Search - Janet Jackson :: Design of a Decade: 1986-1996

Music from the Rhythm nation

Nse Ette | Lagos, Nigeria | 09/09/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"`Design of a decade' is Janet's career retrospective of the previous ten hit filled years. A US #3 and UK #2. An amazing collection released when she was 29 and had amassed a staggering 19 US top 10 singles, most co penned by her. The songs are however not arranged chronologically. Released in 4 different versions with slightly different track lists, this is the UK/Europe version.



Unlike quite a number of other female (especially dance) artists, Janet does not have a powerful voice. Her forte is finding catchy, funky, incredibly danceable tracks to suit her very pretty but wisp like vocals to perfection, and this collection shows just how clever that pairing is.



Opening up with the brand new track, the oriental tinged pop/R&B of `Runaway', with lyrics taking the listener on a trip around the world, and an amazing video. A US #3 and UK top 5 hit.



Next up is the razor sharp dance track `What have you done for me lately', her first US or UK top 10 (US #4 UK #3), and the lead off single from her ground breaking `Control' album. Featuring man bashing lyrics, this track inspired acts like Jody Watley (`Lookin' for a new love') and Pebbles to name a few.



`Nasty', the Prince like funk track calling for respect. `My middle name aint baby/it's Janet/Ms Jackson if you're nasty'. US#3 UK#19. Taken from `Control'.



The upbeat pop/dance number `When I think of you' was her first US #1, and a UK #10. From `Control'.



The catchy, fun filled `Escapade' which is faintly similar to `Runaway' was from the ambitious concept album `Rhythm Nation 1814', and was a US #1 and UK #17.



The sparse Prince sounding but hard hitting `Miss you much' was a US #1 and UK #22. From `Rhythm nation'.



`Whoops now' is a sunny sounding, bouncy pop number, released in the UK, it hit #10. It was a hidden track on some copies of the `Janet' CD.



The slowed down dance/funk of `Love will never do without you' with its chunky beats was a US #1. Featuring Janet sinking is a smoky lower register in the opening verses before launching into her familiar range. This was the 7th single off the `Rhythm nation' album, a record setting 7 top 5 singles off an album, a record that still stands today.



`Alright' with its epic video featuring cameos from Cab Calloway and Heavy D was a US #4. Also from `Rhythm nation' and featured here in a remix.



Next up was `The best things in life are free', a duet with Luther Vandross from the soundtrack to the movie `Mo money'. An upbeat house number, it hit #10 in the US and #2 in the UK.



`Control' was a US #5. A funk/pop song with hip hop beats and lyrics like `When I was 17/I did what people told me/Did what my father said and let my mother mould me/but that was long ago/I'm in Control'. Janet was telling us she was all grown up and taking control of her life.



`The pleasure principle' is an upbeat synth driven dance song, US #14. Taken from `Control'.



`Black cat' penned solely by Janet is head banging rock, a surprise lone change in musical direction from the `Rhythm nation' album. Another US #1 and UK #20, and featured here in a remix.



Title track `Rhythm nation' is a clunky industrial sounding funk number. US #2.



`That's the way love goes', due to contractual issues, is the sole representation from her uber sexy `Janet' album. A mellow R&B song, it was a US #1 and UK #2.



`Come back to me' (remixed here) is a ballad off the `Rhythm nation' album, a US #2. The tender ballad `Let's wait awhile' (about taking things slow in a relationship) was the 5th top 5 single off the `Control' album (US #2, UK #3), a feat that was achieved for the first time by a female, and which she surpassed on her next album.



The brand new smoldering ballad `Twenty fore play' (with a nice change in tempo midway through) closes out this superb collection from one of dance music's premier songstresses.



Full of fabulous photos of Janet from 86 to 95 (including stills from videos), a very lengthy write up (including snippets from interviews with Janet and Jam & Lewis) on the evolution of her music from 86 to 95, as well as chart statistics and numerous awards received by Janet.



Superb!



P.S. The CD cover photo is different from what is displayed here on amazon; it is a black & white shot of Janet from the bust up, smiling and looking slightly to the left.

"

Design of a decade

J.GQ | Brooklyn,New York | 06/16/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A great review album of all of janet top 10 hits feauturing a hidden track from janet's 1993 releaase JANET. and The Best Things In Life Are Free, a B- side single note that most tracks from the 1993 release janet are neglected due to contractual reasons because the album was released under virgin while DOAD was released under her former label A&M who have no rights to her music from virggin due to the kindness of the virgin record company and janet herself that's the way love goes and whoops now are feautred great buy and alittle bit better than the u.s release due to the extra tracks 99.9/100"