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.
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La Toya Jackson Lyrics
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It always makes me cry, it's one I can no longer hide
Missing all the years that we all shared at home
The silly things we did, laughing, from early dusk to dawn
I remember when, we were our best friends...
Home, it was so many years ago
Parted by the fame we grew to only know
Many years that we let pass
Life's not fair but I know our love will always last
We sing on, the memories we all once had
When I'm alone, I think of our busy lives
Traveling place to place, we must have met with family,
it was nice
Joker missed you to, and all the fun we had
Never parted a day until we, we went our separate ways
I remember when, we were our best friends...
Home, it was so many years ago
Parted by the fame we grew to only know
It was true when they say the show must go
Many years that we let pass
Life's not fair but I know our love will always last
We sing on, the memories we all once had
Home, it was so many years ago (so many years)
Parted by the fame we grew to only know
It was true when they say the show must go
Many years that we let pass
Life's not fair but I know our love will always last
We sing on, the memories we all once had
So don't you tell me that I know what I'm feelin'
And don't you tell me that I'm dreamin'
Like Mother always said, your family will always be there for you
It don't have to be this way,
let's make tomorrow a much, much brighter day
And don't let this time between us, slip away
Just slip away...
Home, it was so many years ago
Parted by the fame we grew to only know
It was true when they say the show must go
Many years that we let pass
Life's not fair but I know our love will always last
We sing on, the memories we all once had
Home, it was so many years ago
Parted by the fame we grew to only know (grew to only know)
It was true when they say the show must go
Many years that we let pass (so many years)
Life's not fair but I know our love will always last
We sing on, the memories we all once had
The memories we all once had
La Toya Jackson's song, "Home," is a powerful and emotional piece that speaks to the feeling of being lost and disconnected, as well as the overwhelming sense of relief that comes with finally finding a place where one belongs. The song opens with the imagery of being trapped and immobilized by a feeling or sound that is coming from within. The lyrics use the metaphor of a cage and a trap to describe the feeling of being stuck and unable to move forward.
The second verse speaks to the physical sensations of being in a place that is unfamiliar and overwhelming, using the metaphor of drowning in time to a desperate beat. The lyrics here also evoke a sense of desperation and despair, as though the singer is clinging to anything in order to keep from being completely consumed by the overwhelming sensation of being lost.
Despite the desperation of the lyrics, the chorus of the song is incredibly uplifting and hopeful. The singer expresses gratitude for the person who has brought her to this place, for showing her home and singing these tears. The final lines of the chorus are particularly powerful, with the singer declaring that she has finally found where she belongs.
Overall, "Home" is a song that evokes a sense of longing and desperation, but also a feeling of hope and relief. The lyrics make use of powerful imagery and metaphors to convey the emotional weight of the singer's experience, and the chorus provides a message of hope and belonging that is both uplifting and inspiring.
Line by Line Meaning
Here is a song from the wrong side of town
The song is originating from the unprivileged or neglected side of the town.
Where I'm bound to the ground by the loneliest sound
The singer is weighed down by an extreme level of isolation which is grounding her.
And it pounds from within and is pinning me down
The sound of loneliness is so intense, that it feels like coming from inside the singer, and it's holding her down.
Here is a page from the emptiest stage
The singer's environment feels like a stage, but the stage is completely empty, meaning no one or nothing is there.
A cage or the heaviest cross ever made
The environment is so severe that it feels like a cage, or a burden as heavy as a cross.
A gauge of the deadliest trap ever laid
The environment feels like a measure of the deadliest trap ever set, feeling unescapable.
And I thank you for bringing me here
The singer is expressing gratitude to someone, thanking them for bringing her to this point.
For showing me home
The person has helped the singer navigate a difficult path and has shown her where to find a safe place or home.
For singing these tears
The person has helped the singer express her emotions and cry out her pain.
Finally I've found that I belong here
The singer has found her place in this world, where she feels at home and truly belongs.
The heat and the sickliest sweet smelling sheets
The singer is mentioning physical sensations like the heat and the smell that are causing her discomfort.
That cling to the backs of my knees and my feet
The discomfort is so intense that it seems to be sticking to the singer's body.
Well, I'm drowning in time to a desperate beat
The singer feels like she's sinking into a desperate situation, moving in time with the emotional beat.
Feels like home I should have known from my first breath
The safe space the singer has found feels so perfect that it feels like this was always her home from the moment she was born.
God send the only true friend I call mine
The singer is asking God to send her the one person she can truly call her friend.
Pretend that I'll make amends the next time
The singer pretends that she'll fix things or make it better the next time they cross paths.
Befriend the glorious end of the line
The singer is accepting her fate and making peace with whatever end awaits her.
And I thank you for bringing me here
Again, the singer is showing gratitude for being brought to a safe place.
For showing me home
Being guided to a safe and comfortable place, leaving the difficult environment behind.
For singing these tears
Grateful to have found someone who has helped her release her emotional pain.
Finally, I've found that I belong here
The singer has discovered her place in the world where she feels like belongs.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Arpita Banerjee
HOME
When I'm all alone,
I get this feeling
It always makes me cry, It's one
I can no longer hide
Missing all the years that we all shared at home
The silly things we did
Laughing from early dusk to dawn
I remember when we were all best friends...
Home,
It was so many years ago
Parted by the fame we grew to only know
It was true when they say he show must go
Many years that we let pass
Life's not fair but I know our love will always last
We sing on the memories we all once had
When I'm all alone I think of our busy lives
Traveling place to place
we must have met with family it was nice
Joker missed you too and all the fun we had
Never parted a day until we, we went our separate ways
I remember when we were all best friends...
Home,
It was so many years ago
Parted by the fame we grew to only know
It was true when they say the show must go
Many years that we let pass
Life's not fair but I know our love will always last
We sing on the memories we all once had
Home,
It was so many years ago
Parted by the fame we grew to only know
It was true when they say the show must go
Many years that we let pass
Life's not fair but I know our love will always last
We sing on the memories we all
once had
So don't you tell me that I know what I'm feelin'
And don't you tell me that just I'm dreamin
Like mother always said,
your family will always be there for you
It don't have to be this wsy
Let's make tomorrow a much much brighter day
And don't let this time between us just slip away
Just slip away...
Home,
It was so many years ago
Parted by the fame we grew to only know
It was true when they say the show must go
Many years that we let pass
Life's not fair but I know our love will always last
We sing on the memories we all once had
Home,
It was so many years ago
Parted by the fame we grew to only know
It was true when they say the show must go
Many years that we let pass
Life's not fair but I know our love will always last
We sing on the memories we all once had
The memories we all once had...
Donte Porchia
❤️
Jouse Portillo
Forever young,love u
Jouse Portillo
Hugs kisses
Jouse Portillo
Love then now forever moment future spere beyond happiness forward
Torris Ali
Hmmm....she should sing a hook in rap songs. Like what Janet did with Busta Rhymes and occasional short cameos in slap stick comedy or action films. Nothing Grand. Have you seen how small cameos made people legends these days.