Sonoko F. from MONTCLAIR, NJ Reviewed on 4/19/2007...
I saw the marvelous play & had to get the cd. all the spoken dialogue is taken from interviews & letters she wrote home. these sections carry the listener on a fascinating journey (instead of being annoying filler) revealing janis' thoughts on life, stardom, her focus on developing her art, and what she felt about her rise to rock stardom. she comes across as gutsy, intelligent and a woman of conviction. can't figure out why this hasn't been installed on Broadway, it's that good!
CD Reviews
Piece of Janis' heart
Diana S. Walsh | Palm Springs, CA United States | 06/15/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"What a great CD - I played it over and over again - just the way I used to play Janis' LPs when I was a teenager. The "readings" of Janis' letters to her family are so well done that I had to keep reminding myself that they were being done by an actress. So generous of Janis' family to share these letters with us and let us once again hear her passion, her crackling humor, and her masked pain. The world is a duller place without Janis - this CD brings back a little of her heart and soul."
Wow
Diana S. Walsh | 05/11/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The music, of course, we know it and and love it.Those who have seen the play (based on the book) have experienced the very poignant connection between Janis's letters home to her family and Janis' music. This cd of Janis' music (by Janis) interspersed with those letter excerpts read (by actress Catheine Curtin) is illuminating, touching, thoughtful, funny. It makes Janis so real, man, as we know she was, a real person, not some "star" or "legend." This cd is done with the cooperation of Laura and Michael Joplin, brother and sister, so the pictures included are very new to at least this member of the public. The liner notes are extensive and fascinating. Very seldom do you get a chance to "hear" the person alongside the "artist" and in 'Love, Janis' we have that rare and wonderful opportunity, very well done."
A Different Janis
Diana S. Walsh | 05/27/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Much better CD than Janis' Greatest Hits collection. While there are no live performances, the selection of songs from her studio CD's is excellent. However, for me, a fanatical Janis fan, what makes this CD worthwhile is Janis' letters. These letters show a side of Janis not always in line with her public image of 60's icon. They remind us of the human being behind the legend."