Greatest Hits

Many greatest hits packages are a nifty way of making a quick buck off of fans' devotion, so let's put this particular offering in perspective. First off, ex-New Edition frontman Bobby Brown put out one certified fabulous record, 1988's landmark Don't Be Cruel. After that he released a few OK singles (most notably "On Our Own," which is included in this collection). His songs produced prior to 1988 (with the exception, of course, of his years with New Edition) were decent but strictly mainstream. Nothing compared to Brown and Teddy Riley's "new jack swing," the beat of the 80's. With that caveat, if you absolutely need to hear "Humping Around" or Bobby's duet with wifey Whitney Houston, "Something In Common," then by all means buy this. Yet smart money would suggest that perhaps just buying Don't Be Cruel and digging the sublime "Every Little Step" again would not only be more cost-effective, but also easier on the ears. --Amy Linden