Janet Jackson | ||
| Allmusic Biography : Janet Jackson didnt merely emerge from the shadows of her famous brothers to become a superstar in her own right. Starting with her breakout 1986 album Control, she became one of the biggest pop stars of the 80s. Through the early 2000s, she was able to maintain her stature with impeccable quality control and stylistic evolution. Her singles, expertly crafted with indelible pop hooks and state-of-the-art production, consistently set or kept up with trends in contemporary R&B;, demonstrated by an exceptional run of Top 20 R&B; singles that spans over 30 years. From platinum album to platinum album, Jacksons image smoothly shifted as it projected power and independence. In turn, she inspired the likes of TLC, Aaliyah, Beyoncé, Britney Spears, and Rihanna, all of whom learned a few things from her recordings, videos, and performances. Janet Damita Jo Jackson was born May 16, 1966, in Gary, Indiana. She was the youngest of nine children in the Jackson family, and her older brothers had already begun performing together as the Jackson 5 by the time she was born. Bitten by the performing bug, she first appeared on-stage with the Jackson 5 at age seven, and began a sitcom acting career at the age of ten in 1977, when producer Norman Lear selected her to join the cast of Good Times. She remained there until 1979, and subsequently appeared on Diffrent Strokes and A New Kind of Family. In 1982, pushed by her father into trying a singing career, Jackson released her self-titled first album on A&M.; "Young Love," written and produced by René & Angela and Rufus Bobby Watson, reached number six on Billboards R&B; chart, but the album didnt cross into the pop market. She was cast in the musical series Fame in 1983. The following year, she issued her second album, Dream Street, which didnt sell as well as its predecessor. Upon turning 18, Jackson rebelled against her parents close supervision and eloped with a member of another musical family, singer James DeBarge. However, the relationship quickly hit the rocks and Jackson moved back into her parents home and had the marriage annulled. Jackson took some time to rethink her musical career, and her father hired her a new manager, John McClain, who isolated his young charge to train her as a dancer (and make her lose weight). McClain hooked Jackson up with producers/writers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, whom shed seen perform as members of the Minneapolis funk outfit the Time. Jackson collaborated with Jam and Lewis on most of the tracks for her next album, Control, which presented her as a confident and tough-minded artist (with a soft side and a sense of humor) taking charge of her life for the first time. In support of Jacksons new persona, Jam and Lewis crafted a set of polished, computerized backing tracks with slamming beats that owed more to hard, hip-hop-tinged funk and urban R&B; than Janets older brother Michaels music. Control became an out-of-the-box hit, and eventually spun off six singles, the first five of which -- "What Have You Done for Me Lately," the catch phrase-inspiring "Nasty," the number one "When I Think of You," the title track, and the ballad "Lets Wait Awhile" -- hit the Top Five on the Billboard Hot 100. Jackson was hailed as a role model and Control eventually sold over five million copies, establishing her as a pop star. It also made Jam and Lewis, whose considerable accomplishments were previously limited to the R&B; world, a monstrously in-demand pop production team. For the hotly anticipated follow-up, McClain wanted to push Jackson toward more overtly sexual territory, to which she objected strenuously. Instead, she began collaborating with Jam and Lewis on more socially conscious material, which formed the backbone of 1989s Rhythm Nation 1814 (the "1814" purportedly stood for either the letters "R" and "N" or the year "The Star-Spangled Banner" was written). Actually, save for the title track, most of the albums singles were bright and romantically themed. Four of them -- "Miss You Much," "Escapade," "Black Cat," and "Love Will Never Do (Without You)" -- hit number one, and three more -- "Rhythm Nation," "Alright," and "Come Back to Me" -- reached the Top Five, making Jackson the first artist ever to produce seven Top Five hits off one album (something not even her brother Michael had accomplished). Aside from a greater use of samples, Rhythm Nations sound largely resembled that of Control, but was just as well-crafted, and listeners embraced it enthusiastically, buying over five million copies in the U.S. alone. Jackson undertook her first real tour (shed appeared at high schools around the country in 1982) in support of the album and it was predictably a smashing success. In 1991, Jackson capitalized by jumping from A&M; to Virgin for a reported $32 million, and also secretly married choreographer and longtime boyfriend René Elizondo. Once on Virgin, Jackson set about revamping her sound and image. Her 1992 duet with Luther Vandross from the Mo Money soundtrack, "The Best Things in Life Are Free," was another major R&B; hit and reached the pop Top Ten. The following year, she also resumed her acting career, co-starring in acclaimed director (and former junior high classmate) John Singletons Poetic Justice, along with rapper Tupac Shakur. Neither really hinted at the seductive, fully adult persona she unveiled with 1993s janet., her Virgin debut. Jackson trumpeted her new image with a striking Rolling Stone cover photo -- an uncropped version of the cover of janet. -- in which her topless form was covered by a pair of hands belonging to Elizondo. Musically, Jam and Lewis set aside the synthesized funk of their first two albums with Jackson in favor of warm, inviting, gently undulating grooves. Jackson took credit for all the lyrics. The albums lead single, the slinky "Thats the Way Love Goes," became Jacksons biggest hit ever, spending eight weeks at number one. It was followed by a predictably long parade of Top Ten hits -- "If," the number one ballad "Again," "Because of You," "Any Time, Any Place," and "You Want This." janet.s debut showing at number one made it her third straight chart-topping album, and it went on to sell nearly seven million copies in the U.S. In 1995, Janet and Michael teamed up for the single "Scream," which was supported by an elaborate, award-winning, space-age video that, upon completion, ranked as the most expensive music video ever made. The single debuted at number five on the Hot 100. In 1996, A&M; issued a retrospective of her years at the label, Design of a Decade 1986-1996; it featured the Virgin hit "Thats the Way Love Goes" and a few new tracks, one of which, "Runaway," became a Top Five hit. Jackson also signed a new contract with Virgin for a reported $80 million. Yet while working on her next album, Jackson reportedly suffered an emotional breakdown, or at least a severe bout with depression. She later raised eyebrows when she talked in interviews about the cleansing value of coffee enemas as part of her treatment. Her next album, The Velvet Rope, appeared in 1997 and was touted as her most personal and intimate work to date. The Velvet Rope sought to combine the sensuality of janet. with the more socially conscious parts of Rhythm Nation, mixing songs about issues like domestic abuse, AIDS, and homophobia with her most sexually explicit songs ever. Critical opinion on the album was divided; some applauded her ambition, while others found the record too bloated. The lead American single "Together Again," an elegy for AIDS victims, was a number one hit. Also popular on the radio was "Got Til Its Gone," which featured rapper Q-Tip and a sample of Joni Mitchell over a reggae beat. "I Get Lonely," featuring Blackstreet, was another big hit, but on the whole, The Velvet Rope didnt prove to be the blockbuster singles bonanza that its predecessors were, which was probably why its sales stalled at around three million copies. Jackson toured the world again, and stayed on the charts in 1999 with the Top Five Busta Rhymes duet "Whats It Gonna Be?!"; her appearance in the video remade her as a glitzy, artificially costumed, single-name diva. In 2000, she appeared in the Eddie Murphy comedy Nutty Professor II: The Klumps, and her soundtrack contribution, "Doesnt Really Matter," became a number one single. Unfortunately, Jacksons marriage to Elizondo had become strained and the couple divorced in 2000, sparking a court battle over her musical income. Jackson returned with a new album, All for You, in 2001, which largely continued the sensual tone of janet. and The Velvet Rope. It debuted at number one, selling over 600,000 copies in its first week alone. The title track was issued as the albums first single and quickly topped the charts, followed by another sizable hit in "Someone to Call My Lover." While Jackson spent much of 2001 and 2002 on the road supporting All for You, she also found time for some guest appearances, most notably with Beenie Man on his Tropical Storm LP and Justin Timberlake on Justified. By 2003 she was back in the studio, working once again with Jam and Lewis on tracks for a new album. Additional producers included Dallas Austin and Kanye West. The following year began with an Internet leak of the upbeat Austin production "Just a Little While." The singers camp rolled with the punches, offering the track to radio as an authorized digital download, but the buzz this business caused was minuscule in comparison to the nightmare union of free exposure and bad publicity that Jacksons next adventure caused. Appearing during the halftime show of Super Bowl XXXVIII, Jackson performed "All for You" and "Rhythm Nation" before bringing out surprise guest Timberlake for a duet on his hit "Rock Your Body." But the real surprise came at songs end, when a gesture from Timberlake caused Jacksons costume to tear, exposing her right, pierced breast on live television to hundreds of millions of viewers. The incident caused furious backpedaling and apologizing from Timberlake, Jackson, the NFL, CBS, and MTV, which swore no previous knowledge of the so-called "wardrobe malfunction," and led to speculation over how Damita Jo -- Jacksons upcoming album and her first in three years -- would be received. But while the controversy gave Jackson both grief and a bit of free advertising, it was also the impetus for a national debate on public indecency. A federal commission was set up to investigate prurience, the FCC enacted tougher crackdowns on TV and radio programs broadcasting questionable content, and suddenly everyone from pundits to politicians to the man in the street had an opinion about it. Later that March, the singer quietly started making the talk show rounds. She was still apologizing for the incident -- while Timberlake escaped unscathed -- but she was also promoting Damita Jo, which Virgin issued at the end of the month. Largely considered a disappointment, the album nonetheless sold over two million copies worldwide and earned three Grammy nominations. 20 Y.O. followed two years later, and though it was reviewed more favorably than Damita Jo, it was off the Billboard 200 album chart after 15 weeks. Jermaine Dupri, Jacksons love interest and the executive producer of the album, was so upset over Virgins lack of support that he left his post as president of Virgins urban division. Dupri moved to Island, and so did Jackson. In 2008, Jackson released her tenth studio album, Discipline, which became her sixth release to top the Billboard 200, despite another tumultuous artist-label relationship. Although Jackson didnt release another album for seven years, the longest gap in her discography was filled with professional activity and major life changes. During the filming of Why Did I Get Married Too?, she learned of her brother Michaels death. Soon after, she and Dupri split, and she toured in support of Number Ones, a double-disc anthology promoted with the number one club hit "Make Me." She took the lead role in the big-screen adaptation of For Colored Girls, published a book, and remained deeply connected to various causes as a philanthropist. In 2015, she returned on her own Rhythm Nation label with "No Sleeep," a slow-jam Jam and Lewis collaboration that hit the R&B; Top 20. It primed her audience for a tour, as well as her 11th studio album, Unbreakable -- another number one hit. Plans for the tour were postponed so Jackson could focus on family; she wouldnt return to the road until 2017. In 2018, she issued the Top 40 hit single "Made for Now," featuring Daddy Yankee. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 17 Title: Janet Jackson Released: 1982 Tracks: 8 Duration: 38:44 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Say You Do (specially remixed version) (06:49) 2 Youll Never Find (A Love Like Mine) (04:08) 3 Young Love (04:56) 4 Love and My Best Friend (04:48) 5 Don’t Mess Up This Good Thing (03:54) 6 Forever Yours (04:58) 7 The Magic Is Working (04:08) 8 Come Give Your Love to Me (05:03) |
| Janet Jackson : Allmusic album Review : On her eponymous debut album, Janet Jackson demonstrates no distinctive musical personality of her own, which isnt surprising considering that she was in her teens. If her producers had concocted a sharper set of songs and more interesting beats, Janet Jackson might have been a pleasant set of sunny dance-pop, but as it stands, only "Young Love" stands out among the undistinguished, sub-disco thumpers and drippy ballads. | ||
 | Album: 2 of 17 Title: Dream Street Released: 1984-10 Tracks: 9 Duration: 37:21 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Dont Stand Another Chance (04:14) 2 Two to the Power of Love (03:06) 3 Pretty Boy (06:32) 4 Dream Street (03:52) 5 Communication (03:12) 6 Fast Girls (03:18) 7 Hold Back the Tears (03:14) 8 All My Love to You (05:44) 9 If It Takes All Night (04:09) |
| Dream Street : Allmusic album Review : A listen to Janet Jacksons Dream Street brings to mind remembrances of the then-teenaged singers appearances on American Bandstand, shyly answering questions from host Dick Clark, as well as her short stint as a regular on the syndicated series Fame. The first single, "Dont Stand Another Chance," was a family affair, produced by brother Marlon Jackson with vocal ad-libs by Michael Jackson. It was a Top Ten R&B; hit during the summer of 1984. The extended 12" mix rocks, showcasing outstanding synth work by John Barnes. Other standouts are the smeary Minneapolis funk cut "Pretty Boy" produced by Jesse Johnson, and both "Hold Back the Tears" and "If It Takes All Night" are prime examples of pleasing 80s pop. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 17 Title: Control Released: 1986-02 Tracks: 9 Duration: 41:45 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Control (05:53) 2 Nasty (04:03) 3 What Have You Done for Me Lately (04:59) 4 You Can Be Mine (05:17) 5 The Pleasure Principle (04:57) 6 When I Think of You (03:57) 7 He Doesn’t Know I’m Alive (03:32) 8 Let’s Wait Awhile (04:37) 9 Funny How Time Flies (When You’re Having Fun) (04:28) |
| Control : Allmusic album Review : Although Janet Jackson had released two records in the early 80s, they were quickly forgotten, and notably shaped by her fathers considerable influence. Janets landmark third album, 1986s Control, changed all that. On the opening title track, Jackson, with passion and grace, declares her independence, moving out of the gargantuan shadow of her brother Michael and on to the business of making her own classic pop album. The true genius of Control lies in the marriage of her extremely self-assured vocals with the emphatic beats of R&B production wizards Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The duo was already well established in the music industry, but the practically flawless Control showcased Jam and Lewis true studio mastery. For the better part of two years, Janet remained on the pop chart, with two-thirds of the albums tracks released as singles, including the ever-quotable "Nasty," the assertive "What Have You Done for Me Lately," the frenetically danceable "When I Think of You," and the smooth, message-oriented ballad "Lets Wait Awhile." Jackson achieved long-awaited superstar status and never looked back. | ||
 | Album: 4 of 17 Title: Control: The Remixes Released: 1987 Tracks: 8 Duration: 43:57 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Control (video mix) (06:02) 2 Nasty (extended) (06:00) 3 Nasty (Cool Summer remix, part 1) (07:57) 4 What Have You Done for Me Lately (extended mix) (07:00) 5 When I Think of You (extra beats) (02:01) 6 When I Think of You (dance remix) (06:25) 7 Control (a cappella) (03:55) 8 Let’s Wait Awhile (remix) (04:36) |
| Control: The Remixes : Allmusic album Review : Janet Jacksons Control: The Remixes includes remixes of all six hits from her 1986 album Control. The album opens with the "live" video version of the title track, followed by a dance remix of the albums only number one stateside single, "When I Think of You." The dance mix is almost identical to the video version, which is a beefed-up remix of the album version and was unavailable as a single. Unfortunately, there are so many "breaks" toward the end of the dance mix that the songs flow is completely disrupted. One wishes they would have simply left the video version intact and included it in its entirety for this album. An extended mix of the first single, "What Have You Done for Me Lately," is included, as is the single remix of "Lets Wait Awhile," which has quite a bit more muscle than the original album version, and that single mix was, thankfully, left intact. Two extended remixes of "Nasty" are included, as are two remixes of "The Pleasure Principle," which was also remixed for its video. Neither version on this album is identical to the superior, definitive video version, but track three comes close enough (track eight is a dub mix). This album is fun for Janet fans and collectors -- for the casual fan it may be more of annoyance than anything, since some of the remixes are a little nerve-racking and at times sound somewhat dated. | ||
 | Album: 5 of 17 Title: More Control Released: 1987-03-05 Tracks: 9 Duration: 58:25 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 What Have You Done for Me Lately (extended mix) (06:59) 2 Nasty (extended mix) (06:07) 3 When I Think of You (dance remix) (06:24) 4 Control (extended version) (07:34) 5 What Have You Done for Me Lately (dub version) (06:35) 6 Nasty (Cool Summer mix, part II) (10:08) 7 When I Think of You (instrumental) (03:59) 8 Control (video mix) (06:02) 9 Let’s Wait Awhile (remix) (04:37) |
 | Album: 6 of 17 Title: Rhythm Nation 1814 Released: 1989-09-15 Tracks: 20 Duration: 1:04:32 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Interlude: Pledge (00:47) 2 Rhythm Nation (05:30) 3 Interlude: T.V. (00:21) 4 State of the World (04:48) 5 Interlude: Race (00:04) 6 The Knowledge (03:53) 7 Interlude: Let’s Dance (00:03) 8 Miss You Much (04:12) 9 Interlude: Come Back Interlude (00:21) 10 Love Will Never Do (Without You) (05:50) 11 Livin’ in a World (They Didn’t Make) (04:41) 12 Alright (06:26) 13 Interlude: Hey Baby (00:09) 14 Escapade (04:45) 15 Interlude: No Acid (00:05) 16 Black Cat (04:50) 17 Lonely (04:59) 18 Come Back to Me (05:33) 19 Someday Is Tonight (06:01) 20 Interlude: Livin’… in Complete Darkness (01:07) |
| Rhythm Nation 1814 : Allmusic album Review : After shocking the R&B world with 1986s Control -- a gutsy, risk-taking triumph that was a radical departure from her first two albums -- Michael and Jermaine Jacksons younger sister reached an even higher artistic plateau with the conceptual Rhythm Nation 1814. Once again, she enlists the help of Time graduates Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis (one of the more soulful production/songwriting teams of 1980s and 90s R&B) with wildly successful results. In 1989, protest songs were common in rap but rare in R&B -- Janet Jackson, following raps lead, dares to address social and political topics on "The Knowledge," the disturbing "State of the World," and the poignant ballad "Living in a World" (which decries the reality of children being exposed to violence). Jacksons voice is wafer-thin, and she doesnt have much of a range -- but she definitely has lots of soul and spirit and uses it to maximum advantage on those gems as well as nonpolitical pieces ranging from the Prince-influenced funk/pop of "Miss You Much" and "Alright" to the caressing, silky ballads "Someday Is Tonight," "Alone," and "Come Back to Me" to the pop/rock smoker "Black Cat." For those purchasing their first Janet Jackson release, Rhythm Nation would be an even wiser investment than Control -- and thats saying a lot. | ||
 | Album: 7 of 17 Title: janet. Released: 1993-05-17 Tracks: 27 Duration: 1:15:21 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Morning (00:31) 2 That’s the Way Love Goes (04:26) 3 You Know… (00:12) 4 You Want This (05:05) 5 Be a Good Boy… (00:08) 6 If (04:31) 7 Back (00:04) 8 This Time (06:59) 9 Go On Miss Janet (00:04) 10 Throb (04:35) 11 What’ll I Do (04:05) 12 The Lounge (00:15) 13 Funky Big Band (05:23) 14 Racism (00:08) 15 New Agenda (04:00) 16 Love, Part 2 (00:11) 17 Because of Love (04:21) 18 Wind (00:10) 19 Again (03:47) 20 Another Lover (00:11) 21 Where Are You Now (05:47) 22 Hold On Baby (00:09) 23 The Body That Loves You (05:33) 24 Rain (00:18) 25 Any Time, Any Place (07:08) 26 Are You Still Up (01:36) 27 Sweet Dreams / Whoops Now (05:33) |
| janet. : Allmusic album Review : After Control and Rhythm Nation 1814, Janet Jackson had quite a lot to live up to. Anyone who expected Jackson to top Rhythm Nation -- her crowning achievement and an incredibly tough act to follow -- was being unrealistic. But with janet., she delivered a respectable offering that, although not as strong as either Control or Nation, has many strong points. As before, Jackson is joined by the prolific Jimmy Jam/Terry Lewis team, and their input is valuable on everything from the angry "This Time" and the hypnotic "Thats the Way Love Goes" to the 60s-flavored "Whatll I Do" and the sociopolitical "The New Agenda" (which features Public Enemy leader Chuck D). But perhaps the CDs most exciting track is "Funky Big Band," which samples jazz legend Lionel Hamptons 1938 big-band classic "Im in the Mood for Swing" with thrilling results. There are a few throwaways (including the lightweight ballad "Again"), but despite its shortcomings, janet. is a welcome addition to her catalog. | ||
 | Album: 8 of 17 Title: Janet.Remixed Released: 1995-03-13 Tracks: 11 Duration: 1:12:55 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 That’s the Way Love Goes (CJ FXTC club mix) (06:24) 2 If (Brothers in Rhythm House mix) (07:10) 3 Because of Love (Frankie & David Treat mix) (06:41) 4 And On and On (04:49) 5 Throb (Morales Badyard club) (08:59) 6 You Want This (E-Smoove’s House Anthem) (09:51) 7 Any Time, Any Place (CJ’s 12″ mix) (08:18) 8 Where Are You Now (Nelle Hooper mix) (05:22) 9 70’s Love Groove (05:45) 10 What’ll I Do (Dave Navarro mix) (04:20) 11 Any Time, Any Place (R. Kelly mix) (05:11) |
 | Album: 9 of 17 Title: Design of a Decade: 1986/1996 Released: 1995-10-02 Tracks: 16 Duration: 1:15:31 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Runaway (03:35) 2 What Have You Done for Me Lately (04:43) 3 Nasty (04:03) 4 When I Think of You (03:57) 5 Escapade (04:45) 6 Miss You Much (04:12) 7 Love Will Never Do (Without You) (04:35) 8 Alright (04:39) 9 Control (05:15) 10 The Pleasure Principle (04:14) 11 Black Cat (04:50) 12 Rhythm Nation (05:58) 13 That’s the Way Love Goes (04:26) 14 Come Back to Me (05:33) 15 Let’s Wait Awhile (04:37) 16 Twenty Foreplay (06:06) |
| Design of a Decade: 1986/1996 : Allmusic album Review : Design of a Decade: 1986-1996 is a misleading title. The bulk of Janet Jacksons greatest-hits collection concentrates on Control and Rhythm Nation 1814, simply by contractual necessity. That is far from a fatal flaw. The hits from those two albums were state-of-the-art dance-pop productions at the time of their release, filled with bottomless beats and memorable, catchy hooks. None of the songs has lost any of its impact, from the funk of "Miss You Much" and "What Have You Done for Me Lately," to the ballads "Lets Wait Awhile" and "Come Back to Me." In addition to all 13 Top 40 hits from Control and Rhythm Nation -- all but one went into the Top Five -- Design of a Decade includes the biggest and best hit from janet., the sultry "Thats the Way Love Goes," and two new songs, "Runaway" and "Twenty Foreplay." Its a credit to Janet that the two new numbers feel like genuine hits, not tacked-on filler, and help make the album a compulsively listenable greatest-hits collection. | ||
 | Album: 10 of 17 Title: The Velvet Rope Released: 1997-10-04 Tracks: 22 Duration: 1:15:31 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Interlude: Twisted Elegance (00:42) 2 Velvet Rope (04:55) 3 You (04:42) 4 Got ’til It’s Gone (04:01) 5 Interlude: Speaker Phone (00:54) 6 My Need (03:44) 7 Interlude: Fasten Your Seatbelts (00:19) 8 Go Deep (04:42) 9 Free Xone (04:57) 10 Interlude: Memory (00:04) 11 Together Again (05:01) 12 Interlude: Online (00:19) 13 Empty (04:32) 14 Interlude: Full (00:12) 15 What About (04:24) 16 Every Time (04:17) 17 Tonight’s the Night (05:07) 18 I Get Lonely (05:17) 19 Rope Burn (04:15) 20 Anything (04:54) 21 Interlude: Sad (00:10) 22 Special (07:53) |
| The Velvet Rope : Allmusic album Review : Where janet., Ms. Jacksons third blockbuster album, implied sexuality with its teasing cover and seductive grooves, its sequel, The Velvet Rope, is sexually explicit, offering tales of bondage, body piercing, and bisexuality. Not that youd necessarily know that from listening to The Velvet Rope, since the album sags with endless interludes, murmured vocals, and subdued urban grooves. Working with her mainstays Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Jackson essentially reworks the hushed atmosphere of janet., neglecting to put a new sonic spin on the material -- for an album that wants to push the limits, it sounds surprisingly tame. Similarly, Jacksons attempts to broaden her sexual horizons frequently sound forced, whether its the references to piercing or her recasting of Rod Stewarts "Tonights the Night" as a lesbian anthem. Furthermore, the album is simply too long, which means the best moments sink into the murk. And thats unfortunate, because there are good moments on The Velvet Rope, but at its running time of 70-plus minutes and 22 tracks, its hard to work up the patience to find them. | ||
 | Album: 11 of 17 Title: All for You Released: 2001-04-23 Tracks: 20 Duration: 1:12:58 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Intro (00:59) 2 You Ain’t Right (04:32) 3 All for You (05:29) 4 2wayforyou (interlude) (00:19) 5 Come On Get Up (04:47) 6 When We Oooo (04:34) 7 China Love (04:36) 8 Love Scene (Ooh Baby) (04:16) 9 Would You Mind (05:32) 10 Lame (interlude) (00:11) 11 Trust a Try (05:16) 12 Clouds (interlude) (00:19) 13 Son of a Gun (I Betcha Think This Song Is About You) (05:56) 14 Truth (06:45) 15 Theory (interlude) (00:26) 16 Someone to Call My Lover (04:32) 17 Feels So Right (04:42) 18 Doesn’t Really Matter (04:24) 19 Better Days (05:05) 20 Outro (00:08) |
| All for You : Allmusic album Review : The Velvet Rope was a fairly bold move on Janet Jacksons part, as she got seriously sexy -- too serious, actually, since it had a fairly bitter tone, underscored by hints of perversity. Four years later, marked by one hidden marriage revealed through a divorce, Janet returned with All for You, an album that is as about sex as much as The Velvet Rope, yet theres a key difference -- it feels sexy, not pornographic. With her trusty collaborators Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis in tow, shes created a record thats luxurious and sensual, spreading leisurely over its 70 minutes, luring you in even when you know better. And there are certainly moments that make you wish you knew better. For one, its plotted like The Velvet Rope, filled with skits and deliberately recalling the record with its obsession with flesh and how it builds on 70s soul and soft rock. This time around, instead of Joni Mitchell, she appropriates Americas "Ventura Highway" for "Someone to Call My Lover," one of the records best cuts, and "interpolates" Carly Simons "Youre So Vain" on "Son of a Gun," with Simon singing and...well, I guess you could call it rapping...right along. The twist is, this is an anti-music industry song and a particularly foul-mouthed entry on the album, sitting comfortably alongside another industry song, the slow groove "Truth." And that fills out the three main themes of the album -- divorce, industry, and sex -- with a little bit of love on the side. These keep things humming throughout this overly sultry, overlong album, which intrigues with its very texture even as it lulls at its length. After all, theres a lot to be said for texture, and All for You is alluring, easily enveloping the listener. Though its hardly as explicit as The Velvet Rope, apart from a section where she proclaims "I just want to suck you, taste you, ride you, feel you, make you come -- come inside of me" (mind you, this album did not have a parental advisory sticker on its first pressings), this is her sexiest-sounding record, thanks to Jam and Lewis silky groove and her breathy delivery, two things that make the record palatable throughout too many spoken interludes and songs that just dont quite click. Even if there is a fair share of filler, this is hardly as strained as The Velvet Rope (though in many respects, its every bit as self-conscious), and theres an ease to its construction, topped off by such songs as "All for You" and "Doesnt Really Matter" that maintain Janet, Jam, and Lewis reputation as the leading lights of contemporary urban soul. Itd be nicer if the album was leaner, concentrating on just the great songs, but indulgence is what this record encourages. Janet sprawls out throughout the album, indulging her whims, desires, and fantasies, but -- fortunately for us -- her indulgences are alluring in their self-absorption. Of course, it helps to have Jam and Lewis on your side to articulate your indulgence. | ||
 | Album: 12 of 17 Title: Damita Jo Released: 2004-03-22 Tracks: 22 Duration: 1:05:08 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Looking for Love (01:29) 2 Damita Jo (02:45) 3 Sexhibition (02:29) 4 Strawberry Bounce (03:10) 5 My Baby (04:17) 6 The Islands (00:39) 7 Spending Time With You (04:14) 8 Magic Hour (00:23) 9 Island Life (03:53) 10 All Nite (Don’t Stop) (03:26) 11 R&B Junkie (03:10) 12 I Want You (04:12) 13 Like You Don’t Love Me (03:39) 14 Thinkin’ Bout My Ex (04:33) 15 Warmth (03:44) 16 Moist (04:54) 17 It All Comes Down to Love (00:38) 18 Truly (03:58) 19 The One (01:01) 20 Slolove (03:44) 21 Country (00:30) 22 Just a Little While (album version) (04:11) |
| Damita Jo : Allmusic album Review : "Relax, its just sex," Janet Jackson murmurs at the conclusion of "Sexhibition," the third song on her eighth album, Damita Jo. Those words were recorded long before Jackson wound up America with her breast-baring exploits at the halftime show at the 2004 Super Bowl, but they nevertheless play like an casual response to the hysteria that engulfed the nation following her infamous "wardrobe malfunction." But, really, theyre there to head off any criticism that could be leveled at Damita Jo, yet another album that finds Janet exploring her sexuality, a voyage shes been on for about 11 years (Magellan and his crew circled the globe in a third that time, but hey, whos counting?). While sex indisputably fuels much great pop music, it isnt an inherently fascinating topic for pop music -- as with anything, it all depends on the artist. Prince, of course, found an endless amount of ways to write intriguingly about sex, since it fired his imagination, a quality that has been missing on Janets albums since 1993s janet.. With its preponderance of slow-tempo, sensual grooves, sexual imagery, occasional up-tempo jams, and endless spoken interludes, it provided the blueprint for every record she made since, from the heavy eroticism of 1997s The Velvet Rope to the bedroom sighs of 2001s All for You. The latter suggested that she was abandoning the explicitness of The Velvet Rope, but Damita Jo proves that she was merely flirting with modesty, since its as explicit as pop music gets. Actually, its the aural equivalent of hardcore pornography -- it leaves nothing to the imagination and its endlessly repetitive. Like a porn star, Janet adopts an alter ego built on her middle name ("Theres another side that you will never know: Damita Jo"), provides detailed oral-sex manuals with "Warmth" and "Moist," nicknames her clitoris, and tosses around allusions to a variety of taboo sex acts; in this context, all the interview snippets scattered throughout the record -- "I love curling up with a good book and relaxing by the ocean with my baby," "When you look at me, do you want me?" -- recall nothing less than a Playboy or Penthouse centerfold confessing her turn-ons. Such doggedly literal lyrics lack any sensuality, and weigh Damita Jo down. If the music had its own sensuality or spark, itd be easier to forgive or overlook Jacksons whispered vulgarities, but the albums slow grooves blend together, lacking rhythmic or melodic hooks. Jackson disappears into the productions, once again largely the responsibility of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, becoming part of the arrangement instead of standing in front of it. And while there are a couple of cuts that do cut through the slow-groove loops -- on the slower side, "I Want You" has a verse thats memorable, while "Just a Little While" is a good dance tune -- they pale next to the hits from All for You; that they stand out on Damita Jo says more about the album than the songs themselves. Ironically, for an album with so much sex on its mind, its not a good make-out record because its grooves are cold and Janets ceaseless dirty talk spoils whatever mood the music had struggled to create. Once, Ms. Jacksons sexual obsession was indeed sexy and erotic, but by this point, its not just tired, its embarrassing. | ||
 | Album: 13 of 17 Title: 20 Y.O. Released: 2006-09-20 Tracks: 16 Duration: 49:56 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 20 (intro) (00:52) 2 So Excited (03:15) 3 Show Me (03:38) 4 Get It Out Me (03:04) 5 Do It 2 Me (04:06) 6 This Body (04:10) 7 20, Part 2 (interlude) (00:27) 8 With U (05:08) 9 Call on Me (03:24) 10 20, Part 3 (interlude) (00:28) 11 Daybreak (04:21) 12 Enjoy (04:30) 13 20, Part 4 (interlude) (00:43) 14 Take Care (05:43) 15 Love 2 Love (05:03) 16 20, Part 5 (outro) (01:04) |
 | Album: 14 of 17 Title: Discipline Released: 2008-02-26 Tracks: 24 Duration: 1:01:34 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 I.D. (00:47) 2 Feedback (03:38) 3 LUV (03:10) 4 Spinnin (00:08) 5 Rollercoaster (03:50) 6 Bathroom Break (00:40) 7 Rock With U (03:51) 8 2nite (04:08) 9 Can’t B Good (04:13) 10 4 Words (00:11) 11 Never Letchu Go (04:07) 12 Truth or Dare (00:24) 13 Greatest X (04:23) 14 Good Morning Janet (00:44) 15 So Much Betta (02:52) 16 Play Selection (00:17) 17 The 1 (03:41) 18 What’s Ur Name (02:34) 19 The Meaning (01:16) 20 Discipline (05:00) 21 Back (00:18) 22 Curtains (03:50) 23 Let Me Know (03:48) 24 Feedback (Ralphi Rosario Electroshok radio mix) (03:44) |
| Discipline : Allmusic album Review : A few lines from a couple songs and some suggestive presentation guarantees that a significant amount of the reaction to Discipline, Janets tenth studio album, will feast upon the singers lack of judiciousness when it comes to expressing her sexuality. Leave the teasing and explicitness to the teens and younger twenty-somethings -- not the grown women -- right? Janet should get back to making sunny, uncomplicated songs like "Escapade" and pretend that the occasional-to-frequent salaciousness extending back to Control never existed. She should do that and, while she is at it, act her age. (When the three years younger R. Kelly releases his next album, no protests of a similar nature will be heard; ditto whenever the Rolling Stones perform "Brown Sugar.") While Discipline is dressed up like a racy affair with track-to-track titillation, it has only a couple moments where Janet takes the S&M; imagery further, and more deeply personal, than she did on The Velvet Rope; the majority of its subject matter relates to the more common elements of relationships. The likes of "Never Letchu Go" (a sweet, glistening ballad), "Luv" (carrying a brisk, feel-good clap-and-bounce), "Rollercoaster" (suitably jittery and giddy), and "Cant B Good" (practically a descendent of her brother Michaels "Cant Help It," with that gentle and affecting self-examination that only a Jackson can do so well) are as innocent, universal, and inviting as anything else in Janets past. There are two irresistible, grade-A dancefloor tracks as well: the swift, swooning "Rock with U" (that is the correct title) and the more aggressive (as in "lets throw down") "2Nite." The absence of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis is not felt, not with Ne-Yo, the-Dream, Tricky Stewart, and Stargate stepping up to contribute with established Janet collaborators Johnta Austin, Rodney Jerkins, and of course Jermaine Dupri (who brought Janet with him to Island from Virgin). Janet probably wont hit that late-80s peak again, but that is no excuse to write her off. | ||
 | Album: 15 of 17 Title: Number Ones Released: 2009-11-17 Tracks: 35 Duration: 2:33:41 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 What Have You Done for Me Lately (04:43) 2 Nasty (04:04) 3 When I Think of You (03:57) 4 Control (05:54) 5 Let’s Wait Awhile (single remix version) (04:37) 6 The Pleasure Principle (04:14) 7 Diamonds (04:53) 8 Miss You Much (04:12) 9 Rhythm Nation (05:30) 10 Escapade (04:45) 11 Alright (7″ video version with rap) (04:59) 12 Come Back to Me (05:33) 13 Black Cat (video mix/short solo single album) (04:31) 14 Love Will Never Do (Without You) (04:35) 15 The Best Things in Life Are Free (04:36) 16 That’s the Way Love Goes (04:26) 1 If (04:32) 2 Again (03:47) 3 Because of Love (04:18) 4 Any Time, Any Place (05:12) 5 Scream (04:02) 6 Runaway (03:35) 7 Got ’til It’s Gone (03:36) 8 Together Again (04:07) 9 I Get Lonely (04:01) 10 Go Deep (04:42) 11 What’s It Gonna Be (04:03) 12 Doesn’t Really Matter (04:56) 13 All for You (video single mix) (04:32) 14 Someone to Call My Lover (04:15) 15 All Nite (Don’t Stop) (03:26) 16 Call on Me (03:35) 17 Feedback (03:56) 18 Make Me (03:38) 19 Make Me (Matt Bianco remix) (03:55) |
| Number Ones : Allmusic album Review : Number Ones replaces Design of a Decade, released 14 years prior. Excepting the new song "Make Me" (hard neo-disco/funk excellence), each song here was indeed a number one hit on Billboards various charts, though "Got Til Its Gone" sneaks through a side door via the Japanese charts. One number one, oddly, is missing: "So Excited," a perfectly fine, 2006 single which topped the club chart. This set is more thorough with 1986-1996, too, adding Herb Alperts "Diamonds" -- which would not have been out of place on Control, given Jam & Lewis production and Janets precedence over Alperts trumpet -- as well as "The Best Things in Life Are Free" (with Luther Vandross) -- all the smashes off janet., and "Scream" (with her brother). Say what you want about Janet peaking with Jam & Lewis during the latter half of the 80s -- to be fair, the argument is valid -- but she did rack up a careers worth of solid hits during the years that followed. Even if they were not as sonically innovative and lacked the same amount of pop appeal of the Control/Rhythm Nation-era singles, they clearly made a significant impact and have aged well. Four of the songs first compiled on Design of a Decade appear in slightly different forms, which could make a minor difference for the fans that are most hardcore. This includes the 7" video version of "Alright," the album version of "Control," the "short solo single version" of "Black Cat," and what is likely the single edit of "Rhythm Nation." | ||
 | Album: 16 of 17 Title: Icon: Number Ones Released: 2010-08-31 Tracks: 12 Duration: 52:35 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 What Have You Done for Me Lately (04:43) 2 Nasty (04:04) 3 When I Think of You (03:57) 4 Miss You Much (04:12) 5 Escapade (04:45) 6 Alright (7" video version) (05:01) 7 That’s the Way Love Goes (04:26) 8 Together Again (04:07) 9 Doesn’t Really Matter (04:56) 10 All for You (04:34) 11 Make Me (03:38) 12 Nothing (04:10) |
| Icon: Number Ones : Allmusic album Review : An abbreviated version of the 34-track anthology Number Ones, this contains 12 tracks, only ten of which were actually number one U.S. hits. For whatever reason, theres "Make Me," an exclusive track thrown onto Number Ones to bait collectors, as well as "Nothing," Janet Jacksons contribution to the soundtrack for Tyler Perrys Why Did I Get Married Too? Neither one of those songs charted at all. Otherwise, this offers less than a third of Jacksons number ones, including "What Have You Done for Me Lately," "Miss You Much," "Escapade," "Thats the Way Love Goes," and "All for You." [In some territories, this was released as Best of Number Ones.] | ||
 | Album: 17 of 17 Title: Unbreakable Released: 2015-01-01 Tracks: 17 Duration: 1:04:43 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Unbreakable (03:38) 2 BURNITUP! (04:10) 3 Dammn Baby (03:55) 4 The Great Forever (04:18) 5 Shoulda Known Better (04:45) 6 After You Fall (04:48) 7 Broken Hearts Heal (03:43) 8 Night (04:14) 9 No Sleeep (04:20) 10 Dream Maker / Euphoria (02:46) 11 2 B Loved (02:56) 12 Take Me Away (04:18) 13 Promise (00:58) 14 Lessons Learned (04:24) 15 Black Eagle (03:18) 16 Well Traveled (04:18) 17 Gon’ B Alright (03:54) |
| Unbreakable : Allmusic album Review : All four of Janet Jacksons albums released during the 2000s debuted near or at the top of the Billboard 200, as ensured by a legion of devotees. They lacked the staying power of the Control-to-Velvet Rope run, however, and quickly slipped out of view. Jackson left two labels during the decade and dealt with personal matters that included the death of brother Michael. Seven years after Discipline, Jackson returns recharged, and on a BMG-supported label she established, with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis -- the demigods central to her best work -- as well as a small crew of additional associates, as her collaborators. The three singles that immediately preceded Unbreakable were clearly chosen for their range. "No Sleeep," unfortunately present here in its longer form that involves a J. Cole verse, is a first-rate rippling slow jam, ideal for her re-emergence. Second was the title cut, the albums lead track, where Jackson expresses thankfulness over a relaxed and wistful groove, her lead and background vocals in the chorus arranged to stellar effect. And then, to increase the intensity and anticipation even more, there was "Burnitup!," a simultaneously hard and light dance track with Missy Elliott hyping the crowd. Those three songs only hinted at the number of angles worked on Unbreakable. While the album is unrelentingly positive and clean-cut -- a relief for listeners who winced at the lurid content laced through Discipline and certain earlier points in the discography -- its a little erratic in style and quality. The probing synthesizers, booming bass, and relatively detached vocal in "Dammn Baby" come across as conscious concessions to commercial radio, and a couple cuts are structured like contemporary dance-pop singles disconnected from soul. A greater amount of the productions are better suited to Jackson. She covers romantic contentment and inner strength most frequently, highlighted by the grooving "Broken Hearts Heal" and "Black Butterfly" descendant "Black Eagle," and veers into societal turmoil, as timely now as Rhythm Nation 1814 was in 1989. There are dashes of classic Philly soul and Minneapolis funk, and it ends with a more explicit link to the past -- a whirlwind funk blast liable to prompt Jackson 5 and Sly & the Family Stone flashbacks, all the way down to Tommy McClendons Larry Graham-style low-end interjections. No one but Jackson can directly reference previous triumphs, address her audience, and yet move forward quite like this. | ||