Recording sessions : September 1988-May 1989
Studios : Flyte Tyme, Edina studio
Label : A&M Records
Release date : September 19, 1989
Original track listing
“Interlude: Pledge”
“Rhythm Nation”
“Interlude: T.V.”
“State of the World”
“Interlude: Race”
“The Knowledge”
“Interlude: Let’s Dance”
“Miss You Much”
“Interlude: Come Back”
“Love Will Never Do (Without You)”
“Livin’ in a World (They Didn’t Make)”
“Alright”
“Interlude: Hey Baby”
“Escapade”
“Interlude: No Acid”
“Black Cat”
“Lonely”
“Come Back to Me”
“Someday Is Tonight”
“Interlude: Livin’…In Complete Darkness”
Peak on Billboard 200 : 1
Demos/Alternate Versions/Outtakes/unreleased tracks from the album’ sessions
Vuelve A Mi : Spanish version of “Come Back To Me”. Released in 1990 (B side of “Come Back to Me” single)
Alright (R&B Mix) : Mix featuring rap by Heavy D from the ‘Alright” short film. Released in 1990 (B side of “Alright” single)
The Skin Game : Released in 1990 (B side of “Come Back To Me” single)
You Need Me : Released in 1989 (B side of “Miss You Much” single)
Work : Posted by Bryan Loren on his MySpace page in July 2009 but remains unreleased.
Others songs from this era
2300 Jackson Street : Background vocals recorded in 1989 and released in 1989 (The Jackson “2300 Jackson Street”)
Singles and videos
1st single : Miss You Much Released August 22, 1989
Peak on Hot 100 Billboard : 1
Music video directed by Dominic Sena
Date of shooting : May 1989
Date of premiere : September 19, 1989
2nd single : Rhythm Nation Released October 24, 1989
Peak on Hot 100 Billboard : 2
Music video directed by Dominic Sena
Date of shooting : May 1989
Date of premiere : September 19, 1989
Official release : on VHS in 1989 (Rhythm Nation 1814). Never released on DVD. Not on Janet’s You Tube official page.
The videos for Miss You Much and Rhythm Nation are both released on VHS in 1990 (the Rhythm Nation Compilation), on DVD in 1995 (Design of a Decade) and in 2004 (From Janet to Damita Jo). Also on Janet’s You Tube official page.
3rd single : “Escapade” Released on January 8, 1990
Peak on Hot 100 Billboard : 1
Directed by : Peter Smillie
Date of shooting : October 1989
Date of premiere : January 1990
Official release : on VHS in 1990 (the Rhythm Nation Compilation), on DVD in 1995 (Design of a Decade) and in 2004 (From Janet to Damita Jo). On Janet’s You Tube official page.
4th single : “Alright” Released on March 4, 1990
Peak on Hot 100 Billboard : 4
Music video directed by : Julien Temple
Date of shooting : February 1990
Date of premiere : April 1990
Official release : Extended version on VHS in 1990 (the Rhythm Nation Compilation). Shorter version on DVD in 1995 (Design of a Decade) and in 2004 (From Janet to Damita Jo). On Janet’s You Tube official page.
5th single : “Come Back To Me” Released on June 18, 1990
Peak on Hot 100 Billboard : 2
Directed by : Dominic Sena
Date of shooting : November 1989 in Paris
Date of premiere : June 1990
Official release : On VHS in 1990 (the Rhythm Nation Compilation). On DVD in 1995 (Design of a Decade) and in 2004 (From Janet to Damita Jo). On Janet’s You Tube official page
6th single : “Black Cat” Released on August 28, 1990
Peak on Hot 100 Billboard : 1
Music video directed by : Wayne Isham
Date of shooting : April 5, 1990
Date of premiere : August 1990
Official release : On VHS in 1990 (the Rhythm Nation Compilation). On DVD in 1995 (Design of a Decade) and in 2004 (From Janet to Damita Jo). On Janet’s You Tube official page.
7th single : “Love Will Never Do” Released on October 2, 1990
Peak on Hot 100 Billboard : 1
Music video directed by : Herb Ritts
Date of shooting : September 13, 1990
Date of premiere : November 1990
Official release : On VHS in 1990 (the Rhythm Nation Compilation). On DVD in 1995 (Design of a Decade) and in 2004 (From Janet to Damita Jo). Not on Janet’s You Tube official page.
8th single : “State Of The World” Released on February 6, 1991 (only in Canada and Australia)
Peak on Hot 100 Billboard : ineligible to chart
No music video
Promotion (TV performances/Award Shows/magazine covers etc.)
April 26, 1989 : Janet and Rene Elizondo attend the Fourth Annual ASCAP Film & Television Music Awards at Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.
September 19, 1989 : The album “Rhythm Nation 1814” is released by A&M Records.
The “Rhythm Nation 1814” short film is world premiered on MTV.
Janet gives a press conference to announce the album & the short film.
Late October 1989: Janet is on the cover of Jet magazine.
November 1989 : Janet, Rene & the Kids (the dancers) go on a promotional tour in Europe.
-London (England) : They perform “Rhythm Nation” and “Miss You Much” on Top Of The Pops (aired on November 9) and Miss You Much & Rhythm Nation on TV PLUS, The Royal Variety Performance (aired on November 20) & Big England Cafe (aired on November 19).
-Paris (France) : They perform “Miss You Much” at Studios des Buttes-Chaumont on Sacrée Soirée TV show on TF1 (aired on November 22).
-Berlin (Germany) : They perform “Miss You Much” on ZDF and “Rhythm Nation” on TV Puls (aired on November 16).
-Madrid (Spain) : They perform “Miss You Much” & “Rhythm Nation” at TVE Studios and “Rhythm Nation” at Rockopop.
-Westfalenhalle, Dortmund (Germany) : They perform “Miss You Much” & “Rhythm Nation” at Peter’s Pop Show (aired on November 17).
-Merksem, Antwerp (Belgium) : They perform “Miss You Much” & “Rhythm Nation” at the Diamond Awards (aired on November 17).
January 1990 : While rehearsing for her first tour in a studio of Los Angeles , Janet gets a surprise visit from comedian Arsenio Hall who is recording his TV Show in another studio and she accepts to do the Miss You Much chair routine for his audience!
January 22, 1990 : Janet attends the American Music Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles where she performs “Escapade” and wins 2 awards.
March 1990: Janet is on the cover of Rolling Stone, Ebony , Jet & Essence magazines.
Janet meets President George Bush.
April 20, 1990 : Janet attends the unveiling of her Star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame with Rene, Katherine, Joe & Rebbie among others.
September 6, 1990 : Janet attends the MTV Video Music Awards 1990 at the Universal Amphitheatre, Universal City, CA where she is presented the Video Vanguard Award for her contributions and influence within music and popular culture. She also performs “Black Cat”.
November 26, 1990 : Janet attends the Billboard Awards ceremony at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California. She wins an unprecedented 9 awards!
December 9 , 1990: Janet attends the NAACP Image Awards where she wins an award and presents one to Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis.
January 1991 : Janet is on the cover of Jet Magazine.
March 16, 1991 : Janet is presented with the Humanitarian Of The Year Award by the Starlight Foundation at the 20/20 Club in Beverly Hills, California.
January 11, 1992 : Janet is presented with the Chairman’s Award at 24th Annual NAACP Image Awards at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles.
March 10, 1992 : Janet is presented with the Sammy Davis Jr Heritage Award during the Sixth Annual Soul Train Music Awards at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.
March 28, 1992 : Janet & Rene attend the Seventh Annual IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards at Raleigh Studios in Hollywood.
Concerts
Jackson Dynasty 