Janet Back With Jam, Lewis On New Album



By Melinda Newman, N.Y.

Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis are hard at work on Janet Jackson's as-yet-untitled next Virgin album, due in 2006. Lewis says the trio, who are celebrating 20 years of working together, have found a new, yet familiar, rhythm.

"It used to be a lot of involvement from all of us, and at some point when Janet became more confident with her writing ability, she [did] the bulk of the writing," he tells Billboard. "And it's kind of back full circle. We're all kind of back in there doing it again together, which I really enjoy."

Jam adds, "It's the physical nature of sitting in the same room and really hashing it out. It's like, 'You're not going to leave until we got a lyric,' so it's fun."

Some recording has taken place at Jermaine Dupri's studio. Dupri, who is president of Virgin Urban and Jackson's boyfriend, is also executive producer on the album.

The set will be the follow-up to 2004's "Damita Jo," released in the wake of Jackson's disastrous appearance during the Super Bowl halftime show. The set debuted at No. 2 on The Billboard 200 and has sold 971,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

http://www.billboard.com/...1000980247

SOOOOO happy that Janet is working with these guys again.

She could have done the easier thing and gone "producer shopping" like last time, however, she's instead bringing things back to Square One!

Twenty years? Funny how time flies (when you're having fun).

I love Janet!! I hope she does something totally different! Because right now she has basically repeated herself twice.

Renee had allot of great ideas & since he has left, There isn't many new original Ideas.

Janet Blow it up, Do something totally different! There has been so many phoney's rippin you off & now that Dance Act angle is old. Not your fault, but there has been to many stealing your ideas & vibe.

Janet come back strong

Good. When she lost her team - Jam & Lewis, Tina and Rene, things started going to hell. At least she's reigning it in again.

Miss Janet, we need some serious dance-funk!!!

amit1234 said:

When hasn't she worked with them?
JJ AND TL work well with Janet, they always seem to save their best work for her. I thought the album was going to be released this year?? 2006 is soo long away. Maybe we'll get a soundtrack single this year.

amit1234 said:

Goddamn it!

But it won't be recorded in Minnesota.

Man, people slept on "Damita Jo". That album was fantastic! Had Janet just cut a few of the tracks (Damita Jo, Warmth, SloLove), it would've been seamless.

Has anyone seen this "fan" page...hilarious
http://www.warr.org/janet.html

I couldn't disagree more with the reviews. And, yeah, I think "Damita" was seriously underrated

This reviewer has no idea, check out his review of the classic GOT TILL IT'S GONE: "The first single, "Got Till It's Gone," is disappointing: a dreary reggae-influenced number with Q-Tip and an incongruous Joni Mitchell sample."

reggae?? disapointing?

damita jo was simply a victim of circumstance. the record is - at worst - a decent release. i have friends that don't own any janet records (believe it or not, some people just never got into her, lol) and when they heard damita jo playing from my speakers they went out and bought it. don't stop, slolove, rnb junkie, spending time with you, island life, i want you, moist...these are great tracks! if just a little while had not been the first single (and, instead, don't stop or rnb junkie was), and had the press not been determined to tear her down, this would have been a massively successful cd.

either way, i look forward to a new janet cd! come on 2006...bring a new record and a TOUR!!!

MendesCity said:

Wilson & Alroy can go f*** themselves!

'Cause real Janet fans knows damn well that Rhythm Nation was a dance-funk-pop masterpiece.

twink69 said:

check this out!!!

"Thinkin' Bout My Ex" sounds like an ordinary wistful Janet ballad, but when you check the credits you find it was written and produced by Babyface. It's a perfunctory, mechanical set, but if you don't give up, you'll be rewarded by "Truly," with the easygoing melodicism of Jackson's best work. (DBW)

Hell to the naw! Truly was indeed one of the BORING throwaway trax on Damita Jo She definitley tried to get J.Lo's "Secretly" going and it wasnt cuttin the kitchen floor honey.

While still, I feel Damita Jo is much more enjoyable than All 4 U, which is too mid-tempo for Janet. I love Damita Jo, it's right up there with "janet."

paisleypark4 said:

i couldn't agree with you more!

How about Michael working with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis also?

Krytonite said:

No thatnks. They seem to be very good at drowning out his voice. I'd love to hear the ORIGINAL version of 'Is It Scary?' and not their tampered with edit that got released.

MendesCity said:

Um, yeah, ** for janet. and *** for RN. Whatever.

damito jo sucked...underrated my arse.....

and i love the whole "well, if you take out five of the songs, then the album will be good" mentality.....the album was released as it was...dreaming it wasnt aint gonna make the album any better.....



here's to janet acting like she aint a jackson again and releasing a steller album that "us normal folks" can relate to again....

"Damita Jo" had good production, but for an album with so many rushed cuts and so much calculated, premature sexuality, I sure as hell don't think it was underrated. Give me the TRULY sexy, smoldering "janet." over the tired "Damita Jo" anyday.

SassyBritches said:

i hope she comes up with New ideas for the Tour. the wonderland, zoot suit, military thing is tired.

I never listen to All 4 You, except on occasion where I try my best to enjoy it, then it goes back on the shelf for another 8 months.

On the other hand, I still listen to Damita Jo.

This article is a great announcement! Let's see what Jam/Lewis cook up this time.

I was thinking of posting this yesterday, but decided not to because it's not really info that we don't already know. Of course Janet's going to work with Jam & Lewis on an album*!

This information is about as revealing as discovering Janet's going to dance on her next tour.

JANFAN4L said:

well, you know what happens when you assume...

CinisterCee said:

Same here.

AFY was such an of-the-moment album. That disc loses a lot of luster after repeat spins. It doesn't hold a candle next to warhorses like RN1814 or Control. I've played the s**t out of those albums and still spin them regularly. Same with TVR. Damita Jo was more consistently enjoyable and listenable than AFY.

H*ll, I even bump Dream Street more than AFY.


DJ = AFY, edit.
[Edited 7/17/05 7:42am]

JANFAN4L said:

Out of curiosity, what do you think are the definite gems of "AFY"?

VoicesCarry said:

I know, righ'? LOL.

I love how homeboy was so succinct with his "review" of Dream Street. "Uhh, brotha Michael was on dis one"

Muthaf**ka probably couldn't track down the CD like everyone else.

squiddyren said:Out of curiosity, what do you think are the definite gems of "AFY"?[/quote]

Most of the Jam & Lewis material is quality. The title track, Truth, Trust A Try (so should've been a single), Doesn't Really Matter (although I don't like the Rockwilder Mix that appears on this album, it's too choppy), STCML (even though I prefer the J&L Velvet Mix), You Ain't Right (that's some trouble-funk) and China Love.

Does anybody know anything about remastering "Rhythm Nation 1814" and "Control"???