Uh.... "Jungle Love" is Jesse's song, not Jam & Lewis. They weren't in The Time when the song was put out.

I still love Alexander O'Neal's "Fake." "Your hair was long, but now it's short, you said, 'I got it cut' but I don't see no hair on the floor." It's such a read.

Their work SOS Band put the band back in the mix, but it didn't do much for sales. They had a couple of top 10 on the US R&B, but in general, the public ignored the records. Those albums were definitely more Jam & Lewis than SOS Band, in many ways. Not a bad thing. Nelson George once said when you work with Prince, you know you're getting a Prince production. The same goes for Jam & Lewis. Back then, you asked them to produce because you wanted that sound. It was incredibly identifiable.

That's good and bad. When Human League needed a jump start to a faltering career, their Crash album (with the Jam & Lewis produced "Human") did only slightly better than their previous album, and was their last cared-about album (even after a moderate hit in 1995 with "Tell Me When" which seemed to try and recycle the "Don't You Want Me" energy.)

The thing is, even with that sound being so cross-pollenated, albums like Control almost stick out like a sore thumb. But in a good way. While songs like "Let's Wait Awhile" and "He Doesn't Know I'm Alive" speak to that sound, the whole first side is so special and unique, that it was as trendsetting as 1999 was for Prince. We'd never heard something like "Nasty" or "Control," or a song so funky on pop radio like "What Have You Done For Me Lately.

Not only did Janet try new things on Rhythm Nation 1814, so did Jam & Lewis, same for janet. album. That trio pushed each other to new heights of artistry, production, and pop perfection.

I think Jam & Lewis will always be such a huge, and often underrated, part of modern music history.

By the way, "No One's Gonna Love You," by SOS Band, was so indelible that Maxwell used it on the "Ascension" remix. Somewhere, I had mixed the two songs together, but I cannot find that shit to save my life.

Their production work speaks for itself. We pretty much know all the artists they've worked with

on multiple albums. My favorite production work of theirs besides the obvious(Janet) would be Cherelle. Their sound was tailor made for Cherrelle. You can even hear elements of her song When You Look In My Eyes in Human League's Human. The first 3 albums they produced for Cherrelle were great albums and great music especially the pairings with Alexander O'Neal. Their work for SOS is legendary although the songs were a little derivative at times. I'll never forget seeing them perform 4 years ago at an outdoor venue. They put on a good show still. The couple sitting next to me and my wife we got a kick out of listening to Borrowed Love and joking that most of their songs had the same beat. They had a hell of a history with Clarence Avant and Tabu records

Great thread! Jam & Lewis are fantastic producers, and I always enjoy watching interviews with them. They are still down to earth and seem to be the best of friends, they exude a pleasant, cool vibe together.

I especially love their 80's productions, when they were still hanging on to that Minneapolis vibe and gave it their own spin. This J&L period has been very influential to me as far as sound and production values. Their work for acts like SOS Band, Cherrelle, Alexander O'Neal, Change, Thelma Houston and Janet Jackson was solid gold to me. The combination of funky beats and bass at the bottom and smooth layers of synths and vocals on top just works like a charm for me.

In the 90's I lost touch with them though. In general I couldn't really get into 90's R&B and pop music. Too smooth for my taste often, most of the funk got lost in that era. Plus the bling mentality was not really my kinda thing. Some of their hits were still good, but I didn't enjoy them as much anymore as in the 80's.

J&L are up there are up there with the greats though, I have immense respect for them as producers and musicians.

Some of my favorites;

In the Heat of Heat - Patti Austin

If it isn't love - New Edition

Tender Love - Force Md's

Everthing I Miss at Home - Cherelle

Two of my favorite people on the planet for real, and never even met them. But for multiple reasons. Prince, The Time, and Janet. My two favorite artists They really seem like cool, regular bros with great musical acumen. Their catalogue is too vast for me to pick overall faves, but Just Be Good To Me, SOS Band, Saturday Love and I Didn't Mean to Turn You On, by Cherelle, Sensitivity and Rub You The Right Way by Ralph T and Johnny Gill, and If It Isn't Love and Can You Stand the Rain by N.E., Funny How Time Flies and a gazillion others by Janet, Fishnet by Morris, Optimistic & The Pressure I & II by S.oB., Romantic by Karyn White, I Adore U by Caryn Wheeler, Human by Human League. ETC. ETC.

I want to meet them and chop it up one day. Just super cool. I love Jimmy's evolution into a music statesman of sorts in his work with NARAS, etc.

For those who haven't heard it I'd strongly recommend listening to Jimmy Jam's appearence on The Roots dummer Questlove's podcast 'Questlove Supreme'. It used to be exclusive to Pandora radio but has just been made available on most podcast plaforms.

The Jimmy Jam interview is split into three parts and runs about five and half hours in total! Its super indepth and covers everything you'd ever want and more. Definitely worth checking out if you haven't already!

The 80s was definately Jam & Lewis' decade!

They produced "Summer Is the Coldest Time of Year" on Patti Austin in 1985, which is one of my favorite songs by anyone.

Although not one of my favorite Chaka albums, they produced a few good songs on "Funk This".

I also love Patti Labelle's song "A New Day".

I like all their work but my favorite Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis productions will always be what they did with the SOS Band and Alexander O´Neal.

By the way, they produced Ice-T´s very first single, The Coldest Rap, too.

Human League "Human"

One of My Jam & Lewis FAVES!!!

woogiebear said:

I am a HUGE fan of Change's "Change Of Heart" album! Terry's bassline on "It Burns Me Up" is off the CHAIN! Also aDORE their work with S.O.S. Band, Cherrelle, Alex and Rhonda Clark! My only lament is that they never played into Mary Davis' sole solo project, "Separate Ways" back in 1990. Heartbreaking. It would have secured her a nice string of hits w/o the band had this happened. <3

I love Jam & Lewis, they are my "Lennon & McCartney"!

BalladofPeterParker said:

alphastreet said:

BalladofPeterParker said:

I love Jam & Lewis, they are my "Lennon & McCartney"!

Dare I say it, they are better than them, though I love the Beatles too I wish someone had a connection to them cause I want to give them some demos

It's all subjective but Jam & Lewis "speak" more to me (although I DO enjoy L & M also).

daingermouz2020 said:

My favorite by Jam & Lewis

Janet Jackson: Rhythm Nation album
Alexander O'Neal: All True Man album
Cherelle: Affair album
Herb Alpert: Keep Your Eye On Me album
Caron Wheeler :Adore single

YES

BalladofPeterParker said:

I love Jam & Lewis, they are my "Lennon & McCartney"!

LMAO! I LOVE YOU! Needed this 2nite after hauling 40 hosp. beds and prob 60 stretchers at work all week. Thanks, peace, luv 'n whitechocolateBRUTHAluv! <3

alphastreet said:

I’m actually surprised Changes Glow of Love wasn’t originally produced by Jam and Lewis

It was 21 yrs later 4 Janet! LOL! <3

whitechocolatebrotha said:

BalladofPeterParker said:

I love Jam & Lewis, they are my "Lennon & McCartney"!

LMAO! I LOVE YOU! Needed this 2nite after hauling 40 hosp. beds and prob 60 stretchers at work all week. Thanks, peace, luv 'n whitechocolateBRUTHAluv! <3

Glad it made your day Bro! I appreciate ya!

whitechocolatebrotha said:

funkypixie said:

For those who haven't heard it I'd strongly recommend listening to Jimmy Jam's appearence on The Roots dummer Questlove's podcast 'Questlove Supreme'. It used to be exclusive to Pandora radio but has just been made available on most podcast plaforms.

The Jimmy Jam interview is split into three parts and runs about five and half hours in total! Its super indepth and covers everything you'd ever want and more. Definitely worth checking out if you haven't already!

thanks for this recommendation. finally finished listening to this yesterday. i thoroughly enjoyed it. endeared him/them to me all the more!