Through the years Janis Ian (born Janis Fink in New York 1951) has developed as a jackie-of-all-trades and mastering many as multi instrumentalist composer, author and columnist. From the beginning a very young singer-songwriter, in some circuits regarded as a musical prodigy. Not the kind that fronted grown-ups ambitions for fame by doing them cuter and more commercial, but truly creative and controversial by own means. Her debute single "Society's Child" recorded when she was 14, about an interracial romance, caused a lot of turmoil in US. The subject was still taboo back then, many radio stations cut if off their playlists after recieving threats and one in Atlanta was burnt down just for broadcasting it. Took two reissues before it finally started selling and reaching #14 on Billboard, then much due to support by Leonard Bernstein when the song appeared in his 1967 TV-special "Inside Pop - The Rock Revolution". For some reason she also freaked out Bill Cosby, who publically branded the young girl as a lesbian and tried to black-list her from media as unfitting for family entertainment. Listening to this debute album I'm amazed she was just 15 when recording it and many of the songs written even earlier - like "Society's Child" or "Hair Of Spun Gold" wich she composed at age 12. First signed by Atlantic, but after hearing the material they chickened out and declined. Fortunately Verve Forecast had braver views and with the help of producer Shadow Morton and arranger Artie Kaplan made an album so personal, honest and intriguing it feels as important today as it should have been fifty years ago. Arrangenments shifts between peeled-off, baroque pop and calm rock. Her vocals have a blend of mature security and girlish emotion and though the subjects may have been considered too much for the common man back then they are today not (so) controversial. Favorite tracks - "Society's Child", "Younger Generation Blues", "Go 'Way Little Girl" and "Pro-Girl". Never had a stereo for comparison, but due to the balance and impact of this mono I'm guessing a separate mix. Premiere issued in US on Verve Forecast (FT/FTS 3017), also originally in Canada, Australia and Germany. Japan 2011 limited edition CD on Verve Forecast (UICY 94567). First UK had label as shown here and laminated flip-back cover. (FÄV*)
Inga kommentarer:
Skicka en kommentar