Written and produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, “Can You Stand the Rain” released in 1988, was New Edition’s third single from their fifth studio album, Heart Break. The song was the first with Johnny Gill and Ralph Tresvant sharing lead vocals and transformed the group’s image from teens to grown- ups. It became New Edition’s fourth single to top Billboard’s R&B singles chart. Not a bad fete post original member Bobby Brown. The single kept Brown’s “Roni” in the number two spot and let the world know the death of NE was premature. For me personally I remember having just moved from the Midwest to Oregon when this song came out. Let’s just say it got me through more rain than imaginable. I stayed in Portland for nine amazing years. Yes, I could stand the rain.
