Sony Music EntertainmentFriday saw the release of the 30th anniversary edition of New Kids on the Block‘s breakthrough album, Hangin’ Tough. And according to NKOTB’s Joey McIntyre, the album’s still got “The Right Stuff.”
“I think there was a time where you might not have wanted to put that thing on and listen to it,” Joey admits to ABC Radio. “But I think it does hold up. Because I think they’re great songs…and to think that five teenagers did it…that’s pretty awesome!”
Hangin’ Tough, the boy band’s second album, spun off five top 10 singles and went on to sell 14 million copies. But NKOTB’s Danny Woods says it was far from an overnight success.
“‘Please Don’t Go Girl’ took, like, 20 weeks to break into the top 10,” Danny recalls of the group’s first major hit. “So we were out there opening for Tiffany and then doing clubs…grinding it out and having fun together. And I think it’s a special record because of the work we put into it.”
Speaking of Tiffany, she’s tour with the New Kids this summer on their Mixtape Tour, along with Debbie Gibson, Salt-N-Pepa and Naughty By Nature. All four of those acts appear on “80s Baby,” one of the three new tracks on the Hangin’ Tough reissue. Joey says it’s important for the group to give fans something fresh.
“Since we got back together, we’ve consistently made new music,” he explains. “And we just thought it was a nice opportunity to kinda bridge the gap.”
“Two of [the songs], ’80s Baby’ and ‘Boys in the Band’…[are] a nod to the past,” Joey adds. “And the other song, ‘The Way (You Should Be Loved),’ is very cool and sexy and shows where we’re at now.”
The Mixtape tour kicks off May 2 in Cincinnati, OH.
Here’s the track list for the Hangin’ Tough 30th Anniversary edition:
“You Got It (The Right Stuff)”
“Please Don’t Go Girl”
“I’ll Be Loving You (Forever)”
“Cover Girl”
“I Need You”
“Hangin’ Tough”
“I Remember When”
“What’Cha Gonna Do (About It)”
“My Favorite Girl”
“Hold On”
“Please Don’t Go Girl” (Extended Version)
“You Got It” (The Right Stuff) — 7” Version
“I’ll Be Loving You Forever” — 7” Remix
“Hangin’ Tough” (TOUGHER MIX) — previously unreleased in the U.S.
“Cover Girl” — 7” Remix – previously unreleased in the U.S.
“80s Baby” (ft. Salt-N-Pepa, Naughty By Nature, Tiffany, Debbie Gibson)
“Boys In The Band (Boy Band Anthem)”
“The Way You Should Be Loved”
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