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The Velvet Rope

The Velvet Rope is the sixth studio album by American singer Janet Jackson. The album was released on October 7, 1997 through Virgin Records. It was the last album that Jackson would use her full name on the title. The Velvet Rope was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[1][2]

The Velvet Rope
Studio album by
Janet Jackson
ReleasedOctober 7, 1997
RecordedJanuary – July 1997
Genre
Length
  • 75:23
LabelVirgin
Producer
Janet Jackson chronology
Design of a Decade: 1986–1996
(1995) 		The Velvet Rope
(1997) 		All for You
(2001)
Singles from The Velvet Rope
  1. "Got 'til It's Gone"
    Released: September 22, 1997
  2. "Together Again/ Free Xone"
    Released: December 2, 1997
  3. "I Get Lonely"
    Released: February 26, 1998
  4. "Go Deep"
    Released: June 15, 1998
  5. "You"
    Released: September 3, 1998
  6. "Every Time"
    Released: November 17, 1998

Reviews

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic2.5/5 stars[3]
Robert ChristgauA–[4]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music3/5 stars[5]
Entertainment WeeklyA[6]
Los Angeles Times4/4 stars[7]
Rolling Stone3.5/5 stars[8]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide4/5 stars[9]
Slant Magazine4.5/5 stars[10]
USA Today4/4 stars[11]

The Velvet Rope received mixed to positive reviews.

Track listing

No. TitleWriter(s)Producer(s) Length
1. "Interlude: Twisted Elegance"     0:41
2. "Velvet Rope" (featuring Vanessa-Mae)
 4:55
3. "You"  
  • Janet Jackson
  • Jam & Lewis
 4:42
4. "Got 'til It's Gone" (featuring Joni Mitchell and Q-Tip)
  • Janet Jackson
  • Jam & Lewis
 4:01
5. "Interlude: Speaker Phone"     0:54
6. "My Need"  
  • Janet Jackson
  • Jam & Lewis
 3:44
7. "Interlude: Fasten Your Seatbelts"     0:19
8. "Go Deep"  
  • Jackson
  • Harris
  • Lewis
  • Elizondo
  • Janet Jackson
  • Jam & Lewis
 4:42
9. "Free Xone"  
  • Jackson
  • Harris
  • Lewis
  • Elizondo
  • James Brown
  • Billy Buttier
  • Archie Bell
  • Michael Hepburn
  • Janet Jackson
  • Jam & Lewis
 4:57
10. "Interlude: Memory"     0:04
11. "Together Again"  
  • Jackson
  • Harris
  • Lewis
  • Elizondo
  • Janet Jackson
  • Jam & Lewis
 5:01
12. "Interlude: Online"     0:19
13. "Empty"  
  • Jackson
  • Harris
  • Lewis
  • Elizondo
  • Janet Jackson
  • Jam & Lewis
 4:32
14. "Interlude: Full"   
  • Janet Jackson
  • Jam & Lewis
 0:12
15. "What About"  
  • Jackson
  • Harris
  • Lewis
  • Elizondo
  4:24
16. "Every Time"  
  • Jackson
  • Harris
  • Lewis
  • Elizondo
  • Janet Jackson
  • Jam & Lewis
 4:17
17. "Tonight's the Night"  
  • Janet Jackson
  • Jam & Lewis
 5:07
18. "I Get Lonely"  
  • Jackson
  • Harris
  • Lewis
  • Elizondo
  • Janet Jackson
  • Jam & Lewis
 5:17
19. "Rope Burn"  
  • Jackson
  • Harris
  • Lewis
  • Elizondo
  • Janet Jackson
  • Jam & Lewis
 4:15
20. "Anything"  
  • Jackson
  • Harris
  • Lewis
  • Elizondo
  • Janet Jackson
  • Jam & Lewis
 4:54
21. "Interlude: Sad"     0:10
22. "Special" (Hidden track "Can't Be Stopped" starts at 3:42)
  • Jackson
  • Harris
  • Lewis
  • Elizondo
  • Janet Jackson
  • Jam & Lewis
 7:55
Samples

Personnel

Credits adapted from AllMusic.[12]

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
  • Rene 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

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1997–98) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[13] 4
Austrian Albums (IFPI)[13] 9
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[13] 11
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[13] 14
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[14] 2
Danish Albums (Tracklisten)[15] 1
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[13] 3
European Albums (European Top 100)[16] 4
Finland Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[13] 19
French Albums (SNEP)[13] 5
German Albums (Official Top 100)[17] 5
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[18] 40
Italian Albums (FIMI) 11
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[19] 10
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[13] 8
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[13] 4
South African Albums Chart[20] 1
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[21] 10
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[13] 4
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[13] 5
United Kingdom Albums (OCC)[22] 6
US Billboard 200[14] 1
US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums[14] 2
US Billboard Catalog Albums[14] 30

Year-end charts

Chart (1997) Position
Australian Albums Chart[23] 42
Belgian Albums Chart (Wallonia)[24] 85
US Billboard 200 (SoundScan)[25] 115
Chart (1998) Position
Australian Albums Chart[26] 82
Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders)[27] 43
Belgian Albums Chart (Wallonia)[28] 39
Canadian Albums Chart[29] 34
Dutch Albums Chart[30] 20
French Albums Chart[31] 17
Italian Albums Chart[32] 42
Swiss Albums Chart[33] 43
US Billboard 200[34] 27

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Australia (ARIA)[35] 2× Platinum 140,000^
Belgium (BEA)[36] Gold Expression error: Missing operand for *.*
Canada (Music Canada)[37] 3× Platinum 300,000^
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[38] Gold Expression error: Missing operand for *.^
France (SNEP)[39] Platinum 300,000*
Germany (BVMI)[40] Gold 250,000^
Italy (FIMI)[41] Platinum 100,000*
Japan (RIAJ)[42] Platinum 200,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[43] Platinum 100,000^
New Zealand (RIANZ)[44] Platinum 15,000^
Norway (IFPI Norway)[45] Platinum 50,000*
Sweden (GLF)[46] Gold 40,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[47] Platinum 50,000^
Taiwan (RIT)[25] Gold 25,000 
United Kingdom (BPI)[48] Platinum 300,000^
United States (RIAA)[49] 3× Platinum 3,000,000^
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[50] Platinum 1,000,000*

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

The Velvet Rope Media

References

  1. ↑ Lathwell, David. Janet Jackson at her best - Queer Sighted. queersighted.com.
  2. ↑ The Velvet Rope CertificationRIAA. Retrieved 2017-08-31.
  3. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. The Velvet Rope - Janet JacksonAllMusic.
  4. ↑ Christgau, Robert (1997). Consumer Guide. New York. http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv1097-97.php. 
  5. ↑ Larkin, Colin. The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (2011)Omnibus Press. p. 303. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.
  6. ↑ Considine, J. D. (October 10, 1997). Music Review: 'The Velvet Rope' (1997). http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,289747,00.html. Retrieved September 21, 2015. 
  7. ↑ Gardner, Elysa (October 5, 1997). These Days, Janet's the Thriller : JANET JACKSON, "The Velvet Rope" Virgin. http://articles.latimes.com/1997/oct/05/entertainment/ca-39368. 
  8. ↑ Hardy, Ernest (October 30, 1997). The Velvet Rope. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/the-velvet-rope-19971030. Retrieved August 31, 2017. 
  9. ↑ Brackett, Nathan. The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (2004)Simon and Schuster. p. 411. ISBN 978-0-7432-0169-8.
  10. ↑ Cinquemani, Sal. Post-Katrina Music…and an American Idol Dropout - The House Next Door. Slant Magazine (November 11, 2006).
  11. ↑ McLean, Va (October 7, 1997). Raising the bar -- and soaring. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/doc/408753033.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct%207,%201997&author=Steve%20Jones&pub=USA%20TODAY&edition=&startpage=&desc=Raising%20the%20bar%20--%20and%20soaring. Retrieved September 21, 2015. 
  12. ↑ Credits: The Velvet Rope. AllMusic. Retrieved November 21, 2010.
  13. ↑ 13.00 13.01 13.02 13.03 13.04 13.05 13.06 13.07 13.08 13.09 13.10 Hung Medien. Janet Jackson – The Velvet Rope – World Charts. Ultratop 50.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 Illegal name entered janet/Template:BillboardEncode/J/chart "The Velvet Rope - Janet Jackson". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc). http://www.billboard.com/artist/Illegal name entered janet/Template:BillboardEncode/J/chart. 
  15. ↑ "Hits of the World". Billboard. February 7, 1998. https://books.google.com/books?id=fQ0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA59. 
  16. ↑ "Hits of the World". Billboard 109 (44). November 1, 1997. ISSN 0006-2510 . https://books.google.com/books?id=7QkEAAAAMBAJ&q=The+Velvet+Rope. 
  17. ↑ Janet Jackson - The Velvet Ropemusicline.de. Retrieved 2015-09-21.
  18. ↑ Archívum - Slágerlisták - MAHASZ - Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége (in hu)mahasz.hu.
  19. ↑ "Hits of the World". Billboard. November 1997. https://books.google.com/books?id=7wkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA60. 
  20. ↑ Craving Janet. Craving Janet - Chart History - The Velvet Rope (1997).
  21. ↑ "Hits of the World". Billboard. March 14, 1998. https://books.google.com/books?id=6w4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA68. 
  22. ↑ JANET JACKSONThe Official Charts Company.
  23. ↑ ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 100 Albums 1997Australian Recording Industry Association.
  24. ↑ Rapports annuels 1997 (in fr)Ultratop. Hung Medien.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Billboard (December 27, 1997 – January 3, 1998). Retrieved July 6, 2010.
  26. ↑ ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 100 Albums 1998Australian Recording Industry Association.
  27. ↑ Jaaroverzichten 1998 (in nl)Ultratop. Hung Medien.
  28. ↑ Rapports annuels 1998 (in fr)Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  29. ↑ RPM Year-End 1998. RPM.
  30. ↑ Jaaroverzichten - Album 1998 (in nl)Dutch Top 40. Hung Medien.
  31. ↑ Classements Albums - année 1998 (in fr). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.[dead link]
  32. ↑ Hit Parade Italia - ALBUM 1998hitparadeitalia.it.
  33. ↑ Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1998 (in de)Swiss Music Charts. Hung Medien.
  34. ↑ Nielsen Business Media, Inc (December 26, 1998). "1998 The Year in Music". Billboard 110 (52). ISSN 0006-2510 . https://books.google.com/books?id=Mw0EAAAAMBAJ&q=Butterfly. 
  35. ↑ ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1998 AlbumsAustralian Recording Industry Association.
  36. ↑ Ultratop − Goud en Platina – 1998Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch.
  37. ↑ Canadian album certifications – Janet Jackson – The Velvet RopeMusic Canada.
  38. ↑ "Billboard Magazine Nov 1, 1997". Billboard (Google Translate). December 27, 1997. https://books.google.com/books?id=0g0EAAAAMBAJ&dq=Billboard+Nov+1,+1997+Janet+Jackson+The+Velvet+Rope&pg=PA12. 
  39. ↑ French album certifications – Janet Jackson – The Velvet Rope (in French)Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
  40. ↑ Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Janet Jackson; 'The Velvet Rope') (in German)Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  41. ↑ Italian album certifications – Janet Jackson – The Velvet Rope (in Italian)Federation of the Italian Music Industry.
  42. ↑ Japanese album certifications – Janet Jackson – The Velvet Rope (in Japanese)Recording Industry Association of Japan.
  43. ↑ Dutch album certifications – Janet Jackson – The Velvet Rope (in Dutch)Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers.
  44. ↑ Scapolo, Dean. The Complete New Zealand Music Charts 1966–2006 (2007). ISBN 978-1-877443-00-8.
  45. ↑ Norwegian album certifications – Janet Jackson – The Velvet Rope (in Norwegian)IFPI Norway.
  46. ↑ Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998 (in Swedish)IFPI Sweden.
  47. ↑ Awards 1998IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
  48. ↑ British album certifications – Janet Jackson – The Velvet RopeBritish Phonographic Industry. Enter The Velvet Rope in the field Search. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Click Go
  49. ↑ American album certifications – Janet Jackson – The Velvet RopeRecording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
  50. ↑ IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 1998International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.
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