Girls Next Door are an American country music vocal group formed in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1982 and disbanded in 1991. The group consists of vocalists Doris King Merritt, Cindy Nixon Psanos, Diane Williams Austin, and Tammy Stephens Smith. The quartet recorded between 1982 and 1991, issuing two albums on MTM Records and one on Atlantic Records. They disbanded in 1991 and briefly reunited in 2011 before reuniting a second time in 2023.

Girls Next Door
OriginNashville, Tennessee, United States
GenresCountry
Years active1982–1991, 2011, 2022-Present
LabelsMTM, Atlantic
Past membersDoris King Merritt
Cindy Nixon Psanos
Diane Williams Austin
Tammy Stephens Smith

History edit

Girls Next Door was founded in 1982 by record producer Tommy West, who suggested that studio backing vocalist Doris King form a four-woman vocal group.[1] They were previously known as Belle and Wildflower.[2] Girls Next Door recorded two albums for MTM Records and one for Atlantic Records, in addition to charting nine singles on the U.S. country charts. Their most successful song was "Slow Boat to China", which reached number 8 on the country charts in 1986.

The original four members reunited for one concert in 2011.[3] On August 1, 2022, the group's official Facebook page has announced that the group has reunited and is working on a new album and a tour.[4]

Discography edit

Albums edit

Year Album US Country Label
1986 The Girls Next Door 30 MTM
1987 What a Girl Next Door Could Do 42
1990 How 'Bout Us 69 Atlantic

Singles edit

Year Single Peak
positions
Album
US Country
[5]
1986 "Love Will Get You Through Times of No Money" 14 The Girls Next Door
"Slow Boat to China" 8
"Baby I Want It" 26
1987 "Walk Me in the Rain" 28
"What a Girl Next Door Could Do" 43 What a Girl Next Door Could Do
"Easy to Find" 57
1988 "Love and Other Fairy Tales" 73
1989 "He's Gotta Have Me" 54 How 'Bout Us
1990 "Maybe You Wouldn't Be Missin' Me Tonight"[6]
"How 'Bout Us" 71
2023 "What's This Thing You've Got About Leaving"[7] TBA
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Music videos edit

Year Single Director
1986 "Slow Boat to China"
"Baby I Want It"[8] Coke Sams

References edit

  1. ^ Brennan, Sandra. "Girls Next Door biography". Allmusic. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
  2. ^ "Picks and Pans Review: The Girls Next Door". People. September 22, 1986. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
  3. ^ "Girls Next Door in concert". Ada News. May 27, 2011. Archived from the original on April 2, 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
  4. ^ https://www.girlsnextdoormusic.com/
  5. ^ "Girls Next Door - Hot Country Songs". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2019.[dead link]
  6. ^ "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. March 31, 1990.
  7. ^ Jessica Nicholson (July 10, 2023). "8 New Must-Hear Country Songs: Jo Dee Messina, Frank Ray, Wyatt Ellis, Camille Parker & More". Yahoo!. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  8. ^ "New Videoclips" (PDF). Billboard. November 1, 1986.