Janet Jackson - Control

Today (February 4th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of Control, the third studio album from Janet Jackson. Working with producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, this 1986 release was a smash hit that combined R&B, rap, funk and dance into a perfect package. The record soared to number 57 in Japan, number 47 in Sweden, number 36 in Germany, number 28 in Switzerland, number 25 in Australia, number in Canada, number 8 in the UK, number 7 in the Netherlands and number 5 in New Zealand. Here in the US, it went to number 1 on both the Billboard Album chart and the R&B chart. Its stay on the former chart was impressive one-hundred and six weeks total run, two of which was at the top spot.

Janet Jackson - Dream Street

Yesterday (October 23rd) marked the thirtieth anniversary of Dream Street, the second studio album from Janet Jackson. Despite Janet’s ongoing role as Cleo Hewitt on season 4 of the TV show Fame, the album only spent six weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 147. It did get to number 19 on the US Billboard R&B chart. The album had four producers – her brother Marlon Jackson, Jesse Johnson of the Time, and disco greats Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte (who guided many of Donna Summer’s biggest hits).

LaToya Jackson - Heart Don't Lie

This months marks the thirtieth anniversary of Heart Don't Lie, the third studio album from LaToya Jackson. It spent six weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 149.

Janet Jackson - Janet Jackson

Today (September 21st) marks the thirtieth anniversary of the self-titled debut album from Janet Jackson. Though her older brothers had been recording starts since the late 1960's, the Jackson sister had spent the later part of the 70's and early 80's as a television actress (on Good Times and later Diff'rent Strokes). When it came time to get into the music business, she did not want her family members involved with making the album; she wanted it to be her own project to be judged on its own merits.

Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814

Coming off the success of her previous release, the youngest sister of the Jackson family clan put out her fourth studio album in 1989 entitled Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814. Her idea was to create an overall concept album that addressed social injustices. Once more she worked with producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis (formerly of the Time) to create another powerhouse record.