Rhythm Nation 1814

Rhythm Nation 1814 is an album by American R & B artist Janet Jackson. It was released on September 19, 1989.

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 years to produce.

Rhythm Nation 1814 is a concept album; its songs address social ills, alternating with more typical love-song/dance song fare. Janet'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. Many commented that it appeared as if Jackson had had rhinoplasty. 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".

Racial politics aside, on Rhythm Nation 1814 Janet proved once again that she is as formidable a hit-maker as her most famous brother. 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 is 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, Janet's mother. Rhythm Nation 1814 brought Janet Jackson eight Billboard awards, including Top R&B Albums and Singles Artist, Best Pop and R&B Album Award, and Top Hot 100 Singles Artist.

Contents

1 Track listing 2 Personnel (in order of appearance) 3 Singles released 4 Music Awards

Track listing

1. "Interlude: Pledge"
2. "Rhythm Nation"
3. "State of the World"
4. "The Knowledge"
5. "Miss You Much"
6. "Love Will Never Do (Without You)"
7. "Livin’ In A World (They Didn’t Make)"
8. "Alright"
9. "Escapade"
10. "Black Cat"
11. "Lonely"
12. "Come Back To Me"
13. "Someday Is Tonight"
14. "Interlude: Livin’…In Complete Darkness"

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 (08/22/1989) - #1 Billboard Hot 100 | #1 Billboard Hot R&B | #1 Billboad Hot Dance
• Rhythm Nation (10/24/1989) - #2 Billboard Hot 100 } #1 Billboard Hot R&B | #1 Billboard Hot Dance
• Escapade (01/09/1990) - #1 Billboard Hot 100 | #1 Billboard Hot R&B | #1 Billboard Hot Dance
• Alright (03/27/1990) - #4 Billboard Hot 100 | #2 Billboard Hot R&B | #1 Billboard Hot Dance
• Come Back To Me (06/19/1990) - #2 Billboard Hot 100 | #2 Billboard Hot R&B | #1 Billboard Hot A&C
• Black Cat (09/04/1990) - #1 Billboard Hot 100 | #10 Billboard Hot R&B | #1 Billboard Hot Rock
• Love Will Never Do (Without You) (11/06/1990) - #1 Billboard Hot 100 | #3 Billboard Hot R&B | #4 Billboard Hot Dance

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
• 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"