Number Ones (Janet Jackson album)

Number Ones (released internationally as The Best) is the second greatest hits album by American recording artist Janet Jackson. It was released on November 17, 2009 by Interscope Geffen A&M Records and Universal Music Enterprises.[1] The double-disc album is composed of 33 of her number-one singles on various music charts across the globe.

Number Ones
Greatest hits album by Janet Jackson
Released	November 17, 2009
Recorded	1985–2009
Genre	Pop R&B
Length	149:47
Label	A&M UM^e
Producer	Janet Jackson Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis René Elizondo, Jr. Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins D'Mile LRoc Michael Jackson
Janet Jackson chronology
Discipline (2008) Number Ones (2009) Icon: Number Ones (2010)
Singles from Number Ones
"Make Me" Released: September 22, 2009

Number Ones collects singles from her third studio album Control (1986) to her tenth studio album Discipline (2008), and was made possible as a joint venture between Universal Music Group and EMI. The album's only single "Make Me" was made available for digital download on September 22, 2009 and went on to become her nineteenth number-one single on Dance Club Songs.[2] The album was acclaimed by music critics, who praised her catalogue and influence in the music industry. Jackson promoted the album with interviews and television performances, including a performance at the 2009 American Music Awards. It was further promoted with the Number Ones, Up Close and Personal tour in 2011, which visited North America, Europe, Asia, Oceania and Africa.

Background and development

In September 2009, Janet Jackson performed "Scream" on the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards as part of a medley tribute to Michael Jackson, who died three months earlier. Following this, "Make Me" was released on Jackson's official website as an audio stream for those who joined the site's e-mail newsletter.[3] On September 22, 2009 it was released as a digital download for purchase. Although claims were made that "Make Me" is a tribute song to her late brother, Michael Jackson's single "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" (1979), Jackson later stated in an interview with Ryan Seacrest it is not, despite the similarity of the lyrics in the song's outro.[4] In October 2009, Universal Music Enterprises issued a press release stating "Make Me" would be included on Jackson's second greatest hits album, comprising 33 of her global number-one singles. The two-disc set spans chart-topping singles from Control (1986) to Discipline (2008) across the Billboard Hot 100, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, Dance Club Songs, Adult Contemporary, and international charts.[5]

Release and promotion

Jackson performing on tour.

Number Ones was released on November 17, 2009 by Interscope Geffen A&M Records and Universal Music Enterprises; internationally, it was released as The Best. To celebrate the release of Number Ones, Universal Music Group and Flash Mob America organized three fan gatherings in Los Angeles on November 14.[6][7] Kyle Anderson of MTV reported fans' gatherings in various Los Angeles locations "to dance and pay tribute to some of the veteran diva's best dance moves and songs."[8] Jackson made an appearance at the gathering which took place at The Grove at Farmers Market.[8] ABC's In the Spotlight with Robin Roberts interviewed Jackson in a one-hour interview special that aired on November 18, 2009.[9] A few days later, Jackson performed an eight-minute medley of six hits during the 2009 American Music Awards. It included "Control", "Miss You Much", "What Have You Done for Me Lately", "If", "Make Me", and finished with "Together Again". At the end of the performance, she received applause and a standing ovation from the audience.[10][11] Jackson traveled to the United Kingdom to further promote the album. She performed "Make Me" on The X Factor results show on December 6, 2009.[12] She closed the concert with a medley of her greatest hits including "Make Me", wearing half hareem-pant, half skirt concoction, jackets and high-top trainers.[13]

On February 4, 2011, Jackson embarked on her sixth concert tour to further promote Number Ones, entitled Number Ones: Up Close and Personal.[14] It visited Asia, North America, Europe, Australia, Africa, and South America. Jackson traveled to 35 different cities selected by fans, one chosen for each of her number-one hits. The tour took an organic and intimate approach, excluding the elaborate theatrics and pyrotechnics her concerts have become infamous for, focusing on her musicality and choreography. Fans were to vote on cities via her official website. She honored 20 people who performed service in their community with the "20 Under 20" contest and dedicated one hit to each city during every show.[15] In December, Jackson announced the first date in Wan Chai, Hong Kong.[14] In April, Jackson extended the tour's North American and European legs into the fall due to massive sellouts.[16][17] She also extended the tour into Australia, Africa, and South America.[18][19] The show's intimate aura was praised among critics, many commending Jackson's showmanship in contrast to her more recent contemporaries.[20] The majority of the tour had completely sold out.[21] The tour achieved several attendance records,[22] and grossed US$60 million in total.[23]

Singles

"Make Me" was released as the lead and only single from the album on September 22, 2009, being the only new song included on the album. The song was presented as an audio stream to those who joined her official mailing list in September, and was later released for digital download. The song failed to chart on the US Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 71 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and became her nineteenth Dance Club Songs number-one single on the chart dated December 22, 2009.[24] Thus Jackson became the first artist to earn number-one singles on Dance Club Songs across four decades, from the 1980s to the 2010s.[25] "Make Me" also entered the top fifty in Italy, the top twenty in Japan and the top seventy-five in the United Kingdom.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[26]
Rockstar Weekly	favorable[27]
Slant Magazine	[28]

Number Ones received universal acclaim from music critics. Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine gave the album four-and-a-half stars, commenting "that the songs on Janet Jackson's first-ever comprehensive hits collection, Number Ones, have been sequenced in chronological order only magnifies the impact she had on late-'80s and early-'90s pop, when she helped define the sound of Top 40 radio along with the likes of Madonna, Prince, and her brother Michael."[28] He also commented on the commercial decline of her recent work, stating "[b]ut just as Number Ones's sequencing highlights Janet's impressive early years, it also underscores her startlingly abrupt decline...and the "hits" from her last three albums are a mere footnote here."[28] Andy Kellman of AllMusic remarked: "Say what you want about Janet peaking with Jam & Lewis during the latter half of the '80s—to be fair, the argument is valid—but she did rack up a career's worth of solid hits during the years that followed. Even if they were not as sonically innovative and lacked the same amount of pop appeal of the Control/Rhythm Nation-era singles, they clearly made a significant impact and have aged well."[26] Val Christopher of Rockstar Weekly commented, "A look back at Jackson's storied career provides more than ample reason for her being one of the world's most recognizable people. Number Ones opens with a string of Jackson's best and most memorable tracks. 'What Have You Done For Me Lately', 'Nasty', 'Control', 'Miss You Much' and perhaps her finest single, 'Rhythm Nation'."[27]

Accolades

Year	Award	Category	Recipient	Result	Ref.
2010	International Dance Music Award	Best Urban Dance Track	"Make Me"	Nominated	[29]

Commercial performance

Number Ones debuted at number twenty-two on the US Billboard 200, selling 80,748 units (40,374 in pure sales) in its first week.[30] It has since sold 546,000 units, including 273,000 in pure sales, in the United States.[31][32]

The Best performed similarly internationally, peaking at number twenty in Japan and number twenty-eight in the United Kingdom. It was certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for sales in excess of 100,000.

Track listings

Number Ones – North American edition (disc one)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"What Have You Done for Me Lately"	James Harris III Terry Lewis Janet Jackson	Lewis Jimmy Jam Jackson^[a]	4:44
2.	"Nasty"	Harris Lewis Jackson	Lewis Jam Jackson^[a]	4:03
3.	"When I Think of You"	Harris Lewis Jackson	Lewis Jam Jackson^[a]	3:57
4.	"Control"	Harris Lewis Jackson	Lewis Jam Jackson^[a]	5:53
5.	"Let's Wait Awhile" (single remix version)	Harris Lewis Jackson Melanie Andrews	Lewis Jam Jackson	4:37
6.	"The Pleasure Principle" (single edit)	Monte Moir	Moir Jackson^[a] Steve Wiese^[a]	4:14
7.	"Diamonds" (with Herb Alpert)	Harris Lewis	Jam Lewis	4:53
8.	"Miss You Much"	Lewis Harris	Lewis Jam Jackson^[a]	4:12
9.	"Rhythm Nation" (with "Pledge" intro)	Jackson Harris Lewis	Lewis Jam Jackson^[a]	5:31
10.	"Escapade"	Jackson Harris Lewis	Lewis Jam Jackson^[a]	4:44
11.	"Alright" (7" video version with Rap)	Jackson Harris Lewis	Lewis Jam Jackson^[a]	4:59
12.	"Come Back to Me" (I'm Beggin' You Mix)	Jackson Harris Lewis	Lewis Jam Jackson^[a]	5:36
13.	"Black Cat" (video mix/short solo)	Jackson	Jackson Jellybean Johnson	4:31
14.	"Love Will Never Do (Without You)" (single edit)	Harris Lewis	Lewis Jam Jackson^[a]	4:35
15.	"The Best Things in Life Are Free" (with Luther Vandross, BBD and Ralph Tresvant)	Harris Lewis Ralph Tresvant Michael Bivins Ronald DeVoe	Lewis Jam	4:36
16.	"That's the Way Love Goes"	Jackson Harris Lewis Fred Wesley Charles Bobbit John Starks James Brown	Lewis Jam Jackson	4:25
Total length:				75:30

The Best – International edition (disc one)[33]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
17.	"When I Think of You" (David Morales Remix Edit)	Harris Lewis Jackson	Lewis Jam Jackson^[a] David Morales^[b]	3:31
Total length:				79:01

Number Ones – North American edition (disc two)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"If"	Jackson Lewis Harris	Jackson Lewis Jam	4:32
2.	"Again"	Jackson Harris Lewis	Jackson Lewis Jam	3:47
3.	"Because of Love"	Jackson Harris Lewis	Jackson Lewis Jam	4:18
4.	"Any Time, Any Place" (R. Kelly Remix)	Jackson Lewis Harris	Jackson Lewis Jam R. Kelly^[b]	5:12
5.	"Scream" (with Michael Jackson)	Harris Lewis Michael Jackson Jackson	Jam Lewis M. Jackson Jackson	4:02
6.	"Runaway"	Jackson Harris Lewis	Jackson Lewis Jam	3:34
7.	"Got 'til It's Gone" (featuring Q-Tip and Joni Mitchell) (single edit)	Jackson Lewis Harris René Elizondo, Jr. Roberta Mitchell Kamaal Ibn Fareed	Jackson Lewis Jam	3:36
8.	"Together Again" (single edit)	Jackson Lewis Elizondo Harris	Jackson Lewis Jam	4:07
9.	"I Get Lonely" (with Blackstreet)	Jackson Lewis Elizondo Harris	Jackson Lewis Jam	4:01
10.	"Go Deep"	Jackson Lewis Elizondo Harris	Jackson Lewis Jam	4:44
11.	"What's It Gonna Be?!" (with Busta Rhymes)	Trevor Smith Darrell Allamby Antoinette Roberson	Allamby	4:03
12.	"Doesn't Really Matter"	Jackson Harris Lewis	Jackson Lewis Jam	4:56
13.	"All for You" (video mix)	Jackson Harris Lewis Wayne Garfield David Romani Mauro Malavasi	Jackson Lewis Jam	4:32
14.	"Someone to Call My Lover" (single edit)	Jackson Lewis Harris Dewey Bunnell	Jackson Lewis Jam	4:15
15.	"All Nite (Don't Stop)"	Jackson Harris Lewis Tony "Prof T" Tolbert Anders Bagge Arnthor Birgisson Herbie Hancock Paul Jackson Melvin Ragin	Bag & Arnthor Jackson	3:27
16.	"Call on Me" (with Nelly)	Jermaine Dupri Johnta Austin James Phillips Cornell Haynes Harris Lewis	Dupri LRoc Jam Lewis Jackson	3:35
17.	"Feedback" (single version)	Rodney Jerkins Dernst Emile Tasleema Yasin LaShawn Daniels	Darkchild D'Mile	3:56
18.	"Make Me"	Jackson Jerkins Thomas Lumpkins Michaela Shiloh	Jackson Darkchild	3:38
Total length:				74:15

Number Ones – North American iTunes Store edition (bonus track)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
19.	"Make Me" (Bimbo Jones Radio Edit)	Jackson Jerkins Lumpkins Shiloh	Jackson Darkchild Bimbo Jones^[b]	3:19
Total length:				77:34

Number Ones – Target exclusive edition (bonus track)[34]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
19.	"Make Me" (Moto Blanco Radio Mix)	Jackson Jerkins Lumpkins Shiloh	Jackson Darkchild Moto Blanco^[b]	3:24
Total length:				77:39

The Best – International edition (disc two)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
18.	"Whoops Now"	Jackson Harris Lewis	Jackson Lewis Jam	4:06
19.	"Make Me"	Jackson Jerkins Lumpkins Shiloh	Jackson Darkchild	3:38
Total length:				78:21

The Best – International iTunes Store edition (bonus track)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
20.	"Make Me" (Bimbo Jones Radio Edit)	Jackson Jerkins Lumpkins Shiloh	Jackson Darkchild Bimbo Jones^[b]	3:19
Total length:				81:40

Notes

• ^{^[a]} signifies a co-producer
• ^{^[b]} signifies a remixer

Personnel

Darrell "Delite" Allamby – composer Melanie Andrews – composer Johnta Austin – composer Michael Bivins – composer Charles Bobbit – composer Dewey Bunnell – composer LaShawn Daniels – composer John William Davis – composer Ronnie DeVoe – composer Jermaine Dupri – composer Dernst Emile – composer Wayne Garfield – composer Herbie Hancock – composer Janet Jackson – composer Michael Jackson – composer

Jimmy Jam – composer/producer Rodney Jerkins – composer Terry Lewis – composer Mauro Malavasi – composer Joni Mitchell – composer Monte Moir – composer Melvin "Wah Wah" Ragin – composer Antoinette Roberson – composer David Romani – composer Trevor Smith – composer John Starks – composer Ralph Tresvant – composer Fred Wesley – composer

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2009) Peak position Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[35] 70 Japanese Albums (Oricon)[36] 20 Scottish Albums (OCC)[37] 46 UK Albums (OCC)[38] 28 US Billboard 200[39] 22 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[40] 3

Year-end charts Chart (2009) Position UK Albums (OCC)[41] 171 Chart (2010) Position US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[42] 48

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[43]	Gold	100,000
sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

Release history

Country	Date	Title	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
Canada	November 17, 2009	Number Ones	Double CD digital download	Universal Music	[44]
Mexico		The Best			[45]
United States		Number Ones		A&M UM^e	[46]
Japan	November 18, 2009	The Best		Universal Music	[47]
Germany	November 20, 2009				[48]
France	November 23, 2009				[49]
United Kingdom				Polydor	[50]
Australia	November 27, 2009			Universal Music	[51]
Brazil	December 1, 2009				[52]
United States	January 22, 2021	Number Ones	Double Vinyl	A&M UM^e	[53]

References

1. "#1's Janet Jackson". ilovethatsong.com (Universal Music Enterprises). Archived from the original on October 5, 2011. Retrieved December 11, 2009.
2. "Chart Beat Thursday: Ke$ha, Janet, Reba", Billboard, 2009-12-23, retrieved 2009-12-23
3. Kaufman, Gil (2009-09-14), Janet Jackson Releases New Single Following VMA Performance, MTV, retrieved 2009-09-14
4. "Interview with Ryan Seacrest". KIISfm.com. 2009-11-16. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2009-11-18.
5. Janet Jackson's Greatest Hits Celebrated on Number Ones, Universal Music Enterprises: PR Newswire, 2009-10-14, retrieved 2009-10-14
6. "News Ticker: Lil Wayne, Janet Jackson, Sting and Pixies". Rolling Stone. Jann Wenner. 2009-11-13. Retrieved 2009-11-14.
7. Celebrate Janet's Number Ones in Flash Mob, janetjackson.com, 2009-10-28, retrieved 2009-11-14
8. Anderson, Kyle (2009-11-16). "Janet Jackson Surprises Fans At Flash Mob In Los Angeles". MTV. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2009-11-23.
9. Lynn Redmond and Muriel Pearson, "Janet Shocked by Michael Jackson's Propofol Use", ABC News, November 19, 2009.
10. "Janet Opens the American Music Awards". JanetJackson.com. November 27, 2009. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
11. Kaufman, Gil (November 22, 2009). "Janet Jackson Kicks Off American Music Awards With Energetic Medley". MTV News. Viacom. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
12. John Kennedy, "Peep This: Janet Jackson and Lady Gaga on The X Factor", Vibe, December 7, 2009.
13. Sarah Karmali, "Frock-horrors at the Jingle Bell Ball", Marie Claire, December 7, 2009.
14. News Desk (2010-12-13). "The singer will only perform music exclusively from her chart topping album, Number Ones". MTV Asia. MTV Networks. Retrieved December 19, 2010.
15. "Janet Jackson Announces First Date Of 2011 Tour". Pollstar. 2010-12-16. Archived from the original on December 20, 2010. Retrieved December 19, 2010.
16. Aleta Watson (2011-04-12). "Janet Jackson Adds More Dates to 'Number Ones' Tour Due to Its Success". singersroom.com. Retrieved 2011-04-11.
17. Success of Janet Jackson's 'Number Ones Tour' Prompts Extension of U.S. And European Legs Until Fall, Universal Music Enterprises, 2011-04-11, retrieved 2011-04-11
18. Janet Jackson revives brother's memories with virtual duet, CNN, 2011-07-01, archived from the original on 2011-08-07, retrieved 2011-07-01
19. Janet Jackson Talks Tour On ‘Paul O’Grady’, Joe Jonas Performs "See No More", Idolator, 2011-07-02, retrieved 2011-07-02
20. Serene Goh (2011-02-09), "Janet shines, Again; But unlike her show 16 years ago, the singer is now more mellow and exudes a quiet confidence", The Straits Times
21. "PHOTOS: Janet Jackson Wows London With Rare Live Show - Yahoo! Celebrity UK". Yahoo!. 2011-07-11. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
22. "Janet Jackson performance breaks records at Straz - Tampa Bay Business Journal". Tampa Bay Business Journal. 2011-12-06. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
23. "Jackson Tries to Take Michael's Kids". Showbiz411. Friedman, Roger. July 23, 2012. Retrieved October 20, 2013. Her “Number Ones” World Tour in 2011 grossed $60 million, and finished 45th out of the year’s top 50 tours according to Pollstar.com.
24. "Chart Highlights: Adult Contemporary, Pop, Jazz & More". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 2009-12-21. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
25. Gary Trust (2009-12-24), "Chart Beat Thursday: Ke$ha, Janet, Reba", Billboard, retrieved 2012-03-09
26. Kellman, Andy. "Number Ones – Janet Jackson". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2010-07-21.
27. Christopher, Val. "Review: Janet Jackson – Number Ones". Rockstar Weekly. Archived from the original on 2011-04-12. Retrieved 2010-07-21.
28. Cinquemani, Sal (2009-11-14). "Janet Jackson: Number Ones". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 2010-07-21.
29. "International Dance Music Awards". Archived from the original on September 2, 2018. Retrieved August 30, 2014.
30. Kaufman, Gil (2009-11-25). "50 Cent's Self Destruct Is Lowest Chart Debut Of His Career". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2009-11-25.
31. "Inside Janet Jackson's Comeback Gamble and the Hurdle of the 'Aging Diva' Stereotype". Billboard. Retrieved 2015-07-23.
32. Grein, Paul (2010-12-08). "Week Ending Dec. 5, 2010: The "Gift" That Keeps On Giving". Yahoo! Inc. Retrieved 2011-01-21.
33. "Amazon.com: Best: UK Edition: Janet Jackson: Music". Amazon. Retrieved 2010-07-21.
34. "Janet Jackson – Number Ones (Target Edition)". Discogs. Retrieved 2013-08-09.
35. "Ultratop.be – Janet Jackson – The Best" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
36. "Oricon Top 50 Albums: {{{date}}}" (in Japanese). Oricon.
37. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
38. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
39. "Number Ones – Janet". Billboard. Retrieved 2009-12-01.
40. "Janet Jackson Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard.
41. "{{{artist}}} | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart.
42. "2010 Year End Charts – Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2011-01-27.
43. "British album certifications – Janet Jackson – Number Ones". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type Number Ones in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
44. "music, dvd, games". hmv.ca. Retrieved 2009-10-28.
45. "Best Of Janet Jackson". MixUp.com. Archived from the original on 2011-09-30. Retrieved 2009-10-25.
46. "Number Ones". AllMusic. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
47. "Best Of Janet Jackson(Limited, Greatest Hits)【CD】-Janet Jackson｜Dance｜Dance & Soul｜Music｜HMV ONLINE Online Shopping & Information Site". Hmv.co.jp. Retrieved 2009-10-28.
48. "The Best: Janet Jackson: Amazon.de: Musik". Amazon.de. Retrieved 2009-11-19.
49. "The Best: Janet Jackson: Amazon.fr: Musique". Amazon.fr. Retrieved 2009-11-19.
50. "The Best". Amazon Music (UK). Retrieved October 3, 2020.
51. "Best". Amazon Music (AU). Retrieved October 3, 2020.
52. "The Best - Janet Jackson (Brazil release date)". livrariacultura.com.br. Retrieved 2009-11-21.
53. "Number Ones". Target. Retrieved January 23, 2021.

External links

• Number Ones video page at janetjackson.com