Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814
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| Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 | ||
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| Studio album by Janet Jackson | ||
| Released | September 18, 1989 | |
| Recorded | 1989 | |
| Genre | R&B/Pop | |
| Length | 64:31 | |
| Label | A&M | |
| Producer(s) | Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis Janet Jackson Jellybean Johnson |
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| Professional reviews | ||
|---|---|---|
| Janet Jackson chronology | ||
| Control: The Remixes (1987) |
Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989) |
janet. (1993) |
Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 (commonly titled simply Rhythm Nation or Rhythm Nation 1814) is the fourth studio album by American R&B/Pop artist Janet Jackson. It was released on September 18, 1989 and became the best selling album of 1990. It is the only album in history to score #1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in three different calendar years (1989-1991). The album is also the only album in history to spawn seven top 5 hits which include four #1 singles, two #2 singles, and one single that reached #4, plus another song that was not commercialy released (State of the World) but reached #5 on the airplay charts.
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[edit] Background
Rhythm Nation 1814, Jackson's follow up to her 1986 hit album, Control, continued the success of its predecessor, with seven top 10 singles. Rhythm Nation 1814 reached number one on both Pop and R&B charts. The album took three months to produce. Originally, executives at A&M wanted Janet to expand on the ideas presented on Control, but she was not willing to compromise her artistic integrity to gain record sales and thus the politically themed basis for her next album was born . When it came time to chose the album title, Janet wanted Rhythm Nation, but her label pushed for it to be named after the first single, Escapade. In the end the rising star power of Jackson forced the label to side with her and the title for her 4th album became Rhythm Nation 1814.
Rhythm Nation 1814 is a concept album addressing social ills, alternating with more typical love-song/dance song fare. Jackson's image was changed into a more serious look, with stark black and white cover art and a dimly lit photo of her dressed in a black pseudo-military outfit. The back cover of the album displays the following pledge: "We are a nation with no geographic boundaries, bound together through our beliefs. We are like-minded individuals, sharing a common vision, pushing toward a world rid of color-lines." Following the statement is this creed: "Music, Poetry, Dance, Unity".
The album was the first in history to generate seven top-five Billboard hits from one album. The album's numerous hit singles were accompanied by more conceptual video versions. The album was produced by Jimmy Jam (James Harris III) and Terry Lewis, with co-production credit given to Janet Jackson. Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis also penned or co-wrote the songs with Janet Jackson, as well as arranging and programming the music, and playing much of the instrumental tracks. The song "Black Cat" was produced by another producer of the late-1980s, Jellybean Johnson.
The album was released by A&M Records on LP, chrome cassette and compact disc, which at the time demonstrated an expectation of broad appeal for the album on behalf of the record company. A companion video compilation has also been issued in both VHS and Laserdisc. Complete lyrics were included in the album. All tracks were recorded and mixed in Minnesota. The album is dedicated to Katherine Jackson, Jackson's mother. Rhythm Nation 1814 brought Janet Jackson ten Billboard awards, including Top R&B Albums and Singles Artist, Best Pop and R&B Album Award, and Top Hot 100 Singles Artist. She also won a record-breaking 5 Billboard Music Video Awards. The singles, especially "Miss You Much" and "Rhythm Nation", received extensive airplay on radio and TV stations like MTV, BET and VH1 in addition to dance clubs around the world.
[edit] Album Title
From the Rhythm Nation 1814 Tour Book: "When we were making the track 'Rhythm Nation' we all got excited thinking that it would make a great anthem for dancers everywhere. Then somebody mentioned that Francis Scott-Key [sic] had written the American national anthem in 1814 and because of that, the number began to take on a significance for us. It wasn't until later that we realized 'R' is the 18th letter of the alphabet and 'N' is the 14th letter. What's even more coincidental is that Scott-Key [sic] wrote the song on September 14th and our album was shipping on September 18th even though it had originally been scheduled to come out in August."
The essay in the liner notes of Design of a Decade 1986/1996 also quote Janet as saying "1814 is also the year women were finally granted education beyond the eighth grade. That was a key fact for me."
[edit] The Film
In 1989, while the album was being finalised, Jackson was approached by record company executives to promote the record. The original idea was to do a live TV special to show off the new songs, but Janet resisted the idea on the basis of quality control (she thought the idea was 'cheesy'). An alternative way of promotion, the short film, was suggested. Together with director Dominic Sena, producer (and soon-to-be husband) Rene Elizondo and a team of dancers and choreographers, Jackson created the Rhythm Nation 1814 Film, featuring 4 songs from the album. Shot in black & white, the film tells the story of TJ and Kickdrum, 2 young aspiring musicians who are friends with Jackson. While Jackson entertains her friends at a warehouse, the kids slowly sink into a life of crime, until TJ is eventually killed, prompting Kickdrum to seek comfort in Jackson. 4 songs were featured- a club version of Black Cat, Miss You Much, The Knowledge and Rhythm Nation. The video was well received by critics who compared it to her brother Michael Jackson's Moonwalker, although it did not sell as well.
In 2003, the album was ranked number 275 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
[edit] Track listing
| # | Title | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Interlude: Pledge | 0:47 |
| 2. | "Rhythm Nation" (Writers: Harris, Jackson, Lewis) |
5:30 |
| 3. | Interlude: TV | 0:21 |
| 4. | "State of the World" (Writers: Harris, Jackson, Lewis) |
4:48 |
| 5. | Interlude: Race | 0:04 |
| 6. | "The Knowledge" (Writers: Harris, Lewis) |
4:18 |
| 7. | Interlude: Let's Dance | 0:04 |
| 8. | "Miss You Much" (Writers: Harris, Lewis) |
4:12 |
| 9. | Interlude: Come Back | 0:20 |
| 10. | "Love Will Never Do (Without You)" (Writers: Harris, Lewis) |
5:50 |
| 11. | "Alright" (Writers: Harris, Jackson, Lewis) |
6:26 |
| 12. | Interlude: Hey Baby | 0:06 |
| 13. | "Escapade" (Writers: Harris, Jackson, Lewis) |
4:43 |
| 14. | Interlude: No Acid | 0:05 |
| 15. | "Black Cat" (Writers: Jackson) |
4:50 |
| 16. | "Lonely" (Writers: Harris, Lewis) |
4:59 |
| 17. | "Come Back to Me" (Writers: Harris, Jackson, Lewis) |
5:32 |
| 18. | "Someday Is Tonight" (Writers: Harris, Jackson, Lewis) |
6:00 |
| 14. | Interlude: Livin'… In Complete Darkness | 1:07 |
[edit] Rhythm Nation 1814 B-Sides
- "You Need Me"
- "Skin Game, Pt. 1"
- "Esta Bien" (Alright)
- "Vuelve A Mi" (Come Back to Me) [Castillian Version]
- "1814 Megamix"
[edit] Singles
| # | Title | Release Date | Chart position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Miss You Much" |
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| 2. | "Rhythm Nation" |
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| 3. | "Escapade" |
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| 4. | "Alright" |
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| 5. | "Come Back to Me" |
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| 6. | "Black Cat" |
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| 7. | "Love Will Never Do (Without You)" |
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| 8. | "State of the World" |
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[edit] Music Awards
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[edit] RIAA
- U.S. 6x Platinum (#1 for 4 weeks)
[edit] External link
Studio albums: Janet Jackson • Dream Street • Control • Rhythm Nation 1814
janet. • The Velvet Rope • All for You • Damita Jo • 20 Y.O.
Other albums: Control: The Remixes • Janet. Remixed • Design of a Decade 1986/1996
Discography • Singles • Videography • Filmography • Tours • Awards and accolades
