“Candy Girl” was the first single New Edition released in 1983 from their debut album of the same name. The song was recorded in 1982 after the group was given studio time by producer Maurice Starr following a second-place finish in a Boston talent show. The members of New Edition were between the ages of 13-15 when this song was recorded. The single was released on February 24, 1983, and while it only peaked at #46 on the Billboard Hot 100, it hit #1 on both the R&B Singles chart and the UK Singles chart.

Lyrically, New Edition describes their girls as being “sweet as candy” and this song’s style was inspired by the 1970 hit “ABC” by The Jackson 5.