The Velvet Rope

For the That '70s Show episode, see The Velvet Rope (That '70s Show episode).
The Velvet Rope
Studio album by Janet Jackson
Released October 7, 1997
Recorded January–July 1997
Flyte Tyme Studios
(Edina, Minnesota)
Genre Pop,[1] R&B[2]
Length 75:23 (Standard edition)
78:50 (Bonus track edition)
Label Virgin
Producer Janet Jackson, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, René Elizondo, Jr.
Janet Jackson chronology
Janet
(1993)		 The Velvet Rope
(1997)		 All for You
(2001)
Alternative cover
Australian tour edition cover
Singles from The Velvet Rope
  1. "Got 'til It's Gone"
    Released: September 22, 1997
  2. "Together Again"
    Released: December 2, 1997
  3. "I Get Lonely"
    Released: May 8, 1998
  4. "Go Deep"
    Released: June 15, 1998
  5. "You"
    Released: September 3, 1998
  6. "Every Time"
    Released: November 16, 1998

The Velvet Rope is the sixth studio album by American recording artist Janet Jackson, released October 7, 1997 by Virgin Records. Prior to its debut, Jackson had been at the center of a second high-profile bidding war over her recording contract. Following the release of her first greatest hits compilation Design of a Decade 1986/1996 in 1995, her contract with Virgin allotted her the option to leave the label. The Walt Disney Company attempted to sign her jointly with PolyGram, while Virgin sought to renegotiate her contract in order to retain her. Virgin was able to succeed in their negotiations, with Jackson receiving a historic $80 million dollar contract, making her the world's highest paid musical act for the second time in her career.

Struggling with a long-term case of depression, she developed the record as a concept album, with introspection as its theme. Its title, The Velvet Rope, is an allusion to an individual's need to feel special, as well as a metaphor for emotional boundaries. Lyrically, she offers her audience the opportunity to cross her own velvet rope, exploring her feelings of despondency through the course of the album. Although she introduced sexuality into her music with her 1993 studio album Janet, The Velvet Rope takes the concept a step further, encompassing sadomasochism and same-sex relationships, as well as addressing social issues such as homophobia and domestic violence. Musically, the album is minor example of trip hop, blending hip hop and electronic music, with the artist's conventional use of contemporary R&B and rap. Jackson's compositions were a result of her collaborations with her record producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and her then-husband René Elizondo, Jr.; she authored all lyrics with Elizondo, Jr., and co-wrote all vocal and rhythmic arrangements with Jam and Lewis, receiving additional contributions from several other songwriters. Jackson and Elizondo, Jr. served as executive producers. Other artists who contributed to the project include British violinist Vanessa-Mae, rapper Q-Tip, and Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, who personally gave Jackson permission to sample her 1970 single "Big Yellow Taxi". Referred to as a masterpiece, The Velvet Rope has been the subject of critical acclaim. It is listed by Rolling Stone magazine as one of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

The Velvet Rope debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, becoming the Jackson's fourth consecutive album to top the chart. It also peaked within the top five positions of the majority of the charts it entered, including the UK, Australia, and Canada. Although considered to be a commercial disappointment in comparison to the Janet record, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified The Velvet Rope triple platinum, with worldwide sales exceeding ten million copies. Releasing six singles released from the album, "Together Again" became Jackson's most successful, selling an estimated six million copies and becoming one of the best-selling singles worldwide. It topped the Billboard Hot 100, and peaked within the top five of the majority of the singles charts around the globe. Additionally, "I Get Lonely" became her eighteenth consecutive top ten hit on the Hot 100, setting a record for her as the only female artist to achieve that feat, surpassed only by Elvis Presley and The Beatles. She received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for "I Get Lonely" and won the Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video for "Got 'til It's Gone". To further promote the album, Jackson embarked on The Velvet Rope World Tour, receiving praise for her theatricality and vocal performance.

Contents

Conception

Background

From December, 1995, to January, 1996, Jackson was the subject of a second bidding war over her recording contract. Chuck Philips of the Los Angeles Times wrote: "The 29-year-old entertainer has been the target of a ferocious industry bidding war since her Virgin contract expired last year. Jackson is so hot that sources said Walt Disney Co. President Michael Ovitz met with Jackson's representatives three weeks ago, hoping to woo her with a huge offer that included film opportunities."[3] Disney's offer was in a joint venture with PolyGram. Alice Rawsthorn reported: "Disney Chairman Michael Eisner was anxious to sign Jackson in the hope that a high-profile star would raise Disney's stature in the music market and attract other acts. Under the terms of Disney's agreement with PolyGram, Jackson would have split her recording contract between the two groups. She would have signed to Disney in North America and to A&M, the PolyGram subsidiary that was her original record label, for the rest of the world."[4] She instead renewed her recording contract with Virgin Records for a then-unparalleled $80 million dollars.[5] The four-album record deal marked the second time Jackson had broken the industry's record for an unmatched recording contract; the first in 1991 when she signed her original contract with the label for an estimated $32–50 million.[5] Jackson's renewed deal with Virgin surpassed the recording industry's unprecedented $60 million dollar recording contracts earned by her brother, Michael Jackson, and Madonna.[6][7] Ian Katz of The Guardian remarked that she had "signed the most lucrative recording contract in history, unceremoniously displacing her troubled sibling as the self-styled monarch of pop."[8]

During the two year period between the end of the Janet. World Tour in 1995 and the release of Jackson's sixth studio album The Velvet Rope in 1997, the entertainer had been battling a long-term case of depression.[9] Jackson revealed in an interview with Oprah Winfrey "[t]here were times when I cried all day".[9] Writing for the album began in August 1996 and continued into 1997. Janet returned to the studio in January 1997 to begin recording the album over a six month period. Recording finished in July and the album was mixed and mastered into September 1997.

Concept

This album is called 'The Velvet Rope' because it's about the need to feel special... Which I feel we all have. One example is when you go to the nightclubs. There's the people that have to wait behind the velvet rope vs. those that can just walk right in. They're 'special.' Then once the people are in, there's still this feeling that some of those 'special' people have, that they want to be separated from the rest. So there's another velvet rope, which leads to the VIP section. This need to feel special can bring out a positive side or a negative side.

Janet Jackson, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, 1997[10]

The concept behind the album's title The Velvet Rope is both a literal depiction of the velvet ropes commonly used to separate crowds of fans, spectators, and media personnel from celebrities, and according to Jackson, the metaphorical velvet rope within every human being which keeps their true feelings separated from those around them.[11] As a wholem the album is an introspective look into Jackson's bout with depression. Michael Saunders of The Boston Globe described the album as a "critical self-examination and an audio journal of a woman's road to self-discovery".[12] Though Jackson expressed she always used her personal life as a source of inspiration for her music, she professed The Velvet Rope was her most accomplished album to date.[12] Amidst the album's socially and morally conscientious songs, such as "Together Again", which is an homage to those Jackson has lost to AIDS, "What About", a song about domestic abuse and "Free Xone", which speaks out against homophobia, the album represents Jackson's two-year period of soul-searching.[12]

I've always been able to push the pain aside, whether it was from my childhood, because being in the business, they always tell you it's not professional...It got worse when I said I'm going to take this on. And it got worse still. It took six months to record this album, but I feel it has taken 31 years. There were times I had to walk away from the microphone and come back a few days later when I could tackle it...Just because you have money doesn't mean you're happy. It doesn't mean that all your problems go away. Just because someone thinks that you're beautiful, it doesn't mean that you feel that way. Or that growing up in such a huge family, and seeing them having such great success, that you might feel worthless.[12]
—Janet Jackson, The Boston Globe

Music

"Together Again" is an homage to loved ones Jackson has lost to AIDS as well as AIDS victims and their families worldwide. Jackson was reportedly inspired to write the song from her own personal experience, as well as a piece of fan-mail she received from a young boy in England who had lost his father.[13] According to Jimmy Jam, "it had a deep meaning for her because it was about a friend she lost to AIDS, but as with all her songs, she tries to make them apply in a general sense to anybody. The idea was to make it a joyous song musically".[14] The arrangement of the song was constructed in 30 minutes by Jam, Lewis and Jackson while in the recording studio.[14] Once the melody was in place, Jackson finished writing the lyrics to the song.[14] Jam and Lewis produced two versions of the song; the original dance version, the "Deep Remix" which is a R&B hip hop version and the "Deeper Remix" which is a R&B/soul re-make. The dance version was inspired by Donna Summer's "Last Dance".[14] Despite very sexual and explicit lyrics on a majority of the album's tracks, the album was never issued with a Parental Advisory warning. On iTunes, the album is tagged as Explicit and has a parental advisory warning, however, no clean version is offered.

Release and promotion

Singles

"Got 'til It's Gone" was released as an international single and received radio airplay in the United States, but was not released as a commercial single within the country. The single peaked at number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay and at number 3 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay.[15][16]

"Together Again" peaked at number one of the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and at number eight on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks.[17] The single entered the Hot 100 on December 20, 1997, peaking at number one on January 31, 1998 and topped the chart for two weeks.[13] "Together Again" spent a record 46 weeks on the Hot 100 singles chart.[13] On January 9, 1998, "Together Again" received gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America.[18]

"Go Deep", like "Got 'til It's Gone" was released as an international single but was not commercially available in the United States. The song received radio airplay and peaked at number 28 on the Hot 100 Airplay and number 11 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay.[19][20]

"I Get Lonely" peaked at number three on the Hot 100 singles chart and at number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks.[17] On June 30, 1998, the single was certified gold by the RIAA.[21]

"You" was released as the album's fifth single in September 1998. Although the single received a promo release in the United Kingdom, it was ineligible to chart.

The ballad "Every Time" was released as the album's sixth and final single in late 1998. The song was relatively a commercial failure in many countries. It failed to enter the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S.

The Velvet Rope Tour

Main article: The Velvet Rope Tour

D'Shawn Tyree Elliott of The Independent described Jackson's concert at the Scottish Exhibition & Conference Centre in Glasgow June 3, 1998 as "enormous theatrical extravaganza".[22] As with all of her live performances, Jackson was accompanied by a dance troupe, elaborate costumes, pyrotechnics and mobile video screens.[22]

Janet's concerts are the pop equivalent of a summer blockbuster movie, with all the explosions, special effects, ersatz sentimentality, gratuitous cleavage and emphasis on spectacle over coherence that the term implies. You want thrills and chills? Howabout that creepy routine that went with "You", in which the dancers wore masks on the front and back of their heads? You want titillation? On "Ropeburn", Janet made one fan's fondest dream and worst nightmare come true at the same time. He was plucked from the audience and strapped to a chair so that a semi-clad, pole-dancing Janet could give him a close-up of her Wonderbra. The nightmare? The entire audience was given a close-up of his anguished, ecstatic face on the screens.[22]
—Nicholas Barber, The Independent

Jackson chose "Together Again" for the finale of her tour's concert line up because of the energy it generated with the audience.[14] Jam stated, "[o]pening night... when she hit the very first notes, the whole crowd started singing and practically drowned her out... Everyone can relate to someone in their life passing away or feeling like they want to be together again with somebody."[14]

Reception

Commercial

The Velvet Rope debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, and at number two on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, selling 202,000 copies in its first week.[23][24] In its second week, U.S. sales fell by 39%, and the album fell to number 2, being replaced by LeAnn Rimes' You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs.[25][26] In its third week of release, the album fell to number 5,[27] and in its fourth week of release, the album fell to number 11.[28] Outside of the United States, the album charted within the top five of many countries, including Australia,[29] Canada,[30] France,[29] Germany,[31] Norway,[29] Sweden,[29] and The United Kingdom.[32] In Japan The Velvet Rope debuted at the number ten with 34,910 copies sold at the first week.[33]

Despite the album's strong debut and critical acclaim, it was Jackson's weakest commercial effort since 1984's Dream Street. The album sold two million copies within its 47 weeks of its chart-life, while Jackson's previous album, janet., had excess sales of ten million copies worldwide.[34] The album was first certified gold by the RIAA on November 11, 1997 denoting 500,000 units shipped within the United States.[35] The same day, the album's certification was raised to platinum, denoting 1,000,000 units shipped.[35] The following year on March 26, 1998, the album was certified double platinum and later triple platinum on January 15, 1999.[35] In Australia, the album was first certified Platinum by the ARIA in 1997[36] and later 2x Platinum in 1998,[37] thus becoming her best seller in that country. In Norway, the IFPI certified it Platinum, becoming her highest certified album in that country.[38]

As of March 2009, The Velvet Rope has sold 3,229,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.[39] Worldwide, it has sold over 10 million copies.[40][41]

Critical

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [2]
Entertainment Weekly (A)[1]
Los Angeles Times [42]
The New York Times (positive)[43]
Robert Christgau (A-)[44]
Rolling Stone [45]
SF Weekly (favorable)[46]
Slant Magazine [47]
USA Today [48]
Yahoo Music! Canada (favorable) [49]

The Velvet Rope received generally positive reviews from music critics with many music critics, calling it Jackson's masterpiece.[1][43][47] Eric Henderson with Slant Magazine was in high praise of the album, calling it Jacksons' best album, saying "If Janet Jackson made much ado of janet. being the Let's Get It On to Rhythm Nation's What's Going On, then 1997's The Velvet Rope is clearly her I Want You, respectively Jackson's and Gaye's best and least-heralded albums".[47] He called it "the most "adult" album of her career" and said "The Velvet Rope is a richly dark masterwork that illustrates that, amid the whips and chains, there is nothing sexier than emotional nakedness".[47] Rolling Stone gave the an album a 3½ stars out of five, saying mainly criticizing the interludes included, saying, "Janet Jackson talks too much. Seven of the 22 tracks on The Velvet Rope are so-called interludes -- spoken-word pieces meant to lend extra dramatic gravity to a record already heavy with moral instruction. It's as if Jackson doesn't trust the thrust of her music" but were favorable of the album overall saying "The Velvet Rope feels like a grand exercise in contrived honesty".[45] Los Angeles Times pop music critic Elysa Gardner commented, was in high praise of the album, referring it to its predecessor, Janet, saying "The Velvet Rope picks up where janet. left off, in both its themes and its textures; this new collection of songs and "interludes" addresses the social, emotional and sexual politics of relationships, peppering the wistful, spirited pop melodies and sinuous R&B rhythms that are fundamental elements of the Jackson-Jam-Lewis sound with compelling jazz, folk and techno nuances".[42] She commended Jackson's sound on the album, saying "Certainly, as a musician Jackson has never seemed more confident or ambitious than she does here, veering smoothly from the cool, breezy hip-hop of the single "Got 'til It's Gone", which cannily intertwines a Joni Mitchell sample and a seductive guest rap by Q-Tip, to the slamming funk of "Freexone" to the shimmering electronic pop of "Empty"; Typically, the singer isn't as cerebral or rhetorical in delivering her message as some other artists would be; but with hooks this strong and grooves this delicious, Jackson's authority should be of question to no one".[42]

J.D. Considine of Entertainment Weekly complimented Jackson's resolve to sing about sex as if "its a fact of life" and asserted "it's a mistake to judge this album on the basis of its lyric sheet".[1] He praised Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis for the quality of their production, which "clearly articulates the emotional core of Jackson's songs"[1] and ended his review saying "In the end, the most daring thing about The Velvet Rope isn't its sex talk but its honesty. Tempting as it may be to compare the album to similarly sultry stuff like Madonna's Erotica, it's much closer in spirit to the unabashed emotionalism of Joni Mitchell's Blue. That's because the most revealing moments here have to do with loneliness and vulnerability, not sexual preference."[1] J.R. Reynolds with Yahoo! Music commented on it by saying "This set ranks with the pop superstar's finest efforts, but it's a sleeper. Thoughtful and pertinent, the album's somewhat darkish tone makes the expressive songs slower to digest lyrically".[49] Robert Christgau gave it an "A-" rating saying "Why do I believe that this self-made object's mild kink and coyly matter-of-fact bisexuality are functions of flesh pure and simple? That for her sex really is about pleasure rather than power--or even, except as a side issue, love? Because her sex songs are flavorful where her love songs are all cliche, and because her much-berated fluting little-girl timbre whispers innocence even when she's loosening her new friend's pretty French gown. So in the absence of total personal fulfillment, here's hoping she retains her ability to feign delight, to fool herself as well as everyone else".[44]

Jon Pareles with The New York Times called it "her most daring, elaborate and accomplished album" saying "Ms. Jackson has clearly calculated the titillation factor, as Madonna once did. But her Madonna-like message, that self-realization means ending repression, seems heartfelt, underlined by insipid sound bites of psychobabble. More important, Ms. Jackson backs her prescription with ambitious music. Meticulous as the album is, Ms. Jackson clearly has no intention of playing it safe.[43] Stephen Thomas Erlewine, gave the release 2½ stars, and criticized the album for its "sexually explicit" material and its "offering tales of bondage, body piercing, and bisexuality."[2] He went on to say "Jackson's attempts to broaden her sexual horizons frequently sound forced, whether it's the references to piercing or her recasting of Rod Stewart's "Tonight's the Night" as a lesbian anthem. Furthermore, the album is simply too long, which means the best moments sink into the murk".[2] Martin Johnson with SF Weekly called it a "refreshingly free of psychobabble; The Velvet Rope, is about the inner resources that maintain a healthy level of self-esteem and the risks that such self-confidence can embolden you to take; Instead of gunning for a cheap thrill, Jackson portrays her sexuality and desire as essential parts of her being; in the process she's reshaping the stereotype of the sexually confident black woman".[46]

Craig S. Semon of the Telegram & Gazette remarked, "Jackson shows once again that she can compete against any of the lightweight, mega-selling pop divas and hang them out to dry".[50] He regarded the album's depictions of cyber-sex, lesbian love affairs, and outcry against domestic abuse and homophobia a work of "unbridled passion".[50] According to Semon, the title-track "Velvet Rope" "gives the listener an invitation to [Jackson's] innermost passions".[50] Jackson's struggle with disillusionment on the single "You" is said to be "reminiscent of Diana Ross before unleashing an angry Michael Jackson-like growl and refrain", while the Prince-like "Go Deep" is described as a "funky bump and grind about dressing sexily, dancing sexily and seducing someone to bring home for sex" and the examination of sexual orientation on "Free Xone" is said to "not [be] preachy or political - just passionate and to the point".[50] Semon assessed the album's greatest accomplishment was "What About," with Jackson "[r]oaring over a snarling rock beat and rivaling her brother Michael's angriest vocal belts, [and] shows her strength as she rips into an unflinching attack against her abusive lover and unleashing all the hell he has put her through on this R-rated roarfest".[50] Neil McCormick of The Daily Telegraph condemned Jackson's attempt at expressing the pains of depression, as he stated "Janet mistakes platitudes for wisdom, [as] the suffering artist informs us there is nothing more depressing than "having everything and still feeling sad". She should try getting out more. A couple of weeks on a crack-addled Bradford housing estate trying to support eight children on state benefits would doubtless send her scurrying back to the cordon sanitaire of Beverly Hills, where she can take out her woes on an expensive analyst".[51] However, McCormick complimented the album's "solid song construction and arrangements" and described The Velvet Rope as "varied and appealing exercise in R&B pop".[51]

Accolades

Organization Country Accolade Year Source
GLAAD Media Award United States Outstanding Album 1997 [52]
MTV Europe Music Award United Kingdom Best Female Artist 1997 [53]
Soul Train Music Award United States Lena Horne Award - Lady of Soul Recipient 1997 [54]
BMI Pop Awards United States Most Played Song: I Get Lonely & Together Again 1998 [55]
Blockbuster Entertainment Award United States Favorite R&B Female Artist 1998 [56]
Danish Music Awards Europe International Female Solo Artist of the Year, International Album of the Year: The Velvet Rope, International Single of the Year: Got 'til It's Gone 1998 [55]
VH-1 Fashion Award United States Most Stylish Music Video ("Got 'til It's Gone") 1998 [57]
American Music Awards United States Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist 1999 [58]
1998 Grammy Awards United States Best Music Video, Short Form - Mark Romanek, video director "Got 'til It's Gone" 1999 [59]
World Music Awards Europe Legend Award for Outstanding Contribution to Pop & R&B Music 1999 [55]
Rolling Stone United States The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (Rank 256) 2003 [60]
Slant Magazine United States "Best Albums of the '90s" (ranked 95) 2011 [61]

Track listing

No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length
1. "Interlude: Twisted Elegance"       0:41
2. "Velvet Rope" (featuring Vanessa-Mae) Janet Jackson, James Harris III, Terry Lewis, René Elizondo, Jr., Malcolm McLaren, Trevor Horn, Mike Oldfield Harris, Lewis, Jackson 4:55
3. "You"   Jackson, Harris, Lewis, Elizondo, Harold Brown, Sylvester Allen, Morris Dickerson, Howard Scott, Leroy Jordan, Lee Oskar, Charles Miller Harris, Lewis, Jackson 4:42
4. "Got 'til It's Gone" (featuring Q-Tip and Joni Mitchell) Jackson, Harris, Lewis, Elizondo, Joni Mitchell, Kamaal Ibn Fareed Harris, Lewis, Jackson 4:01
5. "Interlude: Speaker Phone"       0:54
6. "My Need"   Jackson, Harris, Lewis, Elizondo, Marilyn McLeod, Pam Sawyer, Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson Harris, Lewis, Jackson 3:44
7. "Interlude: Fasten Your Seatbelts"       0:19
8. "Go Deep"   Jackson, Harris, Lewis, Elizondo Harris, Lewis, Jackson 4:42
9. "Free Xone"   Jackson, Harris, Lewis, Elizondo, James Brown, Billy Buttier, Archie Bell, Michael Hepburn Harris, Lewis, Jackson 4:57
10. "Interlude: Memory"       0:04
11. "Together Again"   Jackson, Harris, Lewis, Elizondo Harris, Lewis, Jackson 5:01
12. "Interlude: Online"       0:19
13. "Empty"   Jackson, Harris, Lewis, Elizondo Harris, Lewis, Jackson 4:32
14. "Interlude: Full"       0:12
15. "What About"   Jackson, Harris, Lewis, Elizondo Harris, Lewis, Jackson 4:24
16. "Every Time"   Jackson, Harris, Lewis, Elizondo Harris, Lewis, Jackson 4:17
17. "Tonight's the Night"   Rod Stewart Harris, Lewis, Jackson 5:07
18. "I Get Lonely"   Jackson, Harris, Lewis, Elizondo Harris, Lewis, Jackson 5:17
19. "Rope Burn"   Jackson, Harris, Lewis, Elizondo Harris, Lewis, Jackson 4:15
20. "Anything"   Jackson, Harris, Lewis, Elizondo Harris, Lewis, Jackson 4:54
21. "Interlude: Sad"       0:10
22. "Special" (includes the hidden track "Can't Be Stopped", which starts at 3:42) Jackson, Harris, Lewis, Elizondo Harris, Lewis, Jackson 7:55
Sample credits

Personnel

Credits for The Velvet Rope adapted from Allmusic.[62]

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 and certifications

Charts

Chart (1997/1998) Peak
position
Australian Albums Chart[29] 4
Austrian Albums Chart[29] 9
Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders)[29] 11
Belgian Albums Chart (Wallonia)[29] 14
Canadian Albums Chart[30] 2
Danish Albums Chart[63] 3
Dutch Albums Chart[29] 3
European Albums Chart[64] 4
Finnish Albums Chart[29] 19
French Albums Chart[29] 5
German Albums Chart[31] 5
Hungarian Albums Chart[65] 40
Japanese Albums Chart[66] 10
New Zealand Albums Chart[29] 8
Norwegian Albums Chart[29] 4
Swedish Albums Chart[29] 4
Swiss Albums Chart[29] 5
UK Albums Chart[32] 2
U.S. Billboard 200[30] 1
U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums[30] 2
U.S. Billboard Catalog Albums[30] 30

Certifications

Country Certification
Australia 2× Platinum[37]
Belgium Gold[67]
Canada 3× Platinum[68]
Denmark Gold[69]
Europe Platinum[70]
France Platinum[71]
Germany Gold[72]
Japan Platinum[69]
Netherlands Platinum[73]
Norway Platinum[38]
Switzerland Platinum[74]
Taiwan Gold[69]
United Kingdom Platinum[75]
United States 3× Platinum[76]

End-Year Charts

End of year chart (1997/1998) Position
Australian Albums Chart 1997[77] 42
Australian Albums Chart 1997[78] 82
Belgian Flanders Albums Chart 1998[79] 43
Belgian Wallonia Albums Chart 1997[80] 85
Belgian Wallonia Albums Chart 1998[81] 39
Canadian Albums Chart 1998[82] 34
Dutch Albums Chart 1998[83] 20
French Albums Chart 1998[84] 17
Italy End-Year Chart 50 1998[85] 42
Swiss Albums Chart 1998[86] 43
U.S. Billboard 200 1997[69] 115
U.S. Billboard 200 1998[87] 27
Preceded by
You Light Up My Life by LeAnn Rimes		 U.S. Billboard 200 number-one album
October 25, 1997 - November 1, 1997		 Succeeded by
You Light Up My Life by LeAnn Rimes

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Considine, J.D. (1997-10-10). "The Velvet Rope | News | EW.com". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc.. http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,289747,00.html. Retrieved 2010-07-14. 
  2. ^ a b c d Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The Velvet Rope - Janet Jackson | AllMusic". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r315241. Retrieved 2010-07-14. 
  3. ^ Chuck Philips (1996-01-12). "Janet Jackson Spins a New Record: $80-Million Deal; Music: Pop superstar to ink contract with Virgin for four new albums". Los Angeles Times: p. 1. ISSN 04583035 
  4. ^ Alice Rawsthorn (1996-01-03). "Disney seeks stronger presence in music It's believed to have tried to sign up Janet Jackson as part of that plan". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: p. 6. ISSN 10828850 
  5. ^ a b "Janet Jackson Hits Big; $80 Million Record Deal". Newsday: pp. A02. 1996-01-13 
  6. ^ Bickelhaupt, Susan; Dezell, Maureen (1996-01-13). "Room with a private view". The Boston Globe: p. 26 
  7. ^ "Briefly...". USA Today. 1996-01-14 
  8. ^ Ian Katz (1996-01-17). "Janet Jackson's $80m deal tips brother from top spot". The Guardian: p. 3. ISSN 02613077 
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External links

Janet Jackson
Studio albums
Compilation albums
Remix albums
Video releases
Control - The Videos · Control - The Videos Part II · Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 · The Rhythm Nation Compilation · Janet · Design of a Decade 1986/1996 · The Velvet Rope Tour – Live in Concert · All for You (DVD Edition) · Live in Hawaii · From Janet to Damita Jo: The Videos
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Television
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