Janis Ian - Stars (1974) Vinyl LP • The Man You Are in Me, Folk

Catalog Number: KC-32857

Record Grading: Near Mint (NM or M-), Sleeve Grading: Excellent (EX)

Condition Details:

Vinyl plays nicely (play-graded). Cover has a few creases near edges; minor scuffing (front/back). Inner-sleeve is original (lyrics/photo). Spine is easy-to-read with mild-wear, with a developing split near center. Shelf-wear along top/bottom edge; some wear to corners. Opening is crisp with signs of light use and a few divots. (Not a cut-out.)

Tracks:

• One Side
• Stars
• The Man You Are In Me
• Sweet Sympathy
• Page Nine
• Thankyous
• Another Side
• Dance With Me
• Without You
• Jesse
• You've Got Me On A String
• Applause

About The Record:

Stars, by singer-songwriter Janis Ian, peaked at #83 on Billboard 200 in the U.S. and featured the single The Man You Are in Me which reached #33 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary charts. After a three-year (1971-1974) hiatus, singer/songwriter Janis Ian (guitar/vocals) reinvented her craft on the groundbreaking Stars (1974). Her penchant for hauntingly beautiful melodies and incisive lyrics remains at the center of Ian's craft as she weaves an array of uniquely expressive observations with timeless poignancy. She has publicly acknowledged that the introspective title track that opens the album was inspired by Don McLean's Vincent. Ian's reflections are almost naked in their intimacy as she looks within the psyche of celebrity and draws comparisons between the respective astral and physical bodies that Stars inhabit. The Man You Are in Me is instrumentally highlighted by Richard Davis (bass), who impels the rhythm and provides Ian with a sonic backdrop beguiling the listener into its practically hypnotic melody. There is also a fair share of folk-infused material, ranging from the easygoing and heartfelt peon Thankyous to the decidedly more political and strident Dance with Me -- which deals fairly directly with the Vietnam experience. Perhaps the best-known cut on Stars also obliquely references the war and is considered the disc's crown jewel. Stars set the stage for Ian to further develop her mature and meditative themes utilizing a wide variety of musical styles -- a hallmark that separated her from her weepy and otherwise introspective peers. (allmusic.com)