The Velvet Rope

***The Velvet Rope*** is the sixth studio album by American singer Janet Jackson. The album was released on October 7, 1997 through Virgin Records. It was the last album that Jackson would use her full name on the title. _The Velvet Rope_ was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

## Reviews

_The Velvet Rope_ received mixed to positive reviews.

## Track listing

- Samples
- "Velvet Rope" samples "Hobo Scratch" by Malcolm McLaren and The World Famous Supreme Team and "Tubular Bells" by Mike Oldfield.
- "You" samples "The Cisco Kid" by War.
- "Got 'til It's Gone" samples "Big Yellow Taxi" by Joni Mitchell.
- "My Need" samples "Love Hangover" by Diana Ross and "You're All I Need to Get By" by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell.
- "Together Again" samples "Bridge Zone"  by Yuzo Koshiro.
- "Free Xone" samples "Think (About It)" by Lyn Collins, "Tighten Up" by Archie Bell & the Drells, and "Joyous" by Pleasure.

## Personnel

Credits adapted from AllMusic.

- Musicians

- David Barry – guitar
- Lee Blaske – string arrangements
- Jan Chong – violin
- Carolyn Daws – violin
- Hanley Daws – violin
- Glen Donnellen – viola
- Lynne Erickson – trumpet
- Charles Gray – viola
- Alyssa Hanson – vocals
- Rayvaline Harrell – choir director
- Shawnette Heard – vocals
- Camilla Heller – cello
- Joshua Koestenbaum – cello
- Kelly Konno – vocals
- Tina Landon – vocals
- Brenda Mickens – violin
- Joni Mitchell – performer
- Debbie Morrison – vocals
- Dale Newton – cello

- Willie R. Norwood – choir director
- Alice Preves – viola
- Prof. T. – vocals
- Q-Tip – rap, performer
- Myrna Rain – viola
- Nicholas Raths – guitar
- Gary Raynor – bass
- Alexander Richbourg – vocals, drum programming, rhythm arrangements
- Miko Salone – vocals
- Mike Scott – guitar
- Leslie Shank – violin
- Daryl Skobba – cello
- Liz Sobieski – violin
- Mike Sobieski – violin
- Daria Tedeschi – violin
- United Children's Choir – choir, chorus
- Vanessa-Mae – violin, performer
- James "Big Jim" Wright – organ, keyboards, vocals, rhythm arrangements

- Production

- Flavia Cureteu – design
- Steve Durkee – assistant engineer
- Rene Elizondo, Jr. – executive producer
- Brian Gardner – mastering
- Steve Gerdes – design
- Steve Hodge – engineer, mixing
- Ken Holmen – clarinet, flute, saxophone
- Janet Jackson – vocals, background vocals, producer, executive producer, vocal arrangement, rhythm arrangements
- Jimmy Jam – producer, vocal arrangement, rhythm arrangements

- Tim Lauber – engineer, assistant engineer
- Terry Lewis – producer, vocal arrangement, rhythm arrangements
- Michael McCoy – assistant engineer
- Mike Ozdozzi – mastering assistant
- Len Peltier – art direction
- Xavier Smith – assistant engineer
- Mario Testino – photography
- Ellen von Unwerth – photography
- Bradley Yost – assistant engineer

### Weekly charts

|Chart (1997–98)|Peak position|||
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
|Australian Albums (ARIA)|style="text-align:center;"|4||
|Austrian Albums (IFPI)|style="text-align:center;"|9||
|Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)|style="text-align:center;"|11||
|Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)|style="text-align:center;"|14||
|Canadian Albums (Billboard)|style="text-align:center;"|2||
|Danish Albums (Tracklisten)|style="text-align:center;"|1||
|Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)|style="text-align:center;"|3||
|European Albums (European Top 100)|style="text-align:center;"|4||
|Finland Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)|style="text-align:center;"|19||
|French Albums (SNEP)|style="text-align:center;"|5||
|German Albums (Official Top 100)|style="text-align:center;"|5||
|Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)|style="text-align:center;"|40||
|Italian Albums (FIMI)|style="text-align:center;"|11||
|Japanese Albums (Oricon)|style="text-align:center;"|10||
|New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)|style="text-align:center;"|8||
|Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)|style="text-align:center;"|4||
|South African Albums Chart|style="text-align:center;"|1||
|Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)|style="text-align:center;"|10||
|Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)|style="text-align:center;"|4||
|Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)|style="text-align:center;"|5||
|United Kingdom Albums (OCC)|style="text-align:center;"|6||
|US _Billboard_ 200|style="text-align:center;"|1||
||US _Billboard_ Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|style="text-align:center;"|2|
|US _Billboard_ Catalog Albums|style="text-align:center;"|30||

### Year-end charts

|align="left"|Chart (1997)|style="text-align:center;"|Position|
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
|Australian Albums Chart|style="text-align:center;"|42||
|Belgian Albums Chart (Wallonia)|style="text-align:center;"|85||
|US _Billboard_ 200 (SoundScan)|style="text-align:center;"|115||
|Australian Albums Chart|style="text-align:center;"|82||
|Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders)|style="text-align:center;"|43||
|Belgian Albums Chart (Wallonia)|style="text-align:center;"|39||
|Canadian Albums Chart|style="text-align:center;"|34||
|Dutch Albums Chart|style="text-align:center;"|20||
|French Albums Chart|style="text-align:center;"|17||
|Italian Albums Chart|style="text-align:center;"|42||
|Swiss Albums Chart|style="text-align:center;"|43||
|US _Billboard_ 200|style="text-align:center;"|27||

## Infobox (album)

- **name**: The Velvet Rope
- **type**: studio
- **artist**: Janet Jackson
- **released**: October 7, 1997
- **recorded**: January – July 1997
- **label**: Virgin Records, Virgin
- **prev title**: Design of a Decade: 1986–1996
- **prev year**: 1995
- **next title**: All for You (Janet Jackson album), All for You
- **next year**: 2001