King of Stage is the debut solo album by American R&B singer Bobby Brown.[1][2] 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".
The album was produced by Larry Blackmon and John Luongo; Brown and Luongo produced the title track.[5][6] Brown was unhappy with the production, and elected to go with proven producers for his next album.
Bobby Brown's style was still fairly close to that of his comrades in New Edition when he recorded his first solo effort, King of Stage -- an album giving little indication of the hard-edged, aggressive "new jack swing" that was only two years away on Don't Be Cruel. While comparisons to his subsequent work are inevitable, Stage is a generally decent, though not breathtaking, album that stands on its own merit -- and one that proves that there was indeed life outside of New Edition for the singer/rapper. Although Cameo leader Larry Blackmon, who serves as producer on "Girl Next Door," "Spending Time" and "Baby I Wanna Tell You Something," brings an undeniably Cameo-ish element to these high-tech funk smokers, Brown's individuality comes through loud and clear. But 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." Brown sounds like he's going through the motions on the Rick James-ish "Your Tender Romance" and the lackluster ballad "Spending Time," but thankfully, Stage has more strengths than weaknesses.
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