I never new Jam and Lewis had planned an LP . I was recently reading my Jacksons Number Ones and found this info. I was reading about What Have You Done For Me Latley and it states:

Originally intended for a Jam & Lewis album, What Have You Done For Me Latley was the last song recorded for her [Janet Jackson] breakthrough album, CONTROL.

I always thought that "What Have You Done For Me Lately" and other songs on 'Control' were intended for Sharon Bryant.She's the former lead singer of Atlantic Starr.She left the group in 1984,and began working with Jam and Lewis on a solo album.For some reason,the Jam and Lewis productions were given to Janet instead.

wasn't their project supposed to be called "the secret", or something like that?

--gm--

Wow! You learn something new everyday. Those songs probably were originally slated for Bryant, but Janet had the bigger name and connections.

DavidEye said:

Cool. It sounds like the lyrics were tailored for Janet, but the beats coulda been for Sharon Bryant... what happened to her album? I don't know anything about her solo career (or if there was one).

Probably got frustrated once Jam & Lewis abandoned her for Jackson.

I remember reading back in the day in like Black Beat or something like that, that J&L had done several of hte basic tracks for Control and were shopping them around to various female R&B singers..... some were pretty big names..... can't remember now, but like Chaka Khan, patrice rushen, ...that type. And I htink they all turned them down. One of them was quoted saying it was too "nasty" or something..... and this was probably w/o lyrics!

anyway, they eventually hooked up with Janet and then they collaborated on them and turned them into the Control album.

Yes I also remember they kept saying they were going to release an album called the "Secret" and they kept saying they were saving Terry's actual bass playing for that album cuz it was so special etc..... but actually, when do we ever really get to hear him play actual bass? Probably the best example is on Vanity 6 "If a Girl Answr" (I assume it's he not Prince cuz he is a co-writer).

Anyway, what ablum is Jackson Number Ones? It has other jackson members?

GeneMohawk said:

In the mid-80s,Jam and Lewis talked alot about this project.It was supposed to be a band featuring the two of them,plus Lisa Keith on lead vocals.She's the lady who sings on "Making Love In The Rain",the 1987 Herb Alpert track that was produced by Jam and Lewis and also features Janet Jackson singing the chorus.

A good song to hear Terry on bass: Morris' "Fishnet"