Live: Working Without a Net [Live]

Live: Working Without a Net [Live]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
In the mass of singer/songwriters that seem to surface weekly it is easy to forget that older masters of the craft still walk among us and offer vital work. Janis Ian's brilliant 2000 release God & the FBI got lost in this glut--more's the pity. Working Without A Net sums up a career to date that while producing the justly famous "Society's Child," "At Seventeen," and "Jesse," also given us such lesser known gems as "Love Is Blind," "Boots Like Emmy Lou's," and many of the others included here. Over a decade's worth of live performances reveal an emotionally wrenching singer, a fine guitarist, and a remarkably consistent writer. Hopefully Working Without A Net will make people want to go back and explore gems like Breaking Silence, and the aforementioned God & the FBI. At the very least it raises the bar for the current crop of would-be troubadours. --Michael Ross

Tracks:

This Train Still Runs
Fly Too High
Intro: 'We Love You'
Take Me Walking In The Rain
Jesse
Paris In Your Eyes
Ride Me Like A Wave
Love Is Blind
Intro 'Vote For Me'
Boots Like Emmy Lou's
Days Like These
Society's Child
Intro 'My Pal Tiffany'
Between The Lines
Intro 'How Lucky Am I'
Take No Prisoners

Tracks:

Intro 'Has-Been At 19'
Stars
Will You Dance?
Honor Them All
Intro 'Moving Back Home'
At Seventeen
Cosmopolitan Girl
Tattoo
Watercolors
Breaking Silence
Berlin
Silly Habits
In The Winter
Intro 'Kumbaya'
These Boots Were Made For Walking

Amazon.com

In the mass of singer/songwriters that seem to surface weekly it is easy to forget that older masters of the craft still walk among us and offer vital work. Janis Ian's brilliant 2000 release God & the FBI got lost in this glut--more's the pity. Working Without A Net sums up a career to date that while producing the justly famous "Society's Child," "At Seventeen," and "Jesse," also given us such lesser known gems as "Love Is Blind," "Boots Like Emmy Lou's," and many of the others included here. Over a decade's worth of live performances reveal an emotionally wrenching singer, a fine guitarist, and a remarkably consistent writer. Hopefully Working Without A Net will make people want to go back and explore gems like Breaking Silence, and the aforementioned God & the FBI. At the very least it raises the bar for the current crop of would-be troubadours. --Michael Ross

Customer Reviews:

Society's Child is also "Great" live !.......2004-06-18

This 2CD set is brand new(2003)and the live 2 track recordings are from 1990 -2003. The excellently recorded songs are from over 30 yrs of a fine collection of the supurb songs most written by Janis herself. These songs take you all the way back to her first hit "Society's Child" when she was 14 years old. Excellent Sound, Unbeatable Singing, and No Waste of Track Room, both CDs are loaded with real treasure. What more can be said ! For the person that does not know much about Janis Ian buy this set, it has most of her famous songs and it's a great place to start ! "Enjoy"

Who needs a net when you can soar like this?.......2004-04-16

Stop reading these reviews and order this CD! If Janis isn't coming to your town, this is the next best thing to seeing her live. She is authentic, warm, funny and amazingly gifted.

Her songs have a social consciousness without being preachy. Who do you think paved the way for Suzanne Vega, Alanis Morisette, and the rest of those female singer-songwriters? Janis wrote the book on great writing. She knows how to weave a lyric that lingers for days around your heart.

This is a woman whose had an amazing 40 year career and shows no sign of slowing down. With age usually comes wisdom. Janis was wise beyond her years as a teenager. I think she has many great songs left to write, but this CD gives you a great overview of her music.

You walk into her show wondering how you'll be entertained by a four foot nothing middle aged Jewish lesbian. Buy the CD and you'll understand. JANIS ROCKS!

Unlike other "live" CD's........2004-04-06

Unlike other live CD's, this double-CD set is really "live" - recorded direct to 2-track, without edits. And isn't it wonderful to really be able to sit in on a Janis Ian concert? Ian makes her feelings about downloading and home taping known with her choice of the final track, her own version of "These Boots Are Made For Walking", which was recorded on minidisc by a fan sitting next to the mix board!
If you loath the RIAA policies, you should support Janis Ian, and read the article "The Internet Debacle" on her website at www.janisian.com!!!!

Super Live Set.......2004-01-31

I've enjoyed some great 2 CD live sets such as Bonnie Raitt's "Road Tested," Laura Nyro's "The Loom's Desire" and the James Taylor "Live" set. Janis Ian's "Working Without A Net" ranks right up with the best. First of all, a prerequisite for me, the sound quality is excellent. In the excellent notes in the booklet, she details how this was recorded on two-track, not multi-tracked and edited and cleaned up in the studio. What we hear is what happened live.

From the opening drums on "This Train Still Runs" and the train whistle blowing, we can tell we're in for a great bash. "Fly Too High" was not one I was familiar with, but it's great jazzy rendition written with Giorgio Moroder makes me hit repeat. The hits "Jesse," "Stars," & "Society's Child" shimmer like familiar jewels in new settings. The humor songs "Boots Like Emmy Lou's" & "Cosmopolitan Girl" are great fun. "Honor Them All" which I first became acquainted with on the Mothers Against Drunk Drivers CD works well as recorded in Japan. Janis talks about feeling sad when listening to "Silly Habits" because she injured her hand & will never play piano again as she did that night in Holland. The CD concludes with the wacked out version of "These Boots Were Made for Walking" which is great fun.

Janis writes, "The relationship between performer & audience at a live show is fascinating, energizing, amazing. A good audience feeds you, makes you want to exceed your best. And a good performance feeds the audience, making them feel that you're speaking to them directly." Janis indeed accomplishes this on "Working Without A Net." She & Oh Boy Records have picked some blockbuster performances from her many live tapes. Bravo!

What Janis Ian fans have waited for.......2004-01-03

This is a CD that captures the experience of Janis Ian in concert. Those who know Janis' music and concerts understand the depth of her writing and performances. From the inspirational This Train Still Runs through the power and emotion of the classic Society's Child and Tattoo, this CD shows the range of talent and hard work that have made Janis Ian one of music's most worthwhile listens.