It’s an album that really needs no introduction—Control. Released in 1986, Janet Jackson’s third studio album on the A&M label was nothing less than an across-the-board blockbuster that refashioned the popular music landscape with its bold but sweet blend of R&B, synth-funk and black pop. Today, the record feels as relevant now as it did upon release; as such, its forthcoming reissue on vinyl—slated for June 7th courtesy of A&M and uMe—has been the cause for much celebration.
Pressed on both standard black and translucent red wax, Control reemerges on the format where it made its initial impact more than three decades ago. However, given the legacy of this set, the current remastered take feels strangely bare bones with no corresponding compact disc or DVD companions to further flesh out Control’s sonic and visual strengths. But, it’s likely a subtle hint at a much more luxuriously tailored reissue campaign for Jackson’s overall canon soon to come.
As it stands now, for those record junkies looking for a classic fix, this straight-ahead vinyl treatment of Control will suit them just fine. As will revisiting the album’s accompanying music videos below.
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