Janet Jackson RHYTHM NATION

Producers: Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Janet Jackson.
Personnel: Janet Jackson (vocals, keyboards, background vocals); Jellybean Johnson (vocals, guitar, drums, background vocals); James Greer, Warlesha Ryan, Reshard Taylor, Anthony Thomas , John McClain, Jamial Lafleur, Steve Wilson, Sonya Robinson, Shante Owens, Tshaye Marks, Randy Ran, Rene Elizondo, Clarice Rupert, Steve Hodge (vocals, background vocals); Tamika McDaniel (vocals); David Barry (guitar, electric guitar, 12-string guitar); Nicholas Raths (guitar, classical guitar); John McLain (guitar, background vocals); Jesse Johnson (guitar); Kathy Kienzle (harp); Julie Ayer, Hanley Daws, Carolyn Daws (violin); Tamas Strasser, John Tartaglia (viola); Joshua Koestenbaum, Peter Howard (cello); Herb Alpert (trumpet, brass, horns); Jimmy Jam (piano, keyboards, drums, percussion, programming); Terry Lewis (percussion, background vocals); Johnny Gill (percussion); David Eiland (programming); Tarnika McDaniel, Lisa Keith (background vocals).
Recording information: Flyte Time Productions Studio, Minneapolis, MN; MPR Studio, St. Paul, MN.
Photographer: Guzman/Rotterdam Conservatory Orquesta Tipica.
Arrangers: Janet Jackson; Lee Blaske; Terry Lewis.
Little did you know that the American national anthem, "God Bless America", was written in 1814. Janet did, and she sets out in RHYTHM NATION to dish out a bit of "let's all work together for a better world and improve our way of life" type thing. This vein continues for a number of tracks, and admirable though it is, she sounds so much more convincing singing a good old-fashioned love song. The Jacksons were meant to dance, not to sermonize. That said, "Miss You Much", "Lonely" and "Come Back To Me:" are fabulous. Slick, sweet soul sung and played perfectly.

• Format: CD
• Released: 1/1/1989
• Genre: Pop