Control

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Editorial reviews

From Amazon.com
"Free at last / Out here on my own," Janet Jackson sings on the title track of her 1986 blockbuster, IControl/I, an album about personal liberation, romantic longing, and, of all things, sexual responsibility. After two albums of middling dance-pop that were comfortably in the Jackson family mold, Janet dropped in on the burgeoning Minneapolis funk factory of producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and came up with five top 10 hits, including the opening triad of "Control," "Nasty," and "What Have You Done for Me Lately," as well as the yearning "When I Think of You" and "Let's Wait Awhile," that rare song (considering some of Janet's hits to come) about Inot/I having sex. In its own way, iControl/i is the most convincing declaration of artistic independence since Stevie Wonder's "Music of My Mind." I--Daniel Durchholz/I

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Customer reviews

review by: scifihorror fan date: 2009-04-01 rating:
one of the most essential albums ever made
i have only recently purchased this album from Amazon and i needed to put my views on here. br /I LOVE IT!!! i always admired Janet Jackson but it wasn't until recently that i though i'd purchase a few of her albums...i am very glad i started with Control...it is now one of my favourite albums most definately. br /it is influential in many ways by incorporating a fresh new style in the dance rb genre, with fantastic addictive lyrics and beats while the songs are always so immortal and groovy. br /personally i already feel that this is one of her greatest albums in terms of production and influence on culture , plus it includes the majority of her greatest singles. br /all 9 songs a innovative and addictive and in comparison to her Brother MJ's Thriller, Control is just as inspirational and pouring with hits. br /this is a must for everyone!!

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review by: Diva's Forever date: 2008-05-10 rating:
Janet's Big Breakthrough.
Just when it seemed like Janet's musical career was never going to take off, out popped `Control' a crucial success, as well as signalling Janet's new found independence. Jimmy Jam Terry Lewis were recruited to produce this album, and blimey did they do a good job. br / br /The title track `Control' is upbeat, as well as lyrically explaining to us all that she is now free from all restraints, and by the sounds of it she loving every second, this is even more evident when you listen to `Nasty' it's a rebellious song with plenty of sexual references thrown in, then there's one of my personal favourites `When I Think Of You', not quite as upbeat, certainly not as explicit as some of the material on here, i can understand why this bouncy catchy pop track made the only number 1 single from this album, `The Pleasure Principle' love it, it makes you feel good after maybe a long hard day, it's quite relaxing in a way, hence the word `Pleasure', `You Can Be Mine' very energetic, and Janet also sounds like she having tons of fun, love the use of those electric guitars, really good beat, `He Doesn't Even Know I'm Alive', should of been a single, once again again one of feel good songs that you can't get out of your head, the saxophone gives the song a much softer tone, and if i may say so a much classer one too, `What Have You Done For Me Lately', it's quite a good song, and the beat plus the message is quite strong and sharp, it's not one of my absolute favourites though, to finish off the album nicely we have `Funny How Time Flies (When You're Having Fun)' very appropriate, while at the same time possibly being the most sexual song on the album, for some parts she is making sexual references in French, and then saying `I really have to go' in quite a preppy dialogue, the song is slow tempo and acts as a good finale, but still seems like a slight filler. br / br /This album is an extremely good choice for anyone who loves, or craves pure 80s pop, as from start to finish its just that, this album, the 3rd groundbreaking attempt, i would argue helped make Janet a international icon, allowed her to establish her own style, and took her out of the shadow of older brother Michael. br /

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review by: Claire Elise Archibald date: 2006-08-25 rating:
Control
Classic 80s pop at its best from the true princess of pop, Janet Jackson. br /Even today the beats, lyrics and rythmns still sound fresh. br /My favorite tracks from this album include, what have you done for me lately, let's wait a while, control and pleasure principle.

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review by: date: 2006-04-05 rating:
an icon in the making!
few words can descibe Janet...like with all her cd's you feel like this is an artist who is comfortable with recording her present moods/conflicts/troubles and feelings. Control was the begining of this journey and set the scene for all the brilliant work that follows. music appears dated now but any fan will love this as it was the first step to her iconic status of today.


review by: date: 2003-11-27 rating:
She's In Control... Ever Since 1986
First of all, I don't know whether reviews are needed here, this album is a legendary one, but for those who are newbies to Janet's music like I was some years ago, maybe reviews can be useful. For my generation Janet Jackson always have been a superstar. Now imagine her at the age of 19, when all she had was her family name (more a drawback than an advantage for her then), some fame she gained as a child star in TV shows (but since then she grew up and felt uncomfortable in the 'sweet little girl' role), a debut album which was about on the same level as the first albums of Mandy Moore or Jessica Simpson (her 2nd was somewhat better, but still wasn't successful) and a marriage which was her first attempt to get away from her family and take control (the marriage failed). Future didn't seem too bright. In fact, it seemed hopeless.pNow imagine this girl teaming up with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis (best songwriters of the world) and recording an album on which she declared her independence and showed more talent and originality than anyone else. This was Control, with 9 songs from which 6 became hits. Control shows us a young woman who knows what she want - independence and respect. She stands up for herself. She puts the boys in their place. "No, my first name ain't baby. It's Janet. Ms Jackson if you're nasty." The opening triad of Control, Nasty and What Have You Done For Me Lately are so fresh, dynamic and original that it can't be described, and the music and the lyrics suits well to each other. After five uptempo and two mid-tempo songs Janet slows down, showing her sensual side for the first time with songs like Let's Wait Awhile and Funny How Time Flies. The three non-singles are not fillers, like on albums of lots of other artists, each of them could have been a hit single. My special favorite is He Doesn't Know I'm Alive, especially the part where Janet sings about calling the guy on the phone then hanging up because she's too shy to talk... I always feel it was written about me because I've been in this situation hundreds of times. In fact, if you listen the songs, almost all of them will feel as if they had been written about you, Janet is a genius when it comes to writing lyrics.pI guess it's time for me to shut up, if you have this album you already know how good it is, if you don't have it, then don't waste your time by reading this review, GO AND GET THIS CD. nd don't forget to buy Rhythm Nation 1814, that's her best album, and that's the one which is in the same style as Control, the newer albums are different. Also buy "Control - The Remixes".

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