Customer Reviews

Control Remixes

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a solid album - but not worth the money if you don't appreciate the relatively subtle touch-ups on these hits. I love this album, but I also know for sure that the casual listener could probably live without it. I will break it down for you anyhow:

There are two versions of 'Control'. One is the video mix (w/out the audience cheering), and the second one is a stripped down version of the original. There are two versions of 'Nasty'. The first is an extended mix of the original (with instrumental portions) while the second is probably what makes this album worth buying - it's the most remixed sounding song on here, and it's very long (and good). 'What Have You Done For Me Lately' is extended too, with instrumental portions where we're used to hearing Janet sing, "I never ask for more than I deserve..." and so forth. I like it.

On 'When I Think Of You', we get a percussion piece (Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis do well here) and that goes on for about two minutes. Then we get the video mix of 'When I Think Of You' which has a more festive sound than the original - it even lasts way longer than the one in the music video! We end the album with 'Let's Wait Awhile', and this version is more lush than the original as well - it is also the version used in her 1987 'black and white' music video.

In closing I will say this: most people will not hear (or really care for) the differences between these remixed versions and their original counterparts. If you're one of the few (like myself) that do, then you will be happy with this purchase. If you're one of the many that don't, your dollars will be better spent on 'Design Of A Decade' (Janet's 1995 Greatest Hits package) which gives you more songs for your money - and the Rhythm Nation tracks are remixed the same way that these ones are (they are the music video versions). It's a better deal overall. But who knows? Like Janet said..."You could learn to like this..."

To start, I must say that I am a Janet Jackson fan, and this is my favorite album of Janet's. I love her Control album, but this is a beefed up version of all the singles she released from the Control album, except the Pleasure Principle. The first song on the cd is my personal favorite. While listening to it, it is very hard to just sit and listen to it because you wanna get up and dance. It's the soundtrack to the Control video and it's much better than the album version. Next is a remix of Nasty and it is awesome too. It is extended and sounds better than the album version also. Then is another remix of the Nasty song that is a laid back jazzy version of it and it is much different than the original. It is really good. Then comes an extended version of What Have You Done For Me Lately that is similar to the album version, only longer. Then there is the percussion feature in When I Think of You that is only the beats and no vocals or anything else. Then is another great remix of When I Think of You that is really muscled up when compared to the album version. It is similar to the video version, just longer. Then is another remix of Conrol that is a capella and is good, depending on how much you like the song Control. Last is the video version of Let's Wait a While which is simply a prettier verison of the original. I think it's great. So, to conclude, this cd is a must for any Janet Jackson fan, and may not be as important to someone who doesn't really care for her music. I give this two thumbs up!

Well, I actually own the import Mexican Version of this set, that gets rid of two unnecessary tracks, and includes two superb mixes of "The Pleasure Principle", this Control The Remixes album it's something that every great artist of the late 80's early 90's should have, because that era was something else, amazing albums crowed with hit singles, not only one hit single and fillers. "Control The Video Mix" it's an amazing live track!, "When I Think Of You Dance Mix" gives the pop track more funkyness, so it's amazing too, "The Pleasure Principle Long Vocal Remix Shep Pettibone" it's the best track of the whole album so so classical, and danceable, you can just imagine the video listening to this track, "What's Have You Done For Me Lately Extended" this is a average mix of the late 80's that extended the funkyness two more minutes, great, "Nasty Cool Summer Mix Part Two" nasty nasty nasty great mix, "Let's Wait Awhile Remix" it's funny cos by those years was odd to make mixes of ballads, here it's not a dance mix, but it's a more piano oriented sound, less synthetic, "Nasty Cool Summer Mix Part One" more funkyness, "The Pleasure Principle Dub Edit" it's all about the beat!, this is an amazing dance remix album that any Janet fan should own, inside there are some photos of her videos but there a lil shaded, but you can tell in one Janet it's talking to the one an only Paula Abdul, great late 80's memorabilia.

This version on Amazon is the Australian edition, if that helps anyone.

Anyways... this is a very nice remix album. (I believe it's the one that started the trend.) It is very enjoyable. And danceable. The extended versions are very nice, even though some of the transitions are a little awkward at first listen. (But this was made in the 80's.) This is definitely one of those albums that you clean the house to. I recommend this CD, but only if you are a Janet fan.

I finally found this (after a month or two of Internet searching) for about 7 or 8 dollars less at the f.y.i. store in the mall close to where I live. I have to say, I don't regret buying it. Very rare to come across these days, and I'm glad that I found it.

Tracks:

1. Control (Video Mix) (6:02): "Live" version. Really just Janet actually singing her vocals instead of lip-synching the original, as is the norm in any music video by anyone.

2. Nasty (Extended) (6:07): Really nice extended mix of "Nasty". Love it!

3. Nasty (Cool Summer Mix, Pt. 1) (7:57): Certainly a difference! The original's "nastiness" is slightly smeared to give it a "summer" feel. Really nice, but why was Pt. 2 not included???

4. What Have U Done for Me Lately (6:57): Extended version. Cooooool.

5. When I Think of You (Extra Beats) (2:01): Unnecessary, but great for remix artists like myself.

6. WITOY (Extended Dance Mix) (6:24): Fantastic!!! True, there are a lot of breaks near the end, but I don't think the song's flow is disrupted.

7. Control (A Capella) (3:56): This is what I actually bought the album for. I like this version. It's less noisy than the original.

8. Let's Wait Awhile (Single Mix) (4:37): This was the version that was on "Design of a Decade" (my first taste of Janet). This is nice and slow, so that the album smoothly glides out.

I wish the Japan import was still available! It has an almost completely different set, with 9 tracks instead of 8 and remixes that weren't included here. Unfortunately, it has since been deleted. This is still good! Get it while it lasts!!!

if you loved the masterpiece control and want a little something extra, this album is for you! the enhanced video versions of the hit singles are bound to make you dance and reflect on just how great janet is!

For those of you who read my review for the Austrailian Import Verson, this is for the U.K. Import.

The U.K. Import is listed like this:

1. Control - The Video Mix [6:02 10/10 - Awesome live track; I like that you don't hear the audience!]

2. When I Think Of You (Dance Remix [6:25 9/10 - Would be 10, but there's so many breaks at the end that the song loses its flow, it's like the video]

3. The Pleasure Principle Long Vocal Remix (The Shep Pettibone Mix) [7:23 10/10 - Dynamite! It's the same mix as the video, but it has alot of breaks at the start and end, but they're vocal, unlike the When I Think Of You Dance Mix; samples Let's Wait Awhile and When I Think Of You.]

4. What Have You Done For Me Lately (Extended Mix) [7:00 7/10 - Kinda boring]

5. Nasty - Cool Summer Mix Part Two [10:09 8/10 - 10 minutes (wow!); Samples What Have You Done For Me Lately]

6. Let's Wait Awhile (Remix) [4:30 10/10 - Just like the video!]

7. Nasty - Cool Summer Mix Part One [7:57 8/10 - OK, but I never really liked the original]

8. The Pleasure Principle Dub Edit [6:58 5/10 - I's kinda like When I Think Of You Extra Beats, but these are extra VOCALS.]

The cover is a black and white picture of Janet looking up, and on her right it says:

JANET

JACKSON

CONTROL

THE REMIXES

CONTROL WHEN

I THINK OF YOU

THE PLEASURE

PRINCIPLE WHAT

HAVE YOU DONE

FOR ME LATELY

NASTY LET'S

WAIT AWHILE

...and behind it, it says 'the remixes' in a gray shade. The booklet shows a picture for each song (IE - For the Control mix it shows a picture from the video).

The Austrailian Import knocks off The Pleasure Principle mixes, and replaces them with an extended Nasty and an A Cappella Control. Also knocks off Cool Summer's Part 2 for extra dance beats of When I Think Of You.

By the way Matthew Braxmeier "Matt", I noticed you kinda responded to my other review, so this is my response -

GET THIS VERSION!!! By the way, the Japanese Version you were talking about is called More Control, and I found it on eBay for about $20. I bought the U.K. Import of Control: The Remixes from eBay (I never use eBay!), and the seller sent me a free digipak + single (Got 'Til It's Gone). I hope I could help!

"Control - the remixes" is another great effort from Janet. I feel I could lose my control when i'm listening to this fantastic remix album. This remix album is up there as one of the best with also efforts like Jennifer Lopez ("J To Tha Lo - The Remixes") and Madonna ("You Can Dance") but i'd say this remix album mostly compares and is compared with Madonna's "You Can Dance" album. This album hit the top 20 after her third-album-effort "Control" which was Janet's first and original break-through.

This remix album proves to be just as good as the original effort on the 1986 album. It includes all of the singles from her "Control" album, with the exception of just two of the seven, which are "Pleasure Principle" and "Funny How Time Flies", that are remixed into their video versions or 12" form. All of the remixes are good - even though some remixes are normally a throw-away by any type of artist, Janet, on this album, proves those certain artists wrong. (Mentioning no names)

Even though this album only had eight tracks, I thought it was far better than her "Janet. Remixed" effort! That album had eleven tracks in total and I only really liked five of them! The rest were okay - but on here the talent and progress in these 12" and video remixes are just excellent! It also doesn't sound like they made the remixes in something like two minutes. I must hand it over to the Summer remix of "Nasty", because that was the only really remixed song on the whole album and was still the best song on the CD - along with the more festive remixes of "When I Think Of You", Janet's US #1 single from the original "Control" album.

Overall score - 10/10

From "Control" to "Control - the remixes", through-out both albums Janet's progress in excellent so i'd really reccommend you pick up both of the albums. (Also check out my review for Janet's "Control" album, if you manage to find it!) The "Nasty" Cool Summer Mix Part 1 remix features a sample of "What Have You Done For Me Lately" and the remix for "Let's Wait A While" is the video version, as is the first remix for "Control". All the remixes are a pleasure to listen to.

** Stars: "Nasty" (Cool Summer Mix Part 1), "When I Think Of You" (Dance Remix) & "Control" (Video Mix).

If you remember this when it came out on the radio then you need to buy this CD. Great for systems!

many think of it as janets second album... it is not. its her second. and this time, she breaks away from the bubble gum pop, and right smack into the middle of dance and soul. very good. although her 1814 album is where she broke stride, this album is her best work without being cheesy or corny.