Customer Reviews

Night Rains

5 star:		(6)
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This is not only one of my favorite Janis Ian albums, it's one of my favorite albums, period. It's also one of her most musically diverse, and her imaginitive songs are masterfully executed by a group of musicians that includes such luminaries as Chick Corea, Clarence Clemmons and Mike Mainieri. Her singing, keyboard and guitar playing are as good as ever, and her lyrics are strong and evocative. Now, folk purists who are fans of her early material may find the seamless production too sterile, or the arrangements too bizarre (especially on songs such as "Memories"). But for those with broader tastes, I fervently recommend _Night Rains_.

I will start off by saying that I am not a Janis Ian fan. If you are not a Janis Ian fan don't disregard this album. This is one album in my collection that I don't seem to get tired of.
Fly to High was one of her big hits and Other Side of the Sun, Here Comes the Night and Have Mercy Love are also excellent. This is a well put together album and well worth a listen

This is by far my favorite Janis Ian recording, although it is hard to put *Hunger* and *Between the Lines* below it. Every song is clear, rhythmic, and meaningful with lyrics that are piercing and tender. Janis cannot be categorized, but her songs combine jazz, folk, and rock in ways I haven't experienced before. You haven't heard live music until you've seen Janis in concert. Her guitar is totally awesome. Besides which, she is a wonderful human being and a true artist with integrity. When you combine guts, persistence, intelligence, talent, sensitivity, passion, creativity, depth, and love, you about have Janis Ian. She also is an excellent writer (as well as superb songwriter), evidenced by some of the columns she has written (more coming on the web). Check out her Website too; you'll see what I mean. (if you love Janis you will also love reading Anne Lamott & listening to *Rhona at Night*.)

There are individual songs that I like a lot that Janis Ian performs on her other albums/CDs, but for a compilation of work Night Rains is my favorite. Night Rains is also the music score for a movie and that was the first time I heard it was when I watched the movie. Janis Ian has a quality that will be forever captured in time because of her recordings. My only sadness is that I never had the opportunity to hear and see Janis perform live during the 1970s and 1980s because her music was so much a part of my life then.

This is another of the very best albums by the brilliant singer/songwriter. The only drawback is that it would benefit from digital remastering.

Great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is a must hear cd. It is crisp, clear, and well worth the time to listen too.
Janis Ian is so much under-rated as an artis, composer. You must listen to all her music.