"Black Cat" is the sixth single

Single (music)

In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...

 from American recording artist Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson

Janet Damita Jo Jackson is an American recording artist and actress. Known for a series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows, television and film roles, she has been a prominent figure in popular culture for over 25 years...

's fourth studio album, Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989). The song was written by Jackson herself. This is one of the three Jackson songs penned by herself, including, "Whoops Now

Whoops Now/What'll I Do

"Whoops Now" and "What'll I Do" are songs by American singer Janet Jackson from her fifth studio album, janet. . They were released in January 1995 as the album's eighth and ninth single, respectively.-Song information:...

" (1993) and "Ask for More

Ask for More

"Ask for More" is a song written, produced and performed by Janet Jackson as part of an advertising campaign for soft drink company Pepsi in 1999.-Song information:...

" (1998).

Song information

Unlike the R&B- and pop-infused songs that Jackson had been releasing before, this song was strictly a rock and roll

Rock and roll

Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...

 production solely written by Jackson and co-produced with one of the song's guitarists, Jellybean Johnson

Jellybean Johnson

Jellybean Johnson is an American drummer, guitarist, songwriter, producer and musician based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota...

. The song became Jackson's fourth chart-topper on the Billboard Hot 100

Billboard Hot 100

The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...

.

Jackson has performed the song on all of her tours, including the Rhythm Nation 1814 Tour

Rhythm Nation 1814 Tour

The Rhythm Nation World Tour is the debut concert tour by American recording artist Janet Jackson. It was launched in support of her fourth studio album Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 , and also contained material from her third studio album Control...

, janet. Tour

Janet. Tour

The Janet. World Tour is the second concert tour by American recording artist Janet Jackson. It was launched in support of her fifth studio album Janet . It began in November, 1993 and continued through April, 1995...

, The Velvet Rope Tour

The Velvet Rope Tour

The Velvet Rope World Tour is the third concert tour by American recording artist Janet Jackson. Launched in support of her sixth studio album The Velvet Rope , the tour embarked on an international trek that included Europe, North America, Africa, Asia, New Zealand and Australia.Due to the fact...

, All for You Tour

All for You Tour

The All for You Tour was a worldwide concert tour in 2001 by American pop/R&B singer Janet Jackson in support of her multi-platinum album All for You...

, and Rock Witchu Tour

Rock Witchu Tour

The Rock Witchu Tour was the fifth concert tour by American singer-songwriter, Janet Jackson, in support of her tenth studio album Discipline. This was Jackson's first tour in nearly seven years. The tour visited North America...

. It was also included in her current tour, Number Ones: Up Close and Personal

Number Ones: Up Close and Personal

Number Ones: Up Close and Personal is the sixth concert tour by American recording artist Janet Jackson. Described as her "largest world tour", the show is in support of her second compilation album, Number Ones...

.

Guitarists

For the album version of "Black Cat", most of the guitar lines were played by Dave Barry, including the intro, main riff, and a memorable thematic solo. Barry consequently became Janet Jackson's longtime touring guitarist. John McClain, A&R executive for A&M Records

A&M Records

A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...

, provided the slide-guitar part, while Jellybean Johnson

Jellybean Johnson

Jellybean Johnson is an American drummer, guitarist, songwriter, producer and musician based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota...

 played the funky guitar part that punctuates the album version of the song. Although credited on the album, Jesse Johnson

Jesse Johnson (musician)

Jesse Woods Johnson is a musician best known as the guitarist in the original lineup of The Time....

 provided a guitar solo that was not used for the album version, but is featured in each of the remixes.

Several "Black Cat" remixes include Nuno Bettencourt

Nuno Bettencourt

Nuno Duarte Gil Mendes Bettencourt is a Portuguese guitarist and singer-songwriter best known for his role as the lead guitarist of the Boston rock band Extreme whose hits include the acoustic ballads "More Than Words" and "Hole Hearted"...

 on rhythm guitar.

Releases

The B-side

A-side and B-side

A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...

 on some of the releases features "The 1814 Megamix

Megamix

A megamix is a medley remix containing multiple songs in rapid succession. There may be only one verse or even just a brief chorus of each song used, sometimes in addition to samples of the same or other songs. There may also be some elements of bastard pop in some, though not as much as a mashup...

". Remix

Remix

A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....

ed by Alan Coulthard, it includes snippets of Jackson's previous hit singles "Alright

Alright (Janet Jackson song)

"Alright" is the fourth single from American R&B and pop singer Janet Jackson's fourth studio album, Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 .-Song information:...

", "Escapade

Escapade (song)

"Escapade" is the third single from American R&B and pop singer Janet Jackson's fourth studio album, Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 .-Song information:...

", "Rhythm Nation

Rhythm Nation

"Rhythm Nation" is the second single from American R&B and pop singer Janet Jackson's fourth studio album, Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 .-Background:...

", and "Miss You Much

Miss You Much

"Miss You Much" is the lead single from American R&B and pop singer Janet Jackson's fourth studio album, Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 . The song was written and produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.-Song information:...

". The megamix does not appear on any other release from Jackson.

Music video

Directed by Wayne Isham

Wayne Isham

Wayne Isham is an American music video director who has directed music videos of many popular artists; such as Bon Jovi, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Roxette, Mötley Crüe, Britney Spears, Kelly Clarkson, Whitesnake, David Cook, Simple Plan, Avenged Sevenfold, Pantera, *NSYNC, Backstreet Boys,...

, the video

Music video

A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...

 for "Black Cat" was a concert video filmed during the Minneapolis stop on her Rhythm Nation 1814 Tour, April 5-6, 1990. The video appears on the video releases The Rhythm Nation Compilation and Design of a Decade 1986/1996

Design of a Decade 1986/1996 (video)

Design of a Decade 1986-1996 is a video compilation released by American R&B/pop singer Janet Jackson.-Release information:Released on October 10, 1995, it was Jackson's second compilation of music videos produced under her then-label A&M Records...

. On April 27, 2007, the video was released on the iTunes Store

ITunes Store

The iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States...

.

Track listings and formats

Canadian cassette single (75021 1477 4)

1. Video Mix/Long Solo - 4:48
2. Funky 7" - 4:41
3. 3 Snaps Up 7" - 4:24
4. "The 1814 Megamix" (Full Version) - 7:24
5. 3 Snaps Up Dub - 6:12

Australian 7" single (390548-7)

1. Edit Version – 4:30
2. "Lonely" – 4:59

UK 7" single (AM 587)

1. Edit Version – 4:30
2. "The 1814 Megamix" (Edit) – 4:36

UK 12" promo single (AMYDJ 587)

1. "The 1814 Megamix" (Full Version) – 7:24
2. 3 Snaps Up 12" – 7:31
3. Edit Version – 4:30

UK 12" single (AMY587)
UK 12" single (AMX587) (limited edition with badge and four live color postcards)

1. 3 Snaps Up 12" – 7:31
2. Album Version – 4:50
3. "The 1814 Megamix" (Full Version) – 7:24

German CD single (390 572-2)

1. Edit Version – 4:30
2. "The 1814 Megamix" (Full Version) – 7:24
3. 3 Snaps Up 12" – 7:31

German CD maxi single (397 098-2)

1. Edit Version – 4:30
2. Video Mix / Short Solo – 4:31
3. Video Mix / Long Solo – 4:48
4. Featuring Vernon Reid
   Vernon Reid
   Vernon Reid is an English-born American guitarist, songwriter, composer, and bandleader. Best known as the founder and primary songwriter of the heavy metal band Living Colour, Reid was named #66 on Rolling Stone magazine's 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.Critic Steve Huey writes, "[Reid's]...
   
    – 4:48
5. 3 Snaps Up 7" – 4:24
6. Funky 7" – 4:41
7. 3 Snaps Up 12" – 7:31
8. Funky 12" – 5:45
9. 3 Snaps Up Dub – 6:12
10. "The 1814 Megamix" (Full Version) – 7:24

U.S. 12" single (SP-12348)
Australian 12" single (390 548-1, 390 548-1)

1. Funky 12" – 5:45
2. Funky 7" – 4:41
3. Video Mix / Short Solo – 4:31
4. 3 Snaps Up 12" – 7:31
5. 3 Snaps Up 7" – 4:24
6. 3 Snaps Up Dub – 6:12

U.S. promo CD single (75021 7972 2)
Japanese CD single (PCCY-10144)

1. Video Mix / Short Solo – 4:31
2. Video Mix / Long Solo – 4:48
3. Edit Version – 4:30
4. Featuring Vernon Reid – 4:48
5. 3 Snaps Up 7" – 4:24
6. Funky 7" – 4:41
7. 3 Snaps Up 12" – 7:31
8. Funky 12" – 5:45
9. 3 Snaps Up Dub – 6:12

Japanese 3" CD single (PCDY-10017)

1. Video Mix / Short Solo – 4:31
2. Featuring Vernon Reid – 4:48

Official remixes

• Album Version – 4:50
• Edit Version – 4:28
• Video Mix Long Solo (additional rhythm guitars by Nuno Bettencourt
  Nuno Bettencourt
  Nuno Duarte Gil Mendes Bettencourt is a Portuguese guitarist and singer-songwriter best known for his role as the lead guitarist of the Boston rock band Extreme whose hits include the acoustic ballads "More Than Words" and "Hole Hearted"...
  
  ) – 4:48
• Video Mix Short Solo (additional rhythm guitars by Nuno Bettencourt) – 4:31
• 3 Snaps Up 7" – 4:24
• 3 Snaps Up 12" – 7:31
• 3 Snaps Up Dub – 6:12
• Funky 7" – 4:41
• Funky 12" – 5:44
• Guitar Mix featuring Vernon Reid
  Vernon Reid
  Vernon Reid is an English-born American guitarist, songwriter, composer, and bandleader. Best known as the founder and primary songwriter of the heavy metal band Living Colour, Reid was named #66 on Rolling Stone magazine's 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.Critic Steve Huey writes, "[Reid's]...
  
   – 4:46

Peak positions

Chart (1990)	Peak position
Australian Singles Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...	6
Belgian Singles Chart Ultratop 50 Ultratop 50 singles, often just Ultratop 50, is the weekly chart of fifty best-selling singles in Flanders, Belgium, and is produced and published by the Ultratop organization. The chart has existed since March 31, 1995...  (Flanders)	33
Canadian Singles Chart Canadian Singles Chart The Canadian Singles Chart is currently compiled by the U.S.-based music sales tracking company, Nielsen SoundScan . The chart is compiled every Wednesday, and is published by Jam! Canoe on Thursdays....	9
Dutch Top 40 Dutch Top 40 The Dutch Top 40 is a weekly music chart, which started as the "Veronica Top 40", because the offshore radio station Radio Veronica was the first to introduce it. It remained "The Veronica Top 40" until 1974, when the station was forced to stop broadcasting...	21
Finnish Singles Chart	6
German Singles Chart Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie...	34
Irish Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured...	11
New Zealand Singles Chart Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand...	25
Norwegian Singles Chart VG-lista VG-listen is a Norwegian record chart. It is weekly presented in the newspaper VG and the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation program Topp 20. It is considered the primary Norwegian record chart, charting albums and singles from countries and continent around the world. The data is collected by...	5
Swedish Singles Chart Sverigetopplistan Sverigetopplistan, earlier known as Topplistan and Hitlistan and other names, is since October 2007 the Swedish national record chart, based on sales data from Swedish Recording Industry Association ....	16
Swiss Singles Chart Swiss Music Charts The Swiss Music Charts are Switzerland's main music sales charts. The charts are a record of the highest-selling singles and albums in various genres in Switzerland.The Swiss Charts include:* Singles Top 75...	10
UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...	15
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...	1
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...	10
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play	17

End of year charts

End of year chart (1990)	Position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	59