Janet Jackson is the sister of arguably the biggest artist of all time, Michael Jackson. Janet began her career on television. She began acting in the variety show The Jacksons in 1976. In 1977, she was selected to have a starring role as Penny Gordon Woods in the sitcom Good Times. Janet Jackson played various roles after her time on the Good Times show. When Jackson was fifteen, her father and manager Joseph Jackson arranged a contract for her with A&M Records. Her debut album, Janet Jackson, was released in 1982. The project received very little promotion but appeared on the Billboard Top Black Albums of 1983. Jackson’s second album, Dream Street, was released two years later. Dream Street didn’t have an impact just like her debut album. After her second album, Jackson terminated business affairs with her family.
Attempting a third album, Jackson teamed with producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. They set out to achieve crossover pop appeal, while also creating a strong foundation within the urban market. Within six weeks, Jackson and the duo crafted her third studio album, Control, released in February 1986. Janet Jackson Control turns 40 years old today. Following its release, Control became Jackson’s first album to top the Billboard 200 albums chart in the United States. Janet Jackson released seven singles from the album and five of them peaked within the top five of the Billboard. What Have You Done for Me Lately was the first single released from the album. The gold selling single received a nomination for Best Rhythm & Blues Song at the 1987 Grammy Awards. The song peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100.
The video won a Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul or Rap Music Video in 1987. The song was first performed live by Jackson at the 29th annual Grammy Awards in 1987. The song has been featured in critic lists as one of the greatest songs of all time. Nasty would become her second single released from the Control album. The single became one of the signature songs in her discography even till this day. The song won for Favorite Soul/R&B Single at the 1987 American Music Awards. Nasty went platinum and has been on several lists when it comes to greatest song ever. When I Think of You was the third single released from the Control album. The song was another success by reaching platinum status. It was Jackson’s first number-one single on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Pitchfork included the song on their “The 200 Best Songs of the 1980s” list at number 48. When I Think of You was another classic record on the album. The album’s titled became her fourth single from the album. Control went gold and was included on two of her greatest hits albums. In 1988, the song won a Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul or Rap Music Video. Control was the final album released in 1986. Let’s Wait Awhile became the fifth single released from the Control album. Despite not going gold or platinum, this is another great record from the album. The Pleasure Principle was the sixth single from the Control album. The Pleasure Principle became another signature for Janet Jackson. The single also peaked at number one on the Dance Club Songs and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts.
The song was nominated for Best R&B/Soul Single – Female at the 1988 Soul Train Music Awards. In 2022, Rolling Stone ranked the Shep Pettibone Vocal Mix of “The Pleasure Principle” number 145 in their list of the “200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time”. Funny How Time Flies (When You’re Having Fun) was her seventh and final single from the Control album. The single was released in November of 1987. There was no video released for the single, but it was another great song on the album. Control is one of my favorite albums of all time of any genre. The album has been listed on several favorites lists. Many artists after her have talked about how influential the Control album is to their career. Control sold over ten million copies worldwide. Below are my top 5 tracks and the track listing and stream link for the Control joint.
Top 5 Tracks: Let’s Wait Awhile, Nasty, The Pleasure Principle, You Can Be Mine and When I Think of You
Control Track Listing
- Control
- Nasty
- What Have You Done for Me Lately
- You Can Be Mine
- The Pleasure Principle
- When I Think of You
- He Doesn’t Know I’m Alive
- Let’s Wait Awhile
- Funny How Time Flies (When You’re Having Fun)
