Jackson welcoms six entries from her groudbreaking A&M and Virgin catalog
This summer, A&M/Virgin/UMe and Janet Jackson will see key entries in the artist’s acclaimed canon reissued on vinyl, including A&M and Virgin albums. The reissue series commenced in full with the wide release of Jackson’s iconic, mega-platinum-selling third album Control on single vinyl in two different color options: black and translucent red. This was the first time Control, which is certified more than ten million copies sold worldwide, has been reissued on vinyl since the album’s initial release on February 4, 1986. Fans who attended the initial phase of Jackson’s acclaimed Las Vegas Residency, Metamorphosis, which opened at the Park Theater at Park MGM on May 17th — the day immediately following the artist’s birthday on May 16th — were able to purchase the Control LP in the on-site store, along with other incredible items.
May 17th also saw the first-ever digital release of January 1987’s Control The Remixes, in an expanded version which combines rare remixes found on the album’s various international versions. It will be available in a 2 LP black vinyl configuration for the first time on July 26th. The album, making its U.S. debut in any form, will also be available in a limited color vinyl edition.
Four other reissues have been timed to coincide with the second run of Jackson’s Metamorphosis Las Vegas Residency on July 26th. First, the impending 30th anniversary of September 1989’s Rhythm Nation 1814 (12x platinum worldwide) will be properly recognized with a first-time 2 LP standard-black upgrade that restores interludes and unedited tracks missing from the original vinyl release. It will also be available in a striking, limited-edition silver color variant.
Next, May 1993’s janet. re-emerges July 26th on 2 LP standard black and limited edition clear vinyl. This is the first-ever U.S. vinyl release for janet. (14x platinum worldwide) and, in addition to its many hit singles, the reissue includes “Whoops Now,” which was previously made available only as a hidden bonus track on CD and digital versions of the album.
Also seeing its first-ever U.S vinyl release on July 26th is October 1997’s The Velvet Rope (10x platinum worldwide), which will be made available in 2 LP form in both standard black and deep red. It will include on LP for the first time “Can’t Be Stopped,” which, like the bonus song on janet., was previously only made available as a hidden track on CD and digital versions of the album. Finally, April 2001’s All For You (7x platinum worldwide) returns on 2 LP black vinyl. A beautiful picture disc variant of All For You will also be available on August 23rd.
Jackson continues to gear up for what promises to be a busy year ahead. Not only was she recently inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s vaunted Class of 2019, but her Las Vegas Residency, began in May and is currently scheduled to run for 18 performances in total through August. Residency 1 ran May 17-26th, while Residency 2 is set for July 24-31st and Residency 3 for August 2-17th. Jackson also made her debut at the Glastonbury Festival 2019 on June 21st, as well as appearing at Montreux Jazz Festival on June 30th.
This in-depth reissue series, with all albums produced and written in collaboration with longtime collaborators Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, reinforces Janet Jackson’s legacy as a singular visionary creative artist. The scope of the sonic character evident all throughout these six albums serves to showcase her inherent instinct for fusing together a variety of musical styles, including rhythm and blues, funk, pop, soul, disco, and modern synthesized percussion all into one original mélange of sound that continues to be enjoyed by millions of fans the world over.
Having sold over 180 million albums worldwide to date, Janet Jackson has long proven herself to be a liberated and noteworthy artist, one who ultimately emerged as a global superstar and a model for independent women everywhere. Her catalog finds many hot, nasty grooves interlaced with much rhythm and grace, all of which continue to be well-worthy of aural revisitation on high-grade vinyl.
