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Wednesday, December 28, 2022

"Rock Wit'cha" by Bobby Brown

Top 10 Alert!
Gold Record Alert!
Song#:  4012
Date:  08/26/1989
Debut:  92
Peak:  7
Weeks:  21
Genre:  R&B


Pop Bits:  The title track first single from Bobby Brown's album Don't Be Cruel debuted on the Pop chart near the end of July in '88. It would reach #8 and go gold. Then three more singles from the LP would also make the Top 10 with two of those going gold. On the heels of those, Brown would release the Ghostbusters II soundtrack single "On Our Own." It would reach #2 at Pop just a hair over a year after "Don't Be Cruel" debuted. Brown and his label could have taken their year of hits and moved on, but instead they decided to try and eke out one more hit. This quiet jam would receive a slight remix and be issued out as the LP's fifth single. Brown fans ate it up and the tune would become his sixth consecutive Pop Top 10 hit while also getting to #3 R&B and #28 AC. It would also go gold. The hit would help sell more albums and early in '90 it would hit the 6x platinum mark. 

ReduxReview:  When folks think of Brown they usually recall his new jack hits. This quiet storm jam has kind of been forgotten. That's too bad as it was a nice track. It was an ear-worthy tune that had a good vocal turn from Brown. Was it a brilliant, outstanding song? No, but it was a good, catchy listen that deserved its spin in the Top 10. The run of singles made Brown a huge star, but after two more mainstream hits, it all kind of imploded with Brown's music career taking backseat to his volatile personal life.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  Double Shot!  1) As this song was making its way up the chart, Brown would issue out a remix compilation. Featuring songs from both of his solo album, Dance!...Ya Know It! would capitalize on Brown's popularity and reach #9 Pop/#7 R&B. It would become a platinum seller.  2) Brown would return in 1992 with his third solo album Bobby. Although he would work with the L.A. Reid/Babyface team on a few tracks, Brown would work with songwriter/producer Teddy Riley for the majority of the LP. The first single, the Grammy-nominated "Humpin' Around" (#3 Pop/#1 R&B), would be another gold seller as was the follow up "Good Enough" (#7 Pop/#5 R&B).  However, things tapered off after that. Although "Get Away" would reach #1 R&B, it stalled at #14 Pop. A fourth single didn't do well on either chart. The LP would get to #2 Pop/#1 R&B, but would only go double platinum, which was a significant drop from his previous album. Things then went downhill quickly. Drug use along with his marriage to Whitney Houston and incidents with the law became fodder for tabloids. A reunion with New Edition would result in a successful album in '96, but his last album for MCA, 1997's Forever, would tank at #51 Pop/#15 R&B and fail to even go gold. Brown would pretty much disappear from music, but would appear in several reality TV shows including his own Being Bobby Brown in 2005. Not long after Whitney Houston's death in 2012, Brown would release his fifth album The Masterpiece. It would only manage to reach #41 at R&B.

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