Janet Jackson "Love Will Never Do (Without You)"

Originally thought of as a duet with Prince, "Love Will Never Do (Without You)" is the last single from Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 -- her wildly successful album that charted seven Top 5 singles. Only four artists have ever achieved this feat. Rhythm Nation 1814 managed to be a pioneer in another category -- it became the first album to chart #1 hits in three successive years: "Miss You Much" (1989), "Escapade" and "Black Cat" (1990), followed by "Love Will Never Do (Without You)" in 1991.

Janet Jackson "Together Again"

After graduating from college in 1999, I returned to my part-time DJ job at Windy 100 (WNND-FM) in Chicago. At that time, the upstart Adult Contemporary radio station was about a year old and had already eaten away at 93.9 Lite-FM's (WLIT-FM) stronghold on the market. The heritage radio station continued to present itself as an at-work radio station that shuffled through a "safe" playlist of ballads and without talk (DJs with personality). By contrast, Windy 100 pounded their mantra of "No Lite, Sleepy, Snoring, or Boring" music. While the station certainly did play some soft music (see "My Heart Will Go On"), it surrounded those songs with more upbeat tunes. Lite-FM eventually followed Windy 100's lead and added more contemporary and uptempo songs like "Together Again" from Janet Jackson -- music that the old Lite-FM would never play. By 2000, Windy 100 overtook The Lite in key demographics which led to a revolving door of personnel changes at 93.9 including their longtime Program Director and numerous on-air voices.

Janet Jackson "Again"

If you conducted a study of the words that children first learn to say, the order would look something like this: momma, dada, no, more, night night, again. The word again is one of those that kids always say after you do something that makes them belly laugh.    

Janet Jackson "Let's Wait Awhile"

Bet you didn't know "Let's Wait Awhile" is about sexual abstinence...

Herb Alpert featuring Janet Jackson & Lisa Keith - "Diamonds"

Both of my parents worked during in the 1980s, so we spent a lot of time with our aunt Marybeth.  She was our favorite aunt as she always took us to the beach, arcade, or McDonalds. Since Marybeth was only in her young twenties, she had the time, energy and stamina to put up with me, my brother, and sometimes my other cousins Johnny and Allison. During that time, Marybeth always made mix tapes and would play them in her Pontiac Firebird while driving around Northwest Indiana. If I had a dollar for every stupid minute fact that has lodged itself into my brain, I'd be a rich man...but, I remember many of MB's Mixes contained the song "Diamonds" from Herb Alpert. Since Alpert played the trumpet, he utilized Janet Jackson and Lisa Keith for vocals in "Diamonds". The song climbed to #1 on numerous charts in 1987 including #5 on the Hot 100.        

Janet Jackson - "Runaway"

It's damn near impossible to find a YouTube video of Janet Jackson's "Runaway".  There are plenty of covers, karaoke versions, and remixes, but not the original. Something tells me that lawyers are involved in this.

Jermaine Jackson - "Do What You Do"

Do you remember Jermaine Jackson?  No?  Hmm.  Well, this Gary, Indiana native is the brother of Janet and Michael Jackson and is one of the original Jackson 5.  Still not ringing any bells?  Well, Jermaine sang the #1 "Do What You Do" in 1984.  Jermaine has kept a low profile--something that the Jackson family tends to avoid.

Janet Jackson - "Come Back to Me"

The expression "Calgon, take me away!" was an 80's born commercial catchphrase about a stressed woman who needs a little me time in a Calgon bubble bath.  One listen to the first few seconds of Janet Jackson's "Come Back to Me" has the makings of an audio Calgon bubble bath.  Take a deep breath and relax.  Ahhhhh....