While most of Heart Break features principal vocals by Tresvant, with occasional solos by Ricky Bell, Gill’s voice is significantly displayed as the secondary lead throughout the album. Tresvant, however, wasn’t ready to leave- resulting in New Edition, inadvertently, becoming a quintet again as they began production on their fifth album, Heart Break. Gill accepted the invitation, joining the group in the spring of 1987. To circumvent New Edition being left without a lead singer, Michael Bivins suggested bringing in 20-year-old Gill to replace him. Prompting Gill’s entrance into the group was when lead singer Ralph Tresvant considered recording a solo album. They had joked that they would let him in the group if he could improve his dancing skills. The New Edition members had actually known Gill since they released their hit 'Candy Girl' in 1983 and Gill released his R&B Top 30 hit 'Super Love' that same year. In addition to employing the famed production team of Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis to help steer their music into a new direction, they also recruited Washington, D.C.-based baritone/tenor Johnny Gill-who, in 1984, had scored a hit with R&B singer Stacy Lattisaw on 'Perfect Combination'. The band members were aging out of their teens into their twenties, and sought for their image and sound to reflect their coming of age. By 1987, New Edition was a group in transition.
