Design of a Decade 1986/1996

Design of a Decade 1986/1996
Greatest hits album by Janet Jackson
Released	October 10, 1995
Recorded	August 1985–August 15, 1995
Genre	R&B, pop
Length	75:28 (standard) 77:47 (international edition) 44:58 (bonus disc)
Label	Universal, A&M, Virgin
Producer	Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Janet Jackson, Jellybean Johnson
Janet Jackson chronology
janet. Remixed (1995) Design of a Decade 1986/1996 (1995) The Velvet Rope (1997)
Alternative covers
International cover
Japanese cover
Singles from Design of a Decade: 1986/1996
"Runaway" Released: August 29, 1995 "Twenty Foreplay" Released: February 7, 1996

Design of a Decade: 1986-1996 is the first greatest hits album by American recording artist Janet Jackson, released on October 10, 1995 by A&M. It features 14 of Jackson's top 40 hits from her three previous albums; Control (1986), Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989), janet. (1993), and two new tracks; "Runaway" and "Twenty Foreplay".

It was well received by many critics, who cited the amount of hit singles on the record, but many noted its misleading title, since a majority of the songs came from the period of 1986–1991. It was certified Double Platinum by the RIAA^[1] and has since sold 10 million copies worldwide.^[2]

Album information

The album features six of Jackson's hits from Control, seven songs from Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814, one song from janet., and two previously unreleased songs, the top five hit "Runaway" and the mid-tempo ballad "Twenty Foreplay". A video compilation, featuring all the songs on the album (with the exception of "Twenty Foreplay"), was released concurrently with the album. "Come Back to Me" is presented as an alternate vocal take & arrangement.

Owing to licensing difficulties, several later singles that were big hits—including "If", "Again", "Any Time, Any Place", "Because of Love", and "You Want This"—were omitted from the track listing. Other singles that failed to make the cut included the UK single "Funny How Time Flies (When You're Having Fun)" (from 1986's Control). Several tracks were shortened in order to include "Whoops Now" and "The Best Things in Life Are Free" on the international release.

The album was released as an 18-track disc internationally and as a 16-track disc in the U.S. (omitting "Whoops Now" and "The Best Things in Life Are Free"). Some versions of the international edition came with a 7-track bonus disc. This bonus disc was also released individually in Australia. Another limited edition version, housed in a metal case and containing the 18-track version of the album, was released in the UK.

A&M provided an aggressive marketing plan for the compilation's release, which included "a multimillon-dollar worldwide marketing plan that [involved], syndicated and local TV advertising, as well as print ads in a number of consumer publications, including Seventeen, Us, Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, Jet, Vibe and Essence."^[3] Jackson's contract with Virgin alloted her the option to leave the label during this time. Billboard magazine reported that DreamWorks SKG and A&M were interested in signing with her. A&M president Al Cafaro stated: "We've always thought Janet was an A&M artist... And we would love to sign her if she is available. This project has reminded us how much fun she is to work with."^[3]

The liner notes contain only the lyrics to the new songs, a mini-biography about Janet, and different pictures from the Control, Rhythm Nation 1814 and janet. eras. It also shows the covers of the singles for the new songs as well as the lyrics and song credits.

In promoting the album, A&M re-released the singles "The Best Things in Life Are Free", "When I Think of You", "Alright", and "The Pleasure Principle" with brand new remixes. A re-release was planned for "Love Will Never Do (Without You)", but was canceled for unknown reasons.

Reception

Critical

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[4]
Entertainment Weekly	(B+)[5]
Spin	[6]
Vibe	(favorable)[7]
The Village Voice	(A-)[8]

Most music reviewers had a positive reception to Design of a Decade, mainly because of the amount of chart-topping singles it contained, but many noted the "misleading title" as the content predominantly spanned a five-year period.^[4][5]

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic gave it a four and-a-half out of five star rating, saying "Design of a Decade: 1986-1996 is a misleading title. The bulk of Janet Jackson's greatest-hits collection concentrates on Control and Rhythm Nation 1814, simply by contractual necessity. The hits from those two albums were state-of-the-art dance-pop productions at the time of their release, filled with bottomless beats and memorable, catchy hooks. It's a credit to Janet that the two new numbers ["Runaway" and "Twenty Foreplay"] feel like genuine hits, not tacked-on filler, and help make the album a compulsively listenable greatest-hits collection."^[4] With a B+ rating, David Browne of Entertainment Weekly stated, "Working with producers and collaborators Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Jackson reinvented both pop and herself during those 10 years. With its rigid Robo-drummer beats and homogenized blend of computers and vocal harmonies, the music was shocking in its airtight quality [...] Design is fairly seamless, yet its biggest flaw lies in its title. Due to contractual obligations, the album consists almost entirely of songs from Control and Rhythm Nation 1814 and includes only one ("That's the Way Love Goes") of the five top 10 hits from her 1993 smorgasbord janet. The new songs ["Runaway" and "Twenty Foreplay"] show how much more confident a singer Jackson has become, even if the latter number finds her still working overtime to show us she's an honest-to-God grown-up.^[5]

Robert Christgau of The Village Voice gave it an A- rating, saying "Her three count-'em three A&M albums produced 12 count-'em 12 top-five singles. All are here. So are two excellent tracks from her one count-it one Virgin album, and two rather less excellent previously unreleaseds. The three estimate-'em three million who own A&M albums two and three needn't bother. Those who begrudge her the place she's earned in the pop cosmos have some catching up to do."^[8] With a rating of 7/10 (flawed yet worthy), Spin magazine's Chris Norris said: "Since Janet is State-of-the-art production right down to her sculpted nose, it makes sense that she should call her retrospective Design. As the studio team that wrought Control, Rhythm Nation and janet. (which for record-label reasons is under-represented here), designers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis are unofficial second and third Janet Jacksons. Their triumph is letting their dazzling sound sculptures fade into the background of Janet's cartoon antics."^[6] Elysa Gardner with Vibe magazine was in high praise of Design of a Decade, as well as Jackson herself, stating, "It's been almost 10 years since Janet Jackson announced that her first name wasn't Baby, and it's easy to forget what a bold proclamation that was coming from a woman—particularly a black woman—at that time [...] Only two women were there to remind the rest of us that there was power and freedom in feminine sexuality—to reinforce the fact that we could be adorable and flirtatious and strong and assertive. And Madonna wasn't a sista. [...] The 16 songs on her greatest hits package 1986/1996: Design of a Decade—which includes two strong new singles—trace a young woman's progression from questioning others' authority to reveling in her own."^[7]

Commercial

The album debuted at number 4 on the U.S. Billboard 200 for the week of October 28, 1995 with 129,000 copies sold,^[9][10] and eventually peaked at number 3.^[11] Two months after its release, it was certified Double Platinum by the RIAA^[1] and has since sold 10 million copies worldwide.^[2]

Track listing

Standard/Vinyl/CD/Cassette/MP3 download
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Runaway"	Janet Jackson, James Harris III, Terry Lewis	Harris, Lewis, Jackson	3:35
2.	"What Have You Done for Me Lately"	Harris, Lewis, Jackson	Harris, Lewis, Jackson*	4:44
3.	"Nasty"	Harris, Lewis, Jackson	Harris, Lewis, Jackson*	4:04
4.	"When I Think of You"	Harris, Lewis, Jackson	Harris, Lewis, Jackson*	3:56
5.	"Escapade"	Jackson, Harris, Lewis	Harris, Lewis, Jackson*	4:45
6.	"Miss You Much"	Harris, Lewis	Harris, Lewis, Jackson*	4:13
7.	"Love Will Never Do (Without You)"	Harris, Lewis	Harris, Lewis, Jackson*	4:35
8.	"Alright"	Jackson, Harris, Lewis	Harris, Lewis, Jackson*	4:39
9.	"Control"	Harris, Lewis, Jackson	Harris, Lewis, Jackson*	5:16
10.	"The Pleasure Principle"	Monte Moir	Moir, Jackson*, Steve Wiese*	4:14
11.	"Black Cat"	Jackson	Jackson, Johnson	4:48
12.	"Rhythm Nation"	Jackson, Harris, Lewis	Harris, Lewis, Jackson*	5:59
13.	"That's the Way Love Goes"	Jackson, Harris, Lewis	Harris, Lewis, Jackson	4:27
14.	"Come Back to Me"	Jackson, Harris, Lewis	Harris, Lewis, Jackson*	5:38
15.	"Let's Wait Awhile"	Harris, Lewis, Jackson, Melanie Andrews	Harris, Lewis, Jackson	4:37
16.	"Twenty Foreplay"	Jackson, Harris, Lewis	Harris, Lewis, Jackson	6:07

International edition[12]
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Runaway"	Jackson, Harris, Lewis	Harris, Lewis, Jackson	3:34
2.	"What Have You Done for Me Lately"	Harris, Lewis, Jackson	Harris, Lewis, Jackson*	3:44
3.	"Nasty"	Harris, Lewis, Jackson	Harris, Lewis, Jackson*	3:45
4.	"When I Think of You"	Harris, Lewis, Jackson	Harris, Lewis, Jackson*	3:56
5.	"Escapade"	Jackson, Harris, Lewis	Harris, Lewis, Jackson*	4:46
6.	"Miss You Much"	Harris, Lewis	Harris, Lewis, Jackson*	3:52
7.	"Whoops Now"	Jackson	Harris, Lewis, Jackson	4:08
8.	"Love Will Never Do (Without You)"	Harris, Lewis	Harris, Lewis, Jackson*	4:35
9.	"Alright"	Jackson, Harris, Lewis	Harris, Lewis, Jackson*	4:39
10.	"The Best Things in Life Are Free" (With Luther Vandross)	Harris, Lewis, Michael Bivins, Ronnie DeVoe	Harris, Lewis	4:07
11.	"Control"	Harris, Lewis, Jackson	Harris, Lewis, Jackson*	3:29
12.	"The Pleasure Principle"	Monte Moir	Moir, Jackson*, Steve Wiese*R	4:14
13.	"Black Cat"	Jackson	Jackson, Johnson	4:49
14.	"Rhythm Nation"	Jackson, Harris, Lewis	Harris, Lewis, Jackson*	4:28
15.	"That's the Way Love Goes"	Jackson, Harris, Lewis	Harris, Lewis, Jackson	4:27
16.	"Come Back to Me"	Jackson, Harris, Lewis	Harris, Lewis, Jackson*	5:38
17.	"Let's Wait Awhile"	Jackson, Harris, Lewis, Melanie Andrews	Harris, Lewis, Jackson	4:39
18.	"Twenty Foreplay"	Jackson, Harris, Lewis	Harris, Lewis, Jackson	5:20

Limited edition bonus disc[13]
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Young Love" (12" Dance Mix)	René Moore, Angela Winbush	Bobby Watson, Moore, Winbush	5:09
2.	"Diamonds" (Cool Summer Mix Edit)		Harris, Lewis	4:02
3.	"The Knowledge" (Q Sound Mix)	Harris, Lewis	Harris, Lewis	4:01
4.	"Say You Do" (LP version)	Moore, Winbush	Watson, Moore, Winbush	6:49
5.	"Don't Stand Another Chance" (LP version)	Marlon Jackson, John Barnes	M. Jackson	4:17
6.	"French Blue"	Jackson	Jesse Johnson	6:23
7.	"When I Think of You" (Jazzy Mix)	Jackson	Jackson, Harris, Lewis	10:19

Note: (*) denotes co-producer.

Charts and certifications

Charts Chart (1995/1996) Peak position Australian ARIA Albums Chart 2[14] Austrian Albums Chart 15[15] Belgian Ultratop 50 Albums (Flanders) 7[16] Belgian Ultratop 50 Albums (Wallonia) 6[17] Canadian Albums Chart 5[18] Dutch Albums Chart 8[19] Finnish Albums Chart 8[20] German Albums Chart 10[21] Japanese Oricon Albums Chart 4[22] New Zealand RIANZ Albums Chart 1[23] Norwegian Albums Chart 18[24] Swedish Albums Chart 14[25] UK Albums Chart 2[26] U.S. Billboard 200 3[27] U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 4[27] U.S. Billboard Catalog Albums 3[27]

Certifications Territory Certifier Certification Canada CRIA Platinum[28] Europe IFPI Platinum[29] Germany IFPI Gold[30] Netherlands NVPI Gold[31] Switzerland IFPI Gold[32] United Kingdom BPI 2x Platinum[33] United States RIAA 2x Platinum[1]

Preceded by Daydream by Mariah Carey Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness by The Smashing Pumpkins

New Zealand RIANZ number-one album October 29, 1995 - November 5, 1995 November 12, 1995 - November 19, 1995

Succeeded by Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness by The Smashing Pumpkins Made in Heaven by Queen

Personnel

Melanie Andrews – arranger Jerome Benton – vocals Lee Blaske – arranger Patrick Demarchelier – photography Alan Friedman – programming Larimie Garcia – design Greg Gorman – photography Jeri Heiden – art direction, design Steve Hodge – engineer, mixing Goh Hotoda – remixing Janet Jackson – arranger, executive producer, main performer, producer, rhythm, vocals, background vocals Jimmy Jam – arranger, assistant engineer, multiple instruments, producer, rhythm, vocals Jellybean Johnson – producer, remix consultant, vocals

Terry Lewis – multiple instruments, producer Bob Ludwig – mastering John McClain – executive producer Monte Moir – arranger, assistant engineer, producer Shep Pettibone – post-production, remixing Herb Ritts – photography David Ritz – liner notes Mike Scott – guitar Tony Viramontes – photography Michael Wagener – remixing Bruce Weber – photography Steve Wiese – assistant engineer, engineer, producer Eddie Wolfl – photography

Release history

Country	Date
Europe	October 2, 1995
United States	October 10, 1995

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "RIAA – Gold & Platinum Search". RIAA. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=janet%20jackson&format=ALBUM&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2009&sort=Artist&perPage=50. Retrieved 2010-07-01. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Lathwell, David. "Janet Jackson at her best - Queer Sighted". queersighted.com. http://www.queersighted.com/2009/11/23/janet-jackson-at-her-best/. Retrieved 2010-07-07. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Craig Rosen (1995-09-04). "Now, It's Time For Herstory A&M Retrospective of Janet Jackson's Career Scheduled For Oct. 10 Release". Daily News: p. L.12 
4. ^ ^{a b c} Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "allmusic ((( Design of a Decade: 1986-1996 > Overview )))". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r224159. Retrieved 2010-07-07. 
5. ^ ^{a b c} Browne, David (1995-10-05). "JANET JACKSON: DESIGN OF A DECADE; MICHAEL BOLTON: GREATEST HITS 1985-1995; C+C MUSIC FACTORY: ULTIMATE". Entertainment Weekly. http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,298997,00.html. Retrieved 2010-07-07. 
6. ^ ^{a b} Norris, Chris (1996-01). Janet Jackson - Design of a Decade: 1986/1996 - A&M. Spin. http://books.google.com/?id=UPmf0Kr8tR0C&pg=PA85&dq=Janet+Jackson+Design+of+a+Decade&q=Janet%20Jackson%20Design%20of%20a%20Decade. Retrieved 2010-07-07. 
7. ^ ^{a b} Gardner, Elysa (1995-11). 1986/1996: Design of a Decade. Vibe. http://books.google.com/?id=_CsEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA110&dq=Janet+Jackson+Design+of+a+Decade&q=Janet%20Jackson%20Design%20of%20a%20Decade. Retrieved 2010-07-07. 
8. ^ ^{a b} Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau: CG: Janet Jackson". Robert Christgau. http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=janet+jackson. Retrieved 2010-07-07. 
9. ^ "Music Albums, Top 200 Albums & Music Album Charts". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/charts/billboard-200?chartDate=1995-10-28. Retrieved 2010-07-07. 
10. ^ Strauss, Neil (1995-11-30). "The Pop Life". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1995/11/30/arts/the-pop-life-073440.html. 
11. ^ "Music Albums, Top 200 Albums & Music Album Charts". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/charts/billboard-200?chartDate=1995-11-04. Retrieved 2010-07-07. 
12. ^ "Amazon.com: Design of a Decade: Janet Jackson: Music". Amazon.com. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00000714V. Retrieved 2010-06-27. 
13. ^ "Janet Jackson Design Of A Decade UK DOUBLE CD (397619)". eli.com. http://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=397619. Retrieved 2010-06-27. 
14. ^ "australian-charts.com - Janet Jackson - Design Of A Decade: 1986 - 1996". Ultratop 50. australian-charts.com. http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Janet+Jackson&titel=Design+Of+A+Decade%3A+1986+%2D+1996&cat=a. Retrieved 2010-07-01. 
15. ^ "Janet Jackson - Design Of A Decade: 1986 - 1996 - austriancharts.at". Ultratop 50. austriancharts.at. http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Janet+Jackson&titel=Design+Of+A+Decade%3A+1986+%2D+1996&cat=a. Retrieved 2010-07-01. 
16. ^ "ultratop.be - Janet Jackson - Design Of A Decade: 1986 - 1996". Ultratop 50. ultratop.be. http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Janet+Jackson&titel=Design+Of+A+Decade%3A+1986+%2D+1996&cat=a. Retrieved 2010-07-01. 
17. ^ "ultratop.be - Janet Jackson - Design Of A Decade: 1986 - 1996". Ultratop 50. ultratop.be. http://www.ultratop.be/fr/showitem.asp?interpret=Janet+Jackson&titel=Design+Of+A+Decade%3A+1986+%2D+1996&cat=a. Retrieved 2010-07-01. 
18. ^ "RPM Top 100 Albums - November 06 1995". collectionscanada.gc.ca. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.2800&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=djl517hee0trut00rjeuuikn10. Retrieved 2010-10-03. 
19. ^ "dutchcharts.nl - Janet Jackson - Design Of A Decade: 1986 - 1996". Ultratop 50. dutchcharts.nl. http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Janet+Jackson&titel=Design+Of+A+Decade%3A+1986+%2D+1996&cat=a. Retrieved 2010-07-01. 
20. ^ "finnishcharts.com - Janet Jackson - Design Of A Decade: 1986 - 1996". Ultratop 50. finnishcharts.com. http://finnishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Janet+Jackson&titel=Design+Of+A+Decade%3A+1986+%2D+1996&cat=a. Retrieved 2010-07-01. 
21. ^ "Musicline.de - Chartverfolgung - Jackson, Janet" (in German). Musicline.de. http://musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/Jackson%2CJanet/?type=longplay. Retrieved 2009-02-21. 
22. ^ "Janet Jackson in Japan". mjjcharts.com. http://www.mjjcharts.com/Japanjanet.htm. Retrieved 2009-02-21. 
23. ^ "charts.org.nz - Janet Jackson - Design Of A Decade: 1986 - 1996". charts.org.nz. http://charts.org.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Janet+Jackson&titel=Design+Of+A+Decade%3A+1986+%2D+1996&cat=a. Retrieved 2009-02-21. 
24. ^ "norwegiancharts.com - Janet Jackson - Design Of A Decade: 1986 - 1996". norwegiancharts.com. http://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Janet+Jackson&titel=Design+Of+A+Decade%3A+1986+%2D+1996&cat=a. Retrieved 2009-07-01. 
25. ^ "swedishcharts.com - Janet Jackson - Design Of A Decade: 1986 - 1996". swedishcharts.com. http://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Janet+Jackson&titel=Design+Of+A+Decade%3A+1986+%2D+1996&cat=a. Retrieved 2009-07-01. 
26. ^ "Chart Stats - Janet Jackson - Design of a decade 1986-1996". Chart Stats. http://www.chartstats.com/albuminfo.php?id=11323. Retrieved 2009-07-01. 
27. ^ ^{a b c} "Design of a Decade: 1986-1996 - Janet Jackson". http://www.billboard.com/#/album/janet-jackson/design-of-a-decade-1986-1996/174943. Retrieved 2010-07-01. 
28. ^ "Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA): Certification Results". CRIA. http://www.cria.ca/cert_db_search.php. Retrieved 2010-07-01. 
29. ^ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards - 1996". IFPI. http://www.ifpi.org/content/section_news/plat1996.html. Retrieved 2010-06-30. 
30. ^ "German certifications – Design of a Decade" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. http://www.musikindustrie.de/gold_platin_datenbank/?action=suche&strTitel=Design+of+a+Decade&strInterpret=&strTtArt=alle&strAwards=checked. Retrieved 2010-07-01. 
31. ^ "NVPI, de branchevereniging van de entertainmentindustrie - Goud/Platina" (in Dutch). nvpi.nl. http://www.nvpi.nl/nvpi/pagina.asp?pagkey=60461. Retrieved 2010-06-29. 
32. ^ "Swiss Certifications – Awards 2000". SwissCharts.com. http://swisscharts.com/awards.asp?year=2000. Retrieved 2010-07-01. 
33. ^ "JANET JACKSON - DESIGN OF A DECADE". BPI. http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/search.aspx. Retrieved 2010-06-21. 

External links

• Design of a Decade 1986/1996 Lyrics at MetroLyrics
• Design of a Decade 1986/1996 Video Page at janetjackson.com