Song:Step By Step
Album:Greatest Hits
As typically happens with boy bands, New Kids On The Block (NKOTB) had brief success at the top of the charts. When their teen girl fanbase grew up, they faded and split up. Step By Step was probably their biggest hit. The genesis of the band was with producer Maurice Starr. He had success with New Edition. When he cut ties with them, he decided to form a white version of the group. He held auditions in Boston and Starr really liked 15 year old Donnie Wahlberg who was multi talented. Wahlberg helped recruit the other members including his brother Mark Wahlberg and his friend Danny Wood. He also brought in schoolmate Jordan Knight who was probably the best singer in NKOTB and he brought in his brother Jonathan Knight. They began rehearsing and when Mark Wahlberg quit, Starr found 12 year old Joey McIntyre to replace him. At this point they were called Nynuk. When Starr signed them to Columbia, they demanded a name change and he came up with New Kids On The Block. Their debut album didn't do that well when it was released in 1986. But Starr convinced Columbia to let him record a second album. When the first single from the 1988 album Hangin' Tough stiffed, Columbia was going to drop them. But that single Please Don't Go Girl started getting airplay, Columbia decided to promote it and it reached #10 on the Billboard Hot 100. And NKOTB continued to have success with number one hits like I'll Be Loving You (Forever) and Hangin' Tough. Starr hired a touring band led by Greg McPherson and sent them on tour. NKOTB recorded a Christmas album. Columbia released a video collection. So when the 1990 album Step By Step was released, the title track and first single topped the charts. Unfortunately for them, that was their final big hit. You can get all their hits on this budget comp that was first released in 1999 but then reissued in 2008 with a new cover and bonus tracks. At this point, things started to go south. After McPherson was replaced by David Dyson in 1991, he claimed that NKOTB's vocals were lip synced and Starr was the actual singer. McPherson eventually recanted because it wasn't true but the damage was done. NKOTB split with Starr and they wrote and produced the 1994 album NKOTB. It didn't sell and they split up in 1995. Of course Donnie Wahlberg, Jordan Knight and Joey McIntyre have all recorded solo with varied success. They reunited in 2008 with a new album and tour. And they still tour. They even recorded and toured with Backstreet Boys. They are probably a nostalgia act at this point but NKOTB are releasing a new EP and will begin touring on May 12. Here's the video for Step By Step by New Kids On The Block.
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