With her fifth album, Janet Jackson took her artistry and popularity into a new gear for a new decade. Now, 30 years after janet. was released, it's coming back into print this summer as an expanded edition featuring rare bonus material.
Coming off the back-to-back critical and commercial smashes of Control (1986) and Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989) - the latter of which met big brother Michael's Thriller-era benchmark of seven Top 10 hits off one album, the youngest member of the Jackson family grabbed headlines in 1991 thanks to a record-breaking contract negotiation from longtime label A&M to Virgin. (Michael knocked out her record only days later by re-upping with Sony Music Entertainment.) Two years later, she was back with another collection of music. Where Control dealt with independence and Rhythm Nation tackled world affairs and increasingly mature romance in its lyrics, janet. featured slinky, celebratory paeans to love and intimacy in all its forms, from emotional to physical. "For the first time, I'm feeling free," she'd tell Rolling Stone. "I love feeling deeply sexual--and don't mind letting the world know. For me, sex has become a celebration, a joyful part of the creative process."
In her third collaboration with producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Janet sought to quash the frankly bizarre accusations that they were doing all the work; conesequently, she'd pen every lyric on the 75-minute album, from the laid-back groove "That's the Way Love Goes" to the fun and chill "Whoops Now," the album's unlisted closer. janet. showed fans and critics that she'd hardly lost a step after the ambitions of Rhythm Nation: it became her first album to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, has sold some 14 million copies worldwide (her bestselling release), and nearly matched the previous album with six more Top 10 hits: the chart-toppers "That's the Way Love Goes" and "Again," "If," "Because of Love," "Any Time, Any Place" and "You Want This."
Though the album only comes with seven bonus tracks - this would have been a great opportunity to put out 1995's Janet Remixed in the U.S. - they're all prime cuts. The album's three non-LP B-sides are here - "And On and On" (the flip to "Any Time" which garnered radio airplay on its own), "70's Love Groove" and "One More Chance" (a rare in-family cover, first performed by her brothers on 1984's Victory) - along with various 7" versions of "That's the Way Love Goes," "Because of Love," "You Want This" and non-single "Where Are You Now."
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee is currently on a stellar concert tour, which will be chronicled later this year in a new documentary series from Lifetime and A&E, who aired a documentary of her life and career in 2022. janet. will be reissued July 7 as a 2CD, 3LP or digital set. Pre-order them below.
janet. (Deluxe Edition) (Capitol/JDJ/UMe, 2023)
2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
3LP: Amazon U.S. (TBD) / Amazon U.K. (TBD) / Amazon Canada (TBD)
CD 1/LP 1-2: Original album (released as Virgin/JDJ/Flyte Tyme V2-87825, 1993)
- Morning
- That's the Way Love Goes
- You Know
- You Want This
- Be a Good Boy
- If
- Back
- This Time
- Go On Miss Janet
- Throb
- What'll I Do
- The Lounge
- Funky Big Band
- Racism
- New Agenda
- Love Part 2
- Because of Love
- Wind
- Again
- Another Lover
- Where Are You Now
- Hold On Baby
- The Body That Loves You
- Rain
- Any Time, Any Place
- Are You Still Up
- Sweet Dreams
- Whoops Now
CD 2/LP 3: Bonus material
- And On and On
- 70's Love Groove
- One More Chance
- You Want This (Remix)
- Where Are You Now (Nellee Hooper Mix)
- Because of Love (Muggs 7" with Bass Intro)
- That's the Way Love Goes (CJ R&B 7" Mix)
Track 1 from "Any Time, Any Place" CD single - Virgin V25H-38435, 1994
Tracks 2 and 4 from "You Want This" CD single - Virgin V25H-38455, 1994
Track 3 from "If" CD single - Virgin V25H-12674, 1994
Track 5 from Janet Remixed - Virgin (U.K.) CDVY-2720, 1995
Track 6 from "Because of Love" CD single - Virgin V25H-38422, 1994
Track 7 from "That's the Way Love Goes" CD single - Virgin V25H-12654, 1993
Steve Isadore says
"What'll I Do" was an old Stax tune by Johnny Daye.
Dana says
Not really the Janet Jackson album I've been waiting to see expanded, but good for the fans who have been. So many mixes that could have been included on the space left blank on CD2, especially since the mixes that are included are 7" rather than 12". Perhaps the mentioned Janet Remixed will see a deluxe reissue soon after this release. Or may there are plans to digitally release the singles from this album, as Madonna's been doing for her career singles?
Bryce Jordan says
I never thought I would be "this guy" and technically Im not, I appreciate the effort, but it's seemingly such a half-measure that I almost wonder if UME or Black Doll is trying to spring a surprise or two on us as we get closer to the release date. Because at the end of the day, I struggle with the idea that a 2023 Special Edition has fewer (albeit with substitutions) tracks than the 1993 Special Edition- https://www.discogs.com/release/1273251-janet-janet
Brian Stanley says
New mixes, remixes and dance mixes have never held any interest for me so the three b-sides would have to be amazing to justify replacing my original disc. A live disc or concert and video DVD would be more appealing.
Bellenger1981 says
Wow! What a disappointment! Disc 2 is missing so many potential tracks. Ideally, the track listing should have looked something like this, in my opinion:
Disc 2: Singles, Promos & Rarities
01 That's the Way Love Goes [A/C Edit]
02 If [Adult 7" Radio Mix]
03 Again [Piano/Vocal]
04 Because of Love [D&D Bentley Radio Mix]
05 Any Time, Any Place [R. Kelly Mix]
06 You Want This [Remix] (featuring MC Lyte)
07 What'll I Do [Dave Navarro Remix]
08 One More Chance
09 And On and On
10 70's Love Groove
11 That's the Way Love Goes [CJ R&B 7" Mix]
12 Because of Love [Frankie & David 7"]
13 Any Time, Any Place [Jam & Lewis Remix]
14 That's the Way Love Goes [That's The Remix (We Aimsta Win) #1]
15 If [Extended LP Version]
16 You Want This [Spoiled Milk. Remix]
Bryce Jordan says
I'll keep it simple- I co-sign your vision.