Jimmy Jam on Working with Janet Jackson, Prince & More
Sound Opinions
Sound Opinions
4.3 • 2K Ratings
🗓️ 28 October 2022
⏱️ 53 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Since the 1980s, producers and songwriters Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis have made huge hits with artists like Janet Jackson, Boyz II Men and Mariah Carey. But finally in 2021, the duo released their debut album as artists. Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot chat with Jimmy Jam about the record and his illustrious past work. Plus, we hear the song that got Garbage's Shirley Manson Hooked on Sonics.
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Featured Songs:
Jam & Lewis, "Spinnin (feat. Mary J. Blige)," Jam & Lewis, Volume One, Flyte Tyme, BMG, 2021
Jam & Lewis, "Somewhat Loved (There You Go Breakin' My Heart) (feat. Mariah Carey)," Jam & Lewis, Volume One, Flyte Tyme, BMG, 2021
Janet Jackson, "What Have You Done for Me Lately," Control, A&M, 1986
Jam & Lewis, "The Next Best Day (feat. Boyz II Men)," Jam & Lewis, Volume One, Flyte Tyme, BMG, 2021
The S.O.S. Band, "Tell Me If You Still Care," On the Rise, Tabu/Epic, 1983
Cornbread Harris and Friends, "PutThe World," Cornbread Supreme Volume 1, 2631577 Records DK, 2002
Janet Jackson, "Control," Control, A&M, 1986
The S.O.S. Band, "Just Be Good to Me," On the Rise, Tabu/Epic, 1983
Jam & Lewis, "Happily Unhappy (feat. Toni Braxton)," Jam & Lewis, Volume One, Flyte Tyme, BMG, 2021
New Edition, "Can You Stand the Rain," Heart Break, MCA, 1987
Janet Jackson, "Nasty," Control, A&M, 1986
The S.O.S. Band, "Take Your Time (Do It Right)," SOS, Tabu, 1980
Janet Jackson, "Miss You Much," Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814, A&M, 1989
Chaka Khan, "Angel," Funk This, Burgundy, 2007
Garbage, "No Gods No Masters," No Gods No Masters, Infectious Music, 2021
Stray Cats, "Stray Cat Strut," Stray Cats, Arista, 1981
Superchunk, "Endless Summer," Wild Loneliness, Merge, 2022
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hey Sound Opinions listeners, if you support us on Patreon, you get to listen to our podcast |
| 0:05.8 | ad-free on Patreon. |
| 0:35.2 | You're listening to Sound Opinions, and later in the episode we'll hear from Shirley Manson of Garbage |
| 0:41.2 | talking about the song that made her want to become a rock star. I'm Jim DeRogatus, and I'm Greg Kahn, |
| 0:47.2 | but first we revisit our conversation with songwriter, producer, and artist Jimmy Jam of Jam and Lewis. |
| 1:04.3 | That is a little bit of the song somewhat loved, featuring Mariah Carey from our guest this week, |
| 1:26.0 | the incredible producer, Jimmy Jam. Jimmy is best known as one-half of the songwriting and |
| 1:32.8 | production duo, Jam and Lewis alongside his partner, Terry Lewis. They both grew up in Minnesota and |
| 1:40.1 | began making music together in the late 70s, getting their start, working with a little |
| 1:45.2 | lone artist from the area, but you might have heard of him, Prince, in a band that eventually became |
| 1:52.0 | Maris Day in the time, a little brother band to Prince in the Revolution. Since the early 80s, |
| 1:58.4 | they've created huge hits for Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Boyz Demen, and so many more. However, |
| 2:05.7 | Mr. Kahn, for all of the accolades, Jam and Lewis have accumulated, there was one thing left on |
| 2:12.2 | their bucket list. Yes, Jim, and over the years as I've interviewed Jimmy, I estimate about this, |
| 2:18.4 | there was a million dollar question in every Jimmy Jam interview. You have worked with everybody |
| 2:23.6 | on the face of the earth that seems like had hits with so many artists, and yet, Jam and Lewis |
| 2:29.3 | somehow never found the time to get together and do their own record. Well, now, almost 40 years |
| 2:34.9 | after they began, Jam and Lewis have released their debut record, Jam and Lewis Volume 1, a promising |
| 2:41.6 | title, the same volume too, might be coming. We caught up with the legendary producer and songwriter, |
| 2:48.0 | Jimmy Jam, and started the conversation by asking him what the heck took so long. |
| 2:53.7 | Well, a lot of things got in our way, mostly artists that we were working with over the years. |
| 3:00.8 | I mean, we started really the process of doing our album back before we did control with Janet, |
... |
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