Number Ones

Janet Jackson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 17, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: A&M
• ASIN: B002PBA8QI
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (69 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,226 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #16 in Music > R&B > Contemporary R&B
  • #42 in Music > Pop > Dance Pop > General AAS
  • #89 in Music > Pop > Adult Contemporary > General AAS

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

Janet is an iconic figure in the worlds of music, entertainment, fashion and philanthropy. Mega-award-winning artist, singer, songwriter, producer, actor, dancer, Janet Jackson is all of these things and more. She possesses an unprecedented list of achievements, and remains at the forefront of her craft, a true inspiration. As an artist, Janet excites, enlightens, leads, and embraces her audience with insights into life's meaning and our deepest feelings. Her vocal gifts, musical style, choreography, lyrical exploration, and awareness of the human condition has made her one of the top artists of our time as well as a leading influence on people around the globe. Through words and actions, she has set an example of generosity, of empowerment, of compassion, and helped to lead efforts addressing some of society's greatest challenges.

As an actor, Janet made her big screen debut in 1993 with Poetic Justice, in which she starred opposite hip-hop legend Tupac Shakur and actress Regina King. Her ballad "Again" was featured in the film and received both a Golden Globe and Academy Award nomination. In the box office smash Nutty Professor II: The Klumps, Janet made her second feature film appearance as Denise Gaines, opposite Academy Award nominee Eddie Murphy. Nutty Professor II became her second film to open at number one at the box office. In her third feature film, Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married?, Janet starred opposite Tyler Perry and received an Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Feature Motion Picture. The film was yet another number one opener at the box office. Janet's fourth film, Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too, will be released in 2010.

Janet is the only artist having Grammy nominations spanning the Dance, Pop, Rap, Rock, and R&B categories and to have number one hits on every chart except country. Among her many honors, she has accumulated 5 Grammys, multiple MTV Awards, Billboard Music Awards, and Soul Train Music Awards. Janet's concerts are stunning events that stimulate all the senses-- engaging mind, ears, eyes and the soul. Unbelievable choreography performed to perfection has become synonymous with Janet.

MTV presented Janet with the inaugural mtvICON Award solidifying her accomplishments and effect on pop culture. Some of the world's most recognized musical artists were enlisted to recreate the music videos and performances of her classic hits in honor of her work, influence and overall impact in the arena of music. The title of ICON was and continues to be hers.

Janet continues to focus on speaking out and giving back. Several of her tours have raised money for charities such as the Cities in Schools, and America's Promise. She has supported the Watts Willowbrook Boys & Girls Club of America, the Starlight Foundation, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, A Place Called Home providing after school programs in South Central LA, the American Foundation for AIDS Research, S.O.S. Children's Villages in South Africa, Cartier's Love Bracelet Program benefiting OCNA and sponsored an Airlift of Food and Medical supplies to famine-stricken Rwanda. Janet established the Rhythm Nation Scholarship with the UNCF and has assisted countless students striving to meet their educational goals.

She has been honored with many Humanitarian Awards due to her intense dedication to helping others. Recent honors reflecting the range of her involvement in charitable and social causes include the 2008 Humanitarian of the Year award from the Lisa Lopes Foundation, the 2008 Vanguard Award from GLAAD, and the 2004 Touching a Life Humanitarian and Philanthropic Award from the NBA. Janet's efforts have also been recognized by AIDS Project LA, the Congress for Racial Equality, and by the NAACP with their Chairman's Award. In September 2009, Janet chaired amFAR's inaugural fundraising event in Milan, Italy during Fashion Week and raised over 1.1 million dollars.

Next year, Janet will publish her first book, providing an intimate look at her life and how she has dealt with issues of self-esteem. Janet will reveal aspects not known before about her uniquely successful career in music, television and films.

Janet's next studio album is slated to be released in 2010.

Product Description

2009 two CD collection from the R&B diva, a career spanning collection that contains 33 of Janet's global #1 hits, plus the new hit, 'Make Me,' available on one album for the first time ever. Janet is one of the biggest, best-selling artists in Pop music history and one of the most successful and influential female artists of all time. She has sold over 65 million albums worldwide. Features 34 tracks including 'What Have You Don For My Lately', 'Miss You Much', 'Nasty', 'When I Think Of You' and 'Make Me'.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An AMAZING Collection!, November 18, 2009

By 

iPod Fan 3 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Number Ones (Audio CD)

So, I've been waiting for a new Janet collection for awhile, so when she announced "Number Ones", I was super excited. I was even happier when she announced the official track listing. I thought, except for the exclusion of "You Want This", it was perfect. And when I got the CD, it even exceeded my expectations. The remastering is superb! You hear it as soon as you put in the first CD and hear the very beginning of "What Have You Done For Me Lately". It really stands out on the first disc, especially songs like "When I Think Of You", "Let's Wait Awhile", and "Love Will Never Do (Without You)".

Another thing I like is the rare tracks, or at least rare versions. Thankfully they included the Single Remix of "Let's Wait Awhile" unlike on "Decade". Another great inclusion is the video mix of "All For You", which includes the dance break and was originally only available on the CD Single. I DO wish they would have just used the single edit for "Any Time, Any Place" instead of the R. Kelly Remix, which it didn't even say it was. Another 'false labeling' is the fact that it said "Janet feat. BLACKstreet" on "I Get Lonely", but was actually the solo album/radio edit instead. I like the solo version better, but I hate that they put one thing and it says another.

Overall, I would suggest this collection to major fans, minor fans, and everyone in between. It covers her past 23 years of music so well.

Here is the track listing including which version it is: (PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG)
DISC ONE
1. What Have You Done For Me Lately? - Album Version w/o Spoken Intro
2. Nasty - Album Version
3. When I Think of You - Album Version
4. Control - Album Version
5. Let's Wait Awhile - Single/Remix Version
6. The Pleasure Principle - Album Edit
7. Diamonds - Main Version
8. Miss You Much - Album Version
9. Rhythm Nation - Single Edit with Pledge Intro
10. Escapade - Album Version
11. Alright - Video Edit (aka 7" Mix) with Heavy D Rap
12. Come Back to Me - The 12" I'm Beggin' You Mix
13. Black Cat - Video Edit
14. Love Will Never Do (Without You) - Single Version
15. The Best Things in Life Are Free - 1992 Soundtrack Version
16. That's The Way Love Goes - Album Version

DISC TWO
1. If - Album Version
2. Again - Album Version
3. Because of Love - Album Version
4. Any Time, Any Place - R. Kelly Remix
5. Scream - Radio Edit
6. Runaway - Album Version
7. Got 'Til It's Gone - Clean Radio Edit
8. Together Again - LP/Radio Edit
9. I Get Lonely - LP Edit (*NOTE: Does NOT feature BLACKstreet)
10. Go Deep - Album Version
11. What's It Gonna Be?! - Radio Edit
12. Doesn't Really Matter - Full Soundtrack Version
13. All For You - Video Version with Dance Break
14. Someone to Call My Lover - Single/Radio Edit
15. All Nite (Don't Stop) - Album Version
16. Call On Me - Album Version (Including a 10 second intro from the end of "With U" on 20 Y.O.)
17. Feedback - Single Version (Almost same as album version, except with an extended outro)
18. Make Me - Single Version

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 34 REMASTERED JANET TRACKS - 5 STAR WINNER, November 17, 2009

By 

PourHomme80 (Los Angeles, Ca) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Number Ones (Audio CD)

34 tracks on 2 discs remastered to perfection. I have fallen in love with Janet's music all over again.
PROS
1. Excellent Remasters of all her classic hits!
("that's the way love goes" sounds brilliant.
"when I think of you" never sounded better.)
2. Almost complete and comprehensive collection of Janet's career spanning hits, including duets she has done through the years! (Diamonds,Best Things In Life,etc)
3. New track - Make Me (Produced by Darkchild/Rodney Jenkins) Disco House/Pop Janet is Back. This song is a major stand-out.

CONS
1. I am not a fan of some of the versions chosen to be on this collection. The one that is really glaring at me is the hip hop sounding mix of "Best Things In Life Are Free" Would have much preferred the more popular version used in the music video over this one.
2. Album cover = Snooooze!

As you can see, we are short on the cons here and the fact that you have amazing remasters trumps any negatives for this project. A&M and Janets team have really done a spectacular job on making this a very neat and concise collection. There was another remastered comprehensive greatest hits that came out just a couple months ago from another artist (whose name I wont mention) which was disastrous in such a number of ways that it is now impossible for me not to appreciate this strong effort.

This is a real must-have for anyone who grew up in the 80's, 90's and today with Janets great sounds!

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Long overdue look at an incredible career, November 17, 2009

By 

Andrew Budgell - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Number Ones (Audio CD)

Long overdue, "Number Ones" is Janet Jackson's first greatest hits album since "Design of a Decade 1986/1996", which was released in 1995. Record label politics made me wonder if a comprehensive collection of Janet Jackson's greatest hits would--or could--ever be released. (Janet originally signed with A&M, then moved to Virgin for the "janet." album, and then to Def Jam for 2008's "Discipline".) But comprehensive is what exactly what we've got here with "Number Ones", which is a worthy look back at one of the most successful recording artists of all-time.

The album, which is in chronological order, begins with "What Have You Done For Me Lately" from the 1986 album, "Control". While Janet had had already released "Janet Jackson" and "Dream Street", it was "Control" that established Jackson as a superstar, propelled to that level by hit makers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. After that the hits kept coming with albums including the socially conscious "Rhythm Nation 1814", "janet.", the album that explored Jackson's sexuality, "The Velvet Rope", which Janet recorded during a bout with depression, and "All For You", which explored her fun side. It's amazing just how fresh these songs still sound. This is helped All of the songs from these albums have been digitally remastered to a very high standard. Songs like "Rhythm Nation" have never sounded better. Everyone has their own opinion as to why Janet's last three albums, "Damita Jo", "20 Y.O." and "Discipline" have not been received as warmly by the public, but all three spawned number ones and are of course are included here.

I appreciated the fact that Janet's number one collaborations with other artists, including "Diamonds" with Herb Alpert, "The Best Things In Life Are Free" with Luther Vandross, "Scream" with her brother Michael, and "What's It Gonna Be?" with Busta Rhymes are included here. This is an extra incentive to purchase "Number Ones" since none of these singles have appeared on any of Janet's own albums.

The album concludes with one new track called "Make Me". The disco inspired song is infectious, and is a return to her lighter, more fun roots and whets the appetite for what we can expect from Jackson's next studio album, due out in the first quarter of next year.

While these compilation releases often spark debate on what should have been included--or left off--I think most of Janet's diehard and casual fans alike will be completely satisfied with "Number Ones". The only thing that could have made this release better would have been the option of a deluxe package with a DVD of all of Janet's iconic music videos. However, that's just a slight quibble and "Number Ones" is truly a comprehensive look back at one of the greatest entertainers of all time and some of the best pop music ever recorded. It was worth the wait.