# Cooleyhighharmony

Cooleyhighharmony is the debut studio album by American R&B group Boyz II Men, released by Motown Records on April 30, 1991. The album was written mainly by Boyz II Men members Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris and Shawn Stockman, and produced by Dallas Austin and the Characters. Cooleyhighharmony's title is a tribute to a real high school in Chicago: Cooley Vocational High School.
The album debuted at number 58 on the US Billboard 200 and eventually peaked at number 3. Its original version produced the US Billboard Hot 100 Top 5 singles, "Motownphilly" and "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday".
Cooleyhighharmony was re-released internationally in 1992 (1993 in the US) with remixes and the inclusion of two hit singles: the worldwide hit single "End of the Road" from the Boomerang soundtrack and "In the Still of the Nite (I'll Remember)" which was initially recorded for the TV mini-series The Jacksons: An American Dream.
Cooleyhighharmony has been certified nine times Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments of over 9 million units in the US.
In 2009, a two-disc digitally remastered special edition of the album was released, containing remixes as well as two previously unreleased songs.

## 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
### 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.

## 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

## 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 | CDcassettevinyl | Motown | Standard |
| United States | November 16, 1993 | CDcassettevinyl | Motown | US reissue |
| United States | May 26, 2009 | CDcassettevinyl | Motown | Expanded |