I was thinking about buying Janet Jackson's 1993 release, Janet., but I don't know if it's good or not. I mean, i've been listening to some of the sound samples to this album and it sounds pretty good. I heard that this is her best-selling album and it had her dabble in a lot of musical styles from pop to jazz. Can someone who has the album, tell me how good it is and what the packaging looks like? Thank You... Oh, and yes, I've heard of That's The Way Love Goes before.

I'll leave the details to one of the many Janet freaks but I do like that album... most of it

It is a really good album. There are some great songs on there like "If", "Again", "That's The
Way Love Goes", "Anytime, Anyplace" and my personal favorite "Where Are You Now?".

I say you go buy it because it is Janet Jackson at her best.

yes,its one of her better cd's.

Yeah, it's pretty good.

Yeah , I think it's one of her best albums (along with Velvet Rope).
I think the packaging is pretty stylish too, just really simple and plain, theres only one picture of Janet (the cover picture) none of this half naked crap. And considering its over ten years old it doesn't sound dated at all...
[This message was edited Fri Jul 30 5:40:56 2004 by AshK]

This is the BEST Janet album, by a loooong shot!

This album got me into Janet, back when I was 15 and having the time of my life!

Great album of its time!

I think it's a good album, not a great one. It started a downward trend in her music - the obsession with being sexually explicit. It has its moments, but it always comes back to "your smooth and shiny feels so good against my lips, sugar."

I enjoy it, but compared to Control and Rhythm Nation, it doesn't feel classic.

This is actually my least favorite of all her CDs. In my opinion, The Velvet Rope is her best CD.

This is my favourite Janet album.

Its a very New jack sounding record. It is good. I just seem 2 find myself skippin "This Time" "The Body That Loves U" though...they kinda dull.

Other than that stuff like "Throb" "New Agenda" "You Want This" "Because Of Love" "Anytime Anyplace" are HOT

Yes, yes, YES! Buy this album! It's awesome. "That's The Way Love Goes" is so mellow 'n groovy 'n funky. "Throb" is one of her best dance songs. "If" is rock-infused and very sexy. "Where Are You Now" and "Again" are two of her greatest ballads. "Anytime, Anyplace" is an awesome "baby-making" song. "What'll I Do" is a really different sound for Janet, really sounds like classic rock and is very underrated in my opinion. And if you do get it, there's a cute hidden track at the end called "Whoops Now", so look out for that. There are just so many great things about this album, and if you like Janet, you'll love it.

it's her peak.

Oh... you've DEFINITELY got to pick up the "janet." LP. It's one of her essentials. The record oozes with senusality and is great from start to finish. You can just put this record on and jam -- straight up. You've got the insatiable club burner "If" (the breakdown was one of the most exciting musical moments of the early 90s), "You Want This," and "Throb" (one of Jan's premier house cuts -- set the stage for the euphoria of Together Again -- you will dance your a** off to this cut, guaranteed! I want to explode when this track comes on). "This Time" hints at the pain which would later come to dominate the Velvet Rope, it's pre-"What About" -- a scorned woman building up the courage to fight back ("...walkin' 'round with nasty hoes, tellin' me that's the way love goes...").

You've got great rock/country jams like "What'll I Do," carefree stuff like the doo-woppy bonus track "Whoops Now" and "Because of Love." Plus, she kills it on the swing-era throwback "Funky Big Band," which is the sequel to RN1814's Alright. The sociopolitical spirit of RN1814 burns on in "New Agenda" featuring Public Enemy's Chuck D in which Janet announces her ethnic pride ("African American woman, I stand tall with pride" -- I think it was a comment to those around the time that thought the Jacksons had sold out.)

Take out your Bic lighters for the slower fare on here! "Again" is the premier Janet ballad (and arguably her most beloved). From the opening piano you'll be hooked. "Where Are You Now" is a candy-sweet confection in the vein of RN1814's Come Back To Me & Control's Let's Wait A While. "The Body That Loves You" sits nicely with "Twenty Foreplay" and leads you to the ecstacy that is "Any Time, Any Place" (one of her biggest R&B Billboard singles of all time).

The album jams, plainly and simply. It's all the excitement of a Janet show crystallized onto a disc. I still play it to this day (over ten years later, still sounds great.) The album sold 16 million copies (if you follow sales numbers). Lots of people (especially non-Janet fans) still spin, and refer back, to this album when they talk about Janet's music. This was Janet at her commercial peak. This was when she could do no wrong. Highly recommended, if not, essential to your collection.

.
[This message was edited Fri Jul 30 9:06:11 2004 by JANFAN4L]

JANFAN4L said:

I personally way prefer "1814" as that has some deep industrial sounding funky shit..."1814" is brill all the way through.....I don't mind this album though.....


"If" is still the bomb..."New agenda" was one of her last uptempo newjackish stompers and like others on here, I love "Again" and "where r u now" (i always think this was the "Love will never do" comparison but we're all different)


Remember the use of the "again" song on the score of "Poetic justice"? And the damn soundtrack had no "Again" on it.....what a rip off!


Depsite "Poetic justice" failing (though not failing badly), album was still huge.....imagine how much bigger it might of been if movie would of blown up too.....

"poetic justice" was a wasted oppuntunity as it put 2 huge stars from completly different musical styles together and u so wanted the movie to work.....Tupac, always the charasmatic actor, carries the rather average film.....janrt's acting is quite average really!..Yeah Janet's image tried to come across all homegirl 4 that whole "Janet." era..with the dreads and all.....

theVelvetRoper said:

"What'll I Do" is basically a cover of the Johnny Daye song "What I'll Do For Satisfaction". Janet just wrote some new lyrics. If you check the credits you will notice Steve Cropper and Joe Shamwell's names next to "What'll I Do". They wrote the original song. I think it's from the late sixties which might explain the "classic rock" sound.

Just my opinion but I don't think Janet is a great record. For one thing it is far too long. For another there is too much filler. Unfortunately until Virgin releases a compilation you kind of need to buy it if you are a fan of Miss Jackson.

It's probably her best album IMO, but like all of them it drifts off into nothingness about 2/3 into it. She's never recorded a complete "classic" album that I can bring myself to hear all the way through that leaves me wanting more. It's more of a chore.

rialb said:

Sorry, I got the title of the original slightly wrong. It's "What'll I Do For Satisfaction". You can hear a sound sample of it at allmusic.com. It's track 216 on the Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968.

At first, I was kind of turned off by this album, although "If" was probably my favorite Janet song and I enjoyed hits like "Anytime, Anyplace" and 'Again" but the album is very good and explores quite a few new styles (jazz, rock, funk, hip hop, house, etc.) and doesn't sound labored. The bedtime interludes are quite silly and there is a bit too much "rain" on the album (a problem with many of Janet's bedtime jams) but other than that, the album is exciting and passionate. I think I'd put it above "RM" but below "Control".

ShyBaby said:

I would agree with you. The Velvet Rope is one of her best cds. I just did a review on www.amazon.com about the album.

After The Velvet Rope it's her best.

Silverchild, do you have The Velvet Rope? That's her most personal record.

janet. was the MONSTER record.

Control was the breakthrough record.

RN1814 was the solidifier record.

I always loved the minniapolis sound wannabe "U don't stand another chance" (12" extended) from one of janets very early records (Pre control).....

Great track that one.....Michaels adlibs r great too.....I give marlon (Jackson) high props 4 writing/producing that one.....underated in my book...never a big hit i guess so never made it onto a greatest hits album!

thesexofit said:

"Don't Stand Another Chance" is a jammmmm.

I'm so glad you remember that track.

I love "Two To The Power of Love," "Communication" and "Fast Girls" from Dream Street. That whole album had some great synths.

"French Blue" was cool, too.

There's a 12" mix of Don't Stand Another Chance? I love that song. Anyone know where it's available to download?

JANFAN4L said:

It's just a shame it only sold 3 million copies, though. The songs on there are wonderful. And you are right, it is her most personal works. The Velvet Rope is probably one of her best albums of the 90's.

I loved Janet's first four albums but this is the album that was the beginning of the end for me. This is the first album she starting watering down her music to fit in with hip hop.