Revenge (Janis Ian album) explained

Revenge
Type:Studio
Artist:Janis Ian
Border:yes
Released:May 16, 1995
Recorded:1994
Studio:Sound Emporium (Nashville, Tennessee)
Genre:Pop rock
Length:51:54
Label:Beacon Records
Producer:John Jennings, Janis Ian
Prev Title:Simon Renshaw Presents: Janis Ian Shares Your Pain
Prev Year:1995
Next Title:Hunger
Next Year:1997

Revenge is the fifteenth studio album by American singer-songwriter Janis Ian, released in 1995. Like her preceding comeback album Breaking Silence, it was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee, where Ian had been living since 1988.[1] The title was intended as a riposte against the major record labels who had dropped her permanently after her past few albums had failed to sell in substantial numbers.[2] Despite this, Janis and co-producer John Jennings hired what she considered her “dream band” for the sessions,[3] and when Revenge was completed Janis considered it the most commercial album she had ever recorded.[3] It included one song co-written with Linda Perry of 4 Non Blondes.

Revenge was originally released as the first album on a new Los Angeles independent label called Beacon Records;[2] however, the project collapsed soon after the album came out, and the album would be put out by a variety of labels, amongst them her old Columbia and Festival. The album was not as well received critically as Breaking Silence, although "Stolen Fire", "Take No Prisoners", "Take Me Walking in the Rain", " "Berlin" and "Ruby" would all appear on subsequent live albums and career-spanning compilations. Closing track "When Angels Cry" was sung in some episodes of the soap opera General Hospital.[4]

Notes and References

  1. News: Musical differences. Lister. David. The Independent. London. 1995-05-14. 88-89.
  2. News: Rose. Rita. For Janis Ian, Disc and Shows Are Best Kinds of “Revenge”. The Indianapolis Star. 1995-05-28. I-1, I-2.
  3. Web site: Revenge. Janis Ian – American songwriter.
  4. News: “One Life to Live” Stars Marry in Kentucky. 1996-06-20. Hirsch. Linda. Asbury Park Press. E8.