Going for the Gold: Janis Ian And “Between The Lines”
Janis Ian - Between the Lines (Epic, 1975)
Janis Ian has released nearly three dozen albums since her debut on Verve in 1967 (with half-as-many compilations landing on the record shelves, as well). Just one has managed to sell more than a million-copies for the highly-acclaimed folk singer.
Between the Lines, the seventh and most widely-known Janis Ian record, is the one album in her catalog to win a gold (and later, platinum) record.
Recorded in Blauvelt, New York by Brooks Arthur and released on Epic in 1975, it contained Ian’s Grammy award winning hit single, “At Seventeen.” The song went to #3 on the pop chart (and #1 on the adult contemporary chart).
The tune also holds the distinction being the very first song performed on Saturday Night Live, on the debut episode that aired in October ’75.
Benefitting from her hit, Between the Lines went gold almost immediately upon release and has since been certified platinum.
That love was meant for beauty queens
And high school girls with clear-skinned smiles
Who married young and then retired
The valentines I never knew
Read about some more Going for the Gold golden oldies (and not-so-oldies).
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