Breaking Silence

Janis Ian | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 29, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Morgan Creek
• ASIN: B0000042N9
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,926 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #2 in Music > Indie Music > Folk > Singer Songwriters
  • #4 in Music > Indie Music > Folk > General
  • #30 in Music > Folk > Traditional Folk

Track Listings

1. All Roads to the River

2. Ride Me Like a Wave

3. Tattoo

4. Guess You Had to Be There

5. What About the Love?

6. His Hands

7. Walking on Sacred Ground

8. This Train Still Runs

9. Through the Years

10. This House

11. Some People's Lives [Live]

12. Breaking Silence

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Breaking Silence, February 8, 2000

By 

Serle-alan Wise (Baltimore, Maryland) - See all my reviews

This cd is a classic piece by one of the finest songwriters/musicians in the business. It was released to rave reviews and grammy nominations. The song "Some Peoples Lives" was a title track for a Bette Midler cd of the same title, but Janis' rendition gives new meaning and depth to the song. The title track "Breaking Silence" was used as the opening theme for an expose' on a television special dealing with abuse in America. Obviously, there are many others out there who are taking note of the excellent work from this talented person. Her subsequent cds; "Revenge" and "Hunger" are equally as powerful if not even better and are highly recommended. She performs nationally and internationally and is truely a marvel to see "live!" I recommend you check out her website for local tour dates, buy all her cds, and watch for her newest cd; "God & FBI" which will be released in March 2000!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jonatha Brooke and Matthew Sweet got their sound from this., October 15, 1999

By 

A Customer - See all my reviews

Breaking Silence is Ian's return to recording after a 12 year hiatus, apparently. The main attraction of this album is the songwriting - just astonishing! Ian seems to have chosen to record with only two musicians, flaunting her role as a "legendary songwriter" to the music industry by featuring the songs rather than the production. By the way, this is recorded and mixed analog 16 track, with gorgeous hi fidelity - I bought it originally on the recommendation of my hi fi store, who use it to test equipment.

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful music, March 18, 2000

By 

Nanci "Book Dragon" (Tri-Cities, WA USA) - See all my reviews

There's no secret as to why this album gives me strength. Janis faces the world head on, willing to take whatever consequences her speaking out bring. Highlighting the album are two songs about abuse "His hands" and the title track. I was in an auditorium when Holly Near sang this song, and there was an audible gasp as she sang the words "never hit me when they're sober, never marked my face" She goes on to tackle the legacy of the holocaust with the haunting "Tattoo". Also included is the beautiful ballad "Through the Years" (so much better than the hit by the same name). Who writes ballads more beautiful than Janis? Some of the songs are nostalgic, some are 'in your face' and some just plain erotic. A recording worth hearing over & over. Janis hits the mark again.