Rhythm Nation 1814

by Janet Jackson

Overview

After shocking the R&B world with 1986's Control -- a gutsy, risk-taking triumph that was a radical departure from her first two albums -- Michael and Jermaine Jackson's younger sister reached an even higher artistic plateau with the conceptual Rhythm Nation 1814. Once again, she enlists the help of Time graduates Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis (one of the more soulful production/songwriting teams of 1980s and '90s R&B) with wildly successful results. In 1989, protest songs were common in rap but rare in R&B -- Janet Jackson, following rap's lead, dares to address social and political topics on "The Knowledge," the disturbing "State of the World," and the poignant ballad "Living in a World" (which decries the reality of children being exposed to violence). Jackson's voice is wafer-thin, and she doesn't have much of a range -- but she definitely has lots of soul and spirit and uses it to maximum advantage on those gems as well as nonpolitical pieces ranging from the Prince-influenced funk/pop of "Miss You Much" and "Alright" to the caressing, silky ballads "Someday Is Tonight," "Alone," and "Come Back to Me" to the pop/rock smoker "Black Cat." For those purchasing their first Janet Jackson release, Rhythm Nation would be an even wiser investment than Control -- and that's saying a lot. ~ Alex Henderson

Product Details

Release Date:	08/24/1989
Label:	A&M
UPC:	0075021392021
Rank:	41492

Tracks

1. Interlude: Pledge
2. Rhythm Nation
3. Interlude: T.V.
4. State of the World
5. Interlude: Race
6. The Knowledge
7. Interlude: Let's Dance
8. Miss You Much
9. Interlude: Come Back Interlude
10. Love Will Never Do (Without You)
11. Livin' in a World (They Didn't Make)
12. Alright
13. Interlude: Hey Baby
14. Escapade
15. Interlude: No Acid
16. Black Cat
17. Lonely
18. Come Back to Me
19. Someday Is Tonight
20. Interlude: Livin'...In Complete Darkness

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Janet Jackson   Primary Artist,Vocals,Keyboards,Lead Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Jimmy Jam   Keyboards,Percussion,Bass,Drums,Organ,Piano,Vocals,Synthesizer,Sampled Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Reshard Taylor   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Warlesha Ryan   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
James Greer   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Dave Barry   Guitar,Guitar (12 String Electric)
Steve Barnett   Conductor,Conductor
Kathy Kienzle   Harp
Steve Hodge   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Peter Howard   Cello
Terry Lewis   Bass,Percussion,Vocals (Background)
Johnny Gill   Percussion,Finger Snaps,Special Effects
Lisa Keith   Vocals (Background)
Jesse Johnson   Guitar
Tamas Strasser   Viola,Violin
John Tartaglia   Viola
Herb Alpert   Horn,Brass,Trumpet,Ensemble
Jellybean Johnson   Drums,Guitar,Vocals,Percussion,Vocals (Background)
Chris Brown   Bass,Bass
Sonja Robinson   Vocals
Steven Wilson   Vocals
Tschaye Marks   Vocals
Carolyn Daws   Violin
Tarnika McDaniel   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Clarice Rupert   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Joshua Koestenbaum   Cello
Rene Elizondo Jr.   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Randy Ran   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Tshaye Marks   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
David Barry   Guitar,Guitar (Electric),Guitar (12 String)
Shante Owens   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Sonya Robinson   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Tom Kornacker   Violin
Elsa Nilsson   Violin
Steve Wilson   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Hanley Daws   Violin
Julie Ayer   Violin
John McLain   Guitar,Vocals (Background)
Jamial Lafleur   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
John McClain   Guitar,Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Tamika McDaniel   Vocals
O. Nicholas Raths   Guitar (Classical)
Frank Lee   Violin
Anthony Thomas   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Carl Nashan   Violin
Amy Powell   Voices,Newscast
Nicholas Raths   Guitar,Guitar (Classical)

Technical Credits

Jimmy Jam   Producer,Programming,Drum Programming,Vocal Arrangement,Rhythm Arrangements,Keyboard Programming
Steve Hodge   Mixing,Engineer
Terry Lewis   Arranger,Composer,Producer,Vocal Arrangement,Rhythm Arrangements
Lee Blaske   Arranger
Janet Jackson   Arranger,Composer,Producer,Vocal Arrangement,Rhythm Arrangements
Herb Alpert   Performer,Orchestration
Sylvester Stewart   Composer
James Harris III   Composer
Jellybean Johnson   Producer,Drum Programming,Vocal Arrangement,Rhythm Arrangements
Steve Barnett   Contractor
Sly Stone   Composer
David Eiland   Programming
Guzman/Rotterdam Conservatory Orquesta Tipica   Photography
John McClain   Producer
Richard Frankel   Cover Design,Art Direction
Lee Blaskey   String Arrangements,Orchestral Arrangements