Cooleyhighharmony

Cooleyhighharmony is the debut studio album by American R&B group Boyz II Men, released on April 30, 1991, by Motown Records. The album was primarily written by Boyz II Men members Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris, and Shawn Stockman, and produced by Dallas Austin and the Characters. Its title pays tribute to the real-life Chicago high school, Cooley Vocational High School.

Upon its release, the album debuted at number 58 on the US Billboard 200 chart, eventually peaking at number three. Its original edition produced two US Billboard Hot 100 top-five singles: "Motownphilly" and "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday".

In 1992, Cooleyhighharmony was re-released internationally (1993 in the United States) with remixes and the addition of two hit singles: the worldwide chart-topping "End of the Road", originally recorded for the Boomerang soundtrack, and "In the Still of the Nite (I'll Remember)", which had been recorded for the TV mini-series The Jacksons: An American Dream.

The album has been certified nine-times Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), signifying shipments of over nine million units in the United States.

In 2009, a two-disc digitally remastered edition was released, featuring remixes and two previously unreleased tracks.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Robert Christgau
Entertainment Weekly	B−
Los Angeles Times
Record Collector
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
The Windsor Star	B

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." 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?"

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. MorrisW. MorrisMichael Bivins	Austin	3:51
5.	"It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday"	Freddie PerrenChristine Yarian	Austin	2:51
6.	"Motownphilly"	AustinBivinsN. MorrisStockman	Austin	3:55
7.	"Under Pressure"	AustinN. Morris	Austin	4:13
8.	"Sympin'"	N. MorrisStockmanAustin	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. MorrisStockman	Austin	3:23
5.	"Uhh Ahh" (sequel version)	N. MorrisW. MorrisMichael Bivins	Boyz II MenFred Jenkins	4:15
6.	"It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday"	PerrenYarian	Austin	2:48
7.	"In the Still of the Night (I'll Remember)"	Parris	Boyz II Men	2:51
8.	"Motownphilly" (remix – radio edit)	AustinBivinsN. MorrisStockman	Camille HindsSteve JervierPaul Jervier	3:59
9.	"Under Pressure"	AustinN. Morris	Austin	4:13
10.	"Sympin'" (remix – radio edit)	AustinN. MorrisStockmanBivinsW. 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)	AustinN. MorrisStockmanBivins	Austin	3:55
14.	"Sympin'" (original album version)	AustinN. MorrisStockman	Austin	4:23
15.	"Uhh Ahh" (original album version)	N. MorrisBivinsW. Morris	Austin	3:51
16.	"It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" (Radio Version)	PerrenYarian	Rex SalasBoyz II Men	3:06
17.	"End of the Road"	ReidBabyfaceSimmons	ReidBabyfaceSimmons	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)	AustinN. Morris	Austin	6:23
7.	"Under Pressure" (extended remix) (previously unreleased in the US)	AustinN. 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.

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 chart performance for Cooleyhighharmony
Chart (1991–1993)	Peak position
Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for Cooleyhighharmony Chart (1991–1993) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA) 4 Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) 39 Canadian Albums (RPM) 11 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) 16 European Albums Chart (Billboard) 30 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) 38 Japanese Albums (Oricon) 91 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) 4 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) 35 UK Albums (OCC) 7 US Billboard 200 3 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) 1 Zimbabwe Albums (ZIMA) 3	Year-end charts 1992 year-end chart performance for Cooleyhighharmony Chart (1992) Position US Billboard 200 12 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) 10 19933 year-end chart performance for Cooleyhighharmony Chart (1993) Position New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) 15 US Billboard 200 53 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) 43 Decade-end charts Decade-end chart performance for Cooleyhighharmony Chart (1990–1999) Position US Billboard 200 45
Australian Albums (ARIA)	4
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)	39
Canadian Albums (RPM)	11
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)	16
European Albums Chart (Billboard)	30
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)	38
Japanese Albums (Oricon)	91
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)	4
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)	35
UK Albums (OCC)	7
US Billboard 200	3
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)	1
Zimbabwe Albums (ZIMA)	3
Chart (1992)	Position
US Billboard 200	12
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)	10
Chart (1993)	Position
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)	15
US Billboard 200	53
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)	43
Chart (1990–1999)	Position
US Billboard 200	45

Certifications and sales

Certifications and sales for Cooleyhighharmony
Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)	2× Platinum	140,000^
Canada (Music Canada)	Platinum	100,000^
Japan (RIAJ)	Gold	100,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)	Platinum	15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)	Gold	100,000^
United States (RIAA)	9× Platinum	9,000,000^
Summaries
Asia	—	700,000
^ 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