New Edition

Band

Photo: Sister Circle Live · CC BY 3.0
Active 1978-1991, 1996-1997, 2002-present
Origin Roxbury, Massachusetts
Albums 7
Tracks 83
Most frequent collaborator Jimmy Jam · 16 tracks
Genres R&BNew Jack SwingPop
Co-Performer
25%
Authorship

Holds writing credit on 21 of 83 tracks

Did New Edition write their own songs?

Hardly any of them at first. Across 83 album tracks the six members hold 20 credits, and only two of those come on the first four albums. Maurice Starr wrote the debut, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis wrote most of Heart Break, and the group only starts writing the bulk of its own material on Home Again in 1996.

By the Numbers

7
Studio Albums
83
Tracks Credited
25%
Self-Written
48
Years Active
124
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 21 / 83 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 83 tracks: how many New Edition wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.

New Edition has a writing credit25%
8%
17%
75%
Sole author7tracks8%
Co-written14tracks17%
Outside writers62tracks75%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
New Edition's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 83 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)25%
Composer (music)25%
Producer5%
Performer100%

Member Credit Breakdown share of tracks each member is credited on

Percentage of all 83 tracks, across every album, where each member holds a credit - split by role.

MemberPeriodLyricsMusicProductionPerformance
Ralph Tresvant 1978-1991, 1996-1997, 2002-present
16%
16%
2%
0%
Ricky Bell 1978-1991, 1996-1997, 2002-present
10%
10%
1%
0%
Michael Bivins 1978-1991, 1996-1997, 2002-present
8%
8%
1%
0%
Ronnie DeVoe 1978-1991, 1996-1997, 2002-present
13%
13%
1%
0%
Bobby Brown 1978-1985, 1996-1997, 2005-present
0%
0%
0%
0%
Johnny Gill 1987-1991, 1996-1997, 2005-present
8%
8%
1%
0%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

New Edition's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.

avg 25%
0%
20%
9%
0%
25%
46%
53%
1983Candy Girl
1984New Edition
1985All for Love
1986Under the Blue Moon
1988Heart Break
1996Home Again
2004One Love
Early · 10% written
Mid · 26% written
Late · 53% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

11%
1980s
Candy Girl, New Edition +3 more
46%
1990s
Home Again
53%
2000s
One Love

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where New Edition sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.

New Edition
Other artists on the site

Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.

Celine Dion1%
Bobby Brown38%
Michael Jackson51%
TLC59%
Janet Jackson72%
Gwen Stefani88%
Prince96%
25%New Edition
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

Candy Girl
Candy Girl
Written by Maurice Starr, Michael Jonzun, Larry Curtis Johnson
Outside writers
Is This the End
Candy Girl
Written by Maurice Starr, Michael Jonzun, Larry Curtis Johnson
Outside writers
Cool It Now
New Edition
Written by Vincent Brantley, Rick Timas
Outside writers
Mr. Telephone Man
New Edition
Written by Ray Parker Jr.
Outside writers
Lost in Love
New Edition
Written by Russell Kramer
Outside writers
A Little Bit of Love (Is All It Takes)
All for Love
Written by Christine Perren, Richard Wyatt Jr.
Outside writers
Count Me Out
All for Love
Written by Vincent Brantley, Rick Timas
Outside writers
With You All the Way
All for Love
Written by Carl Wurtz
Outside writers
Earth Angel
Under the Blue Moon
Written by Curtis Williams, Dootsie Williams
Outside writers
If It Isn't Love
Heart Break
Written by Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, James Samuel Harris III
Outside writers
Can You Stand the Rain
Heart Break
Written by Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, James Samuel Harris III
Outside writers
You're Not My Kind of Girl
Heart Break
Written by Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, James Samuel Harris III
Outside writers
Hit Me Off
Home Again
Written by Silky, Dinky Bingham, Jeff Dyson, Ronnie DeVoe, Michael Bivins, Buckshot, Da Beatminerz, Ronald Boyd DeVoe Jr., Michael Lamont Bivins, Kenyatta Blake, Walter Dewgarde
Co-wrote
I'm Still In Love With You
Home Again
Written by Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, James Samuel Harris III
Outside writers
One More Day
Home Again
Written by Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, James Samuel Harris III
Outside writers
Hot 2Nite
One Love
Written by Ryan Leslie
Outside writers

Discography 7 albums

All seven studio albums, including the 1986 doo-wop covers record Under the Blue Moon. The live records and compilations sit outside this catalogue.

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

Photo of New EditionNew Edition83 tracks
Photo of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis16Jimmy Jam, 16 tracks JS16James Samuel Harris III, 16 tracks Photo of Terry Lewis14Terry Lewis, 14 tracks MS10Maurice Starr, 10 tracks AB10Arthur Baker, 10 tracks FP10Freddie Perren, 10 tracks JJ9Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, 9 tracks MJ8Michael Jonzun, 8 tracks VB7Vincent Brantley, 7 tracks RT7Rick Timas, 7 tracks JJ7Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, 7 tracks RR6Richard Rudolph, 6 tracks DS4Danny Sembello, 4 tracks MS4Michael Sembello, 4 tracks GT4George Tobin, 4 tracks M"4Michael "Carlos" Jones, 4 tracks SJ4Stevie J, 4 tracks SJ4Steven Jordan, 4 tracks JK4Jack Knight, 4 tracks JD3John Duarte, 3 tracks MP3Mark Paul, 3 tracks JJ3Jellybean Johnson, 3 tracks TF3Theron Feemster, 3 tracks RF3Ron Feemster, 3 tracks BC3Big Chuck, 3 tracks AS3Adonis Shropshire, 3 tracks DB2David Batteau, 2 tracks RW2Richard Wyatt Jr., 2 tracks JB2James Brown, 2 tracks DB2Dinky Bingham, 2 tracks SC2Sean Combs, 2 tracks on Puff Daddy's page CT2Chucky Thompson, 2 tracks S"2Sean "Puffy" Combs, 2 tracks JD2Jermaine Dupri, 2 tracks CS2Carl So-Lowe, 2 tracks SL2Shannon Lawrence, 2 tracks KL2Kandice Love, 2 tracks RL2Ryan Leslie, 2 tracks Y2Younglord, 2 tracks CD2Chip Dixson, 2 tracks MW2Michael Winans Jr., 2 tracks MW2Mike Winans, 2 tracks L2Lo-Key?, 2 tracks TT2Tony Tolbert, 2 tracks MG1M.C. Globe, 1 track TK1Tina Klein-Baker, 1 track RP1Ray Parker Jr., 1 track DE1Dick Eastman, 1 track BA1Boyce and Hart, 1 track BH1Bobby Hart, 1 track GB1Gary Bell, 1 track AD1Anne Dudley, 1 track RK1Russell Kramer, 1 track RJ1Richard James Burgess, 1 track TM1Teena Marie, 1 track RC1Rick Chudacoff, 1 track SG1Steve Goodman, 1 track AL1Arno Lucas, 1 track PB1Peter Bunetta, 1 track CP1Christine Perren, 1 track RW1Randy Waldman, 1 track CW1Carl Wurtz, 1 track DC1David Conley, 1 track BJ1Bernard Jackson, 1 track DT1David Townsend, 1 track CW1Curtis Williams, 1 track DW1Dootsie Williams, 1 track PM1Phil Medley, 1 track ED1Eugene Dixon, 1 track EE1Earl Edwards, 1 track BW1Bernice Williams, 1 track LC1Leon Carr, 1 track ES1Earl Shuman, 1 track WM1William Miller, 1 track JS1James Sheppard, 1 track CJ1Claude Johnson, 1 track SB1Sylvester Bradford, 1 track AL1Al Lewis, 1 track LH1Lorenz Hart, 1 track RR1Richard Rodgers, 1 track JB1Jimmy Beaumont, 1 track JR1Joe Rock, 1 track GJ1Garry Johnson, 1 track LK1Lisa Keith, 1 track FW1Fred Wesley, 1 track J"1John "Jabo" Starks, 1 track JS1John Starks, 1 track S1Silky, 1 track JD1Jeff Dyson, 1 track B1Buckshot, 1 track DB1Da Beatminerz, 1 track KB1Kenyatta Blake, 1 track HD1Heavy D, 1 track Q1Q, 1 track on 112's page DJ1Daron Jones, 1 track on 112's page S1Slim, 1 track on 112's page MK1Michael Keith, 1 track on 112's page DD1Dougie Dee, 1 track GW1Geo Washington, 1 track HF1Harvey Frierson, 1 track ES1Eric Sadler, 1 track HS1Hank Shocklee, 1 track SR1Slick Rick, 1 track RW1Ricky Walters, 1 track GL1Gerald Levert, 1 track EN1Edwin Nicholas, 1 track BP1Brooke Payne, 1 track LL1Luke Larkin, 1 track SE1Steve Estiverne, 1 track NS1Nisan Stewart, 1 track MW1Mario Winans, 1 track S"1Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, 1 track AH1Andre Harris, 1 track VD1Vidal Davis, 1 track RT1Ryan Toby, 1 track D&1Dre & Vidal, 1 track CE1Corte Ellis, 1 track ND1Neely Dinkins Jr., 1 track VC1Vito Colapietro, 1 track TC1The Co-Stars, 1 track

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. JS James Samuel Harris III · MS Maurice Starr · AB Arthur Baker · FP Freddie Perren

Photo credits

Portraits in the web and the rail come from Wikimedia Commons. The artist's own photo carries its credit under the picture.

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

The first four albums run to 41 tracks and the six members hold two credits between them. Maurice Starr and Michael Jonzun wrote the debut, MCA's writers wrote the next two, and Under the Blue Moon is doo-wop covers. Then Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis take over on Heart Break and hand the group three. From Home Again in 1996 the members are finally writing the bulk of their own record.

Quick Facts

  • The members' share20 credits across 83 album tracks
  • Nothing at the startTwo credits across the first four albums
  • The hired writersJimmy Jam on 16 tracks, Maurice Starr on 10
  • American peak"Cool It Now" reached number 4 on the Hot 100
  • Six membersBobby Brown left in 1985, Johnny Gill joined in 1987
  • Walk of FameA Hollywood star in January 2017

Creative Fingerprint

A group written for by other people, who only got the pen back in their thirties.

The Story

For six years the members of New Edition wrote nothing. Across 83 album tracks they have 20 credits, and 15 of those come on the last two records.

Awards & Recognition

Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (January 2017)
Inducted into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame (2022)
Inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame (2023)

Frequently Asked Questions New Edition

Did New Edition write their own songs?
Hardly any of them at first. Across 83 album tracks the six members hold 20 credits, and only two of those come on the first four albums. Maurice Starr wrote the debut, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis wrote most of Heart Break, and the group only starts writing the bulk of its own material on Home Again in 1996.
Who wrote "Candy Girl"?
Maurice Starr and Michael Jonzun, who also produced it. None of the group has a credit on the song.
Who wrote "If It Isn't Love"?
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who wrote and produced most of Heart Break.
Which member writes the most?
Ralph Tresvant, with 13 credits, followed by Ronnie DeVoe on 11.
How many albums have they made?
Seven studio albums between 1983 and 2004, including the 1986 doo-wop covers record Under the Blue Moon. The live albums and compilations sit outside this catalogue.
Which singles did best in America?
"Hit Me Off" reached number 3 on the Hot 100, "Cool It Now" number 4, and "If It Isn't Love" and "I'm Still in Love with You" both number 7.
Who else has written for them?
Maurice Starr and Michael Jonzun on the debut, Vincent Brantley and Rick Timas on the MCA albums, and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis from 1988.
What happened to Bobby Brown?
He left in 1985 after All for Love and returned for the reunions in 1996 and from 2005.
Who is Johnny Gill?
The sixth member, who joined in 1987 for Heart Break and has seven writing credits.
Have they been honoured?
A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2017, the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame in 2022 and the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in 2023.

Sources

Wikipedia: New Edition Wikipedia: New Edition discography Wikipedia: Ralph Tresvant Wikipedia: Ricky Bell (singer) Wikipedia: Michael Bivins Wikipedia: Ronnie DeVoe Wikipedia: Bobby Brown Wikipedia: Johnny Gill