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King of Stage
Studio album by Bobby Brown
Released	November 10, 1986
Genre	R&B soul pop
Length	42:29
Label	MCA
Producer	Larry Blackmon John Luongo
Bobby Brown chronology
King of Stage (1986) Don't Be Cruel (1988)
Singles from King of Stage
"Girlfriend" Released: October 27, 1986 "Girl Next Door" Released: February 9, 1987 "Seventeen" Released: July 6, 1987

King of Stage is the debut solo album by American R&B singer Bobby Brown. Following his exit from New Edition, and at 16, Brown signed a solo deal with the group's label MCA Records, which had earlier promised Brown a solo deal if he decided to leave New Edition. His first solo album was released in 1986.

The album spawned the singles "Girlfriend", "Seventeen", and "Girl Next Door". None of the singles were major US Hot 100 hits, however, Brown had a number-one R&B hit with the first single, the ballad, "Girlfriend".

Production

The album was produced by Larry Blackmon and John Luongo; Brown and Luongo produced the title track. Brown was unhappy with the production, and elected to go with proven producers for his next album.

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music
The Rolling Stone Album Guide

AllMusic wrote that "as enjoyable as the Blackmon-produced tracks are, top honors must go to 'Seventeen' -- a riveting account of a teenage mother who turns to drugs and prostitution -- and the unapologetically sentimental, '70s-like soul ballad 'Girlfriend'." The Los Angeles Times called the album "an ill-conceived mess" marked by a "lack of focus, inconsistent production and mostly inferior material." The Boston Globe deemed it "a versatile blend of street funk, rap and ballads."

Track listing

Notes

• signifies an associate producer.

Personnel

• Bobby Brown – lead vocals, background vocals and vocal arrangements (9)
• Dina Andrews – production coordinator (9)
• Sue Ann – background vocals (8)
• Jerold Aquon – Simmons overdubs (1)
• Richard Aquon – background vocals (1)
• Maurice Bailey – scratching (5)
• Smooth Bee – background vocals (5)
• Olie Bowlds – background vocals (1)
• Robert Brookins – keyboards, drum programming, and background vocals (8)
• Patrick Buchanan – guitar (2)
• Kevin Choken – guitar (8)
• Emilio Conesa – guitar (1)
• Kirk Crumpler – bass synthesizer and keyboards (1)
• Michael Denten – engineer (1)
• Merv DePeyer – keyboards (3, 7)
• Angel Eve – background vocals (5)
• Gary Hellman – engineer (5, 6)
• Paul M. Jackson Jr. – vocal arrrangements, rhythm arrangements, engineer, guitar, keyboards, bass guitar, drum programming, and background vocals (9)
• Tomi Jenkins – background vocals (2, 3, 7)
• Marlena Jeter – background vocals (4)
• Jilliann – background vocals (7)
• Mathew "Krash" Kasha – engineer (2, 3)
• Khris Kellow – arrangements, drum programming, and keyboards (5, 6), background vocals (6)
• Keven Kendrick – keyboards (3, 7), bass guitar (7)
• Marva King – background vocals (4)
• Debbe Kole – background vocals (6)
• Ruben Laxamana – assistant engineer (1)
• Victor Lee-Love – background vocals (5)
• Wayne Linsey – synthesizer programming (9)
• Jaee Logan – computer sequence programming and keyboards (1)
• Michael Lovesmith – arrangements, keyboards, drum machine, synthesizers, bass, horns, and background vocals (4)
• John Luongo – arrangements, mixing, and drum programming (5, 6)
• Melicio Magdaluyo – saxophone (1)
• Lance Romance Matthews – background vocals (5)
• Bill Miranda – assistant engineer (6)
• Willie Morris – background vocals (7)
• Taavi Moté – engineer (8), mixing (4)
• Dave Ogrin – engineer (2, 3), mixing (2, 3, 7)
• Lee Peters – background vocals (1)
• Jimmy Preziosi – assistant engineer (9)
• Roland Ramos – percussion (5, 6)
• Eric Rehl – keyboards (2, 3)
• David Rideau – engineer and mixing (9)
• Michael Sauvage – engineer (2, 3)
• Scopin Scott – background vocals (5)
• Lena Seinday – background vocals (8)
• Monty Seward – background vocals (9)
• Louil Silas Jr. – executive producer, mixing (8)
• Andrew Spiegelman – assistant engineer (5, 6)
• Melvin Wells – drum programming and keyboards (2), guitar (2, 7)
• Larry White – assistant engineer, mixing, bass guitar, guitar, percussion, keyboards, Simmons overdubs, and background vocals (1)
• Grady Wilkins – keyboards and background vocals (1)
• Alyson Williams – background vocals (2, 3, 7)
• Mark Wills – engineer (4)
• Jon Wolfson – engineer (2, 3)
• Bernard Wright – keyboards (3)

Charts

Singles

References

1. ^ "How Cruel Can Fame Be, Bobby Brown? : R&B; singer says his marriage to Whitney Houston has stabilized his life and enabled him to better handle the pressures that accompany star status". Los Angeles Times. September 27, 1992.
2. "Bobby Brown | Biography & History". AllMusic.
3. Heim, Chris. "Bobby Brown, Elvis 'Stylists' and Pop Terminology". chicagotribune.com.
4. "You Say It's Your Birthday: Bobby Brown". MTV News.
5. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 83.
6. Burn, Robyn (6 Feb 1987). "Singer Looks to Grow with His Advance". Sun-Sentinel: 42.
7. ^ Henderson, Alex. Bobby Brown: King Of Stage > Review at AllMusic. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
8. Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 1. MUZE. p. 873.
9. Hunt, Dennis (20 Nov 1988). "Bobby Brown-Life After New Edition More Mature and Happy Being Himself". Los Angeles Times: 81.
10. Morse, Steve (25 Nov 1986). "ROXBURY TO TOP 20: BOBBY BROWN SOARS". The Boston Globe: 33.
11. "Bobby Brown". Billboard.
12. "Bobby Brown". Billboard.

External links

• Bobby Brown-King Of Stage at Discogs

• 1986 debut albums
• Bobby Brown albums
• MCA Records albums