Janet Jackson Archives - Ramblin' with Roger

Hot Black Singles of 1986

Word Up

These are the Hot Black singles of 1986. The category term was usually some variation of soul or rhythm and blues until 1982, when it became Black Singles and then, in 1984, Hot Black Singles.

As before, I’m not going to list the songs I’ve already linked to on the singles charts, although I will list them.

KISS- Prince and the Revolution, four weeks at #1; #1 pop

On My Own – Patti Labelle and Michael McDonald, four weeks at #1; #1 pop

Tasty Love – Freddie Jackson, four weeks at #1

That’s What Friends Are For – Dionne and friends, three weeks at #1; #1 pop

Do Me Baby – Meli’sa Morgan, three weeks at #1

Word Up – Cameo, three weeks at #1

Say You Say Me – Lionel Richie, two weeks at #1, #1 pop

The youngest Jackson sibling

What Have You Done For Me Lately – Janet Jackson, two weeks at #1. From uDiscoverMusic: “To say that, back in 1985, Janet Jackson lived in her brother Michael’s shadow was something of an understatement. At that time Michael was at the height of his reign as the undisputed “King Of Pop” and was still basking in the success of his 1982 blockbuster album, Thriller. But that was before Control, the album that proved Janet Jackson had what it took to launch a formidable attack on the charts.” I bought this album, oddly, on cassette.

I Have Learned to Respect the Power of Love – Stephanie Mills, two weeks at #1

Nasty – Janet Jackson, two weeks at #1

Rumors – Timex Social Club, two weeks at #1

Closer Than Close – Jean Carne, two weeks at #1

Do You Get Enough Love – Shirley Jones, two weeks at #1

The Rain -Oran “Juice” Jones, two weeks at #1

Shake You Down – Gregory Abbott, two weeks at #1, #1 pop

Love You Down – Ready for the World, two weeks at #1

Girlfriend – Bobby Brown, two weeks at #1; I saw him perform in 2026

The rest are number one for one week

How Will I Know – Whitney Houston, #1 pop

Your Smile – René and Angela

Who’s Johnny – El Debarge; I have this on a Motown compilation CD

Love Zone – Billy Ocean

Ain’t Nothing Going On But The Rent – Gwen Guthrie

(Pop, pop, pop, pop) Goes My Mind – Levert

A Little Bit More – Melba Moore (with Freddie Jackson)

The 1993 #1 hits: women rule!

Janet

Mariah Carey The list of 1993 #1 hits on the Billboard pop charts is short, with only ten songs. They all went platinum, and all but one topped the charts for multiple weeks. This year sees the continuation of the trend of women dominating the charts, as they did throughout the decade. It was unprecedented in recorded musical history, according to the authority on such things, the late Joel Whitburn.

Dreamlover– Mariah Carey, #1 for eight weeks. She was the decade’s biggest-selling pop artist.

That’s The Way Love Goes– Janet Jackson, #1 for eight weeks. I saw Janet perform live in 2018.

Can’t Help Falling In Love– UB40. #1 for seven weeks. The Elvis Presley cover. This is from the film Silver starring Sharon Stone and William Baldwin; I never heard of the movie.

Informer – Snow, #1 for seven weeks. I will admit that, to my recollection, I never heard this song before. Nor do I know the artist. It was #1 on my 40th birthday.

I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That), #1 for five weeks. I always enjoyed the New York Times style guide referring to the late Marvin Lee Aday as Mr. Loaf.

Hero – Mariah Carey, #1 for four weeks

Freak Me – Silk, #1 for two weeks. Written and produced by Keith Sweat, it was also #1 on the RB charts for eight weeks.

Weak – SWV (Sisters With Voices), #1 for two weeks. I have an SWV CD.

Again – Janet Jackson, #1 for two weeks

A Whole New World (Aladdin’s Theme) – Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle. Yes, I saw the movie at the cinema.

Kept from the top

The most chart-worthy #2 is Whoomp! (There It Is) by Tag Team. It spent 15 weeks longer on the Top 100, 19 weeks longer on the Top 40, and nine weeks longer in the Top 10 than any #1 song in the year. Also, it went quadruple platinum.

Yet it was stuck at #2 for seven weeks. It was kept out of the #1 slot by UB40 for five weeks and Carey’s Dreamlover for two. It DID go to #1 on the RB charts for a week.

National Recording Registry 2021

Flaco Jiménez

You may have heard about 25 recordings making it into the National Recording Registry. Some got more press than others.

Edison’s “St. Louis tinfoil” recording (1878). I can’t find it yet, but it should be available starting August 28, 2021, when the Missouri History Museum starts its St. Louis Sound exhibition.
Nikolina – Hjalmar Peterson (1917) (single). This appears to be a 1929 version.
Smyrneikos Balos – Marika Papagika (1928) (single). “An authentic Greek recording.”
When the Saints Go Marching In – Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra (1938) (single). He performed this song a lot, but this is among the finest versions.
Christmas Eve Broadcast – Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill (December 24, 1941), right after the US entered WWII.
The Guiding Light – Nov. 22, 1945. I can’t find it, but now I know why it’s on the list. It aired “the first Thanksgiving after the conclusion of World War II… The Rev. Dr. Frank Tuttle gives a moving sermon to a packed church.”

The 1950s and 1960s

Odetta Sings Ballads and Blues – Odetta (1957) (album). My father LOVED her voice.
Lord, Keep Me Day by Day – Albertina Walker and the Caravans (1959) (single)
Roger Maris hits his 61st home run (October 1, 1961). I don’t know if it’s the one with Phil Rizzuto’s voice, or, more likely that of Red Barber.
Aida – Leontyne Price, et.al. (1962) (album)
Once A Day – Connie Smith (1964) (single) – EIGHT weeks at #1 on the country charts in 1964, though only #101 on the pop charts
Born Under a Bad Sign – Albert King (1967) (album). I may still own this on vinyl.

Onto the ’70s and ’80s

Free to Be… You and Me – Marlo Thomas and Friends (1972) (album). I watched the TV special for sure. I might have even bought the album.
The Harder They Come – Jimmy Cliff (1972) (album). There are YouTube versions with more than 12 songs, but the version I own has the dozen.
Lady Marmalade – Labelle (1974) (single). Patti LaBelle didn’t know what this song was about? She didn’t understand French, evidently.
Late for the Sky – Jackson Browne (1974) (album)
Bright Size Life — Pat Metheny (1976) (album). Didn’t find it.
The Rainbow Connection – Kermit the Frog (1979) (single)

Celebration — Kool and the Gang (1980) (single). On the 22 March 2021 JEOPARDY, R and B and SOUL HITS $800. 40 years later and partygoers still like to get on the dance floor and “celebrate good times” to a hit by this group. Triple Stumper, but I knew it instantly. I have the album on vinyl.
Richard Strauss: Four Last Songs – Jessye Norman (1983) (album)
Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814 – Janet Jackson (1989) (album). I LOVE this album. She performed much of it when I saw her at SPAC in 2018.

THE Find

Partners – Flaco Jiménez (1992) (album). I was not familiar with this artist, but he performs with Stephen Stills, Linda Ronstadt, John Hiatt, and Los Lobos on songs they wrote or co-wrote, plus Dwight Yoakam, Oscar Tellez, and Ry Cooder
Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What A Wonderful World – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole (1993) (single). I may have gotten a little teary-eyed when this played on the TV show E.R. just before Dr. Greene’s departure. Maybe not. Possibly.
Illmatic – Nas (1994) (album)
This American Life: The Giant Pool of Money (May 9, 2008). “A special program about the housing crisis produced in a special collaboration with NPR News. We explain it all to you. What does the housing crisis have to do with the turmoil on Wall Street? Why did banks make half-million dollar loans to people without jobs or income? And why is everyone talking so much about the 1930s?”

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ballot 2019

Stevie Nicks was, last I checked, leading the fan vote. She’s already in with Fleetwood Mac.

Some guy I used to know IRL said of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominations, “the least important election this year.” Still, one can cast a fan vote, every day, for five nominees, which, collectively, will be considered in the process.

My Sure Things

#TODD RUNDGREN; Eligible year: 1995
Number of nominations: 1; Nominated in 2019
I have his albums with the Nazz, Utopia and a number of his solo albums. He’s also produced a chunk of notable albums for others. It’s SHOCKING that he was never nominated before. He’s a wizard, a true star. Can We Still Be Friends

#JANET JACKSON; Eligible year: 2007
Number of nominations: 3; Nominated in 2016, 2017, 2019
I left her off my ballot a couple years ago. Yet she has been not only a commercial success – in the top five women artists, according to Billboard – but a socially conscious one. Seeing her in person this year may have tipped the scale. Rhythm Nation

#ROXY MUSIC; Eligible year: 1997
Number of nominations: 1; Nominated in 2019
Bryan Ferry and his mates have never been nominated before? Commercially successful and influential. Love Is the Drug

The ones who are influential, and who I should consider

DEF LEPPARD; Eligible year: 2005
Number of nominations: 1; Nominated in 2019
Not particularly a fan, but surprised it took them so long to get on the ballot. Last I checked, they were neck and neck with Stevie Nicks for the fan vote lead.

JOHN PRINE; Eligible year: 1996
Number of nominations: 1; Nominated in 2019
Great singer-songwriter. Probably my sixth choice this year. Dear Abby

KRAFTWERK; Eligible year: 1995
Number of nominations: 5; Nominated in 2003, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019
I KNOW how seminal their music is.

LL COOL J; Eligible year: 2009
Number of nominations: 5; Nominated in: 2010, 2011, 2014, 2018, 2019
It was only last year when I fully recognized his historic import.

RADIOHEAD; Eligible year: 2017
Number of nominations: 2; Nominated in 2018, 2019
I suppose if I ENJOYED their music more, I’d have picked them.

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE; Eligible year: 2017
Number of nominations: 2; Nominated in 2018, 2019
An important band. Hope they get in someday.

I voted for them because I like them

#DEVO; Eligible year: 2003
Number of nominations: 1; Nominated in 2019
They were fun, especially in the early days of MTV. Satisfaction

#THE CURE; Eligible year: 2004
Number of nominations: 2; Nominated in 2012, 2019
The music speaks to me. Boys Don’t Cry

I like them but I don’t know if they should be in there

MC5 Eligible year: 1991
Number of nominations: 4; Nominated in 2003, 2017, 2018, 2019
I’ve had High School stuck in my ear this fall. Yet I can’t quite pick the Detroit group.

RUFUS FEATURING CHAKA KHAN; Eligible year: 1999
Number of nominations: 3; Nominated in 2012, 2018, 2019
I picked them last year, but it was really for her. On the fence about the group. Tell Me Something Good

STEVIE NICKS; Eligible year: 2006
Number of nominations: 1; Nominated in 2019
She was, last I checked, leading the fan vote. She’s already in with Fleetwood Mac. Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around with TOM PETTY and THE HEARTBREAKERS

THE ZOMBIES; Eligible year: 1989
Number of nominations: 4; Nominated in 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019
One GREAT album, and a few fine singles that I LOVE, but… She’s Not There

I make my annual pitch for Estelle Axton, the AX of STAX Records. Her brother, Jim Stewart’s been in since 2003.

Janet Jackson @ SPAC – July 26, 2018

Toward the end of the night, Janet Jackson showed photos of her father Joe Jackson, who passed away just last month.

The Saratoga Performing Arts Center or SPAC, just 35 miles north of Albany, is a venue where I’ve seen dozens of concerts. But none recently until I saw Janet Jackson last month with my friend Mary from church.

Janet is the youngest of the musical Jackson clan who I used to watch as Penny during the latter days of of the TV show Good Times. The Times Union reviewer is correct, that she “is one of the most important and successful artists ever.”

I’ll admit that I was much more familiar with the early work of Janet Jackson, the Control (1986) and especially the Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989) albums. Fortunately, she performed generous chunks from each.

It was clear that she wanted to both address the State of the World, the title of the opening video as well as the name of the tour, and to have her fans have a dance party. At 52, she has a LOT of energy, as did her eight dancers, along with a four-piece band and a DJ.

The Troy Record reviewer noted: “Toward the end of the night Jackson showed photos of her father Joe Jackson, who passed away just last month, during her 1997 hit Together Again. Michael Jackson, Janet’s brother, also showed up on the stage’s big screen during Scream, a song they released together in 1995.

We were glad to have gone. As Mary noted, “Fun show, great music, amazing dancing.” We were REALLY glad that it didn’t rain, because we had lawn seats and did not want to be sitting in a sea of mud. That’s something the younger selves could have endured. My thanks to my ticket benefactor, so the only expenditure was the $10 parking charge.

Listen to Janet Jackson:

The Skin Game Part I
The Knowledge

Nasty
Miss You Much

Control
What Have You Done for me Lately
The Pleasure Principle

Escapade
All For You

What About

Together Again
Scream (with Michael Jackson)

Rhythm Nation
State Of The World

It’s odd that I haven’t been to SPAC in a while. I saw Joni Mitchell there in 1974 (Miles of Aisles tour), Talking Heads in 1984 (Stop Making Sense), Bobby McFerrin in 1999 with the Philadelphia Orchestra, other orchestra and ballet performances, at least a half dozen Jazz Festivals, and the 1998 folk festival with Lyle Lovett, Joan Baez and many others.

We gotta get out more.