What Have You Done for Me Lately
Janet Jackson
1986
Annual listening-list association, not an original-release-date field. Original release year reconciled with reviewed recording-specific Artist Essentials evidence in v3.6.
Release: 1986
Release: 1986Source checked
V3.6 reconciles the original release year with the reviewed Artist Essentials entry for this exact retained recording ID. Year precision is used; an album-first release is not silently replaced by a later single, reissue or annual-list year. The original recording is documented in the 1986 release history of Control. Only year precision is assigned; later singles, charts, remasters and live versions do not establish its first release.
The large badge identifies this listening list, not a newly issued recording. Later reissues and renewed chart popularity do not replace an original release date. How years are assigned.
Owner-supplied release annotations
Reported dates in 1986.html, 1986.html. Not independently established; neighboring dates can reflect album/single or regional differences.
Control - original A&M album metadata
The original 1986 nine-track program identifies Control, Nasty, What Have You Done for Me Lately, The Pleasure Principle, When I Think of You and Let's Wait Awhile. Later remasters and remix editions are separate.
Control - official original release history and program
The artist store explicitly dates the original album to February 1986 and lists its nine original tracks. The current CD sale is not used as a release date.
Inspiration and background
Supplied note - not independently verified
This note came with the supplied collection and has not been independently verified.
Written by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, this song addresses relationship expectations.
Evidence scope: Source-provided note, not an established account of the songwriter's intent
Sources for this information
Owner-supplied 1986.html, song-list position 38
Supplied annotation reproduced with attribution; underlying historical claims have NOT been independently verified.
Other appearances and versions
catalog version unspecified
Textual identity reconciliation, not audio-fingerprint or exact-pressing verification. Version labels are catalog safeguards.
An annual chart year and an original release date are different. Similar titles may be covers or different masters; no audio fingerprint has been performed.
Sources and scope
Source-backed annual association (secondary source; not a complete discographic review)
Editorial artist-repertoire classification
Billboard year-end 1986 table (Wikipedia transcription)
Secondary chart transcription reviewed for title, artist and annual association. Not proof of release date, genre or inspiration.
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1960-2025. Each year contains 150 selections.