Since September 2010, this blog has recorded the journey of this music junkie as I attempt to listen to all the music in my CD collection. CDs revisited in their entirety from start to finish - no skipping tracks, no shuffle. Compact Discs only - no vinyl, no tapes, no files.

Tuesday, January 1, 2019

Janet Jackson - Design of a Decade: 1986-1996 (1995)


This greatest hits album features 6 of Jackson's top 40 hits from Control (1986), 7 hits from Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989), one cut from janet. (1993), along with two new tracks. And thanks to Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, it's a damn good way to spend 76 minutes.

Billboard, October 21, 1995, p. 79

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #3

Tracks with Billboard chart peaks (that's a lot of 1's down there). My top tracks are marked with a ✔ but don't skip any.

SongAlbumYearHot 100R&BACDance
RunawayDesign of a Decade19953678
What Have You Done For Me LatelyControl198641
2
NastyControl198631
2
When I Think Of YouControl198613101
EscapadeRhythm Nation199011161
Miss You MuchRhythm Nation198911
1
Love Will Never Do (Without You)Rhythm Nation199013334
Alright (Goh Hotoda Mix)Rhythm Nation199042
1
ControlControl198651
1
The Pleasure PrincipleControl1987141
1
Black Cat (video mix)Rhythm Nation1990110
17
Rhythm NationRhythm Nation198921
1
That's the Way Love Goesjanet.19931181
Come Back To Me (I'm Beggin' You Mix)Rhythm Nation199022117
Let's Wait AwhileControl1987212
Twenty ForeplayDesign of a Decade1995
32



The latter part of the decade is largely ignored: If (#4, 1993), Again (#1, 1993), Because Of Love (#10, 1994), Any Time Any Place/And On And On (#2, 1994), You Want This/70's Love Groove (#8, 1994), Scream (#5, 1995).

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: Songs from Control take me right back to my college years when I was a dancing fool while songs from Rhythm Nation take me right back to my first year of teaching, which also happened to be my first year on my own and my first year as a husband.

So let me try to recall where my life was at both ends of the decade that was 1986-95 (sorry, Janet, a decade is only 10 years - 1986-1996 is eleven): In 1986, I was in the middle of my university music studies, spending more time chasing tail than practicing. By 1995, I was married 6 years, had taught school for 4 years, had moved all over the state trying to find the right fit for me and my family, and was in my second year of being a stay-at-home dad. Tempus fugit.

Speaking of decades...

Previously revisited for the blog:
Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989)

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