Album Showdown: Madonna vs. Control

But 1986's Control was Janet's third release and was put on the market in a post-Madonna pop landscape. It was essentially Michael Jackson's little sister riffing off of Prince and Madonna's formulas.

A more fair comparison would be Janet's early-80's self titled debut against Madonna's.

They actually seemed to be on the same release schedule during the eighties:
Madonna (1983) > Janet Jackson (1982)
Like A Virgin (1984) > Dream Street (1984)
True Blue (1986) > Control (1986)
Like A Prayer (1989) > Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989)

I like Janet but think Madonna trumped her each time out.

 

Terrible comparisons.

The reason why I'm comparing Control and Madonna is because those are the albums that broke them into pop superstardom.
You're just going by years which doesn't work very well in this case. Like a Prayer and Rhythm Nation is a decent comparison but we both know who would win.

 

Control

Darryl

 

Control. But, these two albums are not properly matched. A better match would be "Control" vs. "Like A Virgin".
"Control" was NOT Janet Jackson's first album.

 

Love both albums but Madonna easily.

 

Despite both albums being steeped in eighties synth-tastic production, I can still listen to parts of them
This takes me right back to being six years old, great video...

 

But if I remember rightly, this was the very first 7" single I chose in a shop when it was re-released in the UK in 1986... Still a good pop song.

 

Her first Sire 45 was "Holiday".

 

It was her breakout album so it fits.

 

LAV is what took Madonna to superstardom, not Madonna. Janet herself never truly came to dominate till 89's Rythym Nation. Control to answer the question.

 

Unfortunately I've already created a poll thread with RN.
http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/album-showdown-like-a-prayer-vs-rhythm-nation.397771/

 

But, it still wasn't her first. Janet's first album still spawned three hit singles. Perhaps not as big as the ones from Madonna's first, but at least it would be a fairer match, as they were relative unknowns when they were both released.

 

Bleachershane didn't say otherwise - he stated "Borderline" was the first 7" single he bought...

 

Janet wasn't unknown at all in 1982. Everyone knew who she was due to her famous siblings and her acting career...

 

Not only is Control the better album, it's aged better than Madonna's debut.

 

This. Can't forget all the acting she did prior to either of her first two records. Madonna was far less known than Janet by this time. Her first two records didn't really move but we knew who she was.

Ed

 

I know that. I was just sayin'...

 

Right. but, her acting career was separate from her singing career. Most people knew her as a kid on "Good Times".

 

Actually "Everybody" was her first Sire 45. "Everybody (Edit)" backed with "Everybody (Instrumental Version)"

 

...or the girl who dated Willis on "Diff'rent Strokes" or what's-her-name on "Fame". Janet was busy on the small screen. She even sang "Dream Street" on an episode of "Fame".

Ed

 

Does Janet still record nowadays? It's been a while since I recall seeing her. Is she juts 'inbetween' albums?

 

She retired from the music biz. Something Madonna should consider doing.

 

So overlooked & underappreciated

 

She did have a good run though. It doesn't last forever for anyone and Janet did do very well in her day.