Two to the power - Janet Jackson & Cliff Richard

While Janet Jackson was still a relatively unknown pop star back in 1984, releasing quite run-of-the-mill dance music, she did manage to rope in an unlikely duet partner on her second album 'Dream street': Cliff Richard. You have to wonder why he participated in this song, because it doesn't sound like anything else he recorded until then. But maybe that was part of the fun for him.

Like the rest of Janet's material on her first two albums, the song isn't spectacular and just seems to pass the listener by without making much of an impression. It's obvious that the record company believed in the track, though: there's even a 12" single - although it doesn't contain an extended or remixed version of the song. 

'Did it chart, though?', I hear you ask. Well, it reached number 83 in the UK and number 7 in South Africa. 

My collection: 7" single no. 7085
Found: Discogs.com, received 6 December 2023
Tracks: 'Two to the power' (Janet Jackson & Cliff Richard) / 'Fast girls' (Janet Jackson)

Again - Janet Jackson

A lot of years have passed by since I originally bought the single 'Again' by Janet Jackson. Back in 1994 I thought it was a brilliant heartfelt ballad, and I loved the fact that it was released as a single. (I already owned the album at that point.) 

Flash forward almost three decades and things have changed a bit. I don't listen to Janet as much as I did, the sexually-charged albums that followed after 1993 were a bit weird (although some tracks on there were still very catchy) and listening to this song again it sounds a bit, I don't know, too polished, too calculated. But I can only say this having listened to this single which I recently bought online.

Why did I buy it in the first place? Well, I am a sucker for coloured vinyl, of course!

My collection: 7" single no. 7010
Found: Bennie's Fifties, received 18 August 2023
Tracks: 'Again' / 'Again (piano, vocal)

When I think of you (The David Morales '95 remixes) - Janet Jackson

When A&M Records released 'Design of a decade', a compilation album featuring all the hits Janet Jackson recorded on the label, they didn't just release that album and two singles, but also did an intensive series of remixes for the club market.

This promotional 2 disc set of 12" singles features new remixes of the hit 'When I think of you', all of them created by David Morales. It is great to hear these remixes, although after a while you do get the feeling that mister Morales could have been more imaginative than just create six pretty similar remixes.


My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received March 27, 2019
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'When I think of you (Morales House Mix '95)', 'When I think of you (Drum mix)' / 'When I think of you (Jazzy Mix)' // 'When I think of you (Crazy Love mix)' / 'When I think of you (Classic club mix)', 'When I think of you (Incredible Boss dub)'

Twenty foreplay - Janet Jackson

'Twenty foreplay' was the second single release from the compilation album 'Design of a decade' that was released by A&M Records after she'd left the label in favour of Virgin Records. Confusingly, the album was released after Janet's first album for Virgin, the sexy album 'Janet.'

The compilation album featured two new tracks that were both released as a single: 'Runaway' being the first. This vinyl single is pretty rare because it was released for jukeboxes only. No commercial 7" single for this track was ever released. In those days, vinyl was on the decline and CD's were on the rise. 'Twenty foreplay' reached number 22 in the UK singles chart and only reached top 10 in South Africa.

My collection: 7" single no. 6065
Found: Discogs.com, received May 10, 2019
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Twenty foreplay (Slow Jam International edit)' / 'Alright (CJ radio)'

Escapade - Janet Jackson

There is something special about UK pressed 7" singles, which is why every now and again I do buy some copies of singles I already own, but in their European counterparts. The latest delivery contained a few handfuls of such singles, coupled with a few I didn't already have. This single was one of them.

Of course I already did own a version of Janet Jackson's 'Escapade', but the UK version is notably different because both mixes on this disc do not appear on the other single I have. These mixes were created by Shep Pettibone, and it's interesting that these were preferred over the original single version that was used elsewhere.

My collection: 7" single no. 6048
Found: Discogs.com, received April 17, 2019
Cost: 1 pound
Tracks: 'Escapade (We've got it made 7")' / 'Escapade (Housecapade 7")'

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

The movie 'Mo' Money' featured this track by Luther Vandross and Janet Jackson, 'The best things in life are free'. The 12" version presents six versions of that track. It can become a bit of a monotonous affair to listen to these remixes one after another, despite the fact that two different remixers have done their thing.

The first two tracks on the B-side were created by David Morales and Frankie Knuckles, whereas the three other remixes were made by CJ Mackintosh. The whole thing was produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who were also responsible for Janet Jackson's other output at the time.

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received March 2, 2019
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'The best things in life are free (LP version)', 'The best things in life are free (CJ's UK 12" with rap)', 'The best things in life are free (CJ's Mackapella)' / 'The best things in life are free (Classic 12" with rap)', 'The best things in life are free (Def version)', 'The best things in life are free (CJ's UK dub 1)'

Runaway / When I think of you - Janet Jackson

It's not the first time that I described Janet Jackson's 'Runaway' on this blog. I already have the 7" single, a promotional double 12" package and a double 12" single of 'Runaway' and 'When I think of you' remixes.

But still the double 12" package I found while shopping online a few months ago contained other remixes of 'Runaway' and 'When I think of you'. Do we really need that many versions of two songs? I'm not sure. I do quite like some of these remixes. At the same time I wonder why they were never released on cd....

My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Discogs.com, received 16 August 2017
Cost: $4
Tracks: 'Runaway (Junior's Factory mix)', 'Runaway (Junior's Tribal dub mix)' / 'Runaway (Steve's "Silk" House mix)', 'Runaway (Torin's radio edit)' // 'Runaway (Junior's Factory dub)', 'Runaway (Junior's Factory Mix w/ vocal sample)' / 'When I think of you (Deep Dish Chocolate City mix)', 'When I think of you (Deep Dish Quite Storm dub)'

I get lonely - Janet Jackson

Taken from her 1997 album 'The velvet rope', 'I get lonely' was one of those Janet Jackson tracks that contained an R&B feel more than her previous work. It was the kind of stuff she would record more often after this album, with increasingly less audience approval.

These remixes breathe a little life into the track, although it really can't compare with the hits she'd had in the decade before. Nice, but not too interesting is my verdict, alas.

My collection: 12" single no. 618
Found: Discogs.com, received January 24, 2012
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'I get lonely (Janet vs Jason - The club remix)', 'I get lonely (Janet vs Jason - The remix sessions part 2)' / 'I get lonely (Jason's special sauce dub)', 'I get lonely (LP version)'

So excited - Janet Jackson

'So excited' was taken from Janet Jackson's ninth album '20 Y.O.' and features a sample of Herbie Hancock's 1984 hit single 'Rockit'. That is a very good addition, however the addition of the inarticulate ramblings of a rapper named Khia is a less fortunate choice.

Although 'So excited' was remixed by Junior Vasquez, Bimbo Jones and Eddie Baez, this 12" single features four slightly predictable versions of the song: an album version, a radio edit, an instrumental version and an acapella version, all drawn from the regular album mix. The radio edit is laughable because of its random removal of certain 'shocking' words. You can't listen to - lyric - certain words - blocked. And what's so shocking about the word 'inside' anyway?

My collection: 12" single no. 601
Found: Discogs.com, received November 1, 2011
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'So excited (album version)', 'So exicted (radio edit)' / 'So excited (instrumental)', 'So excited (a cappella)'

Escapade - Janet Jackson

Although I have two cd-singles of Janet Jackson's 'Escapade', each featuring three remixes of the track, I was surprised to find that four remixes on this 12" single don't appear on them. And I'm not even counting the LP version which also appears on this 12".

Wikipedia lists 15 different remixes of 'Escapade', but since only two remix teams were involved one could assume that these versions are all a bit 'samey'. The remixes on this 12" single were all made by Shep Pettibone, whereas a lot of other remixes were made by producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. It's always amusing to hear different remixes of one track, but it can get a little too much sometimes.

My collection: 12" single no. 609
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 19, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Escapade (Shep's Good Time mix)', 'Escapade (The Get away dub)', 'Escapade (LP version)' / 'Escapade (Shep's Housecapade mix)', 'Escapade (Housecapade dub)', 'Escapade (I can't take no more dub)'

Miss you much - Janet Jackson

Here's another good example of the Puck-trick I employed so successfully last Saturday. In April I spotted this promotional 7" single of Janet Jackson. Interesting, since I've become a bit of a Janet Jackson collector lately. But I already owned the 'normal' single of 'Miss you much', so I wasn't prepared to spend 3 euros on this one.

But fortunately the same dealer returned this month, with a special discount on all of his 7" singles. Now the single had become very cheap, and it was still the collector's item I wanted to have. It's mine now!

My collection: 7" single no. 5233
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 19, 2011
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Miss you much' / 'You need me'

Say you do - Janet Jackson

'Say you do' was the third single from Janet Jackson's self-titled debut album 'Janet Jackson' (1982). There are three versions of the song: an edit of 3'48, an album version of 5'20 and the 12" remix version, which clocks in at 6'49.

Janet performed this song live for the first time during her 2008 'Rock Witchu tour'.

My collection: 12" single no. 606
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 19, 2011
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Say you do [extended version]' / 'You'll never find (a love like mine)'

Feedback - Janet Jackson

You can't fault a catchy tune, even if the lyric reads 'Do you like my style / Yeah that's sexy, sexy, sexy'. It's one indication that the album 'Discipline', which 'Feedback' was taken from, would have at least one or two songs about sex on it. The fact of the matter is, the whole album was full of sexual undertones - and overtones, come to think of it. Janet likes to profile herself as being very sexy, and the song lyrics she writes are often very sexy too.

This double 12" single set features a, well, sexy photograph of Janet Jackson on the cover, and includes six remixes of the track, created by four different remixers. It's pretty good stuff. I would say it's all pretty sexy.

My collection: 12" single no. 600
Found: Discogs.com, received November 1, 2011
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'Feedback (Moto Blanco full vocal)' / 'Feedback (Wideboys club)', 'Feedback (Jody den Broeder club)' // 'Feedback (Ralphi Rosario Dirty club)' / 'Feedback (Moto Blanco dub)', 'Feedback (Wideboys dub)'

Go deep - Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson released 'Go deep' in the summer of 1998 as a single from her 1997 album 'The velvet rope'. It is an upbeat song, written by Jackson with James Harris III, Terry Lewis and René Elizondo Jr.

According to a listing on Wikipedia, there are 27 remixes of the song, and five of them appear on this promotional double 12" single. All five remixes on these discs were created by Masters at Work. Other remixes were made by Roni Size, Timbaland, Teddy Riley and Jam & Lewis.

My collection: 12" single no. 603
Found: Discogs.com, received November 1, 2011
Cost: 4 euro
Tracks: 'Go deep (Thunder mix)', 'Go deep (Bonus beats)' / 'Go deep (Spiritual flute mix)' // 'Go deep (Vocal deep disco dub)' / 'Go deep (Alternative mix)'

Alright - Janet Jackson

Yesterday Jamaican-born American rapper Heavy D died. Apparently he collapsed outside his Beverly Hills home. After being taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, he died as a result from respiratory issues.

Heavy D did a performance both on Michael Jackson's hit single 'Jam' in 1991 and on Janet Jackson's 1990 hit single 'Alright'. Personally I felt that it was a bit of needless talking through otherwise pretty nice pop music, but there you go. This promotional 12" single features no less than eight remixes of 'Alright' - with Heavy D appearing on most of them - plus three versions of 'Come back to me'.

My collection: 12" single no. 604
Found: Discogs.com, received November 1, 2011
Cost: 3 euro
Tracks: 'Alright (12" house mix)', 'Alright (Hip house dub)', 'Alright (acappella)' / 'Alright (12" R&B mix)', 'Alright (House dub)' // 'Alright (7" house mix with rap)', 'Alright (7" house mix)', 'Alright (7" R&B mix)' / 'Come back to me (I'm beggin' you mix)', 'Come back to me (Abandoned heart mix)', 'Come back to me (instrumental)'

Come back to me - Janet Jackson

When I ordered a copy of this 22 year old 12" single by Janet Jackson, I never in my wildest dreams suspected I would receive a mint copy, still sealed. That's quite rare. It's a consolation for the fact that I searched for the cd-single of this release for years but until now I haven't been able to locate a copy for a reasonable price.

'Come back to me' was released as a single from Janet's 1989 album 'Rhythm nation 1814' and it's one of the most beautiful melodies she has recorded. It's especially nice to hear the instrumental version on this disc. Unfortunately the previously unreleased track 'The skin game part 1' is a bit of a disappointment.

My collection: 12" single no. 598
Found: Discogs.com, received November 1, 2011
Cost: 4 pounds
Tracks: 'Come back to me (7" I'm beggin' you mix)', 'Come back to me (I'm beggin' you mix)', 'Come back to me (instrumental)' / 'The skin game part 1', 'The skin game part 1 (instrumental)'

The pleasure principle / Alright - Janet Jackson

This is the second of two promotional double 12" single packages of Janet Jackson remixes I bought this weekend. Whereas 'Runaway / When I think of you' featured remixes of one recent track and an old one, this package featured remixes of two old tracks: 'The pleasure principle' (from Janet's 1986 album 'Control') and 'Alright' (from the follow-up, 'Rhythm nation 1814').

The remixes were created by Danny Tenaglia and Todd Terry and these may not be their best work, actually. At least, I've certainly heard better remixes from both of them.

My collection: 12" single no. 593
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 15, 2011
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'The pleasure principle (Legendary Club mix)' / 'The pleasure principle (NuFlava Vocal Dub)', 'The pleasure principle (Banji dub)' // 'The pleasure principle (DT's Twilo dub)' / 'Alright (Tee's club mix)', 'Alright (Tee's Beats)'

Runaway / When I think of you - Janet Jackson

As readers of this blog may have realised, I have been hunting down old Janet Jackson 12" singles over recent months. American promotional double 12" singles were quite hard to get - I thought they were only available via mail order these days.

Imagine my surprise when I found not one, but two of these double 12" single sets in a second hand shop in London this weekend. This is the first of them: a package of remixes of Janet's 1996 single 'Runaway' backed with three slightly disappointing remixes of 'When I think of you'.

My collection: 12" single no. 592
Found: Record Exchange, London, October 15, 2011
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'Runaway (JR Factory Mix)', 'Runaway (JR Tribal mix)' / 'When I think of you (Deep Dish Chocolate City mix)' // 'When I think of you (Deep Dish Quiet Storm dub)' / 'When I think of you (Dished out dub)'

All nite (don't stop) - Janet Jackson

'All nite (Don't stop)' was released as the third single from Janet Jackson's 2004 album 'Damita Jo'. The song contains a sample of Herbie Hancock's 1975 track 'Hang up your hang ups'. This 12" features two remixes of the track.

After what has become known as the 'Superbowl incident' in which Jackson flashed a boob during prime time on American television, MTV refused to air the video, leading to a failure of the single. However, in 2008 the single still reached number 40 in the US Billboard Hot 100.

My collection: 12" single no. 583
Found: Discogs.com, received August 5, 2011
Cost: 5 euro
Tracks: 'All nite (Don't stop) (Sander Kleinenberg Club Mix)' / 'All nite (Don't stop) (Low End Specialists Main Mix)'

State of the world - Janet Jackson

'Rhythm nation' was perhaps Janet Jackson's most serious album, with lyrics about themes like racism, social injustice and more things like that. 'State of the world' was one of the essential tracks on the album, although it wasn't released as a single in most territories.

This promotional double 12" single features no less than 10 versions of the track, including a 'State of the world Suite' that lasts an impressive 14 minutes. Listening to all the remixes in one go is not recommended: a collection like this needs to be ingested with care.

My collection: 12" single no. 584
Found: Discogs.com, received August 31, 2011
Cost: 6 euro
Tracks: 'State of the world (United Nations 12")', 'State of the world (United Nations Dub)', 'State of the world (United Nations instrumental)' / 'State of the world (Third world 7"), 'State of the world (Third world dub)', 'State of the world (Third world instrumental)' // 'State of the world (Suite)' / 'State of the world (State of the house 12")', 'State of the world (Make a change dub)', 'State of the world (World dance mix)'