A listen to
Janet Jackson's
Dream Street brings to mind remembrances of the then-teenaged singer's appearances on American Bandstand, shyly answering questions from host Dick Clark, as well as her short stint as a regular on the syndicated series Fame. The first single, "Don't Stand Another Chance," was a family affair, produced by brother
Marlon Jackson with vocal ad-libs by
Michael Jackson. It was a Top Ten R&B hit during the summer of 1984. The extended 12" mix rocks, showcasing outstanding synth work by
John Barnes. Other standouts are the smeary Minneapolis funk cut "Pretty Boy" produced by
Jesse Johnson, and both "Hold Back the Tears" and "If It Takes All Night" are prime examples of pleasing '80s pop. ~ Ed Hogan