"The Best Things in Life Are Free" is a song by Luther Vandross

Luther Vandross

Luther Ronzoni Vandross was an American singer-songwriter and record producer. During his career, Vandross sold over twenty-five million albums and won eight Grammy Awards including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four times...

 and 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...

.

Song information

Released in 1992, the song was originally recorded for the Mo' Money

Mo' Money (soundtrack)

Mo' Money is a 1992 soundtrack for the movie Mo' Money. The soundtrack was very successful, it reached and peaked at number six on the US Billboard 200, and peaked at number two on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart...

soundtrack. It was nominated for a Grammy Award

Grammy Award

A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...

 for "Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals

Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals

The Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal was awarded between 1970 and 2011. From 1967 to 1969 and in 1971 the award included instrumental performances...

".

It was the first all-new song Jackson recorded at the new location of Flyte Tyme Studios in Edina

Edina, Minnesota

Edina is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States, and a first-ring suburb situated immediately southwest of Minneapolis. Edina began as a small farming and milling community in the 1860s. The population was 47,941 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...

, MN

Minnesota

Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...

, which was completed 2 months after wrapping up recording on her fourth studio album Rhythm Nation 1814

Rhythm Nation 1814

Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 is the fourth studio album by American recording artist Janet Jackson, released on September 19, 1989, by A&M Records. Despite demands from label executives for material similar to her previous album, Control , she insisted on creating a concept album addressing...

 in May 1989 at the original Minneapolis studio. She had done re-recordings and remixes there from 1989 to 1991.

For the first time, Jackson included the song on her current 2011 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...

.

Chart performance

"The Best Things in Life Are Free" went to number one on the R&B singles chart and debuted at number 24 on the 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...

 the week of May 30, 1992. Three weeks later, the song peaked at number 10 for three consecutive weeks. The single was a staple on pop and R&B radio during the summer of 1992, spending 18 weeks in the Top 40, through September 26, 1992.

In the United Kingdom the song was released in August 1992 and peaked at #2 in the 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 ...

, spending 13 weeks in the chart. It became her first top ten hit in the UK since "Let's Wait Awhile

Let's Wait Awhile

"Let's Wait Awhile" is the fifth single from Janet Jackson's third studio album, Control . It was written by Jackson, and the Flyte Tyme duo, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. It was produced by Jackson, Jam and Lewis...

" reached #3 in 1987. The song was remixed in 1995 and re-released, reaching #7. It was the remixed version that was included on international releases of Janet's compilation album Design of a Decade 1986/1996

Design of a Decade 1986/1996

Most music reviewers had a positive reception to Design of a Decade, mainly because of the amount of chart-topping singles it contained, but many noted the "misleading title" as the content predominantly spanned a five-year period....

.

It spent 5 consecutive weeks at #2 on the Australian Singles Chart, spending 18 weeks on the chart.

Music video

The video features cameos by Damon

Damon Wayans

Damon Kyle Wayans is an American stand-up comedian, writer and actor, one of the Wayans brothers.-Early life:Wayans was born in New York City, New York, the son of Elvira, a homemaker and social worker, and Howell Wayans, a supermarket manager...

 and Marlon Wayans

Marlon Wayans

Marlon L. Wayans is an American actor, model producer, comedian, writer, and director of movies, beginning with his role as a pedestrian in I'm Gonna Git You Sucka in 1988...

 and Stacey Dash

Stacey Dash

Stacey Lauretta Dash is an American film and television actress.-Career:She made her first TV appearance in Farrell for the People starring Valerie Harper and a virtually unknown Ed O'Neill in 1982, which did not make it past its pilot episode...

, but neither Vandross nor Jackson appear in the video. A rap from Bell Biv Devoe

Bell Biv DeVoe

Bell Biv DeVoe is an American R&B musical group which branched off from New Edition. It consists of three of New Edition's previous members, Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Ronnie DeVoe...

 and a spoken part by Ralph Tresvant

Ralph Tresvant

Ralph Tresvant , aka Rizz, is an American tenor singer, best known as one of the lead singers in New Edition.-New Edition:Tresvant sang lead on many of the New Edition lead singles including "Candy Girl", "Cool It Now" and "If It Isn't Love"...

 are also in the song. It has never been commercially released.

Cover versions

A cover by British

British people

The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...

 glamour model Katie Price and her now estranged husband, pop singer Peter Andre

Peter André

Peter James Andrea , better known by the stage name as Peter Andre, is an English-born Australian musician, singer-songwriter, television personality and businessman. As a recording artist, he has achieving four top 10 UK albums and ten top 10 singles.-Early life:Andre was born at Northwick Park...

, was included on their 2006 album A Whole New World

A Whole New World (album)

A Whole New World is the fifth studio album released by Australian singer-songwriter Peter Andre, in conjunction with his ex-wife Katie Price.-Background:...

.

1992 original release

UK 7" single (PERSS 7400)

1. C.J.'s U.K. 7" w/Rap – 5:32
2. Classic 7" w/Rap – 4:22

EU 7" single (390 875-7)

1. LP version – 4:36
2. Snippets: "Money Can't Buy You Love"*
   "Let's Just Run Away"*
   "Let's Get Together (So Groovy Now)*

*Track not performed by Jackson or Vandross

US 7" single (28968 0010 7)

1. LP version – 4:36
2. Edit (no rap) – 4:27

EU maxi-CD single (390 875-2)
Australian CD Single (587 401-2)

1. LP version – 4:36
2. Instrumental – 4:28
3. Snippets: "Money Can't Buy You Love"*
   "Let's Just Run Away"*
   "Let's Get Together (So Groovy Now)*

*Track not performed by Jackson or Vandross

EU CD single (587 409-2)

1. Classic 7" w/Rap – 4:22
2. C.J.'s U.K. 12" w/Rap – 9:58
3. Classic 12" w/Rap – 5:53

UK 12" vinyl (PERT 7400)

1. LP version – 4:36
2. C.J.'s U.K. 12" w/Rap – 9:58
3. C.J.'s Macapella – 6:21
4. Classic 12" w/Rap – 9:58
5. Def Version – 8:41
6. CJ's UK Dub 1 – 6:46

UK maxi-CD single (PERD 7400, 587 400-2)

1. C.J.'s U.K. 7" w/Rap – 5:32
2. C.J.'s U.K. 12" w/Rap – 7:12
3. Classic 7" w/Rap – 4:22
4. Classic 12" w/Rap – 5:53
5. Def Version – 8:41
6. CJ's UK Dub 1 – 6:46

US 12" vinyl (31458 7406 1)

1. Classic 12" w/Rap – 5:53
2. Def Version – 8:41
3. LP version – 4:36
4. C.J.'s U.K. 12" w/Rap – 9:58
5. C.J.'s FXTC Dub – 6:51
6. C.J.'s Vinyl Zone Dub – 6:49

US CD single (31458 7406-2)

1. Classic 12" w/Rap – 5:53
2. C.J.'s U.K. 12" w/Rap – 9:58
3. Def Version – 8:41
4. C.J.'s FXTC Dub – 6:51
5. C.J.'s Vinyl Zone Dub – 6:49
6. LP version – 4:36

US 2 x 12" promo vinyl (31458 8003 1)

1. Classic 12" w/Rap – 5:54
2. Classic 12" w/o Rap – 5:42
3. Def Version – 8:41
4. Dub Mix – 4:27
5. C.J.'s U.K. 12" w/Rap – 10:01
6. C.J.'s U.K. 12" w/o Rap – 9:57
7. C.J.'s FXTC Dub – 6:51
8. C.J.'s Vinyl Zone Dub – 6:49

US promo CD single (31458 8003 2)

1. Classic 7" w/Rap – 4:22
2. Classic 7" w/o Rap – 4:03
3. C.J.'s U.K. 7" w/Rap – 4:18
4. C.J.'s U.K. 7" w/o Rap – 4:17
5. Classic 12" w/Rap – 5:53
6. Classic 12" w/o Rap – 5:42
7. C.J.'s U.K. 12" w/Rap – 9:58
8. C.J.'s U.K. 12" w/o Rap – 9:55
9. Def Version – 8:41

1995 remix re-release

UK 2 x 12" promo vinyl (AMPMDJ 028)

1. S-Man's Salsoul Vibe – 11:40
2. Roger's Nasty Dub – 8:20
3. S-Man's Ill Dub – 6:50
4. S-Man's Deep Dub Remix – 7:10
5. Bonus Beats – 4:00

UK 2 x 12" vinyl (581 445-1) (Limited Edition)

1. S-Man's Salsoul Vibe Remix – 7:00 (Mislabeled: S-Man's Salsoul Vibe – 11:40)
2. S-Man's Deep Dub Remix – 7:10
3. Roger's Nasty Remix – 7:20 (Mislabeled: Roger's Nasty Dub – 8:20)
4. Bonus Beats – 4:00
5. MK Remix – 7:25
6. S-Man's Ill Dub – 6:50
7. K-Klass 12" Remix – 9:27 (Mislabeled: K Klass 12" Mix – 8:54)
8. CJ's Dub Remix – 6:10 (Mislabeled: C.J.'s U.K. 12" w/o Rap – 9:55)

UK CD single (581 497-2)

1. K-Klass 7" edit – 4:22
2. S-Man's Salsoul Vibe – 11:40
3. K-Klass 12" Mix – 8:54

UK maxi-CD single (581 311-2)

1. K-Klass 7" – 4:22
2. K-Klass 12" – 8:54
3. MK 12" – 7:25
4. The S-Man Salsoul Vibe – 11:40
5. CJ Mackintosh Original Remix – 7:13

UK maxi-CD single (581 697-2) (Limited Edition)

1. S-Man's Salsoul Vibe – 11:40
2. K-Klass 12" – 8:54
3. Roger's Nasty Dub – 8:20
4. Roger's Ill Dub – 7:44
5. Roger's Deep Dub – 7:32
6. CJ Mackintosh Original Remix – 9:55

1992

• LP version (4:36)
• Instrumental (4:29)
• Edit (no rap) (4:27)
• CJ's UK 12" w/ Rap (9:58)
• CJ's UK 12" w/o Rap (9:55)
• CJ's UK 12" edit (7:12)
• CJ's Macapella (6:21)
• CJ's UK 7" w/ Rap (5:32)
• CJ's UK 7" w/o Rap (4:17)
• CJ's UK Dub 1 (6:47)
• Classic 12" w/ Rap (5:53)
• Classic 12" w/o Rap (5:42)
• Classic 7" w/ Rap (4:22)
• Classic 7" w/o Rap (4:03)
• Def Version (8:41)
• CJ's FXTC Dub/UK Dub #1 (6:51)
• CJ's Vinyl Zone Dub/UK Dub #2 (6:49)
• Dub Mix (4:27)

1995

• MK 12" (7:25)
• Roger's Nasty Dub (8:20)
• Roger's Bonus Beats (4:00)
• S-Man Salsoul Vibe (11:40)
• S-Man Deep Dub (7:32)
• S-Man Ill Dub (7:44)
• K-Klass 7" Edit (4:22)
• K-Klass 12" Mix (8:50)

Chart positions

Chart (1992)	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...	2
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....	4
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...	5
French Singles Chart Syndicat National de l'Edition Phonographique The Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique is the inter-professional organization which protects the interests of the French record industry...	15
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...	6
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 ....	36
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...	32
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 ...	2
US 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...	10
US 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,...	1
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play	3

Year-end charts

Chart (1992)	Position
US Billboard Hot 100	41