One Love (New Edition album)

One Love is the seventh studio album by American R&B group New Edition, released on November 9, 2004 by Bad Boy and Universal Records. By April 2005, the album sold 244,000 copies.

One Love
Studio album by
ReleasedNovember 9, 2004 (2004-11-09)
GenreR&B
Length62:02
Label
Producer
New Edition chronology
Home Again
(1996)
One Love
(2004)
Singles from One Love
  1. "Hot 2Nite"
    Released: August 14, 2004

Background

By 2002, New Edition were performing as the quintet of Ralph Tresvant, Ricky Bell, Ronnie DeVoe, Michael Bivins and Johnny Gill, but they hadn't recorded a new studio album since 1996's Home Again. After having successfully fought to get out of their long-term contract with MCA Records (in which they eventually won back all their masters from the albums they recorded for that label), the re-energized group signed with Bad Boy Records the same year. However, it took nearly two years for the album to be released, as the group struggled with Sean Combs, Bad Boy CEO, over creative control. The album, titled One Love, was finally released in November 2004.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
PopMatters6/10[2]
Vibe[3]

Rob Theakston from Allmusic 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 of 112 – 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]

Commercial performance

Early buzz and hype over the new album led to One Love debuting at number twelve on the Billboard 200 and number five on the Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. 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 the Billboard 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. Despite One Love's failure to live up to commercial expectations, it was certified gold. After the stint with Bad Boy, original member Bobby Brown officially returned to the group making the group a sixtet again. All 6 members have been touring together as New Edition since 2005.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Conference Call"
  • Feemster
  • Big Chuck[A]
1:40
2."Been So Long"
Stevie J4:23
3."Hot 2Nite"Ryan LeslieLeslie3:23
4."Sexy Lady"Stevie J4:27
5."Last Time"
  • Knight
  • Luke Larkin
  • Steve Estiverne
Estiverne2:46
6."All on You"
  • Tresvant
  • Bell
  • Feemster
  • DeVoe
  • Lawrence
  • Jones
  • Feemster
  • Big Chuck[A]
3:32
7."Wildest Dream"
4:13
8."Start Turnin' Me On"Dre & Vidal3:38
9."Love Again"
Younglord4:17
10."One Love Interlude"
  • Feemster
  • Big Chuck[A]
2:00
11."That's Why I Lied"
  • Neely Dinkins Jr.
  • Jordan
  • Vito Colapietro
The Co-Stars3:55
12."Come Home With Me"Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis3:16
13."Best Man"
  • Chip Dixson
  • Michael Winans Jr.
  • Dixson
  • Mike Winans
3:56
14."Re-Write the Memories"
Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis4:31
15."Newness"
  • DeVoe
  • Harris
  • Lewis
  • Tolbert
  • Tresvant
Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis5:27
16."Feelin' It"
  • Frierson
  • Jordan
  • Knight
  • Leslie
  • Younglord
  • Leslie
3:52
17."Leave Me"
  • Dixson
  • Michael Winans Jr.
  • Dixson
  • Mike Winans
4:05
Japan bonus track
No.TitleLength
18."Dream Girl"3:39

Notes

  • ^[A] denotes co-producer

Charts

Chart (2004–05) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[4] 12
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[5] 4

References

  1. Theakston, Rob. "One Love". AllMusic. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  2. Harris, Mark (March 17, 2005). "New Edition: One Love". PopMatters. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  3. "Revolutions". Vibe. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  4. "New Edition Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  5. "New Edition Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
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