Janis Ian-TEN albums and one DVD; EAC FLAC, cover art, liner notes

Here are TEN albums by Janis Ian and one DVD rip of her at the Old Grey Whistle Test circa 1976.
With the exception of Between the Lines, these have been ripped by EAC and include a log file. For some reason that one album had read errors with EAC, but I ripped it with the highest error correction using another package.

Societies Child-The Verve Recordings

-This is a compilation of three of her early albums, included the self titled Janis Ian, and The Secret Life of J. Eddy Fink (could there ever have been a worse album title?). The former contains the ground breaking protest song ‘Societies Child’ written when she was only 13, and for a time banned from some airplay as the subject content was too risky for those times. You can hear even the massive talent that would inevitably mature into an era-defining performer.
Interestingly enough, Bill Cosby tried to have her blacklisted because he thought at the time she may have been lesbian.



Stars (1974)
After a three-year (1971-1974) hiatus, singer/songwriter Janis Ian (guitar/vocals) reinvented her craft on the groundbreaking Stars (1974) long-player. Her penchant for hauntingly beautiful melodies and incisive lyrics remains at the center of Ian's craft as she weaves an array of uniquely expressive observations with timeless poignancy. She has publicly acknowledged that the introspective title track that opens the album was inspired by Don McLean's "Vincent." Ian's reflections are almost naked in their intimacy as she looks within the psyche of celebrity and draws comparisons between the respective astral and physical bodies that "Stars" inhabit, albeit briefly in either case. The song's sparse acoustic guitar self-accompaniment is somewhat an anomaly as the remainder of the album incorporates various backing combos. The cosy and laid-back "Page Nine" demonstrates a jazzier side to Ian's arrangements and features some inviting contributions from percussion legend and studio heavyweight George Devens (vibraphone), who had been performing in Ian's studio coterie since her second release, For All the Seasons of Your Mind (1967). "The Man You Are in Me" is instrumentally highlighted by Richard Davis (bass), who impels the rhythm and provides Ian with a sonic backdrop beguiling the listener into its practically hypnotic melody. There is also a fair share of folk-infused material, ranging from the easygoing and heartfelt peon "Thankyous" to the decidedly more political and strident "Dance with Me" -- which deals fairly directly with the Vietnam experience. Perhaps the best-known cut on Stars also obliquely references the war and is considered the disc's crown jewel. "Jessie" is a riveting love song that is as beautiful as it is soul-wrenchingly poignant. The delicate understated score only adds to the composition's empathy. "Applause" fittingly concludes the effort in a Broadway-esque fashion with a grandiose production reminiscent of something out of Cabaret or A Chorus Line. The understated and comparatively reticent middle section is dramatically bookended with an otherwise embellished and knowingly campy arrangement. Stars set the stage for Ian to further develop her mature and meditative themes utilizing a wide variety of musical styles -- a hallmark that separated her from her weepy and otherwise introspective peers.

Between the Lines (1975)
This is Janis Ian's second album from her re-emergence in the early to mid-'70s as one of the genre's most inspired and original singer/songwriters. While this title houses Ian's biggest international hit, the confessional "At Seventeen," the entire effort combines her honest and confessional lyrics with an equally engaging blend of pop/rock and definite jazz and blues. She assembled much of the same ensemble that had worked on her previous long-player, Stars (1975), and much of the material retains the same warmth and intimacy in both her craft as well as the presentation. Unlike the more somber and introverted tracks that dominate Between the Lines (1975), the disc commences with a prime example of Ian's infectious coziness on the light and airy "When the Party's Over." This is one of the title's more straightforward love songs and features an appropriately lilting counter-harmony from Dennis Pereca. More typical are the somewhat dark and oblique "From Me to You," "The Come On," and the despairing title track. Darker still are "In the Winter" and the abject loneliness of "Tea and Sympathy" -- both of which feature some engaging arrangements courtesy of famed arranger/conductor Ron Frangipane, whose clients include Melanie and Townes Van Zandt as well as both John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Underlying the heady orchestration and truly at the center of Ian's skill are her emotively powerful yet reserved melodies. This was undoubtedly a factor in "At Seventeen" becoming a Grammy winner as well as a chart-topping single stateside and a Top 20 hit throughout much of Europe as well as more disparate locations such as Israel. The strength of material and public interest garnered by Between the Lines would continue on her next equally powerful long-player, Aftertones (1976). This album is a recommended starting point for potential enthusiasts, as well as a touchstone to be repeatedly revisited.

In the album notes, she mentions that this album was an audiophiles delight, and entire systems had been built around this one album. This is the Edsel remaster that is quite a bit better than an early Columbia version that I also have.

Night Rains (1979)
When Janis lan's self-titled 1978 album failed to crack the Top 100, it was clear that changes were in order. Here, she turns to producer Ron Frangipane and a surprising songwriting partner, Euro-disco maven Giorgio Moroder, who brings in his dance tracks for "Fly Too High," which was intended for the motion picture Foxes. More appropriately, Ian also pairs with Albert Hammond for the leadoff track, "The Other Side of the Sun." Even on her own, however, she is attempting a more timely pop style: "Memories" is as much of a disco cut as the Moroder one. That makes the album more engaging on the surface than her recent releases, but less compelling. As a commercial move, Night Rains failed to chart in the US, but was an international best seller.

Also included is the audiophile favorite Breaking Silence as well as Hunger, Revenge, the double live album Walking Without a Net, Billies Bones, Unreleased 2 and a high quality MP4 rip of her performance at the Old Grey Whistle Test from 1976, that accompanies the most recent release of Between the Lines.

This is a long download. Some torrent clients allow you to unselect folders that you do not need or wish. Either way, please seed as long as you can as I am already actively seeding 50+ torrents. One of them BTW is a collection of very high quality vinyl rips, that include 'Watercolours', from the Between the Lines LP, so this may make an interesting comparison with the latest CD remaster.