What does it sound like?:
These are in some ways strange reissues. Although remastered they do not have any bonus tracks so aside from the mastering they are straight reissues but I guess at a little over a fiver a disc at the Tax Dodgers they are value for money or attractive for those wishing to add missing items to their Janis Ian collection. Between the lines will be the one most familiar to Janis Fans and non fans alike as it container her biggest selling song At Seventeen the success of which has probably hampered her career but not her bank balance.
However my favourite album is Stars the title track being in my mind the best song she has written. It also includes Jesse another great song.The other release are Aftertones with the excellent Belle of the Blues and Night Rains which was her first album to go platinum outside of the USA.
Although at seventeen is his most famous song the most controversial was Society’s Child.
Written amazingly when she was 14 it details a mixed race relationship and one Atlanta radio station that played it defying local outrage suffering the ignominy of being burned to the ground. The saddest thing being this is not that long ago in the scheme of things.
She is a skilled songwriter with a great voice and an ear for a melody but has not been prolific in recent years and as such has probably slipped out of people’s consciousness. She has doing a few dates in the use and an appearance at Cambridge folk festival but doubt this will raise her profile.
Individually all of these releases contain some great songs but not enough to make them great albums. If i was recommending a starting point I would go for The Essential Janis Ian 2cd set which has all of her best songs in one place.
What does it all *mean*?
Janis Ian was on the verge of going massive at one time – sadly her star is no longer in the ascendency and these releases will likely only appeal to those seeking a moment of nostalgia.
Goes well with…
A lazy summers day and a glass of wine.
Stars is truly a gem of a song.
Release Date:
Might suit people who like…
Girls with great voices and a penchant for detailing the issues of the day.
Presumably the reissues are prompted by her upcoming visit to the UK. Some fine songs on these albums though, her golden period.
I remember an old mixtape I had where her song From Me To You was back to back with Blind Faith’s Finding My Way Back Home. Not listened to her for a LONG time. Your review is just the cue to rectify that.
She is playing Ottawa folk festival in Sept. I have a pass for all 5 nights, is she worth seeing live? I know precisely one song that she has recorded.
For years I only knew At Seventeen – it was played to death on Capital when it came out and, to all intents and purposes was treated as a hit although, of course it wasn’t. I don’t recall hearing any of the rest of the album until I got a copy of Between the Lines (It popped up on Emusic) about 10 years ago and it’s fabulous – even if you don’t see her live, if you like At Seventeen then seek out the album.
If that song is completely representative then not sure I want to hear more. Maybe not a hit in UK, but top 3 in US.
A hit in Australia too, as was this in 1980…