janet. cover art

  Studio Album · No. 3

janet.

1993 Virgin Records 28 tracks 75 min

Produced by James Harris III, Terry Lewis  ·  Engineered by Steve Hodge, Dave Rideau

Virgin Records R&BPopHip Hop
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Janet Jackson wrote 28 of 28 documented tracks

Authorship Breakdown 28 / 28 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 28 tracks with documented writers, by whether Janet Jackson carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
28 trackswritten by Janet Jackson 0 tracksoutside writers
Janet Jackson's roles on this album

Share of the 28 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer4%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

28
Tracks
6
Lyricists
4
Producers
2
No.1 Singles
14 million
Worldwide Copies Sold
1993
Released

Awards & Recognition 1

Grammy Award for Best R&B Song (1994)
Data Insight

janet. is the album where Janet Jackson explored sexuality and intimacy on her own terms, co-writing every track with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The three expanded her sound into hip-hop, jazz, and funk while keeping her name on all of the songwriting. Her authorship stayed total even as the album became her most personal and commercially powerful statement of the decade.

janet., released in May 1993, was Janet Jackson's first album for Virgin Records after signing one of the most lucrative recording deals in music history, and it represented a bold pivot toward more explicit, sexually confident material. Jackson co-wrote all major tracks on the album with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, continuing the creative partnership that had defined her output since Control. The album produced four top-five singles including 'That's the Way Love Goes,' which spent eight consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and the sensual 'Any Time, Any Place.' Jackson worked with Heavy D on 'New Agenda,' a direct commentary on racial tensions in the wake of the Los Angeles riots. The album debuted at number one in multiple countries and sold over 14 million copies worldwide, cementing her status as one of the most commercially powerful artists of the decade.

Track Listing & Credits 28 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Morning
Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis James Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet Jackson (Lead Vocals)
2
That's the Way Love Goes #1
Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis James Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet Jackson (Lead Vocals)
3
You Know...
Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis James Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet Jackson (Lead Vocals)
4
You Want This
Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis James Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet Jackson (Lead Vocals)
5
Be a Good Boy...
Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis James Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet Jackson (Lead Vocals)
6
If #4
Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis James Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet Jackson (Lead Vocals)
7
Back
Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis James Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet Jackson (Lead Vocals)
8
This Time
Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis James Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet Jackson (Lead Vocals)
9
Go on Miss Janet
Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis James Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet Jackson (Lead Vocals)
10
Throb
Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis James Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet Jackson (Lead Vocals)
11
What'll I Do
Janet JacksonSteve CropperJoe Shamwell Janet JacksonSteve CropperJoe Shamwell Janet JacksonJellybean Johnson Janet Jackson (Lead Vocals)
12
The Lounge
Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis James Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet Jackson (Lead Vocals)
13
Funky Big Band
Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis James Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet Jackson (Lead Vocals)
14
Racism
Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis James Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet Jackson (Lead Vocals)
15
New Agenda
Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry LewisChuck D Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry LewisChuck D James Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet Jackson (Lead Vocals)Chuck D (Rap)
16
Love Pt. 2
Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis James Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet Jackson (Lead Vocals)
17
Because of Love
Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis James Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet Jackson (Lead Vocals)
18
Wind
Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis James Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet Jackson (Lead Vocals)
19
Again #1
Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis James Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet Jackson (Lead Vocals)
20
Another Lover
Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis James Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet Jackson (Lead Vocals)
21
Where Are You Now
Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis James Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet Jackson (Lead Vocals)
22
Hold on Baby
Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis James Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet Jackson (Lead Vocals)
23
The Body That Loves You
Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis James Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet Jackson (Lead Vocals)
24
Rain
Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis James Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet Jackson (Lead Vocals)
25
Any Time, Any Place #2
Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis James Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet Jackson (Lead Vocals)
26
Are You Still Up
Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis James Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet Jackson (Lead Vocals)
27
Sweet Dreams
Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet JacksonJames Harris IIITerry Lewis James Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet Jackson (Lead Vocals)
28
Whoops Now
Janet Jackson Janet Jackson James Harris IIITerry Lewis Janet Jackson (Lead Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 7 contributors

More from Janet Jackson

Frequently Asked Questions janet.

When did Janet Jackson release janet.?
Janet Jackson released janet. on May 18, 1993 through Virgin Records. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and set a first-week sales record for a female artist at the time.
Did Janet Jackson write janet. herself?
Yes, Janet Jackson co-wrote every track on janet. with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The album marked a more personal and sexually frank direction that she shaped as a writer.
Who wrote That's the Way Love Goes by Janet Jackson?
'That's the Way Love Goes' was written by Janet Jackson, Jimmy Jam, and Terry Lewis. The single spent eight weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and won the Grammy for Best R&B Song.
Who wrote Again by Janet Jackson?
'Again' was written by Janet Jackson, Jimmy Jam, and Terry Lewis. The ballad reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
Who produced janet. by Janet Jackson?
janet. was produced by Janet Jackson with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Steve Hodge and Dave Rideau handled mixing on the album.
How many copies did janet. by Janet Jackson sell?
janet. has sold around 14 million copies worldwide. It is certified 6× Platinum by the RIAA in the United States.

Sources