Who played the guitar on Black Cat by Janet?

On the RN albums credits it says it was Jesse Johnson and Jellybean Johnson, and that makes sense cos it sounds like Jesse's playing.

But the version of the Design Of A Decade album is way different. It's heavier, and it doesn't sound like Jesse playing.

I heard something about there being a version with Vernon Reid on it. Is that the one that's on the Design Of A Decade album?
[Edited 2/27/08 6:01am]

Yes.

Never noticed that.

If I remember correctly, the one on Design Of A Decade has the guy out of Extreme on guitar.

Rioub said:

Nuno Bettencourt is on the Design of a Decade version.

Axchi696 said:

HMMM i never knew this..now i need to get out my cd and put this to the test

See I'm all kinds of wrong. I don't have it in front of me. I thought Vernon Reid did. Or was that just the video version?

RipHer2Shreds said:

There is a mix with Vernon Reid.

VoicesCarry said:

Eh, wadda you know about Janet?

VoicesCarry said:

MMM the japanese maxi has it. nice.

RipHer2Shreds said:

I don´t know but it´s her best song.

I think Rene did both! Rene did it all...sorry, that is the other Janet thread. I'll have to check out both those verisons and the difference when I get home (my home, not my parents).

VinnyM27 said:

I heard she just sung over tapes Rene gave to her

one of janet's best songs.. and video performance

BC is in my Top 5 Janet songs of all time.

TotalAlisa said:

I have to agree, that video was one of her breast performances.

Militant said:

The one with Jesse is THE real version of Black Cat.

the two mixes with Vernon and Nuno blow the original album version out of the water. not necessarily because of the guitar, but the original sounds so weak compared to the single mixes.

TonyVanDam said:

I know that. I have the Rhythm Nation album and the Black Cat single. Just confused as to why the version on DOAD is heavier and didn't sound like Jesse.

How many different versions of this song are there? So far we've got the original with Jesse, the DOAD version with Nuno Bettencourt....so where's the Vernon Reid version and where can I get it?

WRONG YOU ALL!!!!!
IT WAS JELLYBEAN JOHNSON, WHO AT THE TIME WAS AN ASSOCIATE FLYTE TYME PRODUCER!!!
JELLYBEAN ALSO PLAYED THE GUITAR SOLO ON ALEXANDER O'NEAL JAM "INNOCENT"
AS WELL AS WRITE PRODUCE & PLAY THE GUITAR SOLO ON NON HENDRYX' "WHY SHOULD I CRY"!!!!!

JELLYBEAN PLAYED ON THE ORIGINAL "BLACK CAT"!!!!!

woogiebear said:

No.

Jellybean produced the song.

On the Rhythm Nation credits, the Guitars are credited to Jellybean AND Jesse Johnson.

Jellybean may have played the main riff, but the solo on the original is Jesse without a doubt. Anyone familiar with Jesse's style could tell you that.

Militant said:

"CUT 'EM JELLYBEAN AND JESSE"!!!!!

I used to love this one, but I usually skip over it now when I listen to Rhythm Nation. Sounds kinda generic to me. I do like the video. It was taped at the Met Stadium in Bloomington, MN which was demolished a few years after that.

Militant said:

This topic comes around every so often. I've pasted in some stuff from the last time this topic came up.



thebanishedone said:
nuno betencurt from extreme played guitar solo


kstrat: Nuno played on one of the remixed single versions. Not one one the album. He added a solo, some fills & some rhythm guitar .

There are 4 people credited with the guitar work on the original album track. If I recall correctly. Jesse Johnson, Jellybean Johnson, John McClain & Dave Barry.

When Jam & Harris were interviewed for Keyboard magazine during the time the album was out. They tried to breakdown just who played what on Black Cat.
It didn't seem to me that they were absolutely sure. Jellybean would have been the best person to ask since he produced the track.

As far as Nuno's contribution to the remixed version...what he added was cool, I didn't think it was needed. Once his name became associated with the track
no one seemed to be concerned about the other cats who played on it.

One of my favorite versions has Vernon Reid on guitar! How bout' that!?
[Edited 5/18/07 6:55am]

hebanishedone said:
how many versions are there
who solos on official version
nuno is great,jesse is great



kstrat: Dude you'll have to ask around the board. I recall buying two, a maxi-single on cd & another on tape. It's been ages since I last listened to them. The last Janet Jackson cd I bought was her "Design of a Decade" compilation. I don't recall if the original album track was used or the remix.

Quite a ways back I posed the question of "who played what" and got no response.You may have better luck since this thread is relatively fresh.

I really dig Nuno's playing in general. His solo (which comes in after the 1st two on the track) was cool, but seemed tacked on. To me it didnt flow with the material that was already there.

I understand that he was called in by the producer of that remix to punch or pump up the tune. It was already a great track why mess with it? Now if he'd replaced all the existing guitar tracks that would have been another story.
[Edited 5/18/07 6:54am]


Blaqueknight added: Nuno played on the "Design Of A Decade" version, Jesse on the album version. There is also a remix with Vernon Reid playing the solo on it.

Pretty rubbish song. Obviously Janet copying off Mike by doing a "rock" record but getting it very wrong.

No wonder it sounds a bit rubbish, as Jam and Lewis ain't rock producers. Makes Kenny Loggins "dangerzone" sound like "welcome to the jungle".

thesexofit said:

You still jockin' on Hammer's shit?

VoicesCarry said:

Meh, sometimes.

I love "rhythm nation", but "black cat" sounds awful. Awful drums, awful vocals...silly song. Its catchy enough, but I dont like it.

thesexofit said:

Jam and Lewis didn't produce it

Janfriend said:

Oh shit your right. Damn thats embarrassing, as Iam such a booklet/producer geek when it comes to my music collection. In that case Iam glad in a sense, as its not a good track. Cant recall what Jellybean Johnson has done production wise (may of done New Editions "supernatural" but am not sure?), but the production is flat to me. Janet on production duties probably didn't help either.