Reviews (page 10 of 14)
1. the tuuo - 1 2. man to love - 1 3. zummertime - 1 4. piece of my heart - 2 5. turtle bluez - 2 6. zuueet mary - 1 7. ball and chain - 1.5 8. roadblock - 1 9. the zun - 1 10. daddy - 1 11. magic of love - 0
This was sooo damn good woow
Janis Joplin is fucking awesome, and the first four tracks on this album go so hard. I do think it falls off a bit for me, it loses its charm a bit. But still a very strong psych blues album. Fav songs: - Combination of the two - Summertime - Piece of my Heart - Ball and Chain
I'm just not a Janis Joplin fan
I want to like Janis Joplin SO BAD, but her voice is grating
had one song that was good, but appart from that not great
Janis Joplin CRUSHES. This was a god damn blast.
Okay…probably won’t listen to it again
Solid
Better Ok werk Marge Simpson Love the cover art
Marge Simpson knocks it out the park
This album was fantastic. I of course knew Janis was legendary, but I only knew a couple of her songs — one of them being Piece of My Heart, which is on here. Hearing a whole album of her singing, and a lot of it live, was an experience. The whole band is great — there are some crazy guitar solos on this album, amazing drumming, and some super funky bass lines. There's a fun mix of psychedelic rock, blues, soul, and the closing live track, (at least on the version of the album I listened to) Magic Love is practically a punk song. I personally prefer the psychedelic songs from the first half, but the whole thing is great. Janis was an incredible performer. You can tell how committed she is to every single note she sings. And though she's famous for her soulful wailing, there are also some more restrained moments where you can really hear what a beautiful, rich timbre her voice had. At her wilder moments she kind of sounds like the love child of Robert Plant and Marge Simpson, but I promise I mean that in a good way haha. This was a very enjoyable listen, and I might even try to pick it up on vinyl. 5/5
I think this is my favorite Janis Joplin project I’ve ever heard and that’s in large part to ball and chain. What an epic song with epic electric guitars. The rest of the album was pretty fun and I didn’t find Janis’s voice as annoying as I normally do. Piece of my heart was also a standout.
solid whatever.
Fantastic vocals by Janis Joplin backed by some pretty solid blues rock instrumentation.
Cover chido Covers chidos No tiempo de escribir
aaah janis. albumcover huuuere geil. oke s isch afoch bluesrock i guess. und s isch live und sochli semi guet ufgnoh? combination of the two findi en funny titel. uuh uuh aah. i need a man to love het e sehr cools riff. gfallt mer irgendwie. summertiiime. afoch crazy song. sie singt huuuuere chratzig mann. finds scho fast unagnehm. ah holy shit s isch keis live album d publikumsgrüüsch sind spöter dezue tue. bi piece of my heart singt sie chli klarer tönt vieel besser. coole song. mbappé blues au sehr nice. sie cha scho singe. aber au nöd meega geil. oh sweet mary singt nödmol d janis heee. finds au easy whack gad ball and chain isch chli vibier, joplin beltet und d band spielt moody blues in moll. pässlet mer. gut glaub e solids nöd enthusiastischs 3.
JANIS damn sie hend e gueti ziit oeff janis hert am schreie, huren geil oke mengisch chli too much hahahahaha piece of my heart usch en absolute banger vomene lied schaepmann blues (turtle blues) cool (han rig nö vill dezue sege aber ich han de funny welle mache) sehr cools live album und d janis fasziniert mich als person scho sehr, ich schwanke zwüscheme 3 und 4
decent
I accidentally put my note and rating for this album in with The Band's self-titled, which is great and I would have given a 4/5 to. This is deeply unimpressive. 2/5.
Sometimes that Janis caterwaul comes through like late 70's Donna in the Dead and it's all I can hear.
Es realmente una joya este disco. Aguante Janis Joplin loco.
I’ve heard Another Piece of my Heart before and all of these songs sound like drunks at a BBQ. 3 stars for Janis though
There's an incredible album buried in here but it's covered up by so much noodling. Janis is predictably excellent and Piece of My Heart is an absolute classic. There is just a lack of taste throughout. Even Summertime is loud and long. Everyone involved is a talented musician with some tasty lines but it just feels like they're trying to fabricate big emotions instead of having those big emotions flow from them. Ball and Chain is the most egregious. 9 and a half minutes of mostly yelling. Check out Big Mama Thorton's version for some excellent music.
impressive performance by janis joplin rip but sometimes it was too much or for me not perfectly matching. And the graphic on the cover for summertime... different times but still not cool imo and didnt liked this version of the song either. Oh, sweet Mary is fucking great! Good blues elements too. Sometimes some moments would be much more if janis did much less imo.
A good rendition of late- 60s blues rock with a psych tinge and of course the soaring, raw vocals of Janis Joplin. All sounds very much of its time and feels like this may have had some influence on the likes of early Led Zep.
Fun!
This is an album my dad always raved about but somehow id never listened to it before now. Reminds me a bit of Savoy Brown. I liked this better than the solo Janis Joplin stuff I've heard. Solid album.
This was cool
Janis’ signature voice is always good, the acid rock music though really needs the LSD to be appreciated and listening sober it’s just noise
On of the earliest albums I remember as a kid is Pearl. But obviously I’m familiar with much of this album as several of the tunes have become ubiquitous late 60s anthems. The rest of the album is okay enough, I’m not a giant Joplin voice fan. But still, it’s a solid timepiece.
Every time I hear this record, I'm blown away again.
My first introduction to Janis Joplin and an absolutely bonkers album + cover.
When I first got this record on vinyl I had no idea Joplin sang; who would’ve known given the name? It’s an incredibly strange album (both song and art wise), never doing anything to hold on to any sound for long. Janis Joplin’s vocals are of course powerful and raw, but it’s never been quite enough to keep me fully engaged throughout every idea thrown at the listener.
Didn't know Janis Joplin was in this band before going solo! Very nice raw album
Love me same Joplin and only wish there were more! What a unique individual with a timeless voice. The whole album is a mix of rock 'n' roll and blues at its peak. The fuzz makes me insanely happy. Just a solid record front to back. Standout Tracks: Summertime, Piece of My Heart, Ball and Chain
I didn’t realize all these Janis Joplin songs I recognize weren’t solo songs
One of those albums that really grows the more you listen to it. Started at a low 2. I'd now rate it a high 3. I love the album cover too.
Janis Joplin has a really special voice. It was interesting to learn that Piece of my Heart is a cover -- the original by Erma Franklin was released a year earlier. I didn't get a chance to give this album focused listens, but I found myself playing it in the background more. I could see going to 4 stars with more listens.
Thought I'd like this more than I did, based on "Take Another Little Piece of My Heart" but most of me didn't grab me nearly as firmly.
While Janis' voice is downright chilling in its intensity at times, the loose, live-sounding vibe just wasn't as compelling as her solo work. Besides the always great Piece of My Heart, enjoyed the bluesy Turtle Blues and Summertime cover.
Janis’ early work here and her soulful voice really comes out on some tracks. If you’re into hippy blues or some blues in general this album should be for you.
Yeah!!
ok YES janice is great. marge+kurt+some1 else lmao. love her voice. add some of these songs to ur spotify
I ordered this vinyl within the first three songs... didn't even see Piece of My Heart up next. Great album!
Ikonisches Album.
Piece of my Heart (Janis Joplin) is such a classic
Wasn't expecting how much more this leaned into blues rock compared to psych rock, but I was pleasantly surprised. Janis Joplin sounds great on this, powerful and fuzzy (except for on Summertime, where her constant singing in high register makes her sound like Marge Simpson). It's refreshing to hear a vocalist who is clearly inspired by Black singers, but doesn't sound like she's trying to do an impression of them. I'd love it if the album art was not racist, though.
Had no idea.
janis joplin the woman that you were
Not terrible but not for me. Sorry Janis.
favourite: oh sweet mary, ball and chain least favourite: piece of my heart how they get marge simpson on this second half is way better than the first cool album mayb 7/10
Some great vocal performances from the legendary Janis Joplin along with the psychedelic offerings of Big Brother & The Holding Company make for a pretty engaging experience. The mixing definitely helps to deceive the listener into thinking this is a live recording when its actually not.
Reasonably good. The hits I know are hits for a reason, the rest was ok.
This was a banger of an album! Did not expect this, didn’t know what to expect to be perfectly honest! Loved it though! Is it perfect? No, it’s not but it’s a raucous, bish bash of an album! Bang a couple of beers in your belly and turn it up!
I may not be the badass punk rocker I thought I was. The album was a little too rough around the edges for me. I loved a lot of the instrumentation but had a hard time connecting to the vocals, to the point where I was savoring the parts with no singing. My favorite songs were at the end, Roadblock and Flower in the Sun. I also liked Piece of my Heart, which I've heard on classic rock stations plenty of times. I'll give it a 6/10 because I did add the aforementioned songs to my liked songs playlist. I don't think I'd listen to the album ever again.
Good vibes and joplins voice, love energy capture
I think you had to be there to appreciate the value of this band and it's efforts, there in the 60s, to know what this lifestyle was like and about. I find nothing appealing about this music other than it being a historical place marker. 2 stars.
Fair warning - You have to like Janis Joplin’s voice. Personally I do, especially backed by Big Brother & The Holding Company. Piece of My Heart and Summertime are stand outs. Album feels raw and rough around the edges. It also runs on a bit.
Amazing
not bad, classic bit of 60's hippy rock - Janis joplin needs to lay of the smokes and be healthier she sounds so unhealthy its sad🙄
I liked this album. Amazing how awesome Janis Joplin sounds. I thought that the crowd noise gave it a live feeling without actually being live. I love that The Who would be there in another week…at the same venue of the last two songs. This sounds so late 60’s…I don’t think this is going into the rotation though.
One of my favorite albums from this list so far. Surprising and had never heard of them.
This is one I haven't listened to, but overall Janis Joplin's fun, and the late 60s had some neat albums. I'm sure this one will be fine. If I hadn't read that it wasn't recorded live, I would never have assumed otherwise. It sounds so perfectly "live", down to small imperfections (like tuning) and that perfect concert hall reverb. I'd only ever heard "Piece of My Heart" on the radio before, which wasn't always a favorite, but it's interesting how much bluesier the rest of the album is. It's definitely not as psychedelic as I was expecting it to be, which is fine. Definitely liked "Oh, Sweet Mary > Ball and Chain" the most. Overall pretty solid.
Another classic find I’d never heard of. It starts really strong but the lead guitar droning and grating lead vocals detract from the staying power.
Janis is the best thing that has ever happened to Big Brother. an artist with an incredible voice and immense talent – she is the only thing I hear when listening to this album and it's more than enough
Damn, an even better album than I previously realized! Wish I’d listened to this more before. Joplin obviously is the standout performer, but the whole band is phenomenal! Absolutely killer guitar solos too. Far out!
Chill
Second album with Janis Joplin. For her short time on this earth her terrible voice sure managed to inflict a disproportinate amount of misery on it. Music is just as terrible. Why is this on any top xxx list?
Combination of the two 3 I need a man to love 4 Summertime 3 Piece of my heart 4 Turtle blues 3 Oh, sweet Mary 4 Ball and chain 3 Roadblock 3 Flower in the sun 3 Catch me daddy - live 4 Magic of love - live 3
Absolute banger of a classic rock album
Rock at its finest. Classic.
Grande!!!
Not terrible but also didn't really enjoy this one
Don’t even know what genre this was, light jazz/rock? Really liked it Best song to me was “Summertime”, I really liked the guitar melody, reminded me of “selling England by the pound” song Female vocals could have been a bit better 4****, none of the songs are bad
Loved Janis Joplin's voice - was a nice album!
Janis Joplin's voice was so soulful, I really enjoyed this
Average sounding blues/rock band with a singer who stands out. Listening to a song or 2 with can be enjoyable given the sheer power of Janis Joplin, but can't make up for songwriting and instrumentation which doesn't sound particularly good. Listened to about half the album, before I got tired of it.
Nope, not for me. Clash of styles and very aged production quality.
This album could have the second worst record cover in existence, just behind the 'Lionel Blair Does Aerobics' LP I saw in a charity shop the other day. One cannot wipe the image of him in a tight t shirt and skimpy shorts from one's head that quickly. The music is pretty good, a product of its time, garage style psychedelia, with a young Janis screeching over the top of it, as though she has been impaled on a rusty pitchfork. I like that some of it is live, to capture the energy of the songs. It might get another listen in the future, but I have no idea when that may be. A low 3
wow, Janis Joplin is incredible on this. she completely steals the show. I had no idea this was a fake live album until i read about it - it certainly adds to the atmosphere it's trying to create, with the raw vocals and long jams, but it's too unpolished to be as conceptually astounding as, like, court of the crimson king. ball and chain is ridiculously good. easily my favourite. bluesy, full of heart, engaging throughout. Thoroughly enjoyed this album!
Janis!!
This album gets so much worse when someone besides Janis does vocals
The most overrated American singer of all time.
Love the “SF Sound”. And I love Janis, so everyone else just shut-up so’s I can listen to her. Oh, “I Need a Man to Love”, “Piece of My Heart”….that’s better. Lovely heavy feel to the album as a whole.
Piece of My Heart is a classic , the rest is pretty heavy with Janice going from a whisper to a scream. Roadblock has some good guitar buried in the mix and the lead in the end. The original album ended with Ball & Chain and was titled 'Sex, Dope and Cheap Thrills'. Columbia passed on that. You wonder what Janice would have done with the right band, like Hot Tuna. There is a tape called the Typewriter Album with Jorma playing and Janice singing around a kitchen table. 3*
I'm a big fan of 60s psych, but 'Piece of My Heart' is overplayed to death and it's not nearly my favorite psych track out there. I didn't really know much else about Big Brother and the Holding Company except "Janis Joplin" and I had never listened to this record out of spite because my out of touch boomer parents loved it. well, DAD, i've finally listened to it and... it's alright. I don't think it's anything mindblowing or particularly progressive in the realm of 60s psych, but it is nice enough. there's some good musicianship here and Janis Joplin sure can wail. for some reason, John Simon, whose productions I usually like, decided to make this studio album sound like a live album with fake audience noises and having it sound more "live" and i think it's a kind of bizarre choice to make but whatever.
intersting...
Dripping in cool
Incredibly raw albums with moments of polish or brilliance. Janis yo-yos as she finds her voice as does the band. When the track is good, it's great. When it misses, it's not by much
Average blues, with ‘Piece Of My Heart’ standing out, just with an excellent singer that bumps this up a star.
Musically, some nice arrangements of classic tracks. Vocally, I really wouldn't be a fan of Janis Joplin.
Incredibly strong album. The hooks are on point, Joplin kills it vocally, and there is no filler. Only complaint is that the band aren't as interesting as the vocalist.
Good music, fun to listen to.
Eg
Album Nr. 51 Guter 60's Sound und dazu die unvergleichiche Stimme von Janis Joplin. Einfach gut.
The late, great Janis leads the group on this one (she always led, this isn’t a surprise or new information, just an establishing intro). Obviously, I have no complaints with Ms. Joplin. She is perfection. The group follows closely and keeps up and I have no complaints with them either. I would counter any complaints of this album being messy with the idea that it is the way the project was intended to sound. The parts I could do without were the live bits and lackluster blues covers. A cover is fine, but get into it. Overall, though, love this album. 4/5
Sorry did not like the AAAEEAaaeEaaAe🦅🦅🦅🦅
Higher energy on the first track than I expected. Looked it up and it's a fake live album? What a fuzz tone. Janis Joplin is sounding like Robert Plant but better. Love the backing vocals on this thing. Makes it feel rowdy.
Great classic 60s blues based rock album. Janis’s voice is definitely unique and you either love it or hate it.
Faux live album with audience sounds added afterwards; Incredible vocals by Janis Joplin. Summertime (jazz standard in a blues style) Piece of my Heart Turtle Blues (traditional piano blues) Bell and Chain (long electric blues vamp)
Loved this album.
две Джоплин подряд это интересный ход. не уверена что за весь день осилила его целиком... всё смешалось и не отложилось(
I had no idea Jennis Joplin was in a band before her solo career I was pleasantly surprised it was a great album that I had never heard of.
Perfectly mixed and every song is amazing. Love how this album ebbs and flows
Fun and trippy blues rock, with the iconic Janis Joplin on vocals. Not the most interesting thing I've heard, but I am one listening experience richer.
I really really enjoyed this. Janis Joplin has a classic voice. Obviously "Piece of My Heart" is an all-timer but I also really enjoyed "Ball and Chain".
What a fun album! Janis Joplin’s voice is just perfect.
Goes hard love u Janis u killed it
Kinda amazing.
It all comes down to the voice really. I'm not a big fan of that creaky thing she does. Production is not great either. Couple of cracking songs
Janis joplin hits all the right spots to make you writhe in you chair. Her voice is unmatched, only by maybe robert plant
Cool asf
Raw, energetic, great.
Lekker swingy rocky, i like
Great listen.
The instrumentals are like a hot plate of biscuits and gravy. Janis Joplin's singing is the hippopotamus muckspreading all over it
I am an idiot. I always thought Janis Joplin was like some growly jazz singer. And BB&THC was some jazz band. This was the phenomenal blues rock album I didn't know I needed. I am an idiot. I know nothing. But I'm happy to have been very well surprised. I'm now going to have to go and listen to a lot more of this.
Janis tiene una energía que lo eleva todo. 4/5.
Nothing compares to Janis’ sound
Always amazed that that voice comes out of that person. What a legend!
Janis Joplin - insane voice!
Better than Dusty, Janis voice though, not my favourite... Sometimes sounds like Kermit the frog on speed!
This was a chore to get through. Psychedelic rock is not for me. I don't usually have much of an opinion on Janis Joplin's voice...but I noticed while listening to this that she sounds like Marge Simpson when she sings in her upper register. So...no thanks. 1/5
I can see how this would have been appreciated at the time but it hasn't aged well. Janis Joplin is an interesting character
We were deprived of more Janis. Albeit she's blow out her vocal chords by the late 70's at this rate. Lovely live album, lightning in a bottle released before woodstock so you can imagine how epic that show was. 4 stars on principle, better albums came out in 1968 like Beggar's Banquet and Truth.
Interesting early rock, not amazing, but not bad.
Piece of My Heart is an all time great.
Janis is a great vocalist but I find the band sloppy.
(Mai ascoltato prima) Janis Joplin ha una voce pazzesca, però come album non mi ha presa molto.
Some good sounds here. Like some other reviewers here, I hadn't known that Janis Joplin fronted a band before going solo. I've never liked her songs much, but on some of these it suits the music really well and there is enough going on to prevent her rasping from outweighing the songs (like some of her solo stuff). Some good numbers here, with urgency to the music and lots of momentum. Others are more forgettably bluesy, and insignificant other than as part of music history.
fun album, love Janis voice, not exactly my genre, too much swinging
classic blue rocks powerful vocal
Between hard rock and psychedelic. Excellent combo.
Well I guess you had to be there. I wasn’t. The stars are for “Piece of My Heart”, a great song by any reckoning, “Turtle Blues”, and maybe “I Need a Man to Love”. The rest is the acid-addled musings of her backup band. Maybe this is why she went solo.
This album didn't quite get me excited but there was some foot tapping.
If you want to listen to a jammin' blues rock album from the late 60's, this is a beauty. Janis Joplin's vocals are so achingly jagged they will flat rip your soul out. Summertime and Piece of My Heart are just plain masterworks. I prefer Ball and Chain from the Monterey Pops but you can't go wrong with this version. This album should be a must listen for anyone that owns vinyl.
I listened to this like 3 times on the way to the airport but I retained nothing of it. I think I liked it?
Cheap Thrills is the second and final album by Big Brother & The Holding Company, the band that launched the career of Janis Joplin, one of the most iconic and influential singers of the 1960s. Released in 1968, the album captures the raw energy, emotion, and improvisation of the band's live performances, which made them a sensation at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. The album features a mix of blues, rock, soul, and psychedelic elements, showcasing Joplin's powerful and expressive vocals, as well as the band's tight and adventurous musicianship. The album opens with a cover of "Combination of the Two", a song by the band's guitarist Sam Andrew, which sets the tone for the rest of the album with its upbeat tempo, catchy chorus, and dynamic interplay between Joplin and the band. The song also features a spoken introduction by the band's manager, Chet Helms, who introduces them as "four gentlemen and one great, great, broad; Big Brother and the Holding Company!" The next track is "I Need a Man to Love", a bluesy duet between Joplin and Andrew, which showcases their chemistry and vocal harmonies. The song also features a prominent organ solo by John Simon, the album's producer, who added some overdubs and effects to enhance the sound of the band. The third track is "Summertime", a cover of the classic song from Porgy and Bess, which Joplin transforms into a haunting and soulful ballad. The song features a slow and sparse arrangement, with Joplin's voice soaring over a simple guitar riff and a subtle drum beat. The song also features a psychedelic guitar solo by James Gurley, the band's lead guitarist, who adds some distortion and feedback to create a contrast with Joplin's smooth vocals. The fourth track is "Piece of My Heart", another cover, this time of a song by Erma Franklin, the sister of Aretha Franklin. This is arguably the most famous and popular song on the album, and one of Joplin's signature songs. The song features a catchy and upbeat melody, with Joplin delivering a passionate and defiant performance, as she sings about giving her lover everything she has, even if he breaks her heart. The song also features a call-and-response structure, with Joplin singing the verses and the band joining her on the chorus. The fifth track is "Turtle Blues", a song written by Joplin, which is the only studio-recorded track on the album. The song is a traditional blues song, with Joplin playing the piano and singing in a relaxed and humorous tone. The song also features some background chatter and applause from the band and the studio staff, creating a live and intimate atmosphere. The sixth track is "Oh, Sweet Mary", another song by Andrew, which is a fast and energetic rock song, with Joplin and Andrew trading vocals and guitar riffs. The song also features a prominent bass line by Peter Albin, the band's bassist, and a driving drum beat by David Getz, the band's drummer. The seventh and final track is "Ball and Chain", a cover of a song by Big Mama Thornton, the blues singer who also wrote "Hound Dog". This is the longest and most epic song on the album, clocking in at over nine minutes. The song is a slow and powerful blues song, with Joplin delivering a stunning and emotional performance, as she sings about the pain and oppression of love. The song also features a dynamic and improvisational arrangement, with the band following Joplin's lead and creating a tense and dramatic musical backdrop. The song ends with a thunderous applause from the audience, as the album was recorded live at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco. Cheap Thrills is a landmark album in the history of rock music, as it showcases the talent and charisma of Janis Joplin, who would go on to become a solo star and a legend. The album also showcases the skill and versatility of Big Brother & The Holding Company, who were more than just a backing band for Joplin. The album is a testament to the power and beauty of live music, as it captures the spirit and excitement of the San Francisco scene in the late 1960s. The album is also a masterpiece of art and design, as it features a famous and colorful cover by Robert Crumb, the underground comic artist, who depicted the band members and Joplin in his distinctive style. Cheap Thrills is an album that deserves to be listened to and appreciated by anyone who loves music, as it is a timeless and thrilling experience.
Well done for its time and style.
60's rock. Joplin's voice. Amazing.
This album has exactly what's missing from the Motown albums - soul. So much soul.
Probably an interesting album. But Janis Joplin's vocals are not my thing. And I don't like the Beatles harmonies and arrangements very much either. It's a matter of taste, of course. But I didn't like the quality of recording, neither mixing, nor quality of guitars, nor quality of overdrive.
A classic!
Janis sounds amazing, and it’s a gigantic step up from the debut. 4/5
Decent Classic rock ablum
Speaking as someone who saw "Love Janis" when Big Brother & The Holding Company was the "orchestra" this is an easy 5 stars for me. Loved it.
This album is fine as a time capsule. I haven't really listened to any Janis Joplin before, so I was surprised by how bluesy some of the tracks were. Not bad, not phenomenal. I probably won't listen to it again.
Sounds like it was probably a fun show to see live...except apparently it wasn't actually a live album, they just added crowd noise. Weird. Pretending like it's a live album is like giving yourself a license to be raw and unpolished in the studio, which I guess is fine if you're going for a raw sound, but I didn't like this one as much as I wanted to. Definitely some good stuff here, though. Can't deny that Joplin is a powerhouse.
It gets 4 stars because of the inclusion of one of my all time favorite songs, Summertime. Musically it was great to hear, but technically is was irritating. The mix on the opening of track one almost left me skipping this one.
Funny that the Electric Prunes were mentioned at the end.
Brilliant - particularly love Summertime (and Eminem’s use of the song in Rock Bottom).
Pirce of my heart and Turtle blues are great tracks. Audio quality not great but it is a live venue recording so gets a bye ball. Love the art work.
Very good.
Loved this so much. Felt like summer time doing something crazy with friends. Janis Joplin is so damn cool
A classic that brought back fond memories.
I liked this one alright, Janis Joplin's vocals and energy are definitely the highlight.
Loved it
FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN
Liked the guitar solos
I love the energy of this album. I'm much more of a fan of Janis Joplin's vocals than I realized. The bluesy rock sound is really well done, and all of the elements complement each other well. I would say this is particularly true of the raw guitar sound and Joplin's vocals. I'm definitely a fan of the bass playing on this record too. 9/10. Favorite Songs: I Need a Man To Love, Piece of my Heart, Turtle Blues, Ball and Chain Least Favorite Song: Roadblock
Combination of the Two - 9/10 I Need a Man to Love - 7.5/10 Summertime - 7.5/10 Piece of My Heart - 8.5/10 Turtle Blues - 7.5/10 Oh, Sweet Mary- 7/10 Bell and Chain - 8/10 Roadblock - 8.5/10 Flower in the Sun - 8/10 TOTAL - 63/90
own
4.25
My first impression of this album was "Hmm... are my headphones broken?" I suppose stereo was 'it' in the 60s and everyone was doing it – some better than others. I enjoyed most of this as I was listening, seemed like some sort of middle-ground between blues and rock. Now as I go to review, I realise none of it has really stuck with me. Perhaps I should give it another listen to really get a feel for the album, but I probably won't find the time.
Did not recognize the name of this band, although the cover art style was familiar (underground cartoonist R. Crumb), if a bit problematic (that Black woman caricature on "Summertime"? oof). But when the vocals kicked in it was immediately apparent- this was Janis Joplin's band. "Piece of My Heart" is an absolute classic. Damn shame about the 27 Club.
Never knew Janis was in a band before she was solo. Had heard of BB&THC before. But didn’t know anything about them. Wouldn’t listen to this over and over. By wasn’t bad.
Marge Simpson singing, one recognisable song: Piece of My Heart
Proggy, KGATLW vibes Crazy raspy vocals Piece of my heart
Janis Joplin singt Summertime
I've listened to Janis Joplin before, but never really delved into Big Brother & The Holding Company too deep. Cheap Thrills is an awesome collection of psychedelic blues-rock. This album was a pleasure to listen to and it will definitely get another play.
This album was okay. There definitely some recognizable songs on there which were cool. But I found the faux live album thing to be odd
I’d give this one a 3.5, it has some potential to be good for sure.
Jako dobar album uz jedan mega hit. 9/10
Janis Joplin con su grupo, los Big Brother & the Holding Company, en su máximo explendor. Editado el año siguiente a su explosión mundial en el Monterey Pop Festival de junio del 67, "Cheap Thrills" conserva el sonido que habían ejecutado sobre los escenarios y la intepretación pasional y emocionante de Joplin. Destacan el exitazo de "Piece of My Heart" y "Summertime", revisión en clave rockera de la canción de George Gershwin. También me gusta "Roadblock" con ese aire gospel. Blues Rock de alto voltaje con una de las voces más personales e inconfundibles de la historia del rock.
Great album to listen to. Standout songs: I need a man to love Ball and Chain Roadblock Magic of Love
Anything with Janis is a 5 star for me!
Not my thang!
Didn't love this one. It was okay.
I was fully prepared to hate this. But it’s fantastic. Janis at her finest. Her range, control and emotion are pitch perfect in every track. How she made gravelly screaming sound good, is a work of magic. Even the music is just right. Not overly self-indulgent. Genuinely good rhythm and blues, played very well. Really balanced sound. This should be annoying. But it’s really great. It’s probably the best example of the genre. The fact that it’s recorded live, without any of the modern production ‘fixes’, proves how tight this band really was. Again, I should totally hate everything about this, but there is not one flaw to be found.
What a voice!
Favourite song - combination of the two
I like this!
Sometimes good, sometimes medium. Piece of my heart is definitely the best one.
loved this!
It's fine. I like me some blues rock and this scratches that itch to a satisfactory degree.
Nope. Not for me 😂
3.3/5 Best Track: Piece of My Heart
A few songs I knew, a bunch I didn't but am glad I do now. Not quite sure why they made it sound like a live album (even the ones that aren't) but it kind of works. Best asset is Janis, and her voice, but the whole thing is solid and flawless.
It's a piece of art. Joplin's voice is protagonist in all the album and guitars solos are very characteristic of psychedelic rock. It has a lot of distorsion in the voice and guitars and a lo-fi quality probability on purpose. All the arrangements has a different characteristic sound because it goes telling an history about love and sex. The distorted guitars are protagonist in both sides of stereo spectrum, however, there's always a lead guitar when the voice doesn't appear
Good album, tragically short life. 2/5
Just ok. Not sure about the hype surrounding this album.
As I get older, I appreciate strong female vocals so I was thrilled to hear Janis Joplin. Also as I get older, I'm not so much a fan of a forceful guitar or the problematic album art but it's a reminder of that era.
Janis Joplins voice sounds like someone strangling chickens.
I've never been into Janis. This band is really nice. 2nd track kinda reminds me of "born under a bad sign". 3rd track... I'm super impressed with this band... but Janis is kinda ruining it for me. Oh Sweet Mary freaking amazing! Okay. This is getting a 5 despite my dislike of Janis's vocals half the time.
Rating: 7/10 Very good album overall. Janis Joplin's voice is very unique, she sings with a lot of personality even though I don't like it all the time. Instrumentally this album is pretty standard for this era, nothing stands out too much. Everything sounds good but overall this album is nothing special (besides Janis Joplin) compared to its contemporaries at the time, the highlights were quite good though. Favorite songs: Combination of the Two, Piece of My Heart, Turtle Blues, Oh Sweet Mary, Flower in the Sun. Worst song: Summertime.
Really enjoyed this album. Janet sounded great!!!
Great songs, a bit outdated to my taste, which makes it lose one star
Why can't I give 6 stars ;-)
Great!
Woodstock Feelings
Lot of energy. Piece of my heart is always amazing. I don't always care for Janis' voice. She has a lot of volume, but not a lot of range. 3/5
Fantastic sound! LOVE hearing Janice!
This is pretty bloody great. Raucous yet soulful, great variety between the tracks, and Janis is absolutely fine form. 4.5/5 Fav track: Ball and Chan
Joplin's voice just cuts straight through. Incredible power. And some incredible cuts on here! It wore a bit thin for me though, and I found it treading too much similar ground. Fave track: Piece of My Heart
Couldn’t completely attach myself to this. I was more moved by Joplin’s solo album that we listened to. There’s still a lot of energy and passion you can hear, but I didn’t fall in love with this record. Two and a half. Fave track: Piece of My Heart
Good stuff Janis sure has some powerful vocals on this one. Classic
Great album with Janis Joplin and co delivering an energetic live, ball and chain, in the summertime...
Boring, album art rules though
Wusste gar nicht, dass Janis Joplin in ner Band war... Geiles Cover, krasse Stimme. Kannte nur Piece of my Heart. Album wirkt stellenweise 'improvisiert' und es werden belanglose Füller gedudelt. Stört mich irgendwie. Sonst aber ganz gut. 3,5
Die ersten paar Lieder waren der Horror, die kratzige Stimme.. Ab Piece of my heart gehts bergauf. Oh, Sweet Mary fand ich ziemlich cool. Das Albumcover hat für jeden Song eine eigene Zeichnung. Die sind zwar boomerig, aber coole Idee. 2,6.
Gefällt mir nicht. Zu unruhig, Stimme gefällt mir nicht.
Fast and wild, yeah.
Loved it!
Loved it
God damn. Fucking beautiful. Everything.
Geschrei
Ah, I've never really understood the kerfuffle about JJ's voice - a bit screechy and not something I can listen to for extended periods. The band sound really tight and well rehearsed. I read online that this album is predominantly studio based and only 1 track is live. Still a tidy album and 'Take another piece of my heart' is brilliant. Occasionally Big Brother and their chums do become a bit pub rockish. Not a bad thing!
Not my style. Don't love jam bands and I don't love blues. I appreciate the impact that those styles have on music as a whole, I just don't love listening to it with my ears.
JJ's voice transcends reality on "Ball and Chain"
4/5. Janis is good
Marge Simpson hollerin up some sweet grooves. 4/5 -- "I'll enjoy listening to this again, probably on a road trip. To Hell."
Noticeable improvement in the music and Janis Joplin goes a lot harder this time. Fantastic album.
Wasn’t rlly feeling it idk why
Janis Joplin good. The rest...eh.
I have a deep ambivalence for Janis Joplin. On the one hand, she was a force of nature. Her stage presence was primeval and electric. Her voice is emotive and raw and it is fully a rock that paved the way for many others. On the other hand, she really doesn’t have a good voice. I don’t mean she’s a bad singer, as traditional vocal skill has nothing to do with a good voice or good rock and roll. I mean that when I hear Joplin, I really don’t enjoy her voice very much. So, I chalk this up as “I get why she was huge, but it’s not actually very good.” But rating this is hard because this album is very influential and Joplin is singular. The energy is undeniable, but is it any good? If I could give 2.5 stars, I would, as that is the way to rate something I am this torn about.
Some bangers but overall a mixed bag. Certain elements have not aged well.
Pretty good, ahead of its time, bluesy
Not a fan of 60's jammy psychedelia.
Didn't get into it. 1/5
I can see why Janis went solo. Not that anyone was bad, but she was definitely the most unique and interesting part of the line up. Without her, this would just be any given competent 60’s rock album rather than a standout.
Never realized BBtHC had a singer other than Janis. But even when he did sing one, she overpowered him from the background. Enjoyed this one more than I expected to.
Not bad, recognized one song (Piece of My Heart, a real banger), overall meh.
Janiiiis!
Good. Elle braille beaucoup. Pas entièrement ma came.
Míticas canciones de Janis Joplin que conocía y no sabía que estaban aquí. Muy bueno pero igualmente, al rato de escucharlo, me aburría
3/5
A fun listen.
RAW, Bluesy,
Solid album. Probably won't revisit it but nothing to complain about.
Back to back 60’s rock albums on this list left me wanting more after that slightly disappointing Byrds album so I went into “Cheap Thrills” optimistically and I couldn’t be happier with the result. This album is an attention grabbing rock fusion that mixes in hard rock and blues rock for a rocking, and slightly unpredictable, set of tracks. This album hits hard with groove and style which all kicks off on the opener “Combination of the Two”, now this song doesn’t have much in terms of lyrics but actually they compliment the funk of the track very nicely so you’re focusing on the groove of the music which allows you to be struck hard in the centre of the track by a roaring guitar, nothing better to hear. The funk doesn’t stop on “I Need a Man to Love” and “Piece of my Heart” where both tracks are riding the instrumentally so well it almost sounds improvisational at points especially with the guitar player but you can tell the band are really into it. “Summertime” and “Oh, Sweet Mary” are more vocal ballads, more the former rather than the latter, with intense instrumental build ups. A killer guitar fill on the first and a an army stampede of drums on the second with both letting the instruments breathe and the vocals shine through at some point or another. “Turtle Blues” is unique here being a largely piano driven song however it fits so well in the album and really contributes to the blues rock aspect. The official track listing finishes on “Ball and Chain” which is an immense 9 minute hard rock slow burner that I can’t get enough of with the guitar shining through the middle of the track again, it’s really a hard hitter that you can’t help but think about how insane this would’ve been to see live. I would also like to comment on Janis Joplin, the vocalist of the album, who’s raspy voice slightly put me off at first but she’s got so much soul and has great booming vocals to lead the band it compliments them so well. Finally, I have to give props to the album art, a very unique and fun way of displaying each track pictorially along with each band member. To conclude, this album is a true pick me up collection of songs, there’s an immense amount of soul in every song you can’t help but admire the effort put in. Massive respect to Big Brother & The Holding Company and of course Janis Joplin, this really surprised and I hope to hear more of this type of music from the list in the future. 5/5
Not my cup of tea but 3 stars for Janis.
Pura energía, temazos, la portada es chulísima, la pedazo de voz de Janis Joplin, la producción, los instrumentos suenan super llenos, pedazo 5
-psych-rock, blues, jazz -not Janis Joplin's band, but an amazing launch pad -great band, even live
Had no idea Janis Joplin was in a band. Love all the raw screaming blues guitars. Cool 60's blue rock sound.
People playing instruments. It’s good.
Featuring the 'Queen of Rock', this album captures the world of the late '60s. With JJs unique voice (*Always* powerful) and the rest of the Big Brother and the Holding Company supporting her (love the purposefully (?) out of key guitars, you can hear/feel their passion for the music. Piece of My Heart is a classic and I really like the Turtle Blues. Really like this album.
Extremely high four, almost a five. Love it a lot and goof agrees. Ball and chain is quality and so is summertime. (Grrrrr)
Sloppy psychadelia, loose let it all hang out acid rock based in blues. The bass provides a solid danceable foundation with some pretty deep grooves, the drummer kicks it along, and then the extremely awesome sounding fuzzy as hell squealing guitar and Janis Joplin take it turns wailing over the top (or not and both just go for it at once). I used to have a licorice-type reaction to Janis Joplin's vocals, but they've grown on me. She's maxing out, pushing her voice into the red: there's something earnest about the hoarse, scratchy delivery where you can hear the effort exceeding the limits of her ability. Nothing complex musically here but its very effective and one of the most enduring artifacts of hippy culture. The guitar on here is really great - that 60s Santana, loud and fuzzy reverby mostly pentatonic thing that gets epic/melodic and then descents into scattered squealing - basic as hell, but so much fun. Favorites: Oh Sweet Mary, I Need a Man to Love, Ball and Chain, Peice of My Heart
good album great blues guitar, notable Janis Joplin debut album with "piece of my heart", album art provides ample beginnings for conversation
This is one of my favorite albums. I have a vinyl copy that came from one of my parents (mom, I believe) and I've been listening to it for about 35 years. And the R. Crumb artwork is just a bonus.
Psychedelic 60s/70s at their best.
Really enjoyed it! Janis Joplin had some pipes.
Not bad, not great. Typical psychedelic rock but gets repetitive. Joplin’s voice is the best part of the album.
Kinda hard to hear in the first songs but really has a style !
la voix de janis. pas pour moi. sinon du rock / blues. pas tripper 5/10
This album and this group felt like (and still does feel like) the pivot point for our segue into modern rock! Such a classic and still stirs the soul!
Raw, energetic 60's rock. The band had more depth than just their hits
good standout song, didn’t realize it was by them!
An album that pairs well with its cover. Piece of My Heart is the stand out, of course, but this is all pretty listenable.
Afraid I've come away thinking the best thing about this one is the (awesome) album artwork from Mr. Crumb. Maybe it's just that I wasn't in the mood, but dare I say I found Joplin's screeching and howling on every single song a bit grating? Works on "Piece of My Heart" but I'll argue that's the exception and not the rule. Grumpalump over and out!
Hadn’t listened to this in quite a long time. I’d forgotten just how good the band is, as it tends to be thought of as a showcase for Janis. But the rhythm section is locked in and the guitar solos are excellent. I especially enjoy the songs featuring interplay between the two guitarists.
I can see why Janis Joplin became such a popular artist and went solo. Such a powerful voice. The band overall was good, but they do sound like so many other bands of the era. Janis steals the show though.
Good classic rock, kinda psych which im into. Janis sounds like marge simpson.
I like the funk aspect but too slow for me
Classic rock with Janis Joplin. Awesome stuff. Thanks for reminding me about this.
So so psychedlic music. Most doesn't really stand the test of time.
5*
Janis Joplin’s vocal cords might have mothered Axl Rose’s. Years ago, during my loud "never trust a hippy" phase my dad, not a man in whom I've noted more than an atom of hippy, told me that actually, they did some great stuff, and I shouldn't be so dogmatic. Without disaggregating the whole bursting of restrictive social norms and segregation that they contributed, I'll tip my hat to my dad for the necessary corrective. The sort of disorganised, bold and restless spirit I associate with the movement is present in this record. This list has resurrected my fondness for messy '60's blue-rock recordings, off-the-cuff albums with a bunch of covers thrown in to make up the numbers, production carefree and murky, audience sounds dubbed in, echoes thrown into odd places, and a sense of wanting to capture a moment before moving on, who cares if it isn't perfect, the next one will be better, though the next one often never came. The bass sometimes is off hidden in some corner of a club, stoned and noisily planning some sort of revolutionary arts happening to a bunch of comrades, probably outnumbered by FBI spies, the guitar sometimes is just inappropriately blitzed out in a way that you'd never hear on a contemporary record, they've raided the party, swept the canapés into a bin bag, and have blazed off down the canyon. Anyway, pretty good. Now I'd probably add a star to each of those Doors albums that were thrown at us early in the run.
One from my Dad's record collection - I would gaze at the cover art but never got to playing the actual vinyl. So, good to get it here! Unfortunately pretty generic 60's blues/rock with some histrionics. Also features that weird 60's 'live but not really' anomaly. R Crumb remains the highlight
Didn’t love it.
Endlich ein hörbares Album
3/5
Being so ignorant, I didn’t even know Janis Joplin had a band. I’m not her biggest fan but was actually enjoying the first tracks and her rusty voice. After a while and especially after realizing they chose to add effects to create the illusion of a live album, it’s a no for me. [0110/1001]
Solid album. I wasn't very familiar with Janis' work before this but I can see why Janis eventually went off to have her own. Technically sound, and I personally like the live album gimmick, but it's not something I think I would revisit. "Piece Of My Heart" is a classic though.
Some Joplin classics here, very solid 8/10
didn’t hate it, didn’t love it. but I love Janis Joplin. Would be a 2.5 if I could but we move. Ball and chain and I need a man to love has been added to the likes 🤠
Det är väl egentligen inget fel på skivan, låtarna är inte asdåliga osv men de är inte heller minnesvärda öht. Den enda låten jag skulle lyssna på igen är PoMH, vilket är den klart bästa låten och dessutom en cover. 3 kanske är lite harsh men jag skulle aldrig lyssna på det casually, trots att det inte är särskilt dåligt
Ich mag Chanis, aber die Platte irgendwie nicht so besonders.
Listened Before? N Janis Joplin. A powerful and instantly recognizable voice. She's respected but not my cup of tea. I definitely get why she's so admired, and I can't help but wonder what would have happened had she lived longer. A moot point but still a thing to ponder. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Piece of My Heart
Con Yannis Yoplin.
Cracking mix of blues and classic rock. Janis Joplin's voice is like Robert Plant and marge Simpson had a child and I absolutely love it.
Not really a fan of Janis Joplin but liked this one more than I thought. Rating: 3.3
So far this album is unreal, not a fan of the racist depiction on the front cover mind
To my ears, it's just shrill. Is she passionate? Sure. But it's no more musical, to my ears, than Screamo. I'm sure it was shocking when it came out. And that was 1/2 of the point. But looking back, they spent far too little attention on the other half.
Janis Joplin has a really neat, gravelly voice that's rad when she's in her mid-lower register; when she's in her comfortable pockets she sounds great. But when she tries to belt her upper register to hit some of those high notes... yikes. It's like Laryngitis came alive for a record contract to make the hair on the back of my neck stand up, and not in a good way. Still, can't see myself choosing to listen to much from here again
Rocks hard. Janis is the best
Bloody hell, that voice. What an album and what a sound. Transportative.
The live sound is a bit gimmicky but I guess it works. Janis is just awesome. Certainly a good fun album with Piece of My Heart the standout track.
One of THE era-defining psychedelia albums - I don't have the same kind of personal connection to this one as I do to "Surrealistic Pillow", but I still gotta give it props. And Jackie Jormp-Jomp can pretty much go toe to toe with Grace Slick, which takes some doing. Fave track - "Piece of My Heart" - an amazing version of an already amazing song!
Das ist gar nicht mein Ding. Kann es auch kaum einordnen. Janis Joplin ist dabei, die finde ich ja eh nicht gut. So Hippie Folkkram vielleicht.
Not sure of this sounds like a load of tunes just thrown together no direction .
Other than "Little piece of my heart," I've had not exposure to this band and honestly assumed that song was just Janis Joplin. Album is an awesome blues/psych explosion. Her voice is insane and I love it.
Never a big Janice fan as I can do without her screeching. But as a record itself this is extraordinary. The guitar work here is phenomenal.
Good, but not really my shit. Also, I never understood the hype around Joplin.
TAAAKE IT, TAKE ANOTHER LITTLE PIECE OF MY HEART NOW BABY
Janis Joplin's hit album with Big Brother before she went solo. Musically solid and tight with a swagger (and ripping guitar) that's enhanced with Janis' vocals. Ball and Chain (my fave) and Piece of My Heart are clearly the standouts, but I liked Turtle Blues and Summertime as well.
Listened to this while playing Set A Watch solo. I lost. Janis Joplin's voice is definitely an acquired taste. I don’t hate it, but I don't love it either. That said, I appreciated this album much more than I was expecting to. Her take on Summertime was so uniquely her own...I loved the interpretation.
Loved it.