In The Number Ones, I’m reviewing every single #1 single in the history of the Billboard Hot 100, starting with the chart’s beginning, in 1958, and working my way up into the present.
Imagine having a glorious and effervescent can’t-miss pop song, a song that could easily turn around the chart fortunes of an underperforming album, in your back pocket. Janet Jackson had a song like that, and she let that song sit in her pocket for more than a year. She didn’t need that song. Rhythm Nation 1814, the album that Jackson released in September of 1989, was an absolute smash, and its singles kept racing up the pop charts. By the time Jackson finally released “Love Will Never Do (Without You)” as a single, she’d already come out with six Rhythm Nation singles, and all six of them had landed in the top five of Billboard‘s Hot 100. Three of those songs had gone all the way to #1. So when “Love Will Never Do (Without You)” finally topped the Hot 100, that was Janet Jackson running up the score and then stunting on all her peers with an elaborately choreographed end-zone dance.
When “Love Will Never Do (Without You)” reached #1, Rhythm Nation became the first album to have singles that topped the Hot 100 during three different calendar years. That’s one of those weird chart records that publicists invent, and it’s not really all that important. Rhythm Nation came out late in the year, during a time when album cycles were getting longer, so it’s not that big of an achievement. But another Rhythm Nation chart record matters a lot more.
More than a decade earlier, Janet Jackson’s big brother Michael had released seven of the nine songs on Thriller as singles, and all seven had reached the top 10. It was the first time that anything like that had ever happened. With the success of “Love Will Never Do,” Rhythm Nation had seven singles that went into the top five, another first. Rhythm Nation didn’t sell anywhere near as many copies as Thriller, but at least in pure pop-chart terms, Janet had outdone Michael. That must’ve felt good.
“Love Will Never Do (Without You),” the song that solidified those chart achievements, came from Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Jackson’s longtime collaborators. Jam and Lewis actually wrote and recorded the backing track for “Love Will Never Do” before Jackson even showed up in Minneapolis to record Rhythm Nation. Originally, Jam and Lewis had conceived the song as a duet — two singers playing characters who marveled at how perfectly they fit together. The producers thought about recording the song with one of the singers who they were working with at the time — Prince, Johnny Gill, Ralph Tresvant. But Jam and Lewis abandoned those plans, and they made “Love Will Never Do” as a Janet Jackson solo track. As cool as it might’ve been to hear Prince and Jackson on a song together, Jam and Lewis made the right call. Nobody ever fit with Janet Jackson quite as well as Janet Jackson did.
When Jackson came in to work on “Love Will Never Do,” Jam and Lewis tried out some different ideas with her. In Fred Bronson’s Billboard Book Of Number One Hits, Jimmy Jam says, “When she went in and sang the first verse, I said, ‘Sing it low like some guy would sing it.’ We just loved the way it sounded, and we said, ‘Let’s just leave it like this.’ So she sings the first verse in this really low octave and goes up an octave on the second verse.” Janet Jackson was never a showy vocalist, and she rarely gets proper credit for what she could do with her voice. But I love the contrast of that first verse, where Jackson really does sing like a man, and the second, where she’s her usual bubbly self. It shows the sense of presence and personality that she brought to those songs. “Love Will Never Do” doesn’t sound like a duet; Janet Jackson always sounds like Janet Jackson. But each of the verses has its own personality, and those changes push the song’s momentum.
Really, lots of things pushed that momentum. “Love Will Never Do (Without You)” is a marvel of production. On paper, “Love Will Never Do” is fairly slight. It’s a reflection on defying friends’ projections and finding ways to make a relationship work: “There’s no easy explanation for it/ But whenever there’s a problem/ We always work it out somehow.” But in its relentless forward motion, “Love Will Never Do” transcends its own subject matter and becomes something bigger.
The six-minute album version of “Love Will Never Do (Without You)” opens with a soft synth glimmer and some heartbeat thumps that mimic the “Be My Baby” opening. But then everything come rushing in: a thunderous bass-drum boom, a percussive slap-bass, a whole lot of bells and whistles that make that beat sound even bigger. As the song goes on, that opening synth melody returns, and Jam and Lewis keep piling on more and more instrumental sweeteners — including, near the end of the song, a bunch of ecstatically funky horn-bursts from Herb Alpert, the former Number Ones artist who was one of Jackson’s label bosses at A&M. In the background, a mob of voices chant the song’s title. By the time the song suddenly ends, it sounds like a party.
In the Bronson book, Jimmy Jam says that all of the intricately arranged backing vocals on “Love Will Never Do” are Janet Jackson herself. The song’s credits tell another story; they list a few different backing singers, including Terry Lewis. But Jackson’s voice is definitely all over the song, and that constant presence goes a long way toward charging the song’s energy up. Jam says, “It’s important for it to be a Janet Jackson record, for her to sing all the parts.”
Jimmy Jam also says that he and Terry Lewis recorded her singing those backup bits before she laid down the lead vocal: “The backgrounds were a great way of getting her range back together and making her voice strong again — and also, of becoming familiar with the songs. After we got the backgrounds done, she couldn’t wait to sing the lead.” I think you can hear that excitement all over “Love Will Never Do.” Janet Jackson doesn’t just sing on the song; she whoops and trills and scats and ad-libs little calls and responses. She cheers the song on.
For the “Love Will Never Do (Without You)” video, Janet Jackson worked with Herb Ritts, the famous fashion photographer who’d already done Madonna’s “Cherish” video. (“Cherish” peaked at #2. It’s an 8.) Ritts shot Jackson in perfume-commercial black-and-white, filming her out in a desert. The clip uses a slightly different mix of “Love Will Never Do.” It opens with an a cappella version of the chorus, with Ritts’ camera panning over some ridiculously gorgeous silhouetted bodies, setting the tone before the song’s synth intro even kicks in.
I’ve read a few articles that posit the “Love Will Never Do (Without You)” video as the first time that Janet Jackson presented herself as a sexual being, which set the tone for her next few records. I don’t know about all that. To my eyes, Jackson was plenty sexual back on Control, as well. It’s just that “Love Will Never Do” uses that sexuality in a different way. Where previous videos made a big show out of their choreography, Herb Ritts’ camera is more interested in atmosphere, in staring at the beauty of bodies in space and motion.
Janet Jackson does look hot as hell in the “Love Will Never Do” video, and her outfit — a halter top, some tight jeans — is a little more form-fitting than what she’d worn in previous clips. But the camera definitely does a lot more to objectify Jackson’s co-stars. Those co-stars are two absurdly beautiful men who never put on shirts and who spend the entire video rocking either billowy pajama pants or tighty whities. In the years ahead, both of those men — future two-time Oscar nominee Djimon Hounsou and future Calvin Klein model/soap star/weird Trump guy Antonio Sabàto Jr. — would become a whole lot more famous. In the clip, Janet Jackson looks like she’s having fun with those guys. Good for her.
Jackson released “Love Will Never Do (Without You)” as a single in October of 1990, when “Black Cat” was still climbing the charts and Rhythm Nation had already been out for more than a year. “Love Will Never Do” was the last proper single from Rhythm Nation, but Jackson could’ve easily run up her numbers even more.
After “Love Will Never Do” reached #1, A&M started pushing “State Of The World” to radio. But the label went along with the new record-industry logic. They didn’t release “State Of The World” as a commercial single, thinking they could push more people toward buying the album if they couldn’t buy the one song. (This might’ve worked? Rhythm Nation had already sold five million copies in the US. It eventually sold another million, but it probably would’ve done that anyway.) “State Of The World” reached #5 on Billboard‘s Radio Songs chart, so it almost certainly would’ve been a top 10 hit on the Hot 100 if it had a chance to chart there. (It would’ve been an 8.)
Janet Jackson still made the top 10 one more time before she got around to recording her next album. In 1992, Jackson got together with Luther Vandross to record “The Best Things In Life Are Free,” a song that was part of the soundtrack of the Damon Wayans vehicle Mo’ Money. Jam and Lewis produced “The Best Things In Life Are Free,” and it had more vocals from Bel Biv DeVoe and Ralph Tresvant — a whole lot of R&B talent for what’s basically a house song. (“The Best Things In Life Are Free” peaked at #10. It’s a 7.)
By the time “The Best Things In Life Are Free” came out, Janet Jackson was a whole lot richer. Rhythm Nation 1814 was the last album under Jackson’s contract with A&M. In March of 1991, Jackson signed with Virgin Records for $32 million — at that point, the biggest recording contract of all time. Virgin paid a lot of money, but the label made a smart investment. Janet Jackson will appear in this column many more times.
GRADE: 9/10
BONUS BEATS: At a 2001 MTV-special salute to Janet Jackson, Macy Gray sang a raspy, breathless, messy cover of “Love Will Never Do (Without You),” inadvertently proving what a good singer Janet Jackson is. Here’s Gray’s performance:
(Macy Gray’s highest-charting single, 1999’s “I Try,” peaked at #5. It’s a 7.)
BONUS BONUS BEATS: The UK dance producer Joy Orbison sampled Janet Jackson’s “Love Will Never Do (Without You)” vocals, using them as a kind of echoing disembodied howl of joy, on his critically adored 2009 underground hit “Hyph Mngo.” Here it is:
BONUS BONUS BONUS BEATS: Jamie xx, another esoteric UK dance producer, also sampled Janet Jackson’s “Love Will Never Do (Without You)” vocals on his debut solo single “Far Nearer” in 2011, using it for a similar sort of textural effect. Here’s that track:
(Jamie xx has never had a Hot 100 hit as lead artist, and neither has his band the xx. But Jamie did co-produce Drake’s 2011 Rihanna duet “Take Care,” which peaked at #7. It’s a 10.)
FAQs
What was Janet Jackson's number one hit? ›
“That's the Way Love Goes” (1993): This was Jackson's longest-running No. 1, with eight weeks at the helm, as well as a winner of the best R&B song Grammy.
How many times did Janet Jackson go platinum? ›How many albums has Janet Jackson sold? Jackson has released a total of 16 albums since her self-titled debut in 1982, selling an estimated 100 million copies overall. Eight of her albums have achieved platinum status, with Control going five-times platinum, while Rhythm Nation went six-times platinum.
What is Janet Jacksons best song? ›Number Ones
How many #1 Does Janet Jackson have? ›She has attained 10 Hot 100 number-one singles, 16 Hot R&B number-one singles, and 20 Hot Dance/Club Play number-one singles. She also has a career high of 28 top 10 hits on the Hot 100, 31 top 10 hits on the Hot R&B chart, and 34 top 10 hits on the Hot Dance/Club Play chart.
Who was more successful Michael or Janet? ›Michael boasts 13 No. 1s among his 30 top 10s, both higher sums than Janet's respective totals of 10 and 27. (Michael's numbers reflect only his solo career, not the four No. 1s, among 11 top 10s, that he earned as a member of The Jackson 5 and The Jacksons.)
How many #1 does Beyonce have? ›American singer-songwriter and producer Beyoncé has achieved 22 number-one songs on the U.S. Billboard Dance Club Songs chart, and ranks 4th among the top 100 Dance Club Songs artists.
Who is worth more Michael Jackson or Janet Jackson? ›With a net worth (per Celebrity Net Worth) of $190 million, Janet Jackson is the richest Jackson family member.
What is Janet Jackson's most successful album? ›Number Ones
How much money did Michael Jackson leave his mother? ›Twenty per cent of his wealth was left to multiple children's charities and the 40 per cent that was left all went to his mother, Katherine. Thanks to MJ's generous will, Katherine inherited 40 per cent of his estate and is reportedly worth a whopping US$100 million.
What was Janet Jackson's first hit song? ›"Young Love" is a song by American recording artist Janet Jackson from her self-titled debut album (1982). It was written and produced by René Moore, Angela Winbush, with additional production by Bobby Watson. It was released as Jackson's debut single on July 7, 1982, by A&M Records.
How many albums Janet sold? ›
She has 40 million certified albums and singles in the United States according to the RIAA, Overall she has sold over 100 million, which makes her one of the best-selling music artists.
What songs did MJ sing? ›Michael Jackson
Who is the #1 selling artist of all time? ›Perhaps unsurprisingly, British rock band The Beatles are top of the list for best-selling artists worldwide, with 183 million units certified sales. Second is Garth Brooks with over 157 million units sales, followed by Elvis Presley with 139 million units.
What is the #1 song of all time? ›The Beatles have the most No. 1 hits of all time: 20. Though unclear for how long, the Beatles still reign supreme as the artist with the most No. 1 songs of all time.
Who is the most popular from the Jackson family? ›Janet Jackson With 160 million albums sold, ten No. 1 singles, and a new world tour in support of her album Unbreakable, she'd be the biggest pop star in pretty much any other family.
Who was the most popular Jackson 5 member? ›Jermaine Jackson
Perhaps the most famous Jackson 5 member outside of Michael, Jermaine was born in 1954, and has had his own successful solo career, and was the band's second main vocalist.
Who was Michael Jackson? Michael Jackson was an American singer, songwriter, and dancer who was the most popular entertainer in the world in the early and mid-1980s. Even today he is widely regarded as the “King of Pop.”
How many #1 does Ariana Grande have? ›She has amassed 71 chart entries on the Billboard Hot 100—the fourth most entries for a female artist—including six number ones and 19 top-10 hits.
How many #1 Does Nicki Minaj Have? ›The rapper's three other chart-toppers—“I Like It,” “Girls Like You,” and ”WAP”—were collaborations. “Super Freaky Girl” is Nicki Minaj's third No. 1 single following “Say So” (with Doja Cat) and “Trollz” (with 6ix9ine).
Who sold more records Rihanna or Beyoncé? ›
Rihanna has sold 150 million more records than Beyoncé (as of 2019)
Do the Jacksons still own the house in Gary Indiana? ›Jackson still owns the house and the house next door, and visits every so often. Underwhelming. Large stone memorial no longer there. The only way to tell it was MJ's home is because it's the nicest looking one in the neighborhood with a metal fence around it.
Who inherited Michael Jackson net worth? ›Under the terms of the trust, Michael Jackson's children are in line to receive $33 million each. Michael's mother, Katherine Jackson, will receive her share of the estate immediately, and any portion remaining when she passes, will be split between Prince, Paris and Blanket.
Who was richer Michael or Janet? ›Overall, Michael Jackson's net worth is estimated at $500 million, and the net worth of his sister, Janet Jackson, is said to be $175 million.
What is Janet Jackson's net worth 2022? ›According to Style Caster, Janet Jackson's current net worth is estimated to be $190 million as of April 2022, making her one of the world's richest musicians to date.
What is Janet Jackson's net worth in 2021? ›Janet Jackson has a net worth of US$190 million in 2021, so how does the iconic star make and splash her cash?
What does 1814 mean? ›The usage of the number "1814" represents the year the national anthem "The Star-Spangled Banner" was written.
How rich was Michael Jackson before death? ›Michael Jackson had a $500 million net worth before dying. However, he went bankrupt after requesting a $380 million loan from Bank of America to finance his lifestyle.
How much did paul McCartney pay for Michael Jackson's music? ›If he licensed a song for $100,000, the song writers Lennon and McCartney would still get $25,000 each, and the publisher Michael Jackson would get $50,000. In 1987, Michael infuriated Paul when he licensed the song "Revolution" to Nike for $500,000.
Does Michael Jackson still make money? ›Michael Jackson Continues To Earn THIS Whopping Amount Every Year Even After Death— Here's How. Even after his death, Michael Jackson remains one of the greatest musicians of all time. 13 years after his tragic demise, numbers suggest that he earns around $362 million each year.
What did Janet Jackson say about 2pac? ›
She even revealed that Tupac called her square because of her shyness and quiet demeanor. Jackson also joked that she didn't take part in any of the shenanigans as some of her co-stars and remembers the many times Tupac was late to set.
Did Janet Jackson have a baby by James DeBarge? ›Janet Jackson Shuts Down Rumors of a Secret Baby with Ex James DeBarge: 'That's Not Right'
How old would Michael Jackson be today? ›How old would Michael Jackson be now? Michael Jackson would be 62-years-old if he were alive today, having celebrated this big birthday on August 29.
How many number one hits did Michael Jackson have? ›Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, has more No. 1 hits than most artists could ever dream of charting – combined. With 13 No. 1s – and one more to which he contributed vocals – Jackson leads the list of male artists with the most chart-topping hits.
How many albums has Michael Jackson sold? ›Jackson is one of the best-selling music artists in history with over 400 million records sold worldwide. According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), Jackson has sold 89 million certified albums in the United States, making him the sixth top-selling album artist in the country.
How much is Janet Jackson's baby daddy worth? ›| Net Worth: | $1 Billion |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth: | Jan 1, 1975 (47 years old) |
| Place of Birth: | Doha, Qatar |
| Gender: | Male |
- 8. " Black Or White" ...
- 7. " Will You Be There" ...
- 6. " In The Closet" ...
- 5. " Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" ...
- 4. " Say Say Say" ...
- 3. " Rock With You" Hot 100 Peak Position: 1 (4 weeks) ...
- 2. " Beat It" Hot 100 Peak Position: 1 (3 weeks) ...
- 1. " Billie Jean" Hot 100 Peak Position: 1 (7 weeks)
A silent movie star composed Michael Jackson's favorite song
According to American Songwriter, Chaplin helped craft the score to his movie Modern Times. Songwriters John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons later adapted part of that score into the song “Smile,” which Jackson often referred to as his favorite song.
Madonna is recognized by Guinness World Records as the "Best-selling female recording artist of all time".
What is the biggest selling song of all time? ›According to Guinness World Records, Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" (1942) as performed by Bing Crosby is the best-selling single worldwide, with estimated sales of over 50 million copies.
Who is the best singer in the world? ›
| Rank | Singer | Genre |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Jackson | Pop, Soul, Funk, R&B, Rock, Disco, & Dance |
| 2 | Stevie Wonder | Soul, Pop, R&B, Funk, & Jazz |
| 3 | Marvin Gaye | Soul, R&B, Funk, Pop, & Jazz |
| 4 | Freddie Mercury | Hard Rock, Music Hall, Glitter, & Prog Rock |
- Happy – Pharrell Williams.
- Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd.
- Don't Stop Believing by Journey.
- I've Got A Feeling – Black Eyed Peas.
- Let It Go – Idina Menzel.
- Wonderwall – Oasis.
- All About That Bass – Meghan Trainor.
- All I Want For Christmas – Mariah Carey.
“Levitating” is also the longest-charting Hot 100 hit in the history of Warner Records.
What is the number one song in the world in 2022? ›Harry Styles' 'As It Was' Soars In at No. 1 on Billboard Global Charts. The song starts with the biggest worldwide streaming week of 2022.
Who is the #1 solo artist in the world? ›| # | ARTIST | SALES UPDATE |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Beatles | 03/01/17 |
| 2 | Michael Jackson | 09/27/17 |
| 3 | Elvis Presley | 09/01/18 |
| 4 | Queen | 01/25/20 |
The most successful songwriters in terms of number one singles are John Lennon (1940-80) and Paul McCartney (b. 18 Jun 1942). McCartney is credited as the writer on 32 number one hits in the US to Lennons 26 (with 23 co-written), whereas Lennon authored 29 UK number ones to McCartney's 28 (25 co-written).
What female singer has the most number one hits? ›Madonna currently holds the record for the most number-one songs in the 43-year history of the chart, with 50. The only other artists to have achieved more than 20 chart toppers are Rihanna (33) and Beyonce (22).
What was Janet Jackson's first hit song? ›"Young Love" is a song by American recording artist Janet Jackson from her self-titled debut album (1982). It was written and produced by René Moore, Angela Winbush, with additional production by Bobby Watson. It was released as Jackson's debut single on July 7, 1982, by A&M Records.
What is Janet Jackson biggest selling album? ›According to BMG Records, JANET JACKSON sold over 160,000,000 records (albums and singles) worldwide, including 33,034,000 in the United States and 2,460,000 in the United Kingdom. The best-selling album by JANET JACKSON is JANET., which sold over 20,000,000 copies .
What hits did Janet Jackson have? ›| # | Song | YEAR |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TOGETHER AGAIN | 1997 |
| 2 | SCREAM | 1995 |
| 3 | ALL FOR YOU | 2001 |
| 4 | THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE | 1992 |
What was Janet Jackson's first platinum single? ›
1989: “Miss You Much”
Janet Jackson's first platinum single in 1989 and the song spent 4 weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100. On top of its Billboards success, it was the longest-running number one of 1989 and was also the second-best selling single and the biggest radio airplay song of the year.
Janet Jackson outranks Michael in Billboard all-time Hot 100 artiste ranking | The Star.
What did Janet Jackson say about 2pac? ›She even revealed that Tupac called her square because of her shyness and quiet demeanor. Jackson also joked that she didn't take part in any of the shenanigans as some of her co-stars and remembers the many times Tupac was late to set.
Did Janet Jackson have a baby by James DeBarge? ›Janet Jackson Shuts Down Rumors of a Secret Baby with Ex James DeBarge: 'That's Not Right'
How rich is Janet Jackson? ›What is Janet Jackson's Net Worth? Janet Jackson is an American singer, actress, producer, and choreographer who has a net worth of $180 million. She rose to prominence alongside her family members on the variety show "The Jacksons" in the late 1970s, and has enjoyed a successful solo career of her own.
Who has the most number 1 hits? ›The Beatles have the most No. 1 hits of all time: 20. Though unclear for how long, the Beatles still reign supreme as the artist with the most No. 1 songs of all time.
What is Janet Jackson's net worth 2022? ›According to Style Caster, Janet Jackson's current net worth is estimated to be $190 million as of April 2022, making her one of the world's richest musicians to date.
How many number 1 hits does Michael Jackson have? ›Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, has more No. 1 hits than most artists could ever dream of charting – combined. With 13 No. 1s – and one more to which he contributed vocals – Jackson leads the list of male artists with the most chart-topping hits.
What is Michael Jackson's number one song? ›Number Ones
How many hits do Beyonce have? ›1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Beyonce's chart history reveals that she's had eight No. 1 hits since her making her solo debut in 2003 with Dangerously In Love, starting with that album's first and second singles.
How many records has Beyonce sold worldwide? ›
To date, Beyoncé has sold over 200 million records worldwide as a solo artist, and a further 60 million as part of Destiny's Child, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time. Billboard ranked her as the 37th greatest artist of all time.
How many records did Michael Jackson sell? ›(Sources for this article include Jackson's Web site, the RIAA and Billboard, among others.) Jackson sold more than 750 million records worldwide. He notched eight platinum or multiplatinum albums and 13 #1 singles, and had 47 tracks crack the Billboard Hot 100.
How many records has Nicki Minaj sold? ›...
| Nicki Minaj discography | |
|---|---|
| Promotional singles | 19 |