The best CD retrospective of her career is The Female Elvis: Complete Recordings 1956-1960. This CD combines her RCA tracks and some from a few small labels. If you are a rockabilly aficionado, a student of the roots of rock ‘n’ roll, or just like good music, this CD and Janis Martin are a must. Janis had a powerful, classic voice with no twang. She produced slick music that was approachable and exciting. Her three single releases are included as are such rockabilly gems as “Ooby Dooby,” “Love and Kisses” and the classic “Let’s Elope Baby.” Thirty tracks are presented here which just about covers her entire output during this period of her life.
Janis Martin died of breast cancer on September 3, 2007. She really never received her due as she was a pioneer in American country and rock music at the time. She, Patsy Cline, and Wanda Jackson were some of the very few women making an impact in these fields of music. While I have been presenting a series on Elvis Presley, Janis Martin is a worthy stop along the way, given the comparison. Give her music a listen, you won’t be disappointed.
Article comments
1 - Big Geez
Nice write-up, David. I did mark her death last year with an article, but you're right when you say there wasn't a lot of attention paid to her passing.
2 - edd bayes
well thought out and my feelings exactly. i had the great fortune to locate janis in the early 70s and with a little encouragement and letter writing to the record industry, we were able to get the name out and recoup royalties that had been held for decades. thanks to the european market, her name flourished and she was able to achieve more than what rca tried to do in her short lived recording contract with them. she will be missed, but the trees have been chopped down by her and those ladies who ventured in that same direction for those of today to achieve what is rightfully theirs.