1974 studio album by Janis Ian
Professional ratings Review scores Source Rating AllMusic [ 1] Wilson and Allroy [ 2] Rolling Stone Album Guide (1992)[ 3]
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.[ 4] She returned to play at the Philadelphia Folk Festival on August 17, 1973,[ 5] and was signed by Columbia Records after several other companies rejected the songs she had written.[ 6]
While Stars was being recorded, the song "Jesse" became a hit for Roberta Flack .[ 7]
The album itself became Ian's most successful since her debut, peaking at number 63 on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart.
All tracks are written by Janis Ian
One Side Title 1. "Stars " 7:12 2. "The Man You Are in Me" 2:59 3. "Sweet Sympathy" 2:42 4. "Page Nine" 3:07 5. "Thankyous" 2:40 Total length: 17:40
Another Side Title 1. "Dance with Me" 3:18 2. "Without You" 2:04 3. "Jesse" 4:07 4. "You’ve Got Me on a String" 3:20 5. "Applause" 4:02 Total length: 16:51
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
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
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
^ Lindsay Planner. "Stars – Janis Ian" . All Music Group.
^ Wilson, David Bertrand. "Stars – Janis Ian" . Wilson and Allroy’s Record Reviews. Retrieved September 17, 2021 .
^ DeCurtis, Anthony; George-Warren, Holly and Henke, James; The Rolling Stone Album Guide – Completely New Reviews: Every Essential Album, Every Essential Artist , p. 339 ISBN 0679737294
^ Basham, Tom; Basham, Peg (1977-02-13). "Janis Ian: At 25, entering Phase 3". The Baltimore Sun . Baltimore .
^ "Weekly Calendar: Music". The Evening Sun . Baltimore. 1973-08-17.
^ Maynard, Joyce (1977-02-11). "Society's Child Back for Her Second Try to Grad Brass Ring". Des Moines-Register . Des Moines , Iowa .
^ Bernade, Scott R. (2003). Stars of David: Rock'n'roll's Jewish Stories . Brandeis University Press. p. 137-138. ISBN 1584653035 .
^ "Janis Ian Chart History (Billboard 200)" . Billboard . Retrieved March 25, 2020.
^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 145. ISBN 0-646-11917-6 .
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