Songoftheday 7/1/15 - You might think I'm crazy but I'm serious it's better you know now, what I thought was happiness was only part-time bliss you can take a bow...

"The Pleasure Principle" - Janet Jackson
from the album Control (1986)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #14 (one week)
Weeks in the Top-40: 10

Today's SOTD comes from Janet Jackson, whose blockbuster album Control had already spun off five top-5 singles with "What Have You Done For Me Lately", "Nasty", "Let's Wait Awhile", the title track, and the #1 pop hit "When I Think Of You". She also appeared on label boss Herb Alpert's top-5 jam "Diamonds", tallying a total of 61 weeks in the top-40 together. With that much momentum and an album still full of great songs, a sixth single was released; and what a single it was. While most of Control was helmed by the team of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, "The Pleasure Principle" was the sole cut produced and written by Monte Moir, the duo's former bandmate in the Time. Moir's production drew on freestyle's sped-up tempo and lyrical urgency which reinvigorated interest from radio, and the video, featuring Janet and only Janet dancing, remains a pinnacle in her career. Using a remix from Shep Pettibone different from the album that still rode that freaking AMAZING synth-bass, it remains my favorite of all her hits.

"The Pleasure Principle" climbed into the top-20 on the American pop chart in August of 1987. The record also became her fifth #1 from Control on the R&B chart in Billboard (surprisingly the one that landed at #2 was the pop chart-topper "When I Think Of You") and topped the Dance Club Play chart (her third after "When I Think" and "Control". Internationally, the single was a top-40 hit in the UK (#24), Canada (#35), the Netherlands (#15), Belgium (#17), Ireland (#23), and New Zealand (#37).

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Here's the full Shep Pettibone mix that topped the dance chart...

and on her Rhythm Nation tour...

and from the Billboard Awards in 2006 (with newer hit "So Excited")...

Up tomorrow: A clean-cut British boy gets down and dirty for Axel Foley.