| One Love | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | November 9, 2004 (2004-11-09) | |||
| Studio | Big Daddy Studio (New York City, New York) | |||
| Length | 62:02 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer |
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| New Edition chronology | ||||
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| Singles from One Love | ||||
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One Love is the seventhstudio album by AmericanR&B groupNew Edition, released on November 9, 2004 byBad Boy andUniversal Records. The group's first studio album since1996'sHome Again,One Love was conceived after their departure fromMCA Records. Executive producerSean Combs consulted a number of inhouse producers to work with New Edition on their first project with his label, includingStevie J andMario Winans apart from other collaborators such asJimmy Jam & Terry Lewis andRyan Leslie.
The album earned largely positive review from music critics who praised its production though some were critical with New Edition's shift in sound.One Love debuted at number twelve on the USBillboard 200 and number five on theBillboard'sTop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It was preceded by lead single "Hot 2Nite," which peaked at number 35 on the USHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. New Edition ultimately asked to be released from their Bad Boy contract amid disagrements with Combs onOne Love's creative direction.
By2002, New Edition were performing as the quintet ofRalph Tresvant,Ricky Bell,Ronnie DeVoe,Michael Bivins andJohnny Gill, but they hadn't recorded a new studio album since1996'sHome Again. After having successfully fought to get out of their long-term contract withMCA Records (in which they eventually won back all their masters from the albums they recorded for that label), the re-energized group signed withBad Boy Records the same year. However, it took nearly two years for the album to be released, as the group struggled withSean Combs, Bad Boy CEO, over creative control. The album, titledOne Love, was finally released in November2004.
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
| PopMatters | 6/10[2] |
| Vibe |  [3] |
Rob Theakston fromAllmusic found that "Diddy's production house has the magic touch and comes up with another winner of a record,One Love [...] The production is focused, mature, and fitting for a group with the members nearing their forties, even when the lyrics aren't [...] All in all, it's a cohesive statement and another victory for a group with such a publicly documented and tumultuous career. It's also another jewel in the crown for Bad Boy, but here's hoping Diddy gets the guys back in the studio immediately. Seven years between New Edition records is far too long and is inexcusable."[1]PopMatters editor Mark Harris wrote that "the end result is that youngsters today will likely view this album as just another generic pop/hip-hop/R&B Bad Boy release – along the lines of112 – and those old enough to remember New Edition may see it as a too-hip bastardization of the group's original sound. If they do dismiss it, though, they'll be missing out on a gratifying journey down memory lane. Misplaced hip-hop swagger aside, old fans and newcomers alike should find plenty to "love."[2]
Early buzz and hype over the new album led toOne Love debuting at number twelve on the USBillboard 200 and number five on theBillboard'sTop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.[4][5] The group, however, wasn't pleased when "Hot 2Nite" (which they felt didn't cater to their maturing audience) was chosen as the album's first single. The song peaked at an underwhelming number thirty-five on Billboard's R&B singles chart, and number eighty-seven on theBillboard Hot 100. The underwhelming public reception of the album and its first single led to there being no more being released, while label promotion for the album also stalled. Angered over Bad Boy's poor promotion of the album, the group asked to be let go of their contract. The request was granted in November 2005. By April 2005, the album sold a mere 245,000 copies. After the stint with Bad Boy, original memberBobby Brown officially returned to the group making the group a sextet again. All 6 members have been touring together as New Edition since 2005.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Conference Call" |
|
| 1:40 |
| 2. | "Been So Long" |
| Stevie J | 4:23 |
| 3. | "Hot 2Nite" | Ryan Leslie | Leslie | 3:23 |
| 4. | "Sexy Lady" |
| Stevie J | 4:27 |
| 5. | "Last Time" |
| Estiverne | 2:46 |
| 6. | "All on You" |
|
| 3:32 |
| 7. | "Wildest Dream" |
| 4:13 | |
| 8. | "Start Turnin' Me On" |
| Dre & Vidal | 3:38 |
| 9. | "Love Again" |
| Younglord | 4:17 |
| 10. | "One Love Interlude" |
|
| 2:00 |
| 11. | "That's Why I Lied" |
| The Co-Stars | 3:55 |
| 12. | "Come Home With Me" | Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis | 3:16 | |
| 13. | "Best Man" |
|
| 3:56 |
| 14. | "Re-Write the Memories" |
| Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis | 4:31 |
| 15. | "Newness" |
| Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis | 5:27 |
| 16. | "Feelin' It" |
|
| 3:52 |
| 17. | "Leave Me" |
|
| 4:05 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 18. | "Dream Girl" | 3:39 |
Notes
| Chart (2004–05) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| USBillboard 200[4] | 12 |
| USTop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[5] | 4 |
