Cooleyhighharmony

Cooleyhighharmony is the debut studio album by American R&B group Boyz II Men, released by Motown Records on April 30, 1991. The album was written mainly by Boyz II Men members Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris and Shawn Stockman, and produced by Dallas Austin and the Characters. Cooleyhighharmony's title is a tribute to a real high school in Chicago: Cooley Vocational High School.^[2]

Cooleyhighharmony
Studio album by Boyz II Men
Released	April 30, 1991
Studio	Doppler, Atlanta, Georgia; Studio 4, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Soundworks, New York City
Genre	R&B new jack swing[1]
Length	40:25
Language	English
Label	Motown
Producer	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)

The album debuted at number 58 on the US Billboard 200 and eventually peaked at number 3. Its original version produced the US Billboard Hot 100 Top 5 singles, "Motownphilly" and "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday".

Cooleyhighharmony was re-released internationally in 1992 (1993 in the US) with remixes and the inclusion of two hit singles: the worldwide hit single "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.

Cooleyhighharmony has been certified nine times Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments of over 9 million units in the US.^[3]

In 2009, a two-disc digitally remastered special edition of the album was released, containing remixes as well as two previously unreleased songs.^[4]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[5]
Robert Christgau	[6]
Entertainment Weekly	B−[7]
Los Angeles Times	[8]
Record Collector	[9]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[10]
The Windsor Star	B[11]

AllMusic editor Andy Kellman called the album "a brisk 40-minute set built for front-to-back listening, though the sequencing is more natural with the 'adagio' and 'allegro' halves switched up. For many of those responsible for its multi-platinum status, it is the album of the early '90s."^[5] In a mixed review, Amy Linden from Entertainment Weekly wrote: "Reversing the usual sequence, the album starts with slow jams and saves the faster jams for last, which only serves to highlight how routine the slow stuff is. Don't they know that you start the party kickin', then get down to the grinding?"^[7]

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	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"	Babyface Antonio "L.A." Reid Daryl Simmons	K. C. Porter	5:51
2.	"Please Don't Go"	N. Morris	Austin	4:26
3.	"Lonely Heart"	N. Morris	Austin	3:42
4.	"This Is My Heart"	W. Morris 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"	Perren Yarian	Austin	2:48
7.	"In the Still of the Night (I'll Remember)"	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"	Taylor	The Characters	4:01
12.	"Your Love"	Taylor	The Characters	5:50
13.	"Motownphilly" (original album version)	Austin N. Morris Stockman Bivins	Austin	3:55
14.	"Sympin'" (original album version)	Austin N. Morris Stockman	Austin	4:23
15.	"Uhh Ahh" (original album version)	N. Morris Bivins W. Morris	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	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	Length
1.	"Please Don't Go"	4:26
2.	"Lonely Heart"	3:42
3.	"This Is My Heart"	3:23
4.	"Uhh Ahh"	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	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Just a Cover" (previously unreleased)	Taylor	The Characters	5:24
2.	"Can't Be Liked" (previously unreleased)	Taylor	The Characters	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)	Austin N. Morris	Austin	6:23
7.	"Under Pressure" (extended remix) (previously unreleased in the US)	Austin N. Morris	Austin	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

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Cooleyhighharmony.^[12]

Technical

• Vida Sparks
• Dallas Austin
• Michael Bivins
• Jheryl Busby
• 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
• 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 City
• Soundtract Studio, New York City
• Doppler Studios, Atlanta, Georgia

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for Cooleyhighharmony Chart (1991–1993) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA)[13] 4 Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[14] 39 Canadian Albums (RPM) 11 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[15] 16 European Albums Chart (Billboard)[16] 30 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[17] 38 Japanese Albums (Oricon)[18] 91 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[19] 4 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[20] 35 UK Albums (OCC)[21] 7 US Billboard 200[22] 3 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[23] 1 Zimbabwe Albums (ZIMA)[24] 3

Year-end charts 1992 year-end chart performance for Cooleyhighharmony Chart (1992) Position US Billboard 200[25] 12 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[26] 10 19933 year-end chart performance for Cooleyhighharmony Chart (1993) Position New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[27] 15 US Billboard 200[28] 53 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[29] 43 Decade-end charts Decade-end chart performance for Cooleyhighharmony Chart (1990–1999) Position US Billboard 200[30] 45

Certifications and sales

Certifications and sales for Cooleyhighharmony

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[31]	2× Platinum	140,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[32]	Platinum	100,000^
Japan (RIAJ)[33]	Gold	100,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[34]	Platinum	15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[35]	Gold	100,000^
United States (RIAA)[36]	9× Platinum	9,000,000^
Summaries
Asia	—	700,000[37]
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Cooleyhighharmony release history

Region	Date	Format	Label	Edition(s)
United States	April 30, 1991	CD cassette vinyl	Motown	Standard
	November 16, 1993			US reissue
	May 26, 2009			Expanded

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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
2. "Producer Dallas Austin talks about Boyz II Men's debut album, 'Cooleyhighharmony'". Waxpoetics.com. Archived from the original on 2016-07-29. Retrieved 2016-03-09.
3. "RIAA - Gold & Platinum Searchable Database - September 24, 2015". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2017-08-26.
4. "Boyz II Men – Cooleyhighharmony (2009, Expanded Edition, CD)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
5. https://www.allmusic.com/album/r2551
6. Christgau, Robert. "CG: Boyz II Men". RobertChristgau.com. Retrieved 2012-06-30.
7. Linden, Amy (1991-07-26). "Cooleyhighharmony Review". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 2007-04-01. Retrieved 2012-06-30.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
8. Johnson, Connie (1991-06-30). "In Brief". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-01-21.
9. Draper, Jason (July 2009). "Boyz II Men – Cooleyhighharmony". Record Collector. No. 364. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
10. 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.
11. Jones, Owen (1992-02-01). "Record Review". The Windsor Star.
12. Cooleyhighharmony (CD liner). Boyz II Men. Motown Records. 1991.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
13. "Australiancharts.com – Boyz II Men – Cooleyhighharmony". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
14. "Austriancharts.at – Boyz II Men – Cooleyhighharmony" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
15. "Dutchcharts.nl – Boyz II Men – Cooleyhighharmony" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
16. "Hits of the World – Eurochart". Billboard. December 5, 1992. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
17. "Offiziellecharts.de – Boyz II Men – Cooleyhighharmony" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
18. "ボーイズ・II・メンのアルバム売上ランキング". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
19. "Charts.nz – Boyz II Men – Cooleyhighharmony". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
20. "Swedishcharts.com – Boyz II Men – Cooleyhighharmony". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
21. "Boyz II Men | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
22. "Boyz II Men Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
23. "Boyz II Men Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
24. Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: albums chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
25. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1992". Billboard. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
26. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1992". Billboard. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
27. "Top Selling Albums of 1993 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
28. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1993". Billboard. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
29. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1993". Billboard. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
30. 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.
31. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1993 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
32. "Canadian album certifications – Boyz II Men – Cooleyhighharmony". Music Canada. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
33. "Japanese album certifications – ボーイズIIメン – クーリーハイハーモニー＋5" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved July 15, 2012. Select 1993年3月 on the drop-down menu
34. "New Zealand album certifications – Boyz II Men – Cooleyhighharmony". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
35. "British album certifications – Boyz II Men – Cooleyhighharmony". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
36. "American album certifications – Boyz II Men – Cooleyhighharmony". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
37. "Bon Jovi Proves What 'Faith' Can Do" (PDF). Billboard. December 25, 1993. p. 92. Retrieved September 1, 2022.