Stars (Janis Ian album) explained
Stars is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Janis Ian, and the first of her seven for Columbia Records. Ian had previously had a three-year hiatus from the music industry since her 1971 album Present Company. In two years away from the music business, Ian wrote over 100 songs after moving to Los Angeles.[1] She returned to play at the Philadelphia Folk Festival on August 17, 1973,[2] and was signed by Columbia Records after several other companies rejected the songs she had written.[3]
While Stars was being recorded, the song "Jesse" became a hit for Roberta Flack.[4]
The album itself became Ian's most successful since her debut, peaking at number 63 on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart.
Personnel
- Produced by Brooks Arthur
- Engineered by Brooks Arthur, Larry Alexander, Charlie Dreyer
- Art Direction and Design: John Berg, Paul Perlow
- Photography: Peter Cunningham
- Production Coordinator: Herb Gart
Musicians
- Janis Ian – vocals, guitar, 12-string guitar, acoustic guitar, piano, Fender Rhodes
- Larry Alexander – drums, tambourine
- Raymond Beckenstein – soprano saxophone
- Ralph Casale – acoustic guitar
- Richard Davis – arranger, bass, pizzicato bass
- George Devens – vibraphone
- Sal DiTroia – acoustic guitar, rhythm guitar, backing vocals
- George Duvivier – bass
- Jack Jennings – percussion
- Barry Lazarowitz – arranger, drums, percussion
- Gene Orloff – violin
- Hugh McCracken – electric guitar
- Don Payne – bass
- Romeo Penque – saxophone
- Al Rogers – drums
- Allan Schwartzberg – drums
- John Tropea – acoustic guitar
- Eric Weissberg – electric guitar, acoustic guitar, 12-string acoustic guitar
Orchestra
- Bob Abernathy – French horn
- Seymour Barab – celli
- Seymour Berman – viola
- Phil Bodner – alto flute, alto saxophone
- Ariana Bronne – violin
- Alfred Brown – viola
- James Buffington – French horn
- Frederick Buldrini – violin
- Don Butterfield – tuba
- Earl Chapin – French horn
- Selwart Clarke – viola
- Léon Cohen – clarinet
- Burt Collins – trumpet
- Joseph DeAngelis – French horn
- Peter Dimitriades – violin
- Paul Faulise – bass trombone
- Ron Frangipane – arranger, conductor, piano
- Mickey Gravine – tenor trombone
- Marie Hence – violin
- Wally Kane – bassoon
- Artie Kaplan – orchestra manager
- Harold Kohon – violin
- Bhen Lanzarone – celesta
- Gloria Lanzarone – celli
- Archie Levin – viola
- Joseph Malin – violin
- Richard Maximoff – viola
- Charles McCracken – celli
- Lloyd Michaels – trumpet
- Romeo Pengue – clarinet, flute, oboe
- Alan Raph – baritone horn
- George Ricci – celli, cello soloist
- Alan Rubin – trumpet
- David Sackson – viola
- Julius Schacter – violin
- Joe Shepley – solo trumpet
- Joseph J. Shepley – French horn
- Bill Watrous – tenor trombone
Notes and References
- News: 1977-02-13. Janis Ian: At 25, entering Phase 3. Basham. Basham. Tom. Peg. The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore.
- News: 1973-08-17. Weekly Calendar: Music. The Evening Sun. Baltimore.
- News: Maynard. Joyce. 1977-02-11. Society's Child Back for Her Second Try to Grad Brass Ring. Des Moines-Register. Des Moines, Iowa.
- Book: Bernade, Scott R.. 2003. Stars of David: Rock'n'roll's Jewish Stories. Brandeis University Press. 137-138. 1584653035.
- Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. illustrated. Australian Chart Book. St Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. 0-646-11917-6. 145.
