The Essential Janis Ian

Janis Ian | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 8, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B002HMG49A
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,060 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #68 in Music > Folk > Traditional Folk
  • #92 in Music > Folk > Contemporary Folk > General

Editorial Reviews

The rollercoaster ride through the music business experienced by one of the most boldly honest songwriters of her generation is chronicled across these 2 CDs. Her 1967 eye-opening anthem Society's Child joins her 1975 smash At Seventeen and her key album tracks Hair of Spun Gold; Stars; Jesse; Love Is Blind; Tattoo; Through the Years; God and the FBI; I Hear You Sing Again; My Autobiography 31 tracks from a 40-year career!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Janis Ian - An Absolute Essential!, September 20, 2009

By 

Kathleen A. Brogan (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Essential Janis Ian (Audio CD)

This is an excellent CD which was released September 9th 2009. A two CD set that starts with Janis' very first song "Hair of Spun Gold" that she wrote at the age of 10, up to her recent songs like "Joy" and "My Autobiography". All of Janis' smash hits are present: "At Seventeen" long and short versions, "Jesse" and disco surprise "Fly Too High". If that isn't enough, this album has three rare cuts: "Ginny the Flying Girl", "Today, You're Mine" and another, beautiful, previously unreleased ballad "I Long For You". Many of the selections are different takes from the regular album issue. A good example is the stunning "His Hands". Read the Janis' 2008 autobiography to find out what that song's about. It's very nice to see Janis working with Sony in the U.S. again after all these years. If you're a fan like me, make sure you add this wonderful CD set to your collection. If not, acquaint yourself with Janis now, this title is a great place to start.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Strange Teenage Boy, August 22, 2010

By 

Aryael de Kaprii (California, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Essential Janis Ian (Audio CD)

When I was in middle school and highschool between the years of 1991 and 1997 -while all the other boys were listenting to Dog Pound Gangers, Biggy Smalls, Tupac and LL Cool J -I was listening to Joni Mitchell and Janis Ian sing about what I guess they thought only teenage girls and women went thru. There were a few odd teenage boys who knew exactly what Janis Ian was talking about; in my case being a boy who liked the boys that liked the girls. Janis Ian spoke to me. I guess you would have to have been an outcast to really appreciate an artist like Ian, my mother was a cheerleader in highschool, she went to two proms, three gradnites and God knows how many parties in between. I ran across her highschool year book, there was not a single page that didnt have signatures on it, in a nutshell my mother was VERY popular in Highschool and she has no idea who Janis Ian is.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Something for Everyone, September 28, 2009

By 

Barbara Winters - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Essential Janis Ian (Audio CD)

This two cd collection has something for everyone. It's a great choice for the person new to Janis' music as it spans her entire career from age 10 with "Hair of Spun Gold" to her 50's with "Joy" and "My Autobiography" And for the collector of Janis Ian's albums/cds, this set has the never before published song, and my favorite, "I Long for You." It even has something for the child in your family or the kid in all of us, "Ginny the Flying Girl"! If you're like me and love to know the story behind the titles like, "God and the FBI, or "Tattoo," a great accompaniment to "The Essential Janis Ian", is her revealing book "My Autobiography: Society's Child." Check out Janis' tour schedule on her website,[...]and find a show near you. I know Janis would be thrilled to sign your cd and/or book!