New Edition’s first US Billboard Hot 100 top-20 hit in 1983 was “Candy Girl.” The song was the title track of the group’s 1983 debut album and introduced the Boston vocal group to a national audience.
Written and produced by Maurice Starr, “Candy Girl” combined youthful R&B vocals with a dance-pop arrangement. It reached number 46 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a stronger success on the R&B and dance charts, helping establish the group before later hits such as “Cool It Now.”
A common mix-up is confusing the song with “Cool It Now,” which became New Edition’s first top-10 Hot 100 hit in 1984. “Candy Girl” remains important because it names both the breakout single and the group’s debut album.