Number Ones

Performer: Janet Jackson
Artist: Joni Mitchell; Blackstreet
Producer: Janet Jackson
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: Photographer: Andrew McPherson . Number Ones replaces Design of a Decade, released 14 years prior. Excepting the new song "Make Me" (hard neo-disco/funk excellence), each song here was indeed a number one hit on Billboard's various charts, though "Got 'Til It's Gone" sneaks through a side door via the Japanese charts. One number one, oddly, is missing: "So Excited," a perfectly fine, 2006 single which topped the club chart. This set is more thorough with 1986-1996, too, adding Herb Alpert's "Diamonds" -- which would not have been out of place on Control, given Jam & Lewis' production and Janet's precedence over Alpert's trumpet -- as well as "The Best Things in Life Are Free" (with Luther Vandross) -- all the smashes off janet., and "Scream" (with her brother). Say what you want about Janet peaking with Jam & Lewis during the latter half of the '80s -- to be fair, the argument is valid -- but she did rack up a career's worth of solid hits during the years that followed. Even if they were not as sonically innovative and lacked the same amount of pop appeal of the Control/Rhythm Nation-era singles, they clearly made a significant impact and have aged well. Four of the songs first compiled on Design of a Decade appear in slightly different forms, which could make a minor difference for the fans that are most hardcore. This includes the 7" video version of "Alright," the album version of "Control," the "short solo single version" of "Black Cat," and what is likely the single edit of "Rhythm Nation." ~ Andy Kellman

In the wake of Michael Jackson's monster success with THRILLER, most of his brothers and sisters tried their hands at launching similarly styled solo careers, with varying degrees of success. But the only one to become a major recording figure on her own (and achieve staying power) was Michael's youngest sister, Janet Jackson, who became one of the biggest and most successful recording artists of the 1980s/'90s thanks to such albums as CONTROL and THE VELVET ROPE. Following the somewhat lackluster sales of 2004's DAMITA JO album and her now-infamous "wardrobe malfunction" at that year's Super Bowl halftime show, Jackson kept a relatively low profile for a few years, but returned strong in 2006 with 20 Y.O.

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