How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Outstanding
Value for Money
Excellent
Advantages:
A good start for new listeners of her music
Disadvantages:
She died so young
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Janis Lyn Joplin was born 19th January 1943 in Port Arthur, Texas and her parents Seth and Dorothy Joplin allowed her to develop her artistic side.
Discovering a talent to sing the blues, Janis played the coffee houses and hootenannies in and around Texas. Janis later moved to Venice, North Beach and New York, eventually settling in Austin, Texas as a student at the University of Texas. Janis excelled with her creativity, but almost killed herself with drugs and alcohol, especially speed.
Deciding to return home for a year, she went back to college but was never content. Music still called her to her in spite of its dangerous association with drugs; when an old friend, Chet Helms, called to offer her a singing audition with a local group, Janis was tempted. She found a San Francisco community, turned upside down by the flower children of 1966, and was offered the singing position in a relatively obscure group called "Big Brother and the Holding Company." Drugs began affecting their performance and work and in Christmas of 1968, the group played its last gig together.
Janis went on to form her own group and released a new album "I Got Dem 'Ol Kozmic Blues Again, Mama" in September of 1969.
Janis eventually tried to quit her drug use and formed her and final third band, called Full Tilt Boogie Band, which produced a more professional popular sound. Janis felt she'd finally found her unique style of white blues. She was never happier with her new music. While recording her next album "Pearl," she chanced into using heroin again. Obtaining a dose more pure than usual, she accidentally overdosed in a motel in Los Angeles on 4 October 1970 aged just 27.
- Partly taken from Official Janis.com and condensed by myself -
~~The Album~~
This album is pure Janis. Sultry sounds and her husky voice combine to produce an album that contains originality and reflects the by gone era of the hippie, flower power, drugs and rock and roll.
~~The Insert~~
The insert is a simple affair consisting of just a folded piece of paper. The front shows a picture of Janis taken from the Pearl Album she was working on before her death and towards the back is a list of all the tracks contained on the CD.
Inside the insert to one side again has a track listing, but in more detail it tells you the track name, track length, track date and who wrote it.
The other side contains a brief biography of Janis Joplin and details of five other digitally remastered albums that are available; I'll tell you about them later.
~~The Tracks~~
Me & Bobby McGee - This track was taken from Janis's Pearl album that she was in the middle of recording before she died and starts off mellow but as the words start flowing the track ends up almost like a collaboration of rock and blues.
This track was written partly by Kris Kirstofferson (Convoy) and Janis's vocals certainly carry this track like no-one else's could, this has to be one of my all time favourite tracks by this lady.
If I was asked to give marks out of ten for this track I would give it 10/10.
Cry Baby - This track was also taken from the Pearl album and has been featured on Look Who's Talking 2 and is one of Janis's signature songs.
Janis sings this track with such feeling that you could almost be there while she's singing, this track transports you back to a smoke filled bar with her situated on the centre of the stage.
If I was asked to give marks out of ten for this track I would give it 8/10.
Kozmic Blues - This track is taken from her album I Got Dem 'Ol Kozmic Blues Again, Mama and is a smooth, bluesy and mellow track.
If I was asked to give marks out of ten for this track I would give it 9/10.
Move Over - This track was recorded for Janis's Pearl album and is very upbeat and has a feel good factor to it.
If I was asked to give marks out of ten for this track I would give it 8/10.
Piece Of My Heart - This is another one of Janis's signature tracks and was recorded when she was with Big Brother & The Holding Company.
Anyone who's anyone will have heard the song but probably by different artists over the years.
If I was asked to give marks out of ten for this track I would give it 9/10.
Mercedes Benz - This track was taken from Janis's Pearl album and was also used believe it or not in a Mercedes Benz Advert a few years ago and is the main reason why I bought this album…Sad I know but I did like this track even if I didn't like the advert.
'Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz My friends all drive Porches I must make amends Worked hard all my life With no help from my friends So, Oh Lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz…'
If I was asked to give marks out of ten for this track I would give it 10/10.
Try (Just a little but harder) - This track is a very upbeat blues track and was taken from her album, I Got Dem 'Ol Kozmic Blues Again, Mama.
If I was asked to give marks out of ten for this track I would give it 9/10.
Get It While You Can - This is a very soulful track with excellent lyrics and was recorded for her Pearl album that Janis was in the middle of recording before she died.
If I was asked to give marks out of ten for this track I would give it 7/10.
Down On Me (Live) - This track was taken from Live at Winterland '68 album and was recorded when she was with Big Brother & The Holding Company.
If I was asked to give marks out of ten for this track I would give it 7/10.
Ball & Chain (Live) - This track was also taken from Live at Winterland '68 album. This track to me is the most amusing one on the album not because of the lyrics which in themselves are superb but because Janis appears stoned while she's singing this, half way through the track she stops singing and starts talking and then goes back to singing again.
If I was asked to give marks out of ten for this track I would give it 9/10.
Summertime - This track is from the Cheap Thrills album and is one that everyone will have heard but by different artists. Janis sings this track with a lot of soul and depth and is the sort of track that you listen to with the lights down low and a glass of wine in your hand.
'Summertime and the living is easy Fish are jumpin' and the cotton is high Yo' Daddy's rich and yo' Mama's good lookin'
If I was asked to give marks out of ten for this track I would give it 8/10.
Mary Jane - This track is very 1920's old style jazz and like most songs of the era it is all about drugs. Written by Janis and recorded with the Dick Oxtot Oakland Athletics Jazz Band, this early song also appeared on the soundtrack to the film, Janis, as well as being recorded by Janis for her Pearl album.
If I was asked to give marks out of ten for this track I would give it 7/10.
~~Price and Availability~~
This album is available at the price of £6.99 from HMV and is also available from other music stores and possibly from E-Bay as well although I've not looked.
The album was released in 1983 by Sony Music.
~~The Other Albums Available~~
There are lots of compilation albums out there, so I won't name them all but just a few.
Big Brother & The Holding Company - self titled Cheap Thrills - Big Brother & The Holding Company I Got Them Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama Pearl Janis Joplin's Greatest Hits The Essential Janis Joplin
~~Other Information~~
There has been talk of two films being made about her life. The artist Pink is reported to be starring in the lead role of one titled 'Gospel According To Janis' and actress Renée Zelwegger is purported to be playing the lead role in the second film titled 'Piece Of My Heart'.
For more about Janis Joplin by visiting her website that was set up by her family, www.officialjanis.com or www.janisjoplin.net
~~My Opinion~~
It is such a shame that a bright intelligent young woman with an immense musical talent cut short her life so tragically but Janis Joplin left behind her own legacy that helped change peoples attitude to music and also brought into the forefront of peoples minds how readily drugs and alcohol were available.
This album is an excellent collection of her work and is ideal for anyone who would like to hear Janis Joplin's' music as this covers a broad scale of her short career and even if you already like to listen to Janis Joplin, this album is a must for your collection.
This album definitely gets five stars because the album isn't too short in length, you get a wide selection of her music and it was also great value for money.
"Don't compromise yourself. You're all you've got." - Janis Joplin
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