''The Block'' is the fifth studio album by

New Kids on the Block New Kids on the Block (also initialized as NKOTB) is an American boy band from Dorchester, Massachusetts. The band consists of brothers Jonathan and Jordan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg, and Danny Wood. New Kids on the Block enjoy ...

. The album was released on September 2, 2008, along with a deluxe edition that included four bonus tracks. It sold 95,000 copies in its first week of release and debuted at number one on the U.S. Top Pop Albums chart and at number two on the ''Billboard'' 200. Several artists collaborated on the album, such as

Ne-Yo Shaffer Chimere Smith (born October 18, 1979), known professionally as Ne-Yo, is an American singer, songwriter, actor, dancer, and record producer. He gained fame for his songwriting abilities when he penned Mario's 2004 hit " Let Me Love You ...

Lady Gaga Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta ( ; born March 28, 1986), known professionally as Lady Gaga, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She is known for her image reinventions and musical versatility. Gaga began performing as a teenag ...

The Pussycat Dolls The Pussycat Dolls were an American girl group and dance ensemble, founded in Los Angeles, California, by choreographer Robin Antin in 1995 as a burlesque troupe. At the suggestion of Jimmy Iovine, Antin decided to take the burlesque troupe ...

Akon Aliaune Damala Badara Akon Thiam (; born April 16, 1973), known mononymously as Akon, is a Senegalese-American singer, record producer, and entrepreneur. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of " Locked Up" (featuring Styles P ...

Teddy Riley Edward Theodore Riley (born October 8, 1967) is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer credited with the creation of the New Jack Swing genre. Riley credits Barry Michael Cooper with giving the genre its name.Hogan, Paul. "Tedd ...

and

New Edition New Edition is an American R&B/Pop group from the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 1978 by Bobby Brown. Their name is taken to mean a 'new edition' of the Jackson 5. The group reached its height of popularity in the 19 ...

. The first official single from the album is " Summertime" and the song was released on May 13, 2008. The second official single titled " Single" featuring

was released on August 12, 2008. The third single "

Dirty Dancing ''Dirty Dancing'' is a 1987 American romantic drama dance film written by Eleanor Bergstein, produced by Linda Gottlieb, and directed by Emile Ardolino. Starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, it tells the story of Frances "Baby" Houseman ...

" was released on December 19. The single was the album's most successful single in Europe and Canada, peaking at number 31 and reaching the number-one position on the CHUM Chart in

Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the anch ...

on February 21, 2009 after twelve weeks on the chart. The album's fourth single, "

2 in the Morning "2 in the Morning" is the fourth single and the third U.S. single release from pop group New Kids on the Block's fifth studio album, '' The Block''. Like many of the songs on ''The Block'', it features lead vocals by Joey McIntyre, Jordan Knight, ...

", was officially released February 23, 2009 in the United States and the United Kingdom. It is the group's first studio album in fourteen years since '' Face the Music''.

Release and reception

''The Block'' was released on September 2, 2008 and debuted at number one on the ''Billboard'' Pop Album Chart and at number two on the ''Billboard'' 200, selling 95,000 copies in its first week of release. As of April 2013, the album had sold 332,000 copies in the United States. On the Canadian Albums Chart, the album debuted at number one, becoming their first and only number-one album there. It sold 9,000 copies in its first week. ''The Block'' has been certified gold in Canada.

Track listing

*"Grown Man" contains elements of the Aretha Franklin recording "

Chain of Fools "Chain of Fools" is a song written by Don Covay. Aretha Franklin first released the song as a single in 1967 and subsequently it appeared on many of her albums. It hit number one on the ''Billboard'' Hot Rhythm & Blues chart and number two on ...

", as written by Don Covay. It also contains elements of "What Is Success" written and performed by Allen Toussaint.

Re-recordings

* "Lights, Camera, Action" was re-recorded with the

Pussycat Dolls Pussycat or Pussy Cat may refer to: * Cat, a domestic feline Music Bands * Pussycat (band), a Dutch country and pop group * The Pussycats, a 1960s Norwegian rock band * The Pussycats, a group signed to Kama Sutra Records Albums * '' Pussy Ca ...

performing the primary vocals and is included on the deluxe edition of their ''

Doll Domination ''Doll Domination'' is the second and most recent studio album by American girl group the Pussycat Dolls, released on September 19, 2008, by Interscope Records. The album's release was preceded by the departure of the group's longest-standing memb ...

'' album. * "Lights, Camera, Action' was also re-recorded for Lloyd's mixtape '' Lessons In Love 2.0''. * The demo for "Single" appears as the third track on

's album '' Year of the Gentleman'' * "Click Click Click" was originally a song written, produced, and recorded by Nasri.

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

References

External links

*
Review of ''The Block''
at Sputnikmusic {{DEFAULTSORT:Block, The 2008 albums New Kids on the Block albums Albums produced by Akon Albums produced by Brian Kennedy (record producer) Albums produced by Emanuel Kiriakou Albums produced by Polow da Don Albums produced by RedOne Albums produced by Teddy Riley Albums produced by Timbaland Albums produced by Fernando Garibay Interscope Records albums