La Toya Jackson was the first female sibling of the Jackson family to pursue a solo musical career. Her debut album “La Toya Jackson” was released in 1980 on Polydor Records, comprised by a mix of funk uptempo songs and ballads. The first single off the album, “If You Feel The Funk”, was critically acclaimed and was a chart single in most European countries (#40 on the Billboard R&B Charts, #17 Billboard Dance/Club Play), #42 in Germany, and #18 in Holland), as well as an US moderate R&B hit. The second single, “Night Time Lover”, didn’t do as well as the first single release, although it was co-written and co-produced by her brother Michael Jackson. The album also included a cover version of the Billy Ocean hit “Are You Ready?”.
One year later Jackson released her sophomore album “My Special Love,” which was basically similarly constructed as her debut album. Again, she co-wrote one of the songs with her sister Janet Jackson and she did another cover version of a Billy Ocean hit, this time the song “Stay The Night,” which was also released as the first single off the album. Her brothers, Tito Jackson, Marlon Jackson and Jackie Jackson also contributed to the album. During that time, La Toya was still managed by her father Joseph Jackson.
In 1983 she signed a new record deal with Private Eye Records, a division of Epic Records (the same label that her brother Michael was signed to at that time). She recorded her most successful album so far: “Heart Don’t Lie,” which was released in 1984. Jackson co-wrote half of the songs herself and worked with the producer team Amir Bayyan. La Toya finally cracked the US Billboard Charts with the hit single “Heart Don’t Lie” (#56) and scored a few other Top 40 hits on the Billboard Dance/Club Play & R&B Charts with singles off the “Heart Don’t Lie” album. While promoting the album, she did a guest appearance on the US TV show “The Unknown Stuntman” with Lee Majors and presented her current single “Hot Potato” on the show.
One of the songs initially meant to be included on Heart Don’t Lie, “Reggae Nights”, did not end up on La Toya’s album (although she co-wrote the song as well). It was given to Jimmy Cliff, who released it as a single in 1985.
Another album, “Imagination,” was released in 1986 without much notice. It received mostly poor reviews.
The albums La Toya Jackson, My Special Love and Heart Don’t Lie were released on CD in Japan only. Official CD copies of this album may fetch up to hundreds of dollars on eBay. A petition has been started on the Church of La Toya fan site to get all 4 albums remastered and re-released on CD with bonus songs and remixes.
In 1987 Jackson left the management company of her father Joseph Jackson and also left the Jackson residence in Encino, USA. At that time she was 31 years old and she decided it was time for her to stand on her own feet. She also decided to let Jack Gordon manage her music career from then on.
In 1987 Jackson signed a record deal with Teldec Records in Germany. They teamed her up with European’s hottest dance producer team during that time: Stock/Aitken/Waterman (who were responsible for all hit singles by Rick Astley, Kylie Minogue, Sinitta, Mandy Smith, Dead Or Alive and a successful album by Donna Summer). They recorded 3 songs for her 1988 album “La Toya.” The first single from the album was “(Ain’t Nobody Loves You) Like I Do”. She recorded the anti-drug campaign song “Just Say No,” which was recorded for Nancy Reagan’s anti-drug campaign for which Jackson was also a spokesperson.
On the cover of Playboy, March 1989
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On the cover of Playboy, March 1989
Jackson caused much controversy when she posed for Playboy magazine in March 1989. A few months later she recorded another album, “Bad Girl,” for Teldec Records. The album was never released on the Teldec label but appeared one year later on the Italian Record label Sherman Records. It was later licensed to hundreds of small record labels, thus the album was re-released at least in 50 different editions under various names, such as “Sexual Feeling,” “He’s My Brother” or “Playboy.” Among the songwriters for this album were German producers Klarmann/Weber and Tony Monn.
In 1991 Jackson moved to Europe where she released her 7th studio album No Relations. The album explored European house music and included the single Sexbox which was a minor hit in Holland. (#25) In the album sleeve she slated her parents and called for an end to child abuse. No Relations was never released in the US. She also posed a second time for Playboy magazine this year.
In 1992 La Toya signed up to do a Cabaret Showgirl act at the Moulin Rouge for 1 year, the bulk of her songs were in French, the only English one being a cover of Little Eva’s “The Loco-Motion. After doing the show for only 4 months, La Toya quit and was immediately sued by the Moulin Rouge for breach of contract.
In 1993, she recorded a Country Music album by the name of From Nashville To You, the album has been released 2 more times as “My Country Collection” and “Little Misunderstood” with more dull covers than the first pressing. No singles were released from this album, although La Toya did perform Patsy Cline’s “Crazy” on The Maury Show, the album contains many covers of Country Music classics, such as a cover of Elvis’s “Burnin’ Love”. The album was recorded within 3 days, more or less.
In 1994, La Toya’s husband, who was also the controlling force behind From Nashville To You, forced La Toya into recording an album of Motown classics, it was recorded within about 2 hours. La Toya’s vocals weren’t as polished on this album as they were on the Country album and the rest of her Jack Gordon produced albums. The bulk of the songs were Supremes covers as well as covers by The Four Tops, Smokey Robinson and her very own brothers, The Jackson Five. One CD Single of two Supremes covers was released, it was a double A-Side CD Single with 1 track being “Baby Love” and the second track being a slightly shorter version of “I Can’t Help Myself” than on the album. The CD Single failed to top the charts in Holland (where it was released) and even failing to at least dent the charts.
These would be the last 2 albums La Toya recorded under Jack Gordon’s control, before filing for divorce and possibly a restraining order against him.
Frustration
La Toya Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Trying to figure out which way this madness will end
Do you want my love, do you want love, to refuse
I can't stand the pain no more my mind is so confused
You bring me frustration
Let me say that up-up and down
Tricky situation
Do you want my love
So much frustration
Let me say that up-up and down (up and down)
?Don?t know what you're doing to me
Do you want my love?
Don't want to hear no more sweet talk
It's not the place and time
Can't keep on hanging on
My life is on a thin line
I get a feeling it's a hopeless situation
We've come to a dead-end street
And what you had goin' wasn't that bad
But you can't see the forest for the trees
You bring me frustration
Let me say that up-up and down (up and down)
Tricky situation
Frustration
Do you want my love?
Frustration
Let me say that up-up and down (up and down)
Tricky situation
Frustration
Do you want my love?
So much frustration
Let me say that up-up and down (up and down)
I don?t know what you're doing to me
Do you want my love?
Sometimes I sit and remember (I remember)
What we had was so sweet
It's really strange how love changes
But now the time has come
All that's left is to say goodbye
Been through so many changes
Can't even bring myself to cry
You know it's really a shame
That I can't stay with you no?more
We had a love so true but now all I want you to do
Is hit the door, hit the door, hit the door?
Gotta hit the door ?ohh
Don't want you no more
You bring me Frustration
Let me say that up-up and down (up and down)
I don?t know what you're doing to me (don?t know what you?re doing to me--)
Do you want my love? (Do you really want my love?)
Frustration
Let me say that up-up and down (up and down)
Tricky situation
Do you want my love? (Do you really, do you really want my love?)
Frustration
Let me say that up-up and down (up and down)
I don?t know what you're doing to me (do you?--)
Do you want my love? (do you baby?)
Do you really want my love?
Frustration
Yeah!
The lyrics to La Toya Jackson's "Frustration" are about a complicated and frustrating relationship that's come to a dead end. She sings about her confusion and emotional pain, unsure whether her partner wants her love or is refusing it. The title of the song expresses her feelings of exasperation and desperation, unable to bear the frustration any longer.
The first verse conveys her mental and emotional state, as she tries to figure out how the madness will end. The chorus repeats the word frustration and highlights the tricky situation she's in with her partner. The back and forth of the relationship brings her so much frustration, and it's unclear whether they want her love, to refuse it or can't see the forest for the trees, a metaphor for not seeing what's important because of getting caught up in petty things. The second verse speaks to her impassioned desire to move on, feeling like she's hanging by a thread, and it's a hopeless situation that's left her with no choice but to say goodbye.
Overall, the song seems to be about feeling stuck in a tumultuous relationship, unable to move on, and trapped in a cycle of frustration and confusion, but by the end of the song, she's decided to let go and move on.
Line by Line Meaning
Boy, my mind is in a tail-spin
I am overwhelmed, my thoughts are chaotic.
Trying to figure out which way this madness will end
I can't predict how this situation will conclude.
Do you want my love, do you want love, to refuse
Are you rejecting my love or do you want it?
I can't stand the pain no more my mind is so confused
I am in too much emotional distress and my thoughts are jumbled.
You bring me frustration
You cause me annoyance and vexation.
Let me say that up-up and down
I want to emphasize how much you frustrate me.
Tricky situation
This is a difficult and complex issue to navigate.
Do you want my love?
Do you really desire a romantic relationship with me?
Don't want to hear no more sweet talk
I am tired of hearing insincere and flattering words.
It's not the place and time
This is not an appropriate situation for romantic talk.
Can't keep on hanging on
I cannot continue to hold onto this relationship.
My life is on a thin line
My life is in a precarious and dangerous situation.
I get a feeling it's a hopeless situation
I don't believe there is any chance of resolving this.
We've come to a dead-end street
We cannot move forward in this relationship.
And what you had goin' wasn't that bad
Our past relationship wasn't terrible.
But you can't see the forest for the trees
You are missing the big picture and focusing on minor details.
Sometimes I sit and remember (I remember)
I reflect on our past relationship.
What we had was so sweet
Our relationship was once very pleasant.
It's really strange how love changes
It's odd how love can transform over time.
But now the time has come
It's time to end this relationship.
All that's left is to say goodbye
There is nothing else to do but end things.
Been through so many changes
We have experienced many ups and downs.
Can't even bring myself to cry
I am too numb to feel any emotional reaction.
You know it's really a shame
It's unfortunate that things have come to this.
That I can't stay with you no?more
I cannot continue our relationship.
Is hit the door, hit the door, hit the door?
Please leave and do not come back.
Don't want you no more
I am done with this relationship and I do not want to continue.
Do you really want my love?
Are you truly interested in having a romantic relationship with me?
Yeah!
An exclamation to emphasize her emotions in the song.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: NICK GILDER, JAMES MC CULLOCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jeff Bodrie
Why this was never released as a single is crazy. Haven't head this in 20 years. Thank you for posting!!!
soulchildsacomin
I dunno, but I think this song should've been for either Shalamar or Janet Jackson. This doesn't match too good for LaToya
Dashland B
it does sound like a Shalamar song. I like this song!
JENNIFER Wisdom
Hot ALBUMs ms latoya JACKSON love JENNIFER WISDOM