Not More Cowbell, but More...

While cataloguing vinyl I ran into this interesting find. It's 1989, 2 years after you were tapped to replace Bobby Brown in the most popular male group since The Jackson 5 and 1 year before you release your self titled second solo album. Janet Jackson is working on a new album, and you receive a phone call from Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis requesting your assistance on Janet's new single, Escapade. I wonder if the phone call went something like this:

Terry Lewis: Hey Johnny, we're working on Janet's new album and want your assistance on this song, Escapade. Can you help out?

Johnny Gill: Sure, I would love to sing a duet with Janet Jackson! When is the session? What studio is it at?

Jimmy Jam: Nah Johnny, that's not quite what we had in mind.

Johnny Gill: Ohhhhh, I'll be laying down background vocals? Yeah, that's much simpler. What time are we getting started?

Terry Lewis: Mmmmmm, No not quite.
Johnny Gill: You need me to teach her some precision steps like our New Edition dance moves for her video?

Jimmy Jam: Ahhhhh, nah man, what we need is some finger snaps...

And there you have it, another piece of Black Music History


Janet Jackson - Escapade

More: You can hear the fingersnaps more clearly near the end of the song