Cooleyhighharmony

Cooleyhighharmony is the debut album by American R&B group Boyz II Men, originally released in the United States by Motown Records on April 30, 1991.

Cooleyhighharmony
Studio album by Boyz II Men
Released	April 30, 1991 (US) November 16, 1993 (US reissue) May 26, 2009 (Expanded edition)
Recorded	September – November 1990 1991–1992
Studio	Doppler Studios, Atlanta, Georgia, Studio 4, Philadelphia, PA and Soundworks, New York, NY
Genre	New jack swing[1]
Length	40:25
Language	English
Label	Motown
Producer	Michael Bivins (ex), Vida Sparks (ex), Dallas Austin, The Characters
Boyz II Men chronology
Cooleyhighharmony (1991) Christmas Interpretations (1993)
Singles from Cooleyhighharmony
"Motownphilly" Released: April 30, 1991 "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" Released: August 20, 1991 "Uhh Ahh" Released: November 26, 1991 "Please Don't Go" Released: March 17, 1992 "End of the Road" Released: June 30, 1992 "In the Still of the Night (I'll Remember)" Released: November 10, 1992
Alternate covers
Cooleyhighharmony (reissue)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
Robert Christgau	[3]
Entertainment Weekly	B−[4]
Record Collector	[5]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[6]

The album was mainly written by Boyz II Men members Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris and Shawn Stockman and extensively produced by Dallas Austin. The album's name is a tribute to a real high school in Chicago: Cooley Vocational High School.[7]

Cooleyhighharmony debuted at #58 on the Billboard 200 and eventually peaked at #3. The album includes the Billboard Hot 100 Top 5 Singles, "Motownphilly" (#3) and "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" (#2).

The album was re-released internationally in 1992 (1993 in the US) with remixes and the inclusion of two hit singles: the worldwide smash "End of the Road" from the Boomerang soundtrack and "In the Still of the Nite (I'll Remember)" which was initially recorded for the TV mini-series The Jacksons: An American Dream. The US release also included a Spanish version of "End of the Road".

In 2009, a two-disc digitally remastered special edition of the album was released, containing remixes as well as two previously unreleased songs.[8]

Cooleyhighharmony has been certified 9× Platinum by the RIAA for shipments of over 9 million units in the US.[9]

Gospel duo Dawkins & Dawkins incorporated one of their doo-wop melodies from "Sympin'" in "No Doubt About It" from their album Necessary Measures.

Track listing

Original 1991 edition

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Please Don't Go"	Nathan Morris	Dallas Austin	4:26
2.	"Lonely Heart"	N. Morris	Austin	3:42
3.	"This Is My Heart"	Wanya Morris, Shawn Stockman	Austin	3:23
4.	"Uhh Ahh"	N. Morris, W. Morris, Michael Bivins	Austin	3:51
5.	"It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday"	Freddie Perren, Christine Yarian	Austin	2:51
6.	"Motownphilly"	Austin, Bivins, N. Morris, Stockman	Austin	3:55
7.	"Under Pressure"	Austin, N. Morris	Austin	4:13
8.	"Sympin'"	N. Morris, Stockman, Austin	Austin	4:23
9.	"Little Things"	Troy Taylor	The Characters (Troy Taylor & Charles Farrar)	4:01
10.	"Your Love"	Taylor	The Characters	5:50
Total length:				40:25

1993 US reissue

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Al Final del Camino" ("End of the Road" Spanish version)	Babyface, Antonio "L.A." Reid, Daryl Simmons	K. C. Porter	5:51
2.	"Please Don't Go"	Nathan Morris	Dallas Austin	4:26
3.	"Lonely Heart"	N. Morris	Austin	3:42
4.	"This Is My Heart"	Wanya Morris, Shawn Stockman	Austin	3:23
5.	"Uhh Ahh" (sequel version)	N. Morris, W. Morris, Michael Bivins	Boyz II Men, Fred Jenkins	4:15
6.	"It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday"	Freddie Perren, Christine Yarian	Austin	2:48
7.	"In the Still of the Night (I'll Remember)"	Fred Parris	Boyz II Men	2:51
8.	"Motownphilly" (remix – radio edit)	Austin, Bivins, N. Morris, Stockman	Camille Hinds, Steve Jervier, Paul Jervier	3:59
9.	"Under Pressure"	Austin, N. Morris	Austin	4:13
10.	"Sympin'" (remix – radio edit)	Austin, N. Morris, Stockman, Bivins, W. Morris	Rico Anderson	3:59
11.	"Little Things"	Troy Taylor	The Characters	4:01
12.	"Your Love"	Taylor	The Characters	5:50
13.	"Motownphilly" (original album version)	Austin, Bivins, N. Morris, Stockman	Austin	3:55
14.	"Sympin'" (original album version)	N. Morris, Stockman, Austin	Austin	4:23
15.	"Uhh Ahh" (original album version)	N. Morris, W. Morris, Bivins	Austin	3:51
16.	"It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" (Radio Version)	Perren, Yarian	Rex Salas, Boyz II Men	3:06
17.	"End of the Road"	Reid, Babyface, Simmons	Reid, Babyface, Simmons, co-producer	5:50
Total length:				64:23

2009 re-release

In 2009, a two-disc digitally remastered special edition of the album was released by Hip-O Select Records. It contains the 1993 reissue version of the album, plus additional remixes and two previously unreleased tracks.

Disc 1

No.	Title	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Please Don't Go"		4:26
2.	"Lonely Heart"		3:42
3.	"This Is My Heart"	Daryl Simmons	3:23
4.	"Uhh Ahh"	Dallas Austin	3:51
5.	"It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday"		2:51
6.	"Motownphilly"		3:55
7.	"Under Pressure"		4:13
8.	"Sympin'"		4:23
9.	"Little Things"		4:01
10.	"Your Love"		5:50
11.	"End of the Road"		5:50
12.	"In the Still of the Night (I'll Remember)"		2:51
13.	"Uhh Ahh" (sequel version)		4:15
14.	"Motownphilly" (remix – radio edit)		3:59
15.	"Sympin'" (remix – radio edit)		3:59
16.	"It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" (radio version)		3:06
17.	"Al Final del Camino" ("End of the Road" Spanish version)		5:51

Disc 2

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Just a Cover" (previously unreleased)	5:24
2.	"Can't Be Liked" (previously unreleased)	5:50
3.	"Motownphilly" (12" version)	5:39
4.	"Motownphilly" (12" dub)	4:09
5.	"Motownphilly" (Quiet Storm Mix)	4:06
6.	"Under Pressure" (Groovy Remix) (previously unreleased in the US)	6:23
7.	"Under Pressure" (extended remix) (previously unreleased in the US)	6:32
8.	"Sympin'" (Remix)	5:00
9.	"Sympin'" (remix – radio edit without rap)	4:17
10.	"Uhh Ahh" (remix)	4:50
11.	"Uhh Ahh" (sequel version – with French girl)	4:50
12.	"Uhh Ahh" (sequel version – a cappella)	4:50
13.	"It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" (gospel version with dedication)	4:15

Personnel

• Producer: Dallas Austin
• Executive producers: Michael Bivins for Biv Entertainment, Vida Sparks
• Executive chief administrator: Jheryl Busby

Recording and engineering

• Dave Way
• Dennis Mitchell
• Darin Prindle
• Chris Trevett
• Steve Schwartzberg
• Jim "Jiff" Hinger
• Mark Partis

Additional personnel

• Mastering: Chris Bellman
• Mastering location: Bernie Grundman Mastering
• Creative director: Michael Bivins
• Art director: Stephen Meltzer
• Design: Kaie Wellman
• Assistant designer: Elizabeth Matbeny
• A&R director: Vida Sparks
• Assistant: Darrale Jones
• Administrative assistant: Dianne Johnson
• Photography: Butch Belaire
• Hair and make-up: Helene Andersson
• Stylist: Agnes Baddoo

Mixing locations

• Soundworks Studio, New York, NY
• Soundtract Studio, New York, NY
• Doppler Studios, Atlanta, GA

Charts

Chart (1991)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[10]	4
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[11]	39
Canadian Albums (RPM)	11
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[12]	16
European Albums Chart (Billboard)[13]	30
French Albums (SNEP)[14]	20
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[15]	38
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[16]	91
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[17]	4
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[18]	35
UK Albums (OCC)[19]	7
US Billboard 200[20]	3
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[21]	1
Zimbabwe Albums (ZIMA)[22]	3

Decade-end charts

Chart (1990–1999)	Position
US Billboard 200[23]	45

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[24]	2× Platinum	140,000^^
Canada (Music Canada)[25]	Platinum	100,000^^
Japan (RIAJ)[26]	Gold	100,000^^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[27]	Platinum	15,000^^
United Kingdom (BPI)[28]	Gold	100,000^^
United States (RIAA)[29]	9× Platinum	9,000,000^^
^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

• List of number-one R&B albums of 1991 (U.S.)

References

1. Henderson, Alex. "New Jack Swing". AllMusic. Archived from the original on March 7, 2012. Retrieved 2016-07-26.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
2. https://www.allmusic.com/album/r2551
3. Christgau, Robert. "CG: Boyz II Men". RobertChristgau.com. Retrieved 2012-06-30.
4. Linden, Amy (1991-07-26). "Cooleyhighharmony Review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2012-06-30.
5. Draper, Jason (July 2009). "Boyz II Men – Cooleyhighharmony". Record Collector. No. 364. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
6. Brackett, Nathan; Christian Hoard (2004). The Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York City, New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 100. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8. rolling stone boyz ii men album guide.
7. "Producer Dallas Austin talks about Boyz II Men's debut album, 'Cooleyhighharmony'". Wax Poetics. Retrieved 2016-03-09.
8. http://www.discogs.com/Boyz-II-Men-Cooleyhighharmony/release/2702908
9. https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?artist=%22Cooleyhighharmony%22
10. "Australiancharts.com – Boyz II Men – Cooleyhighharmony". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
11. "Austriancharts.at – Boyz II Men – Cooleyhighharmony" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
12. "Dutchcharts.nl – Boyz II Men – Cooleyhighharmony" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
13. "Hits of the World – Eurochart". Billboard. December 5, 1992. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
14. InfoDisc : Tout les Titres par Artiste Archived July 15, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
15. "Offiziellecharts.de – Boyz II Men – Cooleyhighharmony" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
16. http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/154394/ranking/cd_album/
17. "Charts.nz – Boyz II Men – Cooleyhighharmony". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
18. "Swedishcharts.com – Boyz II Men – Cooleyhighharmony". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
19. "Boyz II Men | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
20. "Boyz II Men Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
21. "Boyz II Men Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
22. Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: albums chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
23. Geoff Mayfield (December 25, 1999). 1999 The Year in Music Totally '90s: Diary of a Decade - The listing of Top Pop Albums of the '90s & Hot 100 Singles of the '90s. Billboard. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
24. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia’s Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 40.
25. "Canadian album certifications – Boyz II Men – Cooleyhighharmony". Music Canada. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
26. "Japanese album certifications – Boyz II Men – Cooleyhighharmony" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
27. "New Zealand album certifications – Boyz II Men – Cooleyhighharmony". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
28. "British album certifications – Boyz II Men – Cooleyhighharmony". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 25 July 2012. Select albums in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type Cooleyhighharmony in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
29. "American album certifications – Boyz II Men – Cooleyhighharmony". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 15, 2012. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH.