The Best Things in Life Are Free

"The Best Things in Life Are Free" is a song by Luther Vandross and Janet Jackson.

Song information

Released in 1992, the song was originally recorded for the Mo' Money soundtrack. It was nominated for a Grammy Award for "Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals".

It was the first all-new song Jackson recorded at the new location of Flyte Tyme Studios in Edina, MN, which was completed 2 months after wrapping up recording on her fourth studio album Rhythm Nation 1814 in May 1989 at the original Minneapolis studio.^[2] She had done re-recordings and remixes there from 1989 to 1991.

For the first time, Jackson included the song on her current 2011 tour, Number Ones: Up Close and Personal.

Chart performance

"The Best Things in Life Are Free" went to number one on the R&B singles chart ^[3] and debuted at number 24 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 the week of May 30, 1992. Three weeks later, the song peaked at number 10 for three consecutive weeks. The single was a staple on pop and R&B radio during the summer of 1992, spending 18 weeks in the Top 40, through September 26, 1992.

In the United Kingdom the song was released in August 1992 and peaked at #2 in the UK Singles Chart, spending 13 weeks in the chart. It became her first top ten hit in the UK since "Let's Wait Awhile" reached #3 in 1987. The song was remixed in 1995 and re-released, reaching #7. It was the remixed version that was included on international releases of Janet's compilation album Design of a Decade 1986/1996.

It spent 5 consecutive weeks at #2 on the Australian Singles Chart, spending 18 weeks on the chart.

Music video

The video features cameos by Damon and Marlon Wayans and Stacey Dash, but neither Vandross nor Jackson appear in the video. A rap from Bell Biv Devoe and a spoken part by Ralph Tresvant are also in the song. It has never been commercially released.

Cover versions

A cover by British glamour model Katie Price and her now estranged husband, pop singer Peter Andre, was included on their 2006 album A Whole New World.

Track listings and formats

1992 original release

UK 7" single (PERSS 7400)

1. C.J.'s U.K. 7" w/Rap – 5:32
2. Classic 7" w/Rap – 4:22

EU 7" single (390 875-7)

1. LP version – 4:36
2. Snippets: "Money Can't Buy You Love"*
   "Let's Just Run Away"*
   "Let's Get Together (So Groovy Now)*

*Track not performed by Jackson or Vandross

US 7" single (28968 0010 7)

1. LP version – 4:36
2. Edit (no rap) – 4:27

EU maxi-CD single (390 875-2)^[4]

Australian CD Single (587 401-2)^[5]

1. LP version – 4:36
2. Instrumental – 4:28
3. Snippets: "Money Can't Buy You Love"*
   "Let's Just Run Away"*
   "Let's Get Together (So Groovy Now)*

*Track not performed by Jackson or Vandross

EU CD single (587 409-2)^[6]

1. Classic 7" w/Rap – 4:22
2. C.J.'s U.K. 12" w/Rap – 9:58
3. Classic 12" w/Rap – 5:53

UK 12" vinyl (PERT 7400)^[7]

1. LP version – 4:36
2. C.J.'s U.K. 12" w/Rap – 9:58
3. C.J.'s Macapella – 6:21
4. Classic 12" w/Rap – 9:58
5. Def Version – 8:41
6. CJ's UK Dub 1 – 6:46

UK maxi-CD single (PERD 7400, 587 400-2)^[8]

1. C.J.'s U.K. 7" w/Rap – 5:32
2. C.J.'s U.K. 12" w/Rap – 7:12
3. Classic 7" w/Rap – 4:22
4. Classic 12" w/Rap – 5:53
5. Def Version – 8:41
6. CJ's UK Dub 1 – 6:46

US 12" vinyl (31458 7406 1)^[9]

1. Classic 12" w/Rap – 5:53
2. Def Version – 8:41
3. LP version – 4:36
4. C.J.'s U.K. 12" w/Rap – 9:58
5. C.J.'s FXTC Dub – 6:51
6. C.J.'s Vinyl Zone Dub – 6:49

US CD single (31458 7406-2)^[10]

1. Classic 12" w/Rap – 5:53
2. C.J.'s U.K. 12" w/Rap – 9:58
3. Def Version – 8:41
4. C.J.'s FXTC Dub – 6:51
5. C.J.'s Vinyl Zone Dub – 6:49
6. LP version – 4:36

US 2 x 12" promo vinyl (31458 8003 1)^[11]

1. Classic 12" w/Rap – 5:54
2. Classic 12" w/o Rap – 5:42
3. Def Version – 8:41
4. Dub Mix – 4:27
5. C.J.'s U.K. 12" w/Rap – 10:01
6. C.J.'s U.K. 12" w/o Rap – 9:57
7. C.J.'s FXTC Dub – 6:51
8. C.J.'s Vinyl Zone Dub – 6:49

US promo CD single (31458 8003 2)^[12]

1. Classic 7" w/Rap – 4:22
2. Classic 7" w/o Rap – 4:03
3. C.J.'s U.K. 7" w/Rap – 4:18
4. C.J.'s U.K. 7" w/o Rap – 4:17
5. Classic 12" w/Rap – 5:53
6. Classic 12" w/o Rap – 5:42
7. C.J.'s U.K. 12" w/Rap – 9:58
8. C.J.'s U.K. 12" w/o Rap – 9:55
9. Def Version – 8:41

1995 remix re-release

UK 2 x 12" promo vinyl (AMPMDJ 028)^[13]

1. S-Man's Salsoul Vibe – 11:40
2. Roger's Nasty Dub – 8:20
3. S-Man's Ill Dub – 6:50
4. S-Man's Deep Dub Remix – 7:10
5. Bonus Beats – 4:00

UK 2 x 12" vinyl (581 445-1) (Limited Edition)^[14]

1. S-Man's Salsoul Vibe Remix – 7:00 (Mislabeled: S-Man's Salsoul Vibe – 11:40)
2. S-Man's Deep Dub Remix – 7:10
3. Roger's Nasty Remix – 7:20 (Mislabeled: Roger's Nasty Dub – 8:20)
4. Bonus Beats – 4:00
5. MK Remix – 7:25
6. S-Man's Ill Dub – 6:50
7. K-Klass 12" Remix – 9:27 (Mislabeled: K Klass 12" Mix – 8:54)
8. CJ's Dub Remix – 6:10 (Mislabeled: C.J.'s U.K. 12" w/o Rap – 9:55)

UK CD single (581 497-2)^[15]

1. K-Klass 7" edit – 4:22
2. S-Man's Salsoul Vibe – 11:40
3. K-Klass 12" Mix – 8:54

UK maxi-CD single (581 311-2)^[16]

1. K-Klass 7" – 4:22
2. K-Klass 12" – 8:54
3. MK 12" – 7:25
4. The S-Man Salsoul Vibe – 11:40
5. CJ Mackintosh Original Remix – 7:13

UK maxi-CD single (581 697-2) (Limited Edition)^[17]

1. S-Man's Salsoul Vibe – 11:40
2. K-Klass 12" – 8:54
3. Roger's Nasty Dub – 8:20
4. Roger's Ill Dub – 7:44
5. Roger's Deep Dub – 7:32
6. CJ Mackintosh Original Remix – 9:55

Official remixes

Charts

See also

• List of number-one R&B singles of 1992 (U.S.)

References