Disco de Janet Jackson: “Design of a Decade: 1986-1996 [Bonus Tracks]”

this cd has all the hit singles from control and rhythm nation, plus two bonus tracks: whoops now (which is the hidden track on janet.) and the best things in life are free (from the mo money sound track) The best things in life are free is a very cool duet with luther vandross. All the other cd's with this song are out of print, so this is the last chance to get it! the cover of the cd has a B&W picture of janet with some fierce cleavage, in a satin shirt. you may know this picture from inside the booklet of the regular D of a D cd. I love this cd! if you want to trade rare janet stuff, email me! niesha129@hotmail.com

Woah !! Janet Jackson's career over the past 20 years has been just abousolutely amazing !! (21 years to be exact) Anybody who has given this incredible album less than 5 stars, then I just can't understand why, it's amazing !! I especially got a shock when a reviewer on Amazon.co.uk said that this was a cheesy little hits collection over the past decade and titled their review BAD. You just need to listen more ... Well, this album managed #2 in the UK Top 75 and did not top the US Charts but has been highly succesful selling more than 1000 million copies around in europe (? - or around the world) but anyway, has been highly succesful. Many viewers and listeners argued that Design Of A Decade 1986 - 1996 had no releases from her flopped albums in the state, 'Janet Jackson' (her debut) and 'Dream Street' which flopped even more than her debut ! Please note that there were no singles from those 2 albums. Her 5th album 'Janet' also nearly being completely wiped out ... Here is my review.

The album 'Design Of A Decade 1986 - 1996' begins with one of the 'new' songs, at the time of the albums release, just at the end of 1995. 'Runaway' (10/10) has a fresh new upbeat and a nice chorus, and verses for that matter.This song grew up to be in my Top 10 Janet songs !! We are next treated to Three unforgetable classics from the 'Control' album. Beginning with 'What Have You Done For Me Lately' (10/10) Janet's first ever single !! Not many people release it but it was. It got up to #3 in the UK Charts spanning a 14 week period. Next is 'Nasty' (10/10) a underrated #19 in the Charts with, this time a 9 week period. Includes the Tounge (sp ?) in cheeck retort 'Janet miss jackson -if you're nasty' the whole of it being 'No my first name ain't baby, it's Janet Miss jackson' and so on (mentioned above) i love that part !! Should have been a US No 1. Next in is 'When I Think Of You' (10/10) track 4. We are treated to our first US No 1 here. A great song spanning in the Top 10 UK, infact spanning exactly at #10 and 10 weeks to. (10,10,10 - Am I confusing you ?!) So yep, this song did do very well. The next 2 songs were also US No 1's and from 'Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814'. 'Escapade' (10/10) and 'Miss You Much' (10/10) I abouslutely adore both songs but quite dissapointing positions in the UK (Escapade - #17 , 7 weeks + Miss You Much - #22 , 7 weeks) Nevertheless, I enjoy them alot !! The next track is one of the two songs from her 'express sexual feelings' album, 'Janet.' 'Whoops Now' (10/10) is a track I was so happy to have with me when I relaized It was on here. I'd heard it on the radio millions of times before and was like 'Janet sung this ?!' when i heard it was on here. A B-Side single along with 'What'll I Do' also from the 'Janet.' album. UK Chart position was #9 spanning 8 weeks. OH MY GOD !!!!!! - the next song is my all-time favourite Janet song, 'Love Will Never Do (Without You)' (11/10 !!) was another US No 1 for Janet and a great one to - but just #34 and 4 weeks on UK charts ... Must be because all people bought it in the US. The next song is 'Alright' (10/10), look at Love Will Never Do (Without You) and Escapade for information on this song. All i'm going to say is it's a great song. 'The Best Things In Life Are Free (Janet & Luther Vandross)' (10/10) is the next song. It spanned #2 on the charts and 13 weeks. I not that keen on Luther myself but this song totally made me forget I hated him !!! The next 2 songs are more unforgetable classics from Janet's 'Control' album. The title track itself ('Control') (10/10) and 'The Pleasure Principal' (10/10) Control was the only Janet song not to get in the Top 40 (UK) at #42, apart from 'Funny How Time Flies' also from the album 'Control' which didn't really have any contact to it. Control faired better in the US. For more info, see tracks 2,3 & 4. The next 2 hits are from '... 1814'. 'Black Cat' (10/10) and 'Rhythm Nation' (10/10) are wicked !! I'm lovin' the beginnig of 'Rhythm Nation' and the guitar solo on 'Black Cat' !!! Track 15 is 'That's The Way Love Goes' (10/10) the last single on here from the 'Janet.' album ... Where is 'Again, Because Of Love, If & You Want This' ? Classics like that. That's The Way Love Goes spent 10 weeks on the UK chart and it's highest chart position being No. 2. However, it managed US No 1 topping the charts for 8 Weeks !!! The next track is 'Come Back To Me' (10/10) from '... 1814'. All I can say is it's Janet's bbest ballad ever !!! The next 2 tracks are 'Let's Wait Awhile' and 'Twenty Foreplay' (another 'new' track) both worthy of 9/10 stars/points because they just ... well ... not as good as the other tracks on the album. Toppa hits collection !!!

OVERALL GRADE - 10/10

I had bought the VELVET ROPE and truly enjoyed and I wanted to explore some of the great janet tunes that i had heard on the radio. I was only familiar with some of the songs and when i got tickets for her tour.. i wanted to make sure that i knew all her hits.. I managed to get my sister to buy me the import *best of* in thailand and it turned out to be a great choice. Even though you are paying extra for "whoops now" (which you may have since it's the hidden track on the JANET album) and the duet dance song "best thing in life are free"... i think they are good songs to fully complete this compilation. some of the songs are edited to fit the two extra songs...like for instance... "Rythum natoin" is cut to the beginning of the song instead of the pledge intro in the US DESIGN OF A DECADE CD. so anyways.. if you wanna get the good hit.. go all out and get the import *best of*

i use to dig Janet Jackson's stuff well especially her peak/prime era stuff from 86-95 and this hits package for me best captures Janet Jackson during her best days. tight dance Jams and some smooth slow jams. the singles still hold up for the most part. this collection was the fun and feel Good Janet Jackson and all the hits just rolled off with ease.

Due to the fact that Janet signed with Virgin after 2 albums with A&M, this compilation that should contain all of her greatest hits of her first 10 year career, comes up pretty uncomplete.

You will find all of the singles released off her 2 first albums (including remixed or alternate versions, see BLACK CAT with an added guitar riff part or COME BACK TO ME with different arrangements), but then only THAT'S THE WAY LOVE GOES is the only track off JANET.

Fortunately there are a couple of new tunes: RUNAWAY is some kind of ethnic journey resumé in music, while TEWNTY FOREPLAY is the usual, sensual Janet's slow jam stuff.

I believe if you are a fan, you will be better off buying this import version: the cover may be not as good as the american one, but you get two extra tracks.

WHOOOPS NOW was a ghost track off JANET that was released as a single in Europe only, plus there is also a nice dancefloor duet with Luther Vandross called THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE.

I am looking forward for a new greatest hits package!