Best of Janis Ian- The Autobiography Collection

[david uk]

so what does everyone think about this compilation....

I should exlain that I only received it today- I'd put off lrdering it as I thought well I know almost every track, but now that I have listened to it twice, I have to say that it is stunning.

It's not what I would have expected- I thought there'd be more "pop" moments, more uptempo stuff- bits of Miracle Row or Janis Ian II.

But this is a very reflective collection, very mellow and thoughtful. I love the re-recordings too, God and The FBI has more of an "attack" to it than on the album of the same name and the lyrics are clearer too.

Hair of Spun Gold- I'm sure I have this on the Verve CD collection but it struck me as very beautiful here.

Congratulations, Janis, these are some of your finest moments.

[hoops]

david,
it is an incredible collection, each song sounds as if i'm hearing it for the first time.
peace
hoops

[Mimi]

I got mine yesterday as well but haven't had the quit moment Janis deserves to listen to it. Saved it for today!

MIMI

[NinasSpaceChild]

I really really like the collection. Like you said David, it is a very reflective collection, especially CD 2.

[david uk]

I love the re-recording of His Hands.

stunning.

[MrJoP1975]

I had gotten this as well, but haven't quite had a chance to play it.

I was curious, and maybe Janis explained it somewhere, why some of the tunes were re-recorded from Breaking Silence (I thought she owned the rights to the master of that), and why a couple of live versions of tunes like Silly Habits and a few others? Anyways - just a matter of curiosity - I am sure there is a logical reason.

Best

[aabram]

Janis sings "Johnny I Hardly Knew You" will all the feeling and empathy that this anti-war sing needs. It still brings me to tears as she puts over the horrors of war so beautifully. I love it. Hair of Spun Gold still haunts me like it has never haunted me before :)

[SFBill]

so what does everyone think about this compilation....

I should exlain that I only received it today- I'd put off lrdering it as I thought well I know almost every track, but now that I have listened to it twice, I have to say that it is stunning.

It's not what I would have expected- I thought there'd be more "pop" moments, more uptempo stuff- bits of Miracle Row or Janis Ian II.

But this is a very reflective collection, very mellow and thoughtful. I love the re-recordings too, God and The FBI has more of an "attack" to it than on the album of the same name and the lyrics are clearer too.

Hair of Spun Gold- I'm sure I have this on the Verve CD collection but it struck me as very beautiful here.

Congratulations, Janis, these are some of your finest moments.

This is an extremely well-thought out anthology..
I was first taken surprised that it is not chronological.

Even so, it really highlights the book-- a great soundtrack to a fantastic read.

I had to go back to my WORKING WITHOUT A NET cd and dig in--what a great live collection.

[aabram]

We've got the book, we've got the soundtrack. Now all we need is the film to go with it. :rolleyes: as per the song? :)

[MrJoP1975]

I decided to listen to my copy and wow! It is nice to finally have the "hits" all in one spot, along with the choice cuts. That was my only bone of contention with Up 'Til Now that it didn't have Society's Child or Love Is Blind, and now it's, all there :)

Does this have an international release, or is this a US only so far?

[Amy in Vermont]

The work tape version of Hair of Spun Gold has been haunting me for days. The song, in and of itself is a remarkable ballad, given that Janis was so very young when she wrote it. But on this recording, her voice is so pure, so unaffected by time and yet so very full of presence, emotion and truth.....truly a gem of a recording.

The whole album has me spinning in a sea of memories. I'm pretty emotionally fragile right now, so it doesn't take much to trigger tears, and I did my shared of weeping while I listened at my desk at work, door closed and volume up, after returning from a weekend with my dad and brother.

Oh.. and the book... great read, lotsa tears too...

[Bat]

Janis' trademark must be mental catharsis, in both songs and writing. She has a true gift for hitting all the right buttons that release those emotions that are bursting out at the seams.
As for her stories and Autobio, 'read 'em and weep' is appropriate.

[Roady]

There's a least 4 songs on the Autobiograpy Collection that I can't listen to with dry eyes, depending on the day.

Not to be a glutten, but wouldn't "Live from Grand Center" make a great cd?

[aabram]

Hair of Spun Gold still haunts me. Johnny I hardly knew ye, I simply can't listen through to the end yet without tears running down my face. The book has a similar effect.

Annabel

[dragonlady]

SFBill wrote:

This is an extremely well-thought out anthology..
I was first taken surprised that it is not chronological.


They in the order of the chapters of the book...each chapter is the title of a song....

-di

[hoops]

i haven't really remarked on the book or the cd collection, cause i still can;t get my head around all of it. I mean, i love it, i like it, it makes me laugh, cry, think, remember, renew. this collection, book and cd, are like living things that create new feelings within me each time i go back to them. what more can i say...Janis has always inspired me, amazed me, and she continues to do so to this day.
peace
hoops

[coffeegyrl]

i haven't really remarked on the book or the cd collection, cause i still can;t get my head around all of it. I mean, i love it, i like it, it makes me laugh, cry, think, remember, renew. this collection, book and cd, are like living things that create new feelings within me each time i go back to them. what more can i say...Janis has always inspired me, amazed me, and she continues to do so to this day.
peace
hoops

I hear you, hoops. I feel the same way. I've totally been on overload. Maybe in time we will gain some perspective, but in the meantime I'm really enjoying the ride.
Sally

[gambler]

I love the book and the CD collection. I read the book in one day!!!! I am new to these posts and am enjoying reading the comments. Beth Ann

[Kathleen Brogan]

Hi gambler! I think we've met? At least in cyber space!

[Roady]

i haven't really remarked on the book or the cd collection, cause i still can;t get my head around all of it. I mean, i love it, i like it, it makes me laugh, cry, think, remember, renew. this collection, book and cd, are like living things that create new feelings within me each time i go back to them. what more can i say...Janis has always inspired me, amazed me, and she continues to do so to this day.
peace
hoops
I'm with you hoops and coffeegyrl! It's really hard to make generalizations about the cd that reflect how fantastic the individual tracks are on it! I know we can discuss it anyway we want but it might make more sense to follow-up the general discussion of the "Autobiography Collection" with a separate thread on each song.

[Dougster]

I LOVE hearing and having the other version of "Hair of Spun Gold." It gives me hope that Janis' Verve albums will someday be released individually with bonus cuts, demos, etc.:rolleyes: