After scoring a hit in 1966 with her first single, "Society's Child," and her self-titled debut album, Janis released three more albums on the Verve label that didn't catch on. Her fifth album, Present Company, was released on Capitol records in 1971, and also failed to find an audience. She took some time off from recording and returned on Columbia records in 1974 with Stars, which didn't contain any hits but set the stage for her comeback single, "At Seventeen," a year later. The title track to Stars was later covered by both Mel Tormé and Cher; "Jesse" was recorded by Roberta Flack, whose version went to #30 in the US 1973, giving Janis her first songwriting hit since "Society's Child." Thanks in part to Flack's cover, the song became a concert favorite for Ian, and one she plays at most of her shows.