The Velvet Rope era : 1997-1999

Released : October 7, 1997
Recorded : January–July 1997
Studios :
Flyte Tyme (Edina, Minnesota)
The Hit Factory (New York City)
Record Plant (Los Angeles)
Length : 75:32
Label : Virgin Records
Producers : Janet Jackson, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis

Track listing

“Interlude – Twisted Elegance”
“Velvet Rope” (featuring Vanessa-Mae)
“You”
“Got ’til It’s Gone” (featuring Q-Tip and Joni Mitchell)
“Interlude – Speaker Phone”
“My Need”
“Interlude – Fasten Your Seatbelts”
“Go Deep”
“Free Xone”
“Interlude – Memory”
“Together Again”
“Interlude – Online”
“Empty”
“Interlude – Full”
“What About”
“Every Time”
“Tonight’s the Night”
“I Get Lonely”
“Rope Burn”
Anything
“Interlude – Sad”
“Special” (Hidden track “Can’t Be Stopped” starts at 3:42)

Singles from The Velvet Rope

“Got ’til It’s Gone” Released: September 22, 1997
“Together Again” Released: December 1, 1997
“I Get Lonely” Released: February 24, 1998
“Go Deep” Released: June 15, 1998
“You” Released: September 3, 1998
“Every Time” Released: November 3, 1998

Rare and unreleased songs from this era

Accept Me

Ask For More

Personnel

Musicians

David Barry – guitar
Lee Blaske – string arrangements
Jan Chong – violin
Carolyn Daws – violin
Hanley Daws – violin
Glen Donnellen – viola
Lynne Erickson – trumpet
Charles Gray – viola
Alyssa Hanson – vocals
Rayvaline Harrell – choir director
Shawnette Heard – vocals
Camilla Heller – cello
Joshua Koestenbaum – cello
Kelly Konno – vocals
Tina Landon – vocals
Brenda Mickens – violin
Joni Mitchell – performer
Debbie Morrison – vocals
Dale Newton – cello
Willie R. Norwood – choir director
Alice Preves – viola
Prof. T. – vocals
Q-Tip – rap, performer
Myrna Rain – viola
Nicholas Raths – guitar
Gary Raynor – bass
Alexander Richbourg – vocals, drum programming, rhythm arrangements
Miko Salone – vocals
Mike Scott – guitar
Leslie Shank – violin
Daryl Skobba – cello
Liz Sobieski – violin
Mike Sobieski – violin
Daria Tedeschi – violin
United Children’s Choir – choir, chorus
Vanessa-Mae – violin, performer
James “Big Jim” Wright – organ, keyboards, vocals, rhythm arrangements

Production

Flavia Cureteu – design
Steve Durkee – assistant engineer
René Elizondo Jr. – executive producer
Brian Gardner – mastering
Steve Gerdes – design
Steve Hodge – engineer, mixing
Ken Holmen – clarinet, flute, saxophone
Janet Jackson – vocals, background vocals, producer, executive producer, vocal arrangement, rhythm arrangements
Jimmy Jam – producer, vocal arrangement, rhythm arrangements
Tim Lauber – engineer, assistant engineer
Terry Lewis – producer, vocal arrangement, rhythm arrangements
Michael McCoy – assistant engineer
Mike Ozdozzi – mastering assistant
Len Peltier – art direction
Xavier Smith – assistant engineer
Mario Testino – photography
Ellen von Unwerth – photography
Bradley Yost – assistant engineer