Rhythm Nation 1814
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Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 (commonly titled simply Rhythm Nation or Rhythm Nation 1814) is the fourth studio album by American R & B artist Janet Jackson. It was released on September 19, 1989 and became the best selling album of 1990. It is the only album in history to score #1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in three different calendar years (1989-1991).
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Background
Rhythm Nation 1814, Jackson's 6x Platinum follow up to her 1986 hit album, Control, was an unprecedented success, with seven hit singles all from the same album. Rhythm Nation 1814 reached number one on both Pop and R&B charts. The album took three months to produce.
Rhythm Nation 1814 is a concept album addressing social ills, alternating with more typical love-song/dance song fare. Jackson's image was changed into a more serious look, with stark black and white cover art and a dimly lit photo of her dressed in a black pseudo-military outfit. The back cover of the album displays the following pledge: "We are a nation of no geographic boundaries, bound together through our beliefs. We are like-minded individuals, sharing a common vision, pushing toward a world rid of color-lines." Following the statement is this creed: "Music, Poetry, Dance, Unity".
The album was the first in history to generate seven top-five Billboard hits. The album's numerous hit singles were accompanied by more conceptual video versions. The album was produced by Jimmy Jam (James Harris III) and Terry Lewis, with co-production credit given to Janet Jackson. Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis also penned or co-wrote the songs with Janet Jackson, as well as arranging the music, programming music, and playing much of the instrumental tracks. The song "Black Cat" was produced by another producer of the late-1980s, Jellybean Johnson.
The album was released by A&M Records on LP, chrome cassette and compact disc, which at the time demonstrated an expectation of broad appeal for the album on behalf of the record company. A companion video compilation has also been issued in both VHS and DVD. Complete lyrics were included in the album. All tracks were recorded and mixed in Minnesota. The album is dedicated to Katherine Jackson, Jackson's mother. Rhythm Nation 1814 brought Janet Jackson ten Billboard awards, including Top R&B Albums and Singles Artist, Best Pop and R&B Album Award, and Top Hot 100 Singles Artist. She also won a record-breaking 5 Billboard Music Video Awards.
Track listing
(all songs written by James Harris, Janet Jackson, and Terry Lewis, except where noted)
- "Interlude: Pledge" – 0:47
- "Rhythm Nation" – 5:30
- "Interlude: T.V." – 0:21
- "State Of The World" – 4:48
- "Interlude: Race" – 0:04
- "The Knowledge" (Harris, Lewis) – 3:53
- "Interlude: Let's Dance" – 0:04
- "Miss You Much" (Harris, Lewis) – 4:12
- "Interlude: Come Back" – 0:20
- "Love Will Never Do (Without You)" (Harris, Lewis) – 5:50
- "Livin’ In A World (They Didn’t Make)" – 4:41
- "Alright" – 6:26
- "Interlude: Hey Baby" – 0:09
- "Escapade" – 4:43
- "Interlude: No Acid" – 0:05
- "Black Cat" (Jackson) – 4:50
- "Lonely" (Harris, Lewis) – 4:59
- "Come Back To Me" – 5:32
- "Someday Is Tonight" – 6:01
- "Interlude: Livin'... In Complete Darkness" – 1:07
Rhythm Nation 1814 B-Sides
- "You Need Me"
- "Skin Game"
- "Vuelve A Mi (Come Back to Me) [Spanish Version]"
- "1814 Megamix"
Personnel (in order of appearance)
- Janet Jackson: lead and background vocals, keyboards, rhythm arrangements, vocal arrangements
- Jimmy Jam: drum programming, keyboard programming, keyboards, percussion, rhythm arrangements, vocal arrangements, sampled voices, background vocals, acoustic piano, organ, bass synthesizer
- Terry Lewis: percussion, rhythm arrangements, vocal arrangements, background vocals, bass
- Lisa Keith: background vocals
- John McClain: additional vocals, guitars, executive producer
- Rene Elizondo: additional vocals
- James Popeye Greer: additional vocals
- Jellybean Johnson: additional vocals, drum programming, drums, percussion, guitars, rhythm and vocal arrangements
- Randy Ran: additional vocals
- Anthony Thomas: additional vocals
- Steve Hodge: additional vocals
- Herb Alpert: Tijuana Brass, trumpet
- Jamila Lafleur: additional vocals
- Tsehaye Marks: additional vocals
- Tarnika McDaniel: additional vocals
- Sonja Robinson: additional vocals
- Clarice Rupert: additional vocals
- Warlesha Ryan: additional vocals
- Reshard Taylor: additional vocals
- Steven Wilson: additional vocals
- Shante Owens: additional vocals
- Lee Blaskey: string arrangements
- Steve Barnett: conductor
- Amy Powell: newscaster
- Dave Barry: 6 and 12-string electric guitars
- Johnny Gill: finger snaps
- Jesse Johnson: guitars
- David Eiland: computer programming
- O. Nicholas Raths: classical guitar
Singles released
- Miss You Much (22 August 1989) - #1 Billboard Hot 100 | #1 Billboard Hot R&B | #1 Billboard Hot Dance
- Rhythm Nation (24 October 1989) - #2 Billboard Hot 100 | #1 Billboard Hot R&B | #1 Billboard Hot Dance
- Escapade (9 January 1990) - #1 Billboard Hot 100 | #1 Billboard Hot R&B | #1 Billboard Hot Dance
- Alright (27 March 1990) - #4 Billboard Hot 100 | #2 Billboard Hot R&B | #1 Billboard Hot Dance
- Come Back To Me (19 June 1990) - #2 Billboard Hot 100 | #2 Billboard Hot R&B | #1 Billboard Hot A&C
- Black Cat (4 September 1990) - #1 Billboard Hot 100 | #10 Billboard Hot R&B | #1 Billboard Hot Rock
- Love Will Never Do (Without You) (6 November 1990) - #1 Billboard Hot 100 | #3 Billboard Hot R&B | #4 Billboard Hot Dance
- State Of The World (1991)
Music Awards
Grammy awards
- 1990: Grammy Award: Best Longform Music Video: Rhythm Nation 1814
American Music Awards
- 1990: American Music Award: Favorite Soul/R&B Single: Miss You Much
- 1990: American Music Award: Favorite Dance Single: Miss You Much
- 1991: American Music Award: Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist
- 1991: American Music Award: Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist
- 1991: American Music Award: Favorite Dance Artist
MTV Video Music Awards
- 1990: MTV Video Music Award: Best Choreography in a Video: Rhythm Nation
- 1990: MTV Video Music Award: Video Vanguard
- 1991: MTV Video Music Award: Best Female Video: Love Will Never Do (Without You)
Billboard Music Awards
- 1990: Billboard Music Award: Top Selling Album Of The Year: Rhythm Nation
- 1990: Billboard Music Award: Top Selling R&B Album Of The Year: Rhythm Nation
- 1990: Billboard Music Award: Top Selling R&B Album's Artist Of The Year
- 1990: Billboard Music Award: Top Selling R&B Artist Of The Year
- 1990: Billboard Music Award: Top R&B Singles Artist
- 1990: Billboard Music Award: Top Hot 100 Singles Artist Of The Year
- 1990: Billboard Music Award: Top Hot 100 Singles Artist Of The Year - Female
- 1990: Billboard Music Award: Top Dance Club Play Artist
- 1990: Billboard Music Award: Top Hot Dance 12" Singles Sales Artist
- 1990: Billboard Music Award: Top R&B Female Artist Of The Year
Billboard Music Video Awards
- 1990: Billboard Music Award: Best Female Artist, Black/Rap
- 1990: Billboard Music Award: Best Female Artist, Dance
- 1990: Billboard Music Award: Director's Award (Black/Rap): Rhythm Nation"
- 1990: Billboard Music Award: Director's Award (Dance): Alright:
- 1990: Billboard Music Award: Billboard/Tanqueray Sterling Music Video Award for Artistic Achievement: Rhythm Nation
Soul Train Awards
- 1990: Soul Train Music Award: Best Female Album: Rhythm Nation
- 1990: Soul Train Music Award: Best Female Single: Miss You Much
- 1990: Soul Train Music Award: Best Music Video: Rhythm Nation
- 1991: Soul Train Music Award: Best Music Video: Alright
- 1992: Soul Train Music Award: Sammy Davis, Jr. Entertainer of the Year Award
BMI Pop Awards
- 1990: BMI Pop Award: Songwriter Of The Year
- 1990: BMI Pop Award: Most Played Song: Alright
- 1990: BMI Pop Award: Most Played Song: Come Back To Me
- 1990: BMI Pop Award: Most Played Song: Escapade
- 1990: BMI Pop Award: Most Played Song: Rhythm Nation
- 1991: BMI Pop Award: Most Played Song: Black Cat
- 1991: BMI Pop Award: Most Played Song: Come Back To Me
- 1992: BMI Pop Award: Most Played Song: State Of The World
NAACP Image Awards
- 1990: NAACP Image Award: Greater Hartford - Musical and Civil Rights Efforts Award
- 1992: NAACP Image Award: 24th Annual NAACP Awards - "Chairman's Award"
Trivia
The "1814" in the album's title has several potential meanings. The most commonly accepted theory is that The Star Spangled Banner, the United States national anthem and one of the most well-known songs about national unity of all time, was written in 1814. Bolstering this theory is the fact that the anthem was written on September 20, only one day removed from the September 19 release date of the Rhythm Nation album. The other theory is simply that "R" and "N" are the 18th and 14th letters of the alphabet, respectively.
The Film
In 1989, while the album was being finalised, Jackson was approached by record company executives to promote the record. The original idea was to do a live TV special to show off the new songs, but Janet resisted the idea on the basis of quality control (she thought the idea was 'cheesy'). An alternative way of promotion, the short film, was suggested. Together with director Dominic Sena, producer (and soon-to-be husband) Rene Elizondo and a team of dancers and choreographers, Jackson created the Rhythm Nation 1814 Film, featuring 4 songs from the album. Shot in black & white, the film tells the story of TJ and Kickdrum, 2 young aspiring musicians who are friends with Jackson. While Jackson entertains her friends at a warehouse, the kids slowly sink into a life of crime, until TJ is eventually killed, prompting Kickdrum to seek comfort in Jackson. 4 songs were featured- a club version of Black Cat, Miss You Much, The Knowledge and Rhythm Nation. The video was well received by critics who compared it to her brother Michael Jackson's Moonwalker, although it did not sell as well.