Janet (album)

Untitled

janet. is the fifth studio album (sixth overall) by American R&B/pop singer Janet Jackson, and her first released on Virgin Records. It was released on May 18, 1993 (two days after her twenty-seventh birthday).

Co-producing with longtime collaborators Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, the album would go on to become the best-selling record of Jackson's career thus far, selling 20 million copies worldwide. janet. became the first album by a female artist to debut at #1 in the U.S. in the Nielsen SoundScan era. It spent 6 weeks at #1, 36 weeks inside the Top 10 and a total of 106 weeks in the Billboard 200. In its first week it sold 350,000 copies. The RIAA certified it Gold, Platinum & 3x platinum on Aug 8, 1993 & 6x platinum on Apr 12, 1994, denoting shipments of 6 million, in under a year of release.

All songs featured the lyrical contributions of Jackson and most of the production went to Jam, Lewis and Jackson, though her then-husband Rene Elizondo claimed to have had some hand in the music as well. He notoriously cupped his hands over Jackson's breasts on the infamous Rolling Stone cover which uses the same photo as the album (though the photo was cropped to show only Jackson's face on the cover, and stomach in the interior booklet; the "cupped breast" portion of the image did not appear in the standard CD artwork at all).

Yielding six top ten hits, the album would go on to win a Grammy Award, a MTV VMA, a Billboard Music Award and a Soul Train Music Award as well as nominations for the American Music Awards, Academy Awards, and Golden Globe Awards.

The album has a hidden track, "Whoops Now", for which a video was made in 1995.

Track listing

1. "Morning" – 0:31
2. "That's the Way Love Goes" (Jackson/Harris/Lewis) – 4:25
3. "You Know" – 0:12
4. "You Want This" (Jackson/Harris/Lewis) – 5:05
5. "Be A Good Boy" – 0:07
6. "If" (Jackson/Harris/Lewis) – 4:31
7. "Back" – 0:04
8. "This Time" (Jackson/Harris/Lewis) (featuring soprano by Kathleen Battle) – 6:58
9. "Go On Miss Janet" – 0:05
10. "Throb" (Jackson/Harris/Lewis) – 4:35
11. "What'll I Do" (Jackson/Cropper/Shamwell) – 4:05
12. "The Lounge" – 4:05
13. "Funky Big Band" (Jackson/Harris/Lewis) – 6:08
14. "Racism" – 3:09
15. "New Agenda" (Jackson/Harris/Lewis) (featuring rap by Chuck D) – 4:00
16. "Love Pt. 2" – 3:33
17. "Because of Love" (Jackson/Harris/Lewis) – 4:20
18. "Wind" – 0:11
19. "Again" (Jackson/Harris/Lewis) – 3:47
20. "Another Lover" – 0:11
21. "Where Are You Now" (Jackson/Harris/Lewis) – 5:47
22. "Hold On Baby" – 0:10
23. "The Body That Loves You" (Jackson/Harris/Lewis) – 5:33
24. "Rain" – 0:18
25. "Any Time, Any Place" (Jackson/Harris/Lewis) – 7:08
26. "Are You Still Up" – 1:36
27. "Sweet Dreams"/"Whoops Now" (US Release) (Jackson) – 5:34
28. "Whoops Now" (UK Release) - 4:58

Limited Edition Tracklisting:

• Disc 1

Standard US Release

• Disc 2

1. That's The Way Love Goes/If (Medley) - 5:48 [= live recording of her 1993 MTV VMA performance]
2. That's The Way Love Goes (We Aimsta Win Mix) - 5:41 [= "We Aimsta Win Mix #1"]
3. Again (French Version) - 3:53
4. If (Brothers In Rhythm Swing Yo Pants Mix) - 6:20
5. One More Chance - 5:54
6. That's The Way Love Goes (CJ Macintosh R&B Mix) - 6:19 [= "CJ R&B 12" Mix"]
7. If (Todd Terry Janet's Jeep Mix) - 6:27
8. Again (Piano/Vocal) - 3:48

This limited edition release is a 2-disc set housed in a 40-page hardcover book with lyrics and rare color pictures.

B-sides

• "One More Chance" (Cover of the song written by her brother Randy, B-side to "If") - 5:54
• "And On and On" (Includes a sample of "Family Affair" by Sly & the Family Stone , B-side to "Any Time, Any Place") - 4:50
• "70's Love Groove" (B-side to "You Want This") - 5:47

Charts, sales and certification

Chart	Peak	Certification	Shipments
Worldwide			19,000,000
U.S. Billboard 200	1 (6 weeks)	6x Platinum	6,000,000
U.S. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums	1 (6 weeks)
UK Albums Chart	1 (2 weeks)	2x Platinum	600,000
German Albums Chart	5	Gold	575,000
Japanese Albums Chart	5	2x Platinum	500,000
South African Albums Chart	1	6x Platinum	300,000
Canadian Albums Chart	1	3x Platinum	300,000
Australian Albums Chart	1	4x Platinum	280,000
French Albums Chart	16	2x Gold	250,000
Swiss Albums Chart	10	Gold	25,000
New Zealand Albums Chart	1	Platinum	15,000

Singles

#	Title	Release Date	Chart Position
1.	"That's The Way Love Goes"	April 20, 1993	#1 - Billboard Hot 100 #1 - Hot 100 Airplay #1 - Hot 100 Singles Sales #1 - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles #1 - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay #1 - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales #1 - Hot Dance Club Play #1 - Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales #1 - Hot Rhythmic Top 40 #1 - Hot Top 40 Mainstream #16 - Hot Adult Contemporary
2.	"If"	July 13, 1993	#4 - Billboard Hot 100 #3 - Hot 100 Airplay #5 - Hot 100 Singles Sales #3 - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles #2 - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales #6 - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Airplay #1 - Hot Dance Club Play #4 - Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales #3 - Hot Rhythmic Top 40 #2 - Hot Top 40 Mainstream
3.	"Again"	October 12, 1993	#1 - Billboard Hot 100 #1 - Hot 100 Airplay #1 - Hot 100 Singles Sales #1 - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales #20 - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Airplay #7 - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles #4 - Hot Adult Contemporary #2 - Hot Top 40 Mainstream
4.	"Because Of Love"	January 18, 1994	#10 - Billboard Hot 100 #29 - Hot 100 Singles Sales #6 - Hot 100 Airplay #9 - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles #8 - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales #19 - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Airplay #4 - Hot Dance Club Play #4 - Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales #32 - Hot Adult Contemporary
5.	"Any Time, Any Place"	May 24, 1994	#2 - Billboard Hot 100 #3 - Hot 100 Airplay #2 - Hot 100 Singles Sales #1 - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles #1 - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales #1 - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Airplay #1 - Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales #1 - Hot Rhythmic Top 40 #6 - Hot Top 40 Mainstream
6.	"You Want This"	October 11, 1994	#8 - Billboard Hot 100 #9 - Hot 100 Airplay #5 - Hot 100 Singles Sales #9 - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles #3 - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales #12 - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Airplay #9 - Hot Dance Club Play #9 - Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales
7.	"New Agenda"	Not officially released	#66 - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay
8.	"Where Are You Now"	Not officially released	#30 - Hot 100 Airplay #66 - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay #12 - Hot Rhythmic Top 40
9.	"And On and On"	Not officially released	#36 - Hot 100 Airplay #12 - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay #17 - Hot Rhythmic Top 40
10.	"Throb"	Not officially released	#66 - Hot 100 Airplay #2 - Hot Dance Club Play
11.	"70's Love Groove"	Not officially released	#45 - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay

Samples

• That's The Way Love Goes samples "Papa Don't Take No Mess" performed by James Brown.
• You Want This samples "Love Child" performed by The Supremes, and "Jungle Boogie" performed by Kool and The Gang.
• If samples "Someday We'll Be Together" performed by The Supremes.
• New Agenda samples "School Boy Crush" performed by Average White Band, "Kool It (Here Comes The Fuzz)" performed by Kool and The Gang, and "Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You)" performed by Stevie Wonder.

Personnel

• (Ex) Cat Heads - Rap
• Alice Preves - Viola
• Ann Nesby - Vocals (background)
• Bernie Edstrom - Horn arrangements, trumpet
• Carolyn Daws - Violin
• Celine Leathead - Violin
• Chuck D - Rap
• Core Cotton - Vocals (background)
• Daria Tedeschi - Violin
• Dave Karr - Flute
• David Barry - Guitar
• David Bullock - Violin
• David Carr - Flute
• David Ciland - Sax (alto)
• David Eiland - Sax (alto)
• David Rideau - Mixing
• Frank Stribbling - Guitar
• Gary Rayner - Bass
• Gary Raynor - Bass
• Hanley Daws - Violin
• Jamecia Bennett - Vocals (background)
• James Brown
• Janet Jackson - Main performer, producer, vocals, vocals (background)
• Jean Krikorian - Design
• Jeff Gottwig - Clarinet, trumpet
• Jeff Taylor - Bass, vocals
• Jellybean Johnson - producer
• Jimmy Jam - Keyboards, producer, vocals
• James "Big Jim" Wright - Keyboards, vocals
• Jossie Harris - Talking
• Kathleen Battle - Vocals
• Ken Holmen - Clarinet, sax (tenor)
• Kenneth Holman - Clarinet, sax (tenor)
• Kool & the Gang
• Laura Preves - Bassoon
• Lawrence Waddell - Organ (hammond)
• Lee Blaskey - Orchestration
• Len Peltier - Art direction, design
• Marie Graham - Vocals (background)
• Mark Haynes - Bass, drum programming, programming
• Merilee Klemp - Oboe
• Mike Sobieski - Violin
• Mike Solieski - Violin
• Patrick Demarchelier - Photography
• Robert Hallgrimson - Sax (alto), trumpet
• Steve Hodge - Mixing
• Steve Wright - Trumpet
• Steven Pikal - Trombone
• Stevie Wonder
• Stokley - Drums
• Tamas Strasser - Viola
• Terry Lewis - Producer
• The Average White Band
• The Flow
• The Supremes
• Tina Landon - Talking
• Tom Kornacker - Violin

Awards

Billboard Music Awards

• Top Pop Albums Artist, Female
• Top Billboard 200 Albums Artist, Female
• Top R&B Female Artist
• Top R&B Album, Female ("janet.")
• Top R&B Airplay ("That's The Way Love Goes")
• Top R&B Female Singles Artist

Grammy Award

• Best R&B Song ("That's The Way Love Goes")

Soul Train Music Award

• Best R&B/Soul Music Video ("If")

MTV Video Music Award

• Best Female Video ("If")

MTV Movie Awards

• Most Desirable Female ("Poetic Justice")
• Best Female Performance ("Poetic Justice")

Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Awards

• Favorite Singer
• Favorite Album ("janet.")

BMI Pop Awards

• Most Played Song: Again
• Most Played Song: Any Time, Any Place
• Most Played Song: Because of Love
• Most Played Song: If
• Most Played Song: That's The Way Love Goes
• Most Played Song: You Want This

Sales

janet. was certified 6x Platinum in the U.S., and 2x Platinum in the UK.

However, it has sold about 8 million copies (SoundScan and club sales) within the U.S.

See also

• List of BMG Music Club's top selling albums in the United States