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, All Music Guide
Herb Alpert (Trumpet), Herb Alpert (Horn), Herb Alpert (Brass), Johnny Gill (Percussion), Johnny Gill (Special Effects), Johnny Gill (Finger Snaps), Janet Jackson (Arranger), Janet Jackson (Keyboards), Janet Jackson (Vocals), Janet Jackson (Vocals (Background)), Janet Jackson (Producer), Janet Jackson (Main Performer), Jesse Johnson (Guitar), Julie Ayer (Violin), Stephen Barnett (Conductor), David Barry (Guitar), David Barry (Guitar (Electric)), David Barry (Guitar (12 String)), Lee Blaske (Arranger), Carolyn Daws (Violin), Hanley Daws (Violin), David Eiland (Programming), Rene Elizondo (Vocals), Rene Elizondo (Vocals (Background)), James Greer (Vocals), James Greer (Vocals (Background)), Steve Hodge (Vocals), Steve Hodge (Vocals (Background)), Steve Hodge (Engineer), Peter Howard (Cello), Jimmy Jam (Percussion), Jimmy Jam (Piano), Jimmy Jam (Drums), Jimmy Jam (Keyboards), Jimmy Jam (Programming), Jimmy Jam (Producer), Jellybean Johnson (Guitar), Jellybean Johnson (Drums), Jellybean Johnson (Vocals), Jellybean Johnson (Vocals (Background)), Jellybean Johnson (Producer), Lisa Keith (Vocals (Background)), Kathy Kienzle (Harp), Joshua Koestenbaum (Cello), Jamial Lafleur (Vocals), Jamial Lafleur (Vocals (Background)), Terry Lewis (Bass), Terry Lewis (Percussion), Terry Lewis (Arranger), Terry Lewis (Vocals (Background)), Terry Lewis (Producer), Tshaye Marks (Vocals), Tshaye Marks (Vocals (Background)), Tarnika McDaniel (Vocals (Background)), John McLain (Guitar), John McLain (Vocals (Background)), Shante Owens (Vocals), Shante Owens (Vocals (Background)), Amy Powell (Voices), Randy Ran (Vocals), Randy Ran (Vocals (Background)), Nicholas Raths (Guitar), Nicholas Raths (Guitar (Classical)), Sonya Robinson (Vocals), Sonya Robinson (Vocals (Background)), Clarice Rupert (Vocals), Clarice Rupert (Vocals (Background)), Warlesha Ryan (Vocals), Warlesha Ryan (Vocals (Background)), Tamas Strasser (Viola), John Tartaglia (Viola), Reshard Taylor (Vocals), Reshard Taylor (Vocals (Background)), John McClain (Vocals), John McClain (Vocals (Background)), John McClain (Producer), Tamika McDaniel (Vocals), Romuald Tecco (Concert Master), Hyacinthe Tlucek (Concert Master), Guzman/Rotterdam Conservatory Orquesta Tipica (Photography), Steve Barnett (Conductor), Richard Frankel (Art Direction), Richard Frankel (Cover Design), Steve Wilson (Vocals), Steve Wilson (Vocals (Background)), Chris Brown (Bass), Anthony Thomas (Vocals), Anthony Thomas (Vocals (Background))
