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Thread started 10/28/08 3:30pm

alphastreet

so what WAS the best selling album of 1990?

I remember Janet getting an award at the Billboard awards for Rhythm Nation being the best selling album of 1990. However, I remember seeing Please Hammer Don't Hurt Em and Vanilla Ice's album being at least Diamond if not more. And personally, I think the general public remembers 1990 more for you can't touch this (though it's from 89, blah blah), ice ice baby and Madonna with Vogue and the whole Blonde Ambition tour rather than Rhythm Nation, even though it's Janet's best album ever. Even MJ was heard saying according to Magic in the Madness that it should have sold way more than it did, though it sold 6 million.
[Edited 10/28/08 15:31pm]
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Reply #1 posted 10/28/08 3:48pm

Cinnie

alphastreet said:

And personally, I think the general public remembers 1990 more for you can't touch this (though it's from 89, blah blah)


Actually "U Can't Touch This" and Please Hammer Don't Hurt Em were both released in early 1990.

I didn't hear until years later that his album sold 10 million copies so perhaps Rhythm Nation 1814 really was the best selling album of 1990, but M.C. Hammer kept selling after 1991's 2 Legit 2 Quit (which is likely).
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Reply #2 posted 10/28/08 3:57pm

Timmy84

That's because Hammer's album kept selling after 1990. It didn't sell 10 million altogether in '90 though.
[Edited 10/28/08 16:00pm]
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Reply #3 posted 10/28/08 3:57pm

alphastreet

Cinnie said:

alphastreet said:

And personally, I think the general public remembers 1990 more for you can't touch this (though it's from 89, blah blah)


Actually "U Can't Touch This" and Please Hammer Don't Hurt Em were both released in early 1990.

I didn't hear until years later that his album sold 10 million copies so perhaps Rhythm Nation 1814 really was the best selling album of 1990, but M.C. Hammer kept selling after 1991's 2 Legit 2 Quit (which is likely).


Interesting. I remember seeing the 1990 billboard chart back in 2000 when the billboard site showed the chart positions from 5 years back, 10 years back and so forth and remember it being at 10 or 11 million, so were they including the latest certifications?

Hammer must have been huge if there were cartoons about him, the hammer pants were a cultural phenomenon and some toys, so it would make sense if he sold more, but then again janet fans say the a&m albums need to be recertified cause the sales have gone up since. I would love to see all her albums recertified for that. If that made headlines right now, at least it's some bit of good news instead of hearing everyone call her a flop.
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Reply #4 posted 10/28/08 3:58pm

alphastreet

Timmy84 said:

That's because Hammer's album kept selling after 1990. It didn't sell 17 million altogether in '90 though.


and it's at 17 million? Wow!
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Reply #5 posted 10/28/08 4:00pm

Timmy84

alphastreet said:

Timmy84 said:

That's because Hammer's album kept selling after 1990. It didn't sell 17 million altogether in '90 though.


and it's at 17 million? Wow!


Oops, I meant 10. lol Sorry.
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Reply #6 posted 10/28/08 4:02pm

alphastreet

np. And I thought Paula's Forever Your Girl ended up selling 8 million and I know that album was on the charts till 1990 and both her and Janet were being hailed as the big dance divas. And sadly I remember Paula being more popular though I'm sure Janet was too. I'm not sure how I missed out on her but not many others.
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Reply #7 posted 10/28/08 4:07pm

Cinnie

I think Paula Abdul and M.C. Hammer could have been more popular at the time.. that was certainly their peak.
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Reply #8 posted 10/28/08 4:11pm

alphastreet

I believe despite Janet having all those record breaking hit singles, there were tons more popular artists that time, Madonna being one of them. I don't think she was michael-big like Thriller even if she was at her artistic peak during that time. Maybe she was more popular with the r&b/urban crowd than the mainstream crowd even if she had mainstream hits. And if you think about it, RN still sounded very 80's (they finished recording it in 1988 after all and put it on hold) and everyone else was beginning to sound 90's.
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Reply #9 posted 10/28/08 4:23pm

AlexdeParis

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Cinnie said:

I think Paula Abdul and M.C. Hammer could have been more popular at the time.. that was certainly their peak.

Paula was definitely at her peak in '89. Forever Your Girl was almost out of steam by 1990 (having been released in '88). Its last single, "Opposites Attract," was the only one to chart that year (although it did reach the top). Her remix album, Shut Up and Dance was released in 1990 and it did very well, but nothing compared to Janet's year.

Hammer and Janet are probably a push. "U Can't Touch This" was huge, of course, but Janet's hit singles dwarfed his as a whole. OTOH, he was a true phenomenon at that time. From what I know and what I remember, I'm going to have to say that no one can say anyone was bigger than Janet that year (although a select few may be able to claim they were just as big).
"Whitney was purely and simply one of a kind." ~ Clive Davis
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Reply #10 posted 10/28/08 4:24pm

Cinnie

AlexdeParis said:

Cinnie said:

I think Paula Abdul and M.C. Hammer could have been more popular at the time.. that was certainly their peak.

Paula was definitely at her peak in '89. Forever Your Girl was almost out of steam by 1990 (having been released in '88). Its last single, "Opposites Attract," was the only one to chart that year (although it did reach the top). Her remix album, Shut Up and Dance was released in 1990 and it did very well, but nothing compared to Janet's year.

Hammer and Janet are probably a push. "U Can't Touch This" was huge, of course, but Janet's hit singles dwarfed his as a whole. OTOH, he was a true phenomenon at that time. From what I know and what I remember, I'm going to have to say that no one can say anyone was bigger than Janet that year (although a select few may be able to claim they were just as big).


I agree. When it comes down to it, nothing was BIGGER than RN1814 that year.
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Reply #11 posted 10/28/08 4:28pm

graecophilos

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what about Madona's Immaculate Collection`?
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Reply #12 posted 10/28/08 4:29pm

AlexdeParis

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graecophilos said:

what about Madona's Immaculate Collection`?

What about it?
"Whitney was purely and simply one of a kind." ~ Clive Davis
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Reply #13 posted 10/28/08 4:31pm

graecophilos

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AlexdeParis said:

graecophilos said:

what about Madona's Immaculate Collection`?

What about it?


it sold over 20 mio. Maybe THAT was the biggest seller. Or where most copied sold in 1991??
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Reply #14 posted 10/28/08 4:39pm

Timmy84

graecophilos said:

what about Madona's Immaculate Collection`?


It was released at the end of 1990 and sold more copies in 1991 than 1990 so no.
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Reply #15 posted 10/28/08 4:42pm

AlexdeParis

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Timmy84 said:

graecophilos said:

what about Madona's Immaculate Collection`?


It was released at the end of 1990 and sold more copies in 1991 than 1990 so no.

Not to mention all the copies that have been sold since that time. It's her biggest-selling album.
"Whitney was purely and simply one of a kind." ~ Clive Davis
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Reply #16 posted 10/28/08 5:34pm

alphastreet

aw that's so good to hear she was that popular, as we can tell from the records she broke that year

I don't remember seeing her anywhere in 1990 though I remember other big artists, I'm sure I may have heard her songs on the radio and not realized it's her cause it was constantly on in the car.
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Reply #17 posted 10/28/08 5:39pm

AlexdeParis

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alphastreet said:

aw that's so good to hear she was that popular, as we can tell from the records she broke that year

I don't remember seeing her anywhere in 1990 though I remember other big artists, I'm sure I may have heard her songs on the radio and not realized it's her cause it was constantly on in the car.

confuse Weren't you like a little kid then? It's not exactly a surprise that you don't remember that much.
"Whitney was purely and simply one of a kind." ~ Clive Davis
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Reply #18 posted 10/28/08 5:56pm

alphastreet

actually it is a surprise to me. I was 7 by then, liked mj, madonna, prince, cyndi lauper, duran duran, culture club, wham/george michael etc. for a few years by then from a tape I had. I didn't always know what the mainstream stuff was unless it was mj or madonna or anything that was played including something dancy. I knew tons of stuff from the 60's and 70's too if it was played at home, which it was. I do remember music from then but not every single thing though sometimes I would rediscover it and then remember later on. For some reason I don't recall seeing Janet, I knew Jermaine Jackson before I knew janet, no joke. I remember liking a Whitney video when I was three (How Will I Know), loving Jody's Real Love in fall 89' cause it was always on and my mom turned it up, knew Need You Tonight, Faith, Pump Up the Jam, Vogue etc. stuff here and there, but somehow missed out on the New Kids ON the Block though I knew of them cause of seeing the merchandise in catalogs. I'm sure you saw threads of me saying "remember this" every now and then on this forum, which I do remember.
[Edited 10/28/08 18:00pm]
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Reply #19 posted 10/28/08 6:37pm

Timmy84

Damn, Alpha, you must have been told Janet Jackson was the devil or something. lol

I knew more about Janet and Michael and Madonna and Prince than any other act when I was 6 (1990). lol

I definitely remembered the big fuss about Janet that year. biggrin
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Reply #20 posted 10/28/08 6:53pm

alphastreet

lmfao I knew someone would say something like that, I think I just missed her or something and I was young though I had a good memory. I didn't know everyone who was out there. I just watched music videos when it was on my tape, other than that, I was watching all kid shows

but we did have a paula abdul tape, I guess michael was just way more popular even if he didn't have an album out, I know of other people in my age group who didn't get into her until the janet. album, and I remember hearing her name around that time though in 1993 I don't remember hearing that's the way love goes though I remember that Boy-Crazy song not going away! I remember my cousin talking about how awesome janet is and her defending her brother in the papers, but I didn't really know her work until I saw the Scream video and it just went on from there

But the funny part is, when I first saw Nasty, I felt like I knew it already, so I'm sure I heard it playing at ball games and stuff like that. I remember hearing Again on the radio in late 94/early 95 and loving the song so much and playing it over and over after taping it, but didn't realize it was janet till I asked someone, sang it a little and then was told! And it's weird but people in my age group will name together again or all for you as their "favourite janet song" or thinking she's just ok based on those. People a little older than me cite janet. as her best work and love the If video, saying it's a masterpiece. Even 2 years ago, my cousin's friend was playing If in the car but she said janet is not that good anymore.
[Edited 10/28/08 18:57pm]
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Reply #21 posted 10/28/08 7:03pm

Timmy84

alphastreet said:

lmfao I knew someone would say something like that, I think I just missed her or something and I was young though I had a good memory. I didn't know everyone who was out there. I just watched music videos when it was on my tape, other than that, I was watching all kid shows

but we did have a paula abdul tape, I guess michael was just way more popular even if he didn't have an album out, I know of other people in my age group who didn't get into her until the janet. album, and I remember hearing her name around that time though in 1993 I don't remember hearing that's the way love goes though I remember that Boy-Crazy song not going away! I remember my cousin talking about how awesome janet is and her defending her brother in the papers, but I didn't really know her work until I saw the Scream video and it just went on from there

But the funny part is, when I first saw Nasty, I felt like I knew it already, so I'm sure I heard it playing at ball games and stuff like that. I remember hearing Again on the radio in late 94/early 95 and loving the song so much and playing it over and over after taping it, but didn't realize it was janet till I asked someone, sang it a little and then was told! And it's weird but people in my age group will name together again or all for you as their "favourite janet song" or thinking she's just ok based on those. People a little older than me cite janet. as her best work and love the If video, saying it's a masterpiece. Even 2 years ago, my cousin's friend was playing If in the car but she said janet is not that good anymore.
[Edited 10/28/08 18:57pm]


You probably did hear a lot of Janet but because you weren't into her like Mike and Madonna it probably past your mind, lol. lol
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Reply #22 posted 10/28/08 7:06pm

alphastreet

That's what I think too, the radio would constantly be on but everything sounded the same to me that's why I probably didn't realize she was being played. I don't remember most of the radio stuff that was played, just a few songs here and there, I only knew music if it had visuals to it, to me music meant music videos as a kid though of course now I know the difference.

When I discovered the RN songs and wasn't sure what order they were released in, I started guessing. I guessed that miss you much must have been at the end of the decade (I was right!), I thought Alright came out as soon as the 90's started (second 1990 single off RN), and I thought Escapade was a summer single (it was the first RN single of 1990, so it came in winter) so I figured that maybe I did hear them during the times I guessed but it passed me by.

And though I loved mj, I didn't know every single song, just the ones off Thriller, say say say, DSTYGE and Bad at the time. I did see captain eo around that time but repressed much of it for some reason, and I knew black or white and will you be there when they cmae out. I guess once I was 11/12 I went out of my way to listen to music, but before that I loved it through what was played around me whether at home or outside or wherever.
[Edited 10/28/08 19:10pm]
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Reply #23 posted 10/28/08 7:14pm

Timmy84

alphastreet said:

That's what I think too, the radio would constantly be on but everything sounded the same to me that's why I probably didn't realize she was being played. I don't remember most of the radio stuff that was played, just a few songs here and there, I only knew music if it had visuals to it, to me music meant music videos as a kid though of course now I know the difference.

When I discovered the RN songs and wasn't sure what order they were released in, I started guessing. I guessed that miss you much must have been at the end of the decade (I was right!), I thought Alright came out as soon as the 90's started (second 1990 single off RN), and I thought Escapade was a summer single (it was the first RN single of 1990, so it came in winter) so I figured that maybe I did hear them during the times I guessed but it passed me by.

And though I loved mj, I didn't know every single song, just the ones off Thriller, say say say, DSTYGE and Bad at the time. I did see captain eo around that time but repressed much of it for some reason, and I knew black or white and will you be there when they cmae out. I guess once I was 11/12 I went out of my way to listen to music, but before that I loved it through what was played around me whether at home or outside or wherever.
[Edited 10/28/08 19:10pm]


I kinda had a hunch Michael was around a long time because I remember seeing a bio on him and knew of the Jackson 5. I didn't hear their tracks fully until 1989, 1990 though. By 1991, I knew who Michael Jackson was prior to Thriller, which was stunning at the time, because he was already starting to look different than what he was! lol
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Reply #24 posted 10/28/08 7:23pm

alphastreet

the first time I knew of mj was a year or two before Bad, probably a year before Bad when I was 3, though it was in flashes, so when Bad came out when i was 4 but wondered why people were saying it's mj and trying to fool a 4 year old!!! I knew damn well who mj was and had one mj toy and thought people were fu.cking with me. But he was still cool to me, cause it seemed like everyone loved that song and would perform it for years at talent shows and stuff. Then when I was 6 I saw captain eo and thought to myself, okay that's really him and then black or white came out and I was like THATS HIM??? but I thought the video was cool though he was insane for the ending, which I was too young to understand.
[Edited 10/28/08 19:24pm]
[Edited 10/28/08 19:26pm]
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Reply #25 posted 10/28/08 7:29pm

Timmy84

alphastreet said:

the first time I knew of mj was a year or two before Bad, probably a year before Bad when I was 3, though it was in flashes, so when Bad came out when i was 4 but wondered why people were saying it's mj and trying to fool a 4 year old!!! I knew damn well who mj was and had one mj toy and thought people were fu.cking with me. But he was still cool to me, cause it seemed like everyone loved that song and would perform it for years at talent shows and stuff.
[Edited 10/28/08 19:24pm]


For some odd reason, I always knew it was Michael. I didn't even have the doll but it was confusing nonetheless. lol
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Reply #26 posted 10/28/08 7:33pm

alphastreet

ah I knew it was him too when really looking and realizing he has no tits! I didn't have the doll, I had the viewmaster

then I saw the video again in the HIStory era and puberty got the best of me, that's all I'm saying!!! mj in the 70's and 80's was the hottest! He was very pretty in the early 90's though too, since 1993 with all the cake makeup, it's just gone downhill lookswise though
[Edited 10/28/08 19:34pm]
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Reply #27 posted 10/29/08 6:11pm

TotalAlisa

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My first memory of michael was captain eo, and i believe I was like 4 years old. I saw it at disney world. and i was terrified watching that movie lol .

Anyways I always knew about michael my mom was a fan so of course i knew about him. My best memory of michael was during his Dangerous album. He would come on tv and i would watch every minute. He was basically the only artist i knew of until i got older, I knew about whitney houston and that was really it. But i didn't know about other artist until last 90s
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Reply #28 posted 10/30/08 1:30am

graecophilos

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alphastreet said:

lmfao I knew someone would say something like that, I think I just missed her or something and I was young though I had a good memory. I didn't know everyone who was out there. I just watched music videos when it was on my tape, other than that, I was watching all kid shows

but we did have a paula abdul tape, I guess michael was just way more popular even if he didn't have an album out, I know of other people in my age group who didn't get into her until the janet. album, and I remember hearing her name around that time though in 1993 I don't remember hearing that's the way love goes though I remember that Boy-Crazy song not going away! I remember my cousin talking about how awesome janet is and her defending her brother in the papers, but I didn't really know her work until I saw the Scream video and it just went on from there

But the funny part is, when I first saw Nasty, I felt like I knew it already, so I'm sure I heard it playing at ball games and stuff like that. I remember hearing Again on the radio in late 94/early 95 and loving the song so much and playing it over and over after taping it, but didn't realize it was janet till I asked someone, sang it a little and then was told! And it's weird but people in my age group will name together again or all for you as their "favourite janet song" or thinking she's just ok based on those. People a little older than me cite janet. as her best work and love the If video, saying it's a masterpiece. Even 2 years ago, my cousin's friend was playing If in the car but she said janet is not that good anymore.
[Edited 10/28/08 18:57pm]


wow, alphastreet you're really young! I'm allready 20!!
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Reply #29 posted 10/31/08 4:16am

alphastreet

I'm older than you, I'm 25
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Forums > Music: Non-Prince > so what WAS the best selling album of 1990?