on February 2nd, Janet Jackson's groundbreaking album "Control" reaches the two-decade mark. This was the album that officially turned Janet from "another member of the Jackson family" to a true superstar in her own right. All nine tracks off the album are classics IMO. I especially love the title track, The Pleasure Principal and Let's Wait Awhile.

Control was one of the first albums I owned, when my sister bought me the record for Christmas 1986 (Control was a huge hit and was big through most of 1987 as well) and it's hard to believe two decades have passed.

I don't think that date is right. February 2 seemed too early in the year for it to be released, from what I remember. And that date fell on a Sunday. It most likely would've been a Monday release date in the mid 80s.

Aside from that, it was my favorite album that year. Yes, even more than Prince's Parade. The singles were great and the videos even better. Hearing the songs and watching the videos today really take me back to '86/'87. Damn I'm old!

I don't think that date is right. February 2 seemed too early in the year for it to be released, from what I remember. And that date fell on a Sunday. It most likely would've been a Monday release date in the mid 80s.

Aside from that, it was my favorite album that year. Yes, even more than Prince's Parade. The singles were great and the videos even better. Hearing the songs and watching the videos today really take me back to '86/'87. Damn I'm old!

I saw Feb 2nd on a few websites so that's why I used that date. I agree that releasing a record on a Sunday doesn't make sense and it's probably a small error (album release dates weren't as set in stone in the pre-Soundscan days). It's first Billboard appearence was at the end of Feb or early March 1986, I don't remember offhand but it was sometime around there that early Feb 1986 probably sounds right.

I think artistically, Janet topped Control with Rhythm Nation and Velvet Rope, but in terms of just plain fun, she never topped Control.

I guess it was early in the year. I thought the album was released closer to spring. I remember going to Tower Records to buy the first (45rpm vinyl) single (What Have You Done For Me Lately). I handed it to the cashier. It had a picture sleeve and when the cashier saw it, he said "this is Janet Jackson? She's come a long way from Good Times."

This is how much I was into Janet that year: I had the vinyl album and cassette (I've since gotten it on cd). I had all of the 45s and the 12 inch singles also, which included two different Nasty 12"s and two different Control 12"s.

I had the vinyl album and cassette (I've since gotten it on cd). I had all of the 45s and the 12 inch singles also, which included two different Nasty 12"s and two different Control 12"s.

I had all of those too!! :eek: :lol: I always thought the album came out in the spring too, the last couple singles came out in early '87. I was heavy into Miss Janet myself back then. I even bought Herb Alpert's album "Keep Your Eye on Me" in '87 because Janet was on it and it was produced by Jam & Lewis. The whole album was off the hook and still one of my favorites :cool:

I had all of those too!! :eek: :lol: I always thought the album came out in the spring too, the last couple singles came out in early '87. I was heavy into Miss Janet myself back then. I even bought Herb Alpert's album "Keep Your Eye on Me" in '87 because Janet was on it and it was produced by Jam & Lewis. The whole album was off the hook and still one of my favorites :cool:

I forgot about Herb, but yep, I bought his album (cassette) too, because of the Janet/Jam/Lewis connection. To be honest, I barely remember the rest of that album past Keep Your Eye On Me, Pillow, Making Love In The Rain and Diamonds. Time for me to dig out that cassette!!

I forgot about Herb, but yep, I bought his album (cassette) too, because of the Janet/Jam/Lewis connection. To be honest, I barely remember the rest of that album past Keep Your Eye On Me, Pillow, Making Love In The Rain and Diamonds. Time for me to dig out that cassette!!

I actually found the CD of "Keep Your on Me" a few years ago. It went out of print not long after I bought it.