Cooleyhighharmony is the debut album by American R&B group Boyz II Men, released in the United States on April 30, 1991, by Motown Records. The album was mainly produced by Dallas Austin and the group itself. The album gets its name in tribute to a classic high school film Cooley High.
The album was a critical success, receiving several Grammy nominations and winning Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals at the 1992 Grammy Awards. It peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 and has been certified nine times platinum, denoting shipments of over nine million units in the U.S.
Boyz II Men's first single, "Motownphilly," was a massive success, peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100. The album also contains the number one hit "End of the Road," which was included as a bonus track following the smash success originally appearing on the Boomerang soundtrack, and it later became one of the best-selling singles of all time.
The band's smooth harmonies and a cappella performances, especially their covers of oldies like "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" and "In the Still of the Nite", were well received, solidifying their reputation as a talented vocal group. The album includes other significant hits like "Please Don't Go" and "Uhh Ahh."
Cooleyhighharmony's sound, often referred to as "new jack swing," combines R&B harmony vocals with hip hop beats, resulting in a fusion that contributed significantly to the group's appeal and commercial success. This album marked the beginning of Boyz II Men's reign as one of the world's most popular R&B groups.
