behindthegrooves:

On this day in music history: November 8, 1985 – “All For Love”, the third album by New Edition is released. Produced by Vincent Brantley, Richard Rudolph, Michael Sembello, Rick Timas and Freddie Perren, it is recorded at George Tobin Recording in North Hollywood, CA, Hollywood Central Studios in Hollywood, CA, O’Henry Sound Studios in Burbank, CA, Bossa Nova Hotel, Mom And Pop’s Living Room in Los Angeles, CA, Omega Recording Studios in Washington, DC, and Sea-Saint Studios in New Orleans, LA from April 13 – October 25, 1985. Following the double Platinum success of their self-titled album for MCA, New Edition begin recording the follow up in the Spring of 1985. Again, they work with producers Vincent Brantley and Rick Timas, as well as veteran R&B producer and songwriter Freddie Perren (The Jackson 5, The Sylvers, Peaches & Herb), Richard Rudolph (Minnie Riperton, Teena Marie) and guitarist Michael Sembello (Stevie Wonder). The album is also the last to feature Bobby Brown (until the reunion album “Home Again” in 1996) who leaves for a solo career, unhappy in his minimal role as a lead vocalist in the group, with MCA favoring principal lead singer Ralph Tresvant. It spins off three singles including “Count Me Out” (#2 R&B, #51 Pop), “A Little Bit Of Love (Is All It Takes) (#3 R&B, #38 Pop) and “With You All The Way” (#7 R&B, #51 Pop). After the release of “All For Love”, the group goes through a major legal battle to extricate themselves from their management contract with Jump And Shoot Productions. New Edition discover that they again are bound to a production deal with their managers, rather than directly to MCA Records. Going over their contracts with attorneys, they discover that all recording costs, promotion and tour support are being paid for out of their meager share of royalties, which leave them in a major amount of debt to their managers and record label. By 1987, they are able to get out of their bad business dealings and sign directly with MCA. “All For Love” peaks at number thirteen on the Billboard R&B album chart, number thirty two on the Top 200, and is certified Platinum in the US by the RIAA.