meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Sound Opinions

Jimmy Jam on Working with Janet Jackson, Prince & More

Sound Opinions

Sound Opinions

Society & Culture, Music, Arts

4.42K 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. Become a member on Patreon: https://bit.ly/3slWZvc

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

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,

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Sound Opinions, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Sound Opinions and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.