awwww I was a young 20 something in my first apartment, and back then CDs would be on the street before the actual store release, so some shops would have the CD and promo already, and I bought mine from a small black owned music shop.
I remember always reading the liner notes in the CD booklet, it was so crisp and smooth, and the smell of a new CD being opened is unique. I loved the photos, I recall a lot of people loved the album because it had so many layers and beats. I honestly loved the VR right out the gate.
Janet's sales were always a talking point, and because GTIG was the first single, the album sales didnt take off right away, I dont know why Janet was always being put to this litmus test of being "legit" but even during the VR era she was, BUT after the release of TA, talks of the album sales went away
MTV was the go to for promo, and Janet did a ton with Bill Bellamy
I listened to the album in my apartment from my speakers for the first time and it was just this grand ride of sonic sound and artistry, the VR project was beautiful. I remember the tour started in Europe, and she wore her hair differently as well as the red jacket to open the show. I saw her on tour in the summer in Detroit, when my best friend and I from the floor 15th row met Rene, he talked about the show being like a play in three acts and how the crew had just came back from vacation to some tropical place, Rene was very tan, and looked great in person, at the time, he sat down with my best friend and I and talked with us for awhile, we didnt ask to meet Janet, kinda sucks that I have loved Janet this much this long and never met her, she did grab my hand in Detroit on AFY tour front row thou during STCML