Showing posts with label Janet Jackson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Janet Jackson. Show all posts

Thursday 21 July 2011

Let's wait awhile - Janet Jackson

'I promise, I'll be worth the wait', said Janet Jackson back in 1986 when 'Let's wait awhile' hit the airwaves. We know now that she didn't lie: the many photographs and sexually charged songs she's released since then are evidence of the fact that Janet has left her prude days far behind.

This 12" single features the single remix of 'Let's wait awhile' plus the older remixes of 'Nasty', that were released as a separate 12" single a few months earlier.

My collection: 12" single no. 567
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received July 9, 2011
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Let's wait awhile (remix)', 'Nasty (Cool summer mix - part 1)' / 'Nasty (Cool summer mix - part 2)'

Tuesday 12 July 2011

Control - Janet Jackson

Listening to the 12" single of Janet Jackson's 'Control', the title track of her 1986 album, you can't help but notice how dated it all sounds. The big drums, the synthesized music, and even the vocal: here's something at work that needs some more maturity.

'I've got my own life / I wanna make my own decisions', Janet sings in this song. In the decades to come she would do plenty of that. It would lead to many successful albums and singles and some skin-uncovering scandals. But as she says in this song, she was always in control....

My collection: 12" single no. 566
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received July 9, 2011
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Control (extended)', 'Control (edit)' / 'Control (dub)', 'Pretty boy'

Sunday 10 July 2011

Nasty (Cool summer mix) - Janet Jackson

Following the original 12" single of 'Nasty', A&M records released the 'Cool summer mix' of 'Nasty'. The remix consisted of two parts of roughly eight and ten minutes. If you weren't sick of the track by then, you would be playing it until you were, because it actually is a nice remix.

Part 1 of the remix would appear on 'Control - the remixes', making part 2 quite a rarity.

My collection: 12" single no. 565
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received July 9, 2011
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Nasty (Cool summer mix - part 1)' / 'Nasty (Cool summer mix - part 2)'

Nasty - Janet Jackson

'Nasty' was released as the second single from Janet Jackson's 1986 album 'Control'. There were actually two 12" singles for that release, of which this one was the first. Featuring three remixes, it was a pretty standard package for that point in time: an extended version, an instrumental version and an a capella version made up this disc.

Only the extended version ended up on the album 'Control - the remixes', which was released in 1987.

My collection: 12" single no. 564
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received July 9, 2011
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Nasty (extended)' / 'Nasty (instrumental)', 'Nasty (a capella)'

Saturday 9 July 2011

What have you done for me lately - Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson shot to fame when she released 'What have you done for me lately', the first single from her third album 'Control', in 1986. Although I liked the song, it took some time for me to buy the 7" single because by the time it finished its chart run, I was pretty sick of it.

The 12" single took me even longer: a quarter of a century. Now that I bought it, I had the bad luck of getting a copy with a slight damage on the disc. The perils of mail order...

My collection: 12" single no. 563
Found: Fun Records, Berlin, received July 9, 2011
Cost: 1,95 euro
Tracks: 'What have you done for me lately (extended)' / 'What have you done for me lately (dub)', 'What have you done for me lately (acapella)'

Tuesday 14 June 2011

Don't stand another chance - Janet Jackson

Two major compilation albums with hits by Janet Jackson have been released so far, but both of them failed to include her earliest singles. Only a UK limited edition double cd package of 'Design of a decade' (1995) included a 12" version of 'Young love', 'Say you do' and this single, 'Don't stand another chance'.

It's even more amazing when you think that Janet actually released 10 singles before she hit it big with 'What have you done for me lately' - and subsequent singles. And one more thing: between 1982 and 1985 she didn't need to get her tits out to sell records. But then, she only sold half a million records in that time...

My collection: 7" single no. 5155
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Don't stand another chance' / 'Rock 'n' roll'

Saturday 4 June 2011

When I think of you - Janet Jackson

My collection of Jackson records is far from complete, but I do have most of the albums, 7" singles and cd-singles released by Michael and Janet since 1988. Problem is, before the cd-single became popular, they'd released several singles on vinyl only. As such, most of the remixes from Janet's album 'Control' have only been released on vinyl.

This 12" single is a good example. Although there is a cd called 'Control: the remixes', it does not contain all four versions included on this disc. As such, it is worth having. And I'm glad to have come across a cheap copy...

My collection: 12" single no. 561
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, June 4, 2011
Cost: 2,25 euro
Tracks: 'When I think of you (Dance remix)' / 'When I think of you (Instrumental)', When I think of you (Extra beats)', 'When I think of you (Dub)'

Saturday 14 May 2011

The pleasure principle - Janet Jackson

The four remixes on this disc were all created by Shep Pettibone. This makes for a rather unvaried compilation, as all four remixes draw from the same ideas: a few samples from 'Let's wait awhile' and 'When I think of you', lots of drum tracks, and of course the vocal track from Janet herself, which is most prominent in the 'acapella' version (which basically is just the vocal track with all the other tracks muted).

There were many of such 12" singles around in the second half of the Eighties. Some of these mixes finally ended up on the remix album 'Control: the remixes', but not all of them. Which makes this 12" single interesting for Janet Jackson collectors after all.

My collection: 12" single no. 557
Found: La La Land, Den Haag, May 14, 2011
Cost: 2,5 euro
Tracks: 'The pleasure principle (Long vocal)', 'The pleasure principle (acapella)' / 'The pleasure principle (12" dub)', 'The pleasure principle (7" vocal)'

Monday 28 February 2011

Funny how time flies (when you're having fun) - Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson's album 'Control' was a big success, and the way the album was 'milked' for singles was equal to her brother Michael's 'Thriller' a few years before. After six singles released internationally, 'Funny how time flies (when you're having fun)' was released as single number seven in the UK and Australia.

This limited edition version from the UK featured a giant poster with two pictures of Janet in black and white. The single performed poorly in the UK singles chart despite this: it only reached number 59. Janet performed the song live for the first time in 2008, during her Rock Witchu Tour.

My collection: 7" single no. 5041
Found: Ebay.co.uk, received February 28, 2011
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Funny how time flies (when you're having fun)' / 'When I think of you'

Saturday 6 March 2010

Again - Janet Jackson

'Again' was included as the closing song of Janet Jackson's 1993 movie debut in 'Poetic Justice'. The song was, however, not included on the soundtrack album. It reappeared on Janet Jackson's own album 'janet.', also released in 1993.

The track became her seventh number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, while reaching number 6 in the UK singles chart and number 20 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2081
Found: March 8, 1994
Cost: 8 guilders
Tracks: 'Again' / 'Again (Piano/Vocal)'

Sunday 28 February 2010

Alright - Janet Jackson

A slight correction on the earlier post about Janet Jackson's 1990 single 'Alright': I thought the B-side of the Dutch edition was 'Come back to me', but this copy of the single proves that it is actually a remix of 'Alright'. Two versions of the track on one single: if you like remixes, this is a good deal.

As written in the earlier post, 'Alright' didn't manage to reach the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4582
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, February 26, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Alright (7" R&B mix)' / 'Alright (7" remix)'

Wednesday 24 February 2010

If - Janet Jackson

In the song 'If', Janet Jackson is consumed with sexual fantasies of a man who doesn't even know she exists. An electric guitar and a sample from Diana Ross & the Supremes' 1969 song 'Someday we'll be together' are the musical ingredients for this fast-paced track. The single contains a B-side track called 'One more chance', which is a cover of a song her brother Randy wrote, produced, and performed for The Jacksons' 1984 album 'Victory'.

'If' was released as the second single from Janet's album 'janet.' in the summer of 1993. It reached number 1 in Canada, number 14 in the UK singles chart, number 4 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 10 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 2004
Found: HMV, London, October 18, 1993
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'If' / 'One more chance'

Saturday 20 February 2010

That's the way love goes - Janet Jackson

'That's the way love goes' was written and produced by Janet Jackson with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Jackson came up with the title, inspired by the downbeat tone of the music created by Jam and Lewis.

Although the record company wanted to have 'If' as the first single from Janet's new album in 1993, Jam and Lewis argued that 'That's the way love goes' would be the better choice. They were right: it was a number 1 hit in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, also reaching number 5 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 2 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 2003
Found: HMV, London, October 18, 1993
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'That's the way love goes' / 'That's the way love goes (instrumental)'

Thursday 11 February 2010

Love will never do (without you) - Janet Jackson

Originally, producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis toyed with the idea of making Janet Jackson's 'Love will never do (without you)' a duet. They thought about possibly getting Prince, Johnny Gill, Ralph Tresvant, or anyone else working with them at the time. During the recording of the first verse, Jimmy Jam told Janet to 'sing it low like some guy would sing it.' As a result, they kept the idea of her singing the first verse in a low octave but go an octave up on the second verse.

The single became Janet Jackson's fifth number 1 single in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, the final of seven top five singles from the album 'Rhythm Nation 1814', making her the only artist to achieve seven top five singles from one album in the USA. Its success was more moderate in Europe: in the UK singles chart, 'Love will never do (without you)' peaked at number 34, and in the Dutch Top 40 it reached number 33. The single remix did a lot to ruin what was actually a great song on the album.

My collection: 7" single no. 1377
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, January 26, 1991
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Love will never do (without you) ('Work it out' 7" with intro)' / 'Love will never do (without you) (The love 7")'

Sunday 7 February 2010

The best things in life are free - Luther Vandross and Janet Jackson

I've always had a soft spot for Janet Jackson's Eighties and early Nineties material, but this single version of 'The best things in life are free' is quite abyssmal. At the time, the single was promoted with a music video that featured a different version of the song - this one bounces around and sounds too hollow and also adds some unnecessary rapping.

The single was a release from the soundtrack of the money 'Mo' Money' in 1992. It reached number 24 in the Dutch Top 40, number 10 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 2 in the UK singles chart. A remix was made and released in 1995 on the occasion of Janet Jackson's compilation album 'Design of a decade'. That time around, it reached number 7.

My collection: 7" single no. 1702
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, September 5, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'The best things in life are free' / Snippets: 'Money can't buy you love' (Ralph Tresvant), 'Let's just run away' (Johnny Gill), 'Let's get togeher (So groovy now)' (Krush)

Monday 25 January 2010

Escapade - Janet Jackson

'Escapade' was inspired by the Martha & the Vandellas 1965 single 'Nowhere to run', which Jackson originally intended to remake, but instead choose to record a new song with a similar feel after a suggestion from producer Jimmy Jam.

When released as the third single from her 1989 album 'Rhythm Nation 1814', the song peaked at number 1 in the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks in March 1990. The single also reached number 17 in the UK singles chart and number 13 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 1191
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, March 2, 1990
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Escapade' / 'Escapade (instrumental)'

Sunday 17 January 2010

Black cat - Janet Jackson

As the years went by, it was easy to accuse Janet Jackson of using a formula for her albums: there were always a few ballads, some dance songs and one obligatory rock-oriented track. In the case of her 1989 album 'Rhythm Nation 1814', it was 'Black cat', released as the sixth single from the album.

The B-side of the single features 'The 1814 Megamix'. Remixed by Alan Coulthard, it includes snippets of Jackson's previous hit singles 'Alright', 'Escapade', 'Rhythm nation', and 'Miss you much'.

My collection: 7" single no. 1330
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 17, 1990
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Black cat' / 'The 1814 Megamix'

Sunday 10 January 2010

Alright - Janet Jackson

Personally, I was never impressed with the track 'Alright' by Janet Jackson, taken from her album 'Rhythm Nation 1814'. When it was released as a single, I simply didn't buy it. That is, until I spotted this UK edition featuring the Spanish version of 'Come back to me' on the B-side. 'Come back to me' is a beautiful ballad, and sounds even better in Spanish, I have to say.

'Alright' reached number 20 in the UK singles chart in the summer of 1990. In the Netherlands, where it was released in April with the 'normal' version of 'Come back to me' on the B-side, it didn't chart. A good B-side makes all the difference in the world.

My collection: 7" single no. 2031
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 19, 1993
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Alright (House mix)' / 'Vuelve a mi (Come back to me)'

Sunday 20 December 2009

Rhythm nation - Janet Jackson

'Rhythm nation' was the second single from Janet Jackson's 1989 album 'Rhythm nation 1814'. The song preached racial unity and harmony among nations, 'looking for a better way of life' and a way to stop 'social injustice'. The song contains a sample from Sly & the Family Stone's 1969 song 'Thank you (Falettinme be mice elf agin)'. The single reached number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 11 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 23 in the UK singles chart.

I actually own two different copies of this single: the German pressing, which contains an instrumental version of 'Rhythm nation' on the B-side, and a limited edition UK pressing with a gatefold sleeve and a remix of 'Rhythm nation' on the B-side.

My collection: 7" single no. 1164 / no. 2505
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, January 27, 1990 / House of Rhythm, London, October 30, 1995
Cost: 6 guilders / 1 pound
Tracks: 'Rhythm nation' / 'Rhythm nation (instrumental' or 'Rhythm nation (CHR remix)'

Wednesday 9 December 2009

Miss you much - Janet Jackson

'Miss you much' was the first single taken from Janet Jackson's 1989 album 'Rhythm Nation 1814', the follow-up to the exceedingly successful 'Control' album. In the UK, the single was released with a poster sleeve, but it only reached number 22 in the singles chart. In the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, it reached number 1, while in the Dutch Top 40 it got to number 15.

The B-side, 'You need me', is about Jackson's personal feelings about her father, and how the tables are turned, that now he needs her. At the time of its release there were reports that the B-side was the product of Jackson's record labels pressure on her in an attempt to produce a 'Control part 2' album, addressing the rumours in the press regarding her personal life and family. Jackson didn't do this and only produced this one autobiographical track, which is therefore considers to be a collectors' item.

My collection: 7" single no. 999
Found: HMV, London, October 16, 1989
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Miss you much' / 'You need me'

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Advertising