, Long Form (now calledBest Music Film) at the1990 Grammy Awards but lost toRhythm Nation 1814 byJanet Jackson, beatingEurythmics'sSavage,Michael Jackson'sMoonwalker, andPink Floyd'sDelicate Sound of Thunder.
All songs written and produced byMaurice Starr, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "You Got It (The Right Stuff)" | 4:13 | ||
| 2. | "Please Don't Go Girl" |
| 4:31 | |
| 3. | "I'll Be Loving You (Forever)" | Jordan Knight | 4:28 | |
| 4. | "Cover Girl" | Donnie Wahlberg | 4:08 | |
| 5. | "I Need You" | Donnie Wahlberg | 3:38 | |
| 6. | "Hangin' Tough" | Donnie Walhberg | 4:18 | |
| 7. | "I Remember When" |
| Joey McIntyre | 4:13 |
| 8. | "What'cha Gonna Do (About It)" |
| 3:59 | |
| 9. | "My Favorite Girl" |
|
| 5:33 |
| 10. | "Hold On" | Danny Wood | 3:39 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Please Don't Go Girl" (remix) | 4:43 |
| 2. | "You Got It (The Right Stuff)" (12-inch version) | 5:16 |
| 3. | "You Got It (The Right Stuff)" (7-inch remix version) | 3:36 |
| 4. | "You Got It (The Right Stuff)" (instrumental) | 5:17 |
| 5. | "I'll Be Loving You (Forever)" (12-inch version) | 5:24 |
| 6. | "I'll Be Loving You (Forever)" (More 7-inch remix version) | 3:41 |
| 7. | "I'll Be Loving You (Forever)" (instrumental) | 4:12 |
| 8. | "Hangin' Tough" (7-inch remix) | 3:51 |
| 9. | "Hangin' Tough" (Tougher Mix) | 4:40 |
| 10. | "Cover Girl" (7-inch version) | 4:07 |
| 11. | "Whatcha Gonna Do About It" (dub mix) | 5:28 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11. | "Please Don't Go Girl" (extended version) | 4:44 | ||
| 12. | "You Got It (The Right Stuff)" (7" version) | 3:34 | ||
| 13. | "I'll Be Loving You" (More 7" remix version) | 3:43 | ||
| 14. | "Hangin' Tough" (Tougher Mix) | 4:37 | ||
| 15. | "Cover Girl" (7" remix) | 4:06 | ||
| 16. | "80s Baby" (featuringSalt-N-Pepa,Naughty by Nature,Tiffany,Debbie Gibson) |
|
| 3:37 |
| 17. | "Boys in the Band (Boy Band Anthem)" |
|
| 3:10 |
| 18. | "The Way" |
|
| 3:22 |
New Kids on the Block
Additional personnel
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
|
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[35] | 2× Platinum | 140,000^ |
| Austria (IFPI Austria)[36] | Gold | 25,000* |
| Canada (Music Canada)[37] | Diamond | 1,000,000^ |
| Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[38] | Gold | 37,386[38] |
| Germany (BVMI)[39] | Gold | 250,000^ |
| Malaysia | — | 40,000[40] |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[41] | Platinum | 15,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[42] | 2× Platinum | 600,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[44] | 8× Platinum | 10,000,000[43] |
| United States (RIAA)[45] Music videocassette | 11× Platinum | 1,100,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[45] VHS Hangin' Tough Live | 12× Platinum | 1,200,000^ |
| Summaries | ||
| Worldwide | — | 15,000,000[43] |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). Infodisc.fr.Hangin' Tough sold 10 million copies in the United States, 15 million worldwide.
