LP, Reissue, 180g UMe (2019) EU To say that, back in 1985, Janet Jackson lived in her brother Michael's shadow was something of an understatement. At that time Michael was at the height of his reign as the undisputed "King Of Pop" and was still basking in the success of his 1982 blockbuster album, Thriller. But that was before Control, the breakthrough album that proved once and for all that Janet had what it took to launch a formidable attack on the charts. Minimalist techno-funk lead single "What Have You Done For Me Lately" was both sassy and sexy, and dispelled the girl-next-door image that A&M had used to market her years earlier. Helmed by ex-Time members Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis – then the hottest production team in R&B – the song quickly shot to the top of the US R&B singles chart. Control yielded four more US R&B chart-toppers: the funked-up, attitude-heavy "Nasty"; the assertive title song, which was Janet's declaration of independence; the sweet ballad "Let's Wait Awhile," which showed her sensuous side; and the electro-influenced dance groove "The Pleasure Principle." Another single, the joyously upbeat "When I Think Of You," surprisingly stalled at No. 3 on the US R&B chart, but became her first mainstream chart-topper. Meanwhile, the slow ballad "Funny How Time Flies" wasn't released as a single but quickly became a fan favorite spawning a swathe of smooth jazz cover versions. Topping the US R&B chart for a jaw-dropping 91 weeks, Control eventually hit the top of the US pop albums chart and the Billboard 200, and transformed Janet Jackson into a megastar whose fame would rival Michael's. With Control, Janet made an album that truly reflected her as a person. Despite its title, it was the album that finally set her free.
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